AudioComics Company

AudioComics Company is an audio production company that adapts comic books, graphic novels, and original works. It was founded in 2010, and expanded under the producers William Dufris, Lance Roger Axt, and Elaine Lee.[1] Their productions have earned critical acclaim and awards in the United States and abroad, and have been cited as a "game changer"[2] in the field of audio drama.

Overview

"Beyond the great acting and great scripts and great comics they’re based on, we take a 'cinematic approach' to the production side of it all, which is why we call these productions 'audio movies' instead of audio dramas and audio plays or radio dramas."[3]

-Lance Roger Axt on the approach of AudioComics Company.

The company produces full-cast audio adventures, based on licensed properties and original works from the world of comic books, graphic novels, and genre fiction, and distributes them by MP3, digital download, and CDs. The company has its origins in Play it by Ear Productions, an audio theatre company run by producer/writer/actor Lance Roger Axt to adapt original plays for radio and digital mediums.[4] Producer/actor William Dufris, known as the voice of the cartoon character Bob The Builder, co-founded AudioComics Company with Axt in 2010 initially to adapt comics and graphic novels as audio productions, with full voice casts, sound effects, and musical scores.[5]

Their first production in 2010 was an adaption of the science fiction spoof Starstruck,[6] a stage play written by its director and star Elaine Lee and designed by illustrator Michael Wm. Kaluta. Lee wrote the new audio adaption, and participated in the voice cast along with her son, actor Brennan Lee Mulligan. After the success of this project, Lee joined Dufris and Axt as a co-producer in their successive productions.

Since 2010, the AudioComics Company has adapted comics projects like Starstruck,[7] Titanium Rain,[8] Molly Danger,[9] Perhapanauts,[10] and Locke & Key.[11] They expanded to production of new stories of Pulp magazine characters like The Domino Lady in 2012;[12] actor Karen Stilwell reprised this role in the 2013 adaption of Moonstone Comics' "Battle For LA", a team-up story starring other public domain heroes like The Black Bat, The Phantom Detective, Airboy, and Secret Agent X.[13] They continued into new pulp fiction starring detective Honey West,[14] adapted by Elaine Lee from a Moonstone Comics series she had created with artist Ronn Sutton.[15] The company branched into original genre fiction with adaptations of Tom Kirkbride's Young-adult book Gamadin[16] and Jeffery Deaver's thriller The Starling Project.[17]


Production Writer Audio Adaptation Director Composer Producer Year
Starstruck Elaine Lee Elaine Lee William Dufris Dwight Dixon William Dufris, Lance Roger Axt, Elaine Lee 2010
Horrorscopes Poe, Bradbury, Lovecraft, etc. William Dufris William Dufris Willam Dufris, Lance Roger Axt 2011
Titanium Rain Josh Finney Josh Finney William Dufris Jonathan Sharp William Dufris, Lance Roger Axt, Elaine Lee 2012
Honey West: Murder On Mars Elaine Lee Elaine Lee William Dufris William Dufris, Lance Roger Axt, Elaine Lee 2012
The Batsons: The Trouble with Fang! Justine and Ron Fontes Justine and Ron Fontes William Dufris The Deadbeats William Dufris, Lance Roger Axt, Elaine Lee 2012
The Batsons: Camilla's Crush Justine and Ron Fontes Justine and Ron Fontes William Dufris The Deadbeats William Dufris, Lance Roger Axt, Elaine Lee 2012
The Domino Lady Rich Harvey Lance Roger Axt William Dufris, Lance Roger Axt, Elaine Lee 2012
Battle For LA C.J. Henderson Lance Roger Axt Lance Roger Axt William Dufris, Lance Roger Axt, Elaine Lee 2013
Molly Danger Jamal Igle Lance Roger Axt and Elaine Lee William Dufris Frankie Schulmyer William Dufris, Lance Roger Axt, Elaine Lee 2013
Gamadin Tom Kirkbride Elaine Lee William Dufris Mind's Eye Productions William Dufris, Lance Roger Axt, Elaine Lee 2013
Perhapanauts Todd Dezago Todd Dezago and Elaine Lee William Dufris Willam Dufris, Lance Roger Axt, Elaine Lee 2013
The Starling Project Jeffery Deaver Jeffrey Deaver Willam Dufris Shockwave Willam Dufris, Lance Roger Axt, Elaine Lee 2014
Locke & Key Joe Hill Elaine Lee and Fred Greenhalgh Willam Dufris Peter Van Riet Willam Dufris, Lance Roger Axt, Elaine Lee 2015

Notable developments

In 2014, the AudioComics Company expanded its market reach when it was commissioned by Audible, the audio distribution arm of Amazon.com, to adapt Jeffery Deaver's thriller The Starling Project, starring Alfred Molina.[18]

In 2015, AudioComics partnered Audible with IDW Publishing for an adaption of the comic series, Locke & Key; the 13-hour production was their longest, and was recorded live at locations including a haunted house and underground caverns, with cast roles that included cameos by comic creators Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez, members of the Upright Citizens Brigade comedy troupe, and author Stephen King.[19]

Notable contributors

William Dufris, a noted voice actor (Spider-Man, Bob The Builder) and audiobook reader,[20] has contributed Direction and Sound Design for the company, as well as co-production.

