Amazon is offering a great discount on one of the best budget headphones you can find. For just $49, the JLab JBuds Lux Over-Ear Headphones offers features you’d find in headphones that can cost 5x-10x as much, like wireless connectivity with Bluetooth Multipoint, active noise cancellation, spatial audio technology, and more. Most importantly, sound quality is better than any other headphone in its price range.

JLab JBuds Lux Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones for $50

SoundGuys recently reviewed the JLab JBuds Lux and gave these headphones an absolutely glowing review, mentioning that they were one of the best headphones under $100. SoundGuys considered them an extremely good value at their retail price of $79. At the current price of $49.99, it’s hard to find a better bang for your buck, and it’s especially nice that all four color options have been discounted.

The JLab JBuds Lux’s laundry list of premium features include large 40mm drivers, Dolby Atmos compatible Spatial Audio, support for PlayStation Tempest 3D AudioTech and Windows Sonic, hybrid active noise cancellation, a “Be Aware” mode that lets you listen in on your environment, built-in microphone for hands-free calling, up to 70 hours of battery life on a single charge (40 hours with ANC enabled), USB Type-C charging, and Bluetooth Multipoint.

These headphones even look the part. The JLab JBuds Lux are thoughtfully designed for both comfort and performance, with cushy earcups that conform to your ear while also providing an effective seal for passive isolation, a padded headband for prolonged comfort, and a foldable design that makes them easy to tote around.

For more options, check out our list of the best noise canceling headphones of 2025. Be forewarned that they are far more expensive than the JLab Lux. Our top pick – the Sony WH-1000XM5 – for example, sells for over $300 on Amazon.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

When it comes to fantastical book series that shaped our childhoods, Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians is one of the best. With the first season two of the Percy Jackson Disney+ series arriving later this year, we’re here to lay out what makes the books so special and the order you need to read the books in to make the most of the series.

Jump to Series:

• Percy Jackson and The Olympians Books
• The Heroes of Olympus Books
• The Trials of Apoll Books

What Are the Percy Jackson Books About?

Imagine a world where modern Greek gods have children with the powers of demigods. That’s the fantastical concept at the center of the Percy Jackson and The Olympians book series. Created by Rick Riordan, the stories begins following the titular son of Poseidon as he traverses the secret world of mythical gods, goddesses, and their superpowered offspring. Over the original series and two sequel series The Heroes of Olympus and The Trials of Apollo, the world has expanded massively bringing new characters and new generations of fans to the Greek-myth inspired universe that has been enchanting readers since 2005.

How Many Books are in the Series?

There are a total of 18 books in the Percy Jackson universe, which are spread across three different series. The original Percy Jackson and the Olympian series features 7 books as of 2025 with the release of Wrath of the Triple Goddess just last year.

Percy Jackson Book Sets

If you’re looking to add a collection of books to your shelves at home, there are a few box sets available. Below are links to both the paperback and hardcover versions for each series:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Books in Order

1. The Lightning Thief

In the original novel that sparked off the series, Percy Jackson, discovers that his normal life is not what it seems. Rather than being a normal 12 year old trying to get through school with ADHD and Dyslexia, he’s actually a demigod! His life is turned upside down when he’s accused of stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt. It’s not just that he’s accused of being a thief though, as he also learns that he’s the son of none other than the god Poseidon. Soon he’s swept away to a summer camp for demigods known as Camp Half-Blood where he must solve the mystery of Zeus’ stolen master bolt and find his way as the son of a god that he’s never known.

2. The Sea of Monsters

After discovering Camp Half-Blood and his new life in the first book, in The Sea of Monsters Percy and his friends have to come together to save the place they first met. When the magic that protects the camp begins to fail the crew must head to the titular ocean in order to find a powerful artifact. But they don’t have much time and in case you didn’t realize the Sea of Monsters is filled with just that. Many, many dangerous creatures fill the pages of this epic adventure, as Percy navigates rough seas and family secrets as he tries to save the day.

3. The Titan’s Curse

As the title hints, this story pushes the Greek mythology of Percy Jackson into the realm of the legendary Titans. When Percy is enlisted to help his old friend Grover he knows something dangerous must have happened, but not even he can guess what’s coming. New demigods are on the horizon and with them comes the threat of one of the oldest beings in the world Kronos who hasn’t forgiven the teens for besting him. That’s not all though as there’s also the matter of a massively powerful ancient monster, and the titular curse to keep them busy.

4. The Battle of the Labyrinth

Though he’s starting freshman year, things are far from normal for Percy Jackson. With the war between the Titans and the Gods threatening to spill over into every part of life he can barely catch a break, so when demon cheerleaders show up at school he can’t believe his bad luck. Reimagining the classic Greek Myth of Daedalus and the Minataur, Percy and his Camp Half-Blood buds have to venture deep into the depths of the Earth to defeat the challenges of an intricate maze in order to stop the destruction of all that they hold dear.

