The groundbreaking 1996 epic from Mark Waid and Alex Ross is getting a long-awaited, fully immersive audio adaptation, bringing the twilight of the gods to life in a whole new way.
Thirty years ago, Mark Waid and Alex Ross delivered a masterpiece that redefined the superhero genre. Kingdom Come was a stunning, painted epic that asked a terrifying question: what happens when the world’s greatest heroes lose their way? Now, DC and Penguin Random House Audio are giving fans a new way to experience this legendary saga with a full-cast audiobook adaptation, set to release on November 18, 2025. [1]
This isn’t just a simple reading. The project is a fully immersive audio experience, featuring a cast of over thirty actors, an original orchestral score, and cinematic sound design from a master of the craft. For fans who have dreamed of seeing Kingdom Come adapted, this audio event is the next best thing to a blockbuster film.
Caption: The heroes of Kingdom Come gather in this iconic artwork by Alex Ross. Credit: Alex Ross/DC Comics Source: DC Comics
What is Kingdom Come?
For those who haven’t had the pleasure, Kingdom Come is an Elseworlds story set in a dark future. A disillusioned Superman has retired after the public embraced a new, violent generation of metahumans who have no qualms about killing. After a catastrophic event caused by the reckless anti-hero Magog kills millions, Superman is forced to return and reunite the Justice League. [2]
His goal is to bring order back to the world, but his methods border on totalitarian. This puts him in direct conflict with Batman, who forms his own faction to oppose Superman’s iron-fisted approach. It’s a story that explores the moral responsibility of power and what it means to be a hero in a world that no longer seems to want them. As writer Mark Waid explained, the only reason Superman would ever quit is if the world rejected his core values, making his return a powerful, conflicted moment. [2]
A Cinematic Audio Experience
Helming this ambitious project is Dirk Maggs, a legend in the world of audio drama. Known for his work on the BBC’s groundbreaking The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy radio series and DC’s own Superman: Doomsday & Beyond, Maggs is famous for his “cinematic” approach to sound. He’s the mastermind who brought Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman to life for Audible, a production that set a new standard for audio adaptations. [3]
Maggs, who has been adapting DC stories for over three decades, called Kingdom Come “the one that got away.” Now, he’s finally getting his chance to tackle the epic, complete with an original orchestral score from composer James Hannigan, who also worked on The Sandman audiobooks. [4] This isn’t just a reading; it’s a full-blown audio movie.
The Cast of Kingdom Come
The production has assembled an all-star cast to voice these iconic characters. Here are some of the key players:
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Superman / Clark Kent | Marc Thompson |
| Batman / Bruce Wayne | Glenn Wrage |
| Wonder Woman / Diana Prince | Lorelei King |
| The Spectre / Jim Corrigan | Kerry Shale |
| Norman McCay | Edoardo Ballerini |
| Lex Luthor | Ray Porter |
| Billy Batson | William DeMeritt |
| Magog | Tom Alexander |
Notably, Marc Thompson reprises his role as Superman from the 2025 All-Star Superman audiobook, and Ray Porter, who voiced Darkseid in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, steps into the role of the villainous Lex Luthor. [1]
Caption: Alex Ross’s design for an older, more somber Superman remains one of the most iconic looks for the character. Credit: Alex Ross/DC Comics Source: Alex Ross Art
Why This Adaptation is a Big Deal
For nearly thirty years, Kingdom Come has remained one of the most beloved and influential comics ever published. Its DNA can be seen across DC media, from the Golden Eagle armor in Wonder Woman 1984 to the core premise of the Injustice video games. The Arrowverse crossover, Crisis on Infinite Earths, even featured a live-action version of the Kingdom Come Superman.
Despite this, a full-scale adaptation has never materialized. In 2017, legendary animator Bruce Timm cited budgetary reasons as a key obstacle to an animated film, given the sheer scale and detail of Alex Ross’s artwork. [4] This makes the new audiobook only the second direct adaptation of the story, following a 1998 audio drama that was based on the prose novelization. [4] For many fans, this high-production audio version is the closest they’ve come to seeing the epic fully realized.
A Return to Heroism
At its heart, Kingdom Come was a powerful rebuttal to the grim-and-gritty antiheroes that dominated comics in the 1990s. It was a story that argued for the importance of aspirational heroes and moral clarity. In a 2015 interview, Mark Waid stated that superheroes were “created to be moral beacons,” and that dragging them down to our level is a disservice to their purpose. [2]
In today’s complex media landscape, where the line between hero and villain is often blurred, the release of the Kingdom Come audiobook feels more relevant than ever. It’s a chance for a new generation to experience this timeless story and a reminder for longtime fans of why these heroes endure. It’s a story about hope, redemption, and the enduring power of the DC Universe.
Resources
[1] DC Comics. (2025, September 4). DC AND PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO RELEASE FULL-CAST AUDIOBOOK PRODUCTION OF KINGDOM COME. https://www.dc.com/blog/2025-09-04/dc-and-penguin-random-house-audio-release-full-cast-audiobook-production-of-kingdom-come
[2] DC Comics. (2025, November 17). Everything You Need to Know About “Kingdom Come”. https://www.dc.com/blog/2025-11-17/everything-you-need-to-know-about-kingdom-come
[3] Maggs, D. (n.d.). Dirk Maggs. https://dirkmaggs.com/
[4] Chiu-Tabet, C. (2025, September 5). Dirk Maggs directing new, full-cast KINGDOM COME audiobook. The Beat. https://www.comicsbeat.com/kingdom-come-audiobook/
Internal Links
- The History of Superman
- Best Batman Storylines of All Times
- Wonder Woman: A Symbol of Female Empowerment