Lance Roger Axt, the director of Play it by Ear Productions, has written, directed, and co-produced.[21]

Elaine Lee, an Emmy-nominated actor and writer of the Starstruck and Galactic Girl Guides comics series, has written and co-produced adaptations.[22]

Illustrators Michael Wm. Kaluta and Lee Moyer have contributed new artwork as covers for adaptions.

Denise Poirier, the voice of Æon Flux, played the lead villain in the Starstruck audioplay.

Comics artist Jamal Igle (Supergirl) created artwork for the audio adaption of his creator-owned character, Molly Danger.

Alfred Molina (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Spider-Man 2) played the lead role in Jeffery Deaver's The Starling Project.

The adaption of Locke & Key, based on the horror comic series by writer Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez, received widespread coverage noting the participation of actors Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense), and Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek: Voyager).[23][24][25][26][27]

"Dufris sets up group recordings akin to old-time radio productions—but on steroids. He brings all the actors together in the studio and records the sessions in real time, rather than recording each reader individually and then piecing the tracks together later."[28]

-Publishers Weekly.


Contributor Production or Role Year
Elaine Lee co-producer, writer, voice actor for AudioComics Company 2010-2015
Michael Wm. Kaluta cover artwork for "Starstruck" 2010
Denise Poirier performing in "Starstruck" 2010
Brennan Lee Mulligan performing in "Starstruck" and "Locke & Key" 2010
Lee Moyer cover artwork for "Honey West"[29] 2012
Mark Sporacio cover artwork for "Battle For LA" 2013
Jamal Igle cover artwork for "Molly Danger" 2013
Tym Stevens cover artwork for "Gamadin"[30] 2013
Alfred Molina performing in "The Starling Project"[31] 2014
Haley Joel Osment performing in "Locke & Key" 2015
Tatiana Maslany performing in "Locke & Key" 2015
Kate Mulgrew performing in "Locke & Key" 2015
Stephen King uncredited cameo in "Locke & Key"[32] 2015

Awards and nominations

Since 2010 The AudioComics Company has received several award nominations and awards, most notably in 2013 when it was nominated for and won awards for its production of Titanium Rain. The company has also won noted industry awards for Honey West, Perhapanauts, and The Starling Project.


Award Organisation/Year Nomination Win
Audie Award Audio Publisher's Association/ 2013 Best Audio Drama: Titanium Rain, Vol. 1 Nomination[33]
Audie Award Audio Publisher's Association/ 2013 Best Original Work: Titanium Rain, Vol. 1 Nomination[34]
Silver Mark Time Award The American Society for Science Fiction Audio/ 2012 Titanium Rain, Vol. 1 Won[35]
Earphones Award AudioFile Magazine/ 2013 Titanium Rain, Vol. 1 Won[36]
Communicator Award of Excellence in Audio Communicator Awards/ 2014 Honey West: Murder on Mars Won[37]
Silver Ogle Award The American Society for Science Fiction Audio/ 2013 Perhapanauts Won[38]
Earphones Award AudioFile Magazine/ 2014 The Starling Project Won[39]

Critical Response

About the AudioComics Company adaption of Molly Danger, Major Spoilers wrote, "the creators did an excellent job of bringing the world of Molly Danger to life between the ears. There’s solid acting from everyone."[40] Geekquality wrote, "Olivia DuFord as Molly Danger manages to capture a perfect blend of childlike sweetness and sad world weariness that are to be expected from a 30-something living as an eternal pre-teen."[41]

The Chicago Tribune wrote of The Starling Project, "this smart production makes full use of all that audio allows, employing actors who create distinctive voices"[42] AudioFile Magazine wrote of the production, "With its hypnotic musical score and sound effects of gunshots, squealing tires, and all-too-close explosions, listeners may believe they’re listening to a movie soundtrack."[43]

Of the adaptation of Locke & Key, Paste Magazine wrote that the audioplay was "an immersive sonic experience brought to life by a top-flight cast of voice actors including genre icons Kate Mulgrew, Tatiana Maslany, and Haley Joel Osment."[44] io9 wrote, "The production is a stunning adaptation."[45] SFFaudio wrote, "it’s a great story as a graphic novel, and this production successfully captures it, the flawless cast and rich sound adding a new and welcome dimension to the whole."[46]

