This post was originally published on Audible.com.
No matter where you are in your search for the best comic audiobooks, there’s one thing pretty much everyone can agree on: they've come a long way. The idea that visual mediums like comics and graphic novels can't be translated for audio has been disproven time and again with some of the most exciting and immersive listening experiences you can find in any genre. Between the innovations of creators and performers and the active engagement of fans, there’s a lot more competition to be among the very best comic audiobooks and graphic audio experiences to listen to now.
Here, we’ve narrowed down the contenders for this list of immersive adaptations, clever reimaginings, and nonfiction accounts from the industry. Engage with the worlds, stories, and creators you love, and discover new ones you might have missed. Who knows? You might come back with a newfound appreciation for some of your favorites.
Marvel Audiobooks
Explore the legendary Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) from its 1939 founding as the comic book publisher Timely Books, which launched Captain America in 1941, and later became Marvel, the company that helped usher in the Silver Age of comics in the 1960s and a boon in popularity for superhero stories. From X-Men and Avengers to creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the MCU has a rich presence in audio; these are some of our favorites.
DC Comics Audiobooks
This legendary comic company created some of the most recognizable and beloved entertainment characters of all time. Evolved from a pulp publisher called National Allied Publications, the nascent Detective Comics, Inc. first published the first stories of Superman (1939), Batman (1939), and Wonder Woman (1941), which helped usher in both the Golden Age of comics and the success of the costumed superhero genre overall.
Immersive Audiodramas
The best audio adaptations of graphic novels and comic books tend to be audiodramas, which create a rich, immersive storytelling environment using a full cast of talent, sound effects, and music. Their playful nostalgia factor matches the inherent charm of comics and graphic novels.
Comic Audiobooks for Kids
These family-friendly listens bring the message and appeal of graphic novels, comic books, manga, and anime into engaging experiences for kids, teens, and parents.
History and Behind-the-Scenes
Real comic fans know that there's a lot more to this medium than cool graphics and flashy characters. Get to know the outsize personalities behind the franchises, or dive into the history and psychology of some of the most legendary comic book characters of all time.
