Radiant Black has made Image Comics history. The massively popular series is now the first Image Comics title adapted as an audiobook.
Radiant Black: The Audiobook, Volume One is available now. The production features a full voice cast led by Rider Strong, known for Boy Meets World and Cabin Fever, and Will Friedle, known for Boy Meets World and Batman Beyond.
Strong voices Nathan Burnett. Friedle voices Marshall Ward.
Fans can find the audiobook now on Spotify, LibroFM, and Everand. It will arrive soon on Audible, Overdrive, and other audiobook platforms.
Listeners can find more availability updates at http://radiant.black/audiobook. The release marks a major expansion for Radiant Black and the wider Massive-Verse.
Kyle Higgins Leads the Audio Adaptation
Black Market Narrative produced the audiobook. Radiant Black co-creator and Massive-Verse architect Kyle Higgins wrote, directed, and narrated the adaptation.
Higgins also created the cinematic sound design. The audiobook features an original score by Sam Ewing, co-composer of The Walking Dead.
The project stands as the first-ever audiobook adaptation of an Image Comics title. It also brings the world of Radiant Black into a new storytelling format.
A Deluxe Edition Adds Bonus Material
Black Market Narrative has also released Radiant Black: The Audiobook, Volume One, The Deluxe Edition. Fans can buy it DRM-free exclusively through the Black Market Narrative storefront for $34.99.
The Deluxe Edition includes high-quality M4B and AAC editions of the audiobook. It also includes an audio commentary track with Kyle Higgins and editor Michael Busuttil.
The package adds a roundtable discussion with Will Friedle, Rider Strong, Kyle Higgins, and Michael Busuttil. It also features Scoring Radiant Black, an interview with composer Sam Ewing.
Fans also receive In the Booth, a 25 minute video look inside one of Higgins and Friedle’s recording sessions. The Deluxe Edition also includes the complete audiobook script as a PDF and a behind-the-scenes collector’s booklet with enhanced liner notes, photography, and other surprises.
A Planned Series of Audiobook Adaptations
Radiant Black: The Audiobook, Volume One starts a planned series of audiobook adaptations from Black Market Narrative and Image Comics. The project adds another layer of immersion to the critically and commercially acclaimed Massive-Verse.
“When Eric Stephenson and Lorelei Bunjes first pitched me the idea of doing Radiant Black in audio, I knew that to do it right would be a huge undertaking,” said Higgins. “This project has been a true labor of love for our team. From assembling our amazing cast to recording, design, narration, score, and our final mix, this has been an incredible experience at every turn. I never thought I would be back in the world of audio, but to be able to work in one of my favorite mediums and take advantage of all the possibilities it affords has been more than worth it.
“A huge shoutout and thank you to everyone who contributed to this, from our incredible cast to so many people behind the scenes, thank you so much. I’m so excited we finally get to share this with the world. And now that we’re all set up, we’re dying to get started on volume two!”
Will Friedle and Rider Strong Praise the Project
Friedle and Strong discussed the audiobook on a recent episode of their podcast, Pod Meets World. The two actors praised the series and its approach to genre storytelling.
“[The book] is just really cool, it’s very hip. [They] speak ‘nerd,’ so there’s great film references, music references. It’s great. One of the things that’s cool, is [they do] things in this world that have never been done in comics before.”
Friedle first joined the Massive-Verse when he voiced Marshall Ward in Versus. The secret, in-universe animated short film appeared as an easter egg tied to Radiant Black.
Higgins and Alec Siegel co-wrote the short. Higgins directed it in collaboration with Tiger Animation.
Versus also brought back actors Rick Cramer and Reginald James. They reprised their roles as The Grey Raven and Blaze from Higgins and Siegel’s 2007 film The League.
The League served as the original inspiration for Higgins and Siegel’s 2014 Massive-Verse series, C.O.W.L. Fans accessed Versus through a surprise QR code in Radiant Black #15.
Friedle also appeared in that issue as himself. His return in the audiobook deepens his connection to the Massive-Verse.
“He asked us to do this probably two years ago,” said Strong on the podcast. “Kyle is brilliant. He’s an amazing writer. And he’s a great director…it was so fun to spend [days] with a good actor’s director. You improvised a few times, and he let you. But mostly, we’re faithful to the comic.”
Radiant Black Expands Its Immersive Storytelling
Radiant Black and its related Massive-Verse titles have built a reputation for immersive storytelling. The franchise has repeatedly pushed beyond the printed page with fan-focused creative surprises.
This audiobook continues that approach. It gives fans a new way to experience the world, the characters, and the cosmic stakes of the series.
At its core, Radiant Black follows two best friends facing broken dreams and impossible power. The story centers on disillusioned millennials who must navigate failed ambitions and existential super powers after encountering the ethereal, cosmic Radiant.