References

  1. ↑ "About AudioComics Company". ACC. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Comics Break the Sound Barrier". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Mighty Retailer Spotlight: The AudioComics Company". Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Emily Bowles. "Featured Member: Play it by Ear Productions", Fractured Atlas Blog, March 5, 2009.
  5. ↑ "About AudioComics Company", ACC.
  6. ↑ "Starstruck: the recording (with casting), ACC, April 29, 2010.
  7. ↑ Heidi MacDonald . "Starstruck Radio", The Beat, August 17, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Titanium Rain Comes To Audio", Comic Related, June 23, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Molly Danger gets AudioComics treatment", Major Spoilers, April 2, 2013.
  10. ↑ "The Perhapanauts: Monsters Among Us, or, Chimaera Wanna Tellya Somethin'!", Audible release, December 24, 2013.
  11. ↑ "About Locke & Key", AudioComics Company, October, 2015.
  12. ↑ Ron Fortier. "Domino Lady: All's Fair In War", Pulp Fiction Reviews, May 3, 2012.
  13. ↑ Bobby Nash. "Audio Comics Takes the Battle to LA", ComixMix, August 27, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Honey West Murder on Mars", AudioFile Magazine, September, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Honey West: femme fatale adventure by Elaine Lee & Ronn Sutton", Comic Book Bin, March 4, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Gamadin Book Series Comes To AudioComics", ACC., December 7, 2012.
  17. ↑ Fred Greenhalgh. "Review: The Starling Project", Radio Drama Revival, November 26, 2014.
  18. ↑ Zack Smith. "Unlocking the Locke & Key Audiobook", Newsarama, October 15, 2015.
  19. ↑ Zack Smith. "Unlocking the Locke & Key Audiobook", Newsarama, October 15, 2015.
  20. ↑ "William Dufris", LinkedIn.
  21. ↑ "Lance Roger Axt", LinkedIn.
  22. ↑ "Elaine Lee", LinkedIn.
  23. ↑ Alex Zalben. "Locke & Key’ Is Coming Back — With Tatiana Maslany And An All-Star Cast", Mtv News, July 7, 2015
  24. ↑ Steve Foxe. "Welcome Back to Lovecraft: Joe Hill Talks Audible’s Locke & Key Audio Adaptation", Paste Magazine, October 5, 2015.
  25. ↑ Jonathon Dornbush. "Tatiana Maslany, Haley Joel Osment among cast for Locke & Key audio play", Entertainment weekly, July 7, 2015.
  26. ↑ Stacie Sells. "Take a Listen to Audible’s Locke & Key, Available for Free from Now Until November", The Mary Sue, October 5, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Locke & Key, Acclaimed Graphic Novel by Joe Hill, Reimagined in Audio by a Full Cast Featuring Haley Joel Osment and Tatiana Maslany", MarketWatch, October 5, 2015.
  28. ↑ Lance Eaton. "Comics Break the Sound Barrier", Publishers Weekly, March 7, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Honey West: Murder on Mars", Lee Moyer Design & Illustration, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Tym Stevens", LinkedIn.
  31. ↑ Audible. "An Interview with Alfred Molina, Star of The Starling Project", Audible video, November 14, 2014.
  32. ↑ Alex Zalben. "Locke & Key’ Is Coming Back — With Tatiana Maslany And An All-Star Cast", Mtv News, July 7, 2015
  33. ↑ Brett Schenker. "Archaia's Titanium Rain Nominated For Audiobook Highest Honor", Graphic Policy, March 22, 2013
  34. ↑ "Daniel Handler to Emcee the Audie Awards Gala", Audio Publishers Association, February 20, 2013
  35. ↑ "The Mark Time Award Winners", The Mark Time Awards.
  36. ↑ "Titanium Rain", AudioFile Magazine, January, 2013.
  37. ↑ "20th Annual Communicator Award Of Excellence Winners", The Communicator Awards, 2014.
  38. ↑ "The Charles Ogle Award Winners", The Mark Time Awards.
  39. ↑ "The Starling Project", AudioFile Magazine, January, 2015.
  40. ↑ Stephen Schleicher. "Review: Molly Danger AudioComics", Major Spoilers, November 28, 2013.
  41. ↑ Tanya. "Review: Molly Danger Audiocomic", Geekquality, December 4, 2013.
  42. ↑ Jenni Laidman. "Audiobook roundup: Jeffery Deaver's 'Starling Project,' others", Chicago Tribune, December 18, 2014.
  43. ↑ "The Starling Project", AudioFile Magazine, January, 2015.
  44. ↑ Steve Foxe. "Welcome Back to Lovecraft: Joe Hill Talks Audible’s Locke & Key Audio Adaptation", Paste Magazine, October 5, 2015.
  45. ↑ Andrew Liptak. "Locke & Key Is Just As Haunting As An Audio Drama As It Is A Graphic Novel", io9, October 3, 2015
  46. ↑ Scott D. Danielson. "Review of Locke and Key", SFFaudio, October 7, 2015

External links

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