5. The Last Olympian

It’s a race to save the legendary Mount Olympus as Percy and his friends must come together in order to defeat the Titans. Luckily they’ve been training all year for just this but as Kronos starts his attack on New York, can the young demigods actually stand against him? This is the epic finale to the battle that began long ago in The Lightning Thief and throws the mythical world of Camp Half-Blood onto the streets of Manhattan for a world-changing fight of the ages.

The Heroes of Olympus Books in Order

1. The Lost Hero

Introducing a new roster of young characters to root for, this book centers on a demigod named Jason who loses his memory on a school trip and ends up becoming entangled in the world of the Olympians. After revealing his powers and being taken to Camp Half-Blood, Jason and his friends must help find the now missing Percy Jackson. But as they undertake their quest they discover some shocking truths about Camp Half-Blood and come up against its rival Camp Jupiter. This super fun expansion of the Percy Jackson universe melds Greek and Roman mythology to set up a whole new series of Olympian adventures!

2. The Son of Neptune

Fans were desperate to know what happened to Percy and in the second Heroes of Olympus book they got an insight into his new status quo. Just like Jason, Percy has lost his memory and in a shocking twist finds himself on the run in California with nowhere to turn. Helped by Roman deities and new friends, Percy manages to reach Camp Jupiter discovering that Camp Half-Blood isn’t the only demigod training ground in America. As always Percy ends up wrapped up in a mythological battle with huge stakes but this time he’s surrounded by Roman gods!

3. The Mark of Athena

What should have been a celebratory reunion for Annabeth and Percy is overshadowed by the threat of war as Camp Jupiter prepares to face down a foe of mythological proportions. The young Demigod takes center stage in this epic seafaring adventure that sees our young heroes travel to Rome in order to connect with the Demigods there, all the while Annabeth tries to work out her place in the story as the daughter of Athena and hero of Olympus.

4. The House of Hades

It’s a quest to escape the underworld when Annabeth and Percy find themselves there after the events of Mark of Athena. In their journey to find the Doors of Death, the duo and their friends who are still in the mortal world will have to work together in order to survive. As if Hades wasn’t enough to contend with someone trying to raise the Greek iteration of Mother Earth, Gaea, which the kids also have to stop. Who said it would be easy being a Demigod?

5. The Blood of Olympus

In the final novel from The Heroes of Olympus series, Percy and Annabeth have to battle the horror of Gaea along with their crew in order to stop the deities’ horrific plan. As the title suggests she needs the blood of Demigods to truly rise but luckily the Demigods have each other, though they’ll have to solve the brewing tension between Camps’ Half-Blood and Jupiter before they can really come together and solve their Titan sized problem.

The Trials of Apollo Books in Order

1. The Hidden Oracle

In the second spin-off of the Percy Jackson and the Olypians series, Zeus is back to his old terrible father shenanigans as he transforms his son — the god Apollo — into a teenager and banishes him to New York City. Once on Earth he has to enlist the help of a Demigod named Meg and of course the heroic Percy Jackson to save the day and earn the forgiveness of his father. This means he’ll have to wrangle control of the Five Oracles which will take the crew on another mythologically charged adventure through Riordan’s fantastical world.

2. The Dark Prophecy

Continuing the story of Apollo and his quest to find the Oracles in order to take his place as a god once again. Alongside his Demigod buddies, Apollo must venture across America in order to free the next Oracle, all the while battling against mythical creatures and the mysterious Triumvirate Holdings, along with one of its leaders Commodus. Expanding the new lore introduced in The Trials of Apollo this is a gripping continuation of the Percy Jackson series.

3. The Burning Maze

Apollo’s battle against the evil emperors of Triumvirate Holdings takes center stage here as he comes up against multiple mythological creatures and famed historical figures. You’ll catch appearances from Caligula, Madea, Strix, and even Caligula’s favorite horse Incitatus. This is another epic adventure that pits Apollo against fearsome foes and tragic losses as he unravels the Triumvirate’s shocking plans and tries to regain his immortality while keeping his friends safe. And trust us when we say that’s not an easy set of responsibilities to juggle.

4. The Tyrant’s Tomb

The penultimate book in the Trials of Apollo series takes Apollo and friends to the edge as they find themselves up against the brutal Caligula and his followers. In order to help protect Camp Jupiter from the onslaught of Triumvirate Holdings, Apollo and his crew must venture into the ancient tomb of a terrifying tyrant that will put them in more danger than ever before. It’ll also lead to the final trial of Apollo, which will define and seal his fate forever.

5. The Tower of Nero

In the final Trials of Apollo book the stage is set for an epic battle back in New York City. It’s all been leading to this as the young god and his demigod buds have come up against their biggest foe yet. It’s an epic finale with massive stakes as mythical families are reunited, friendships are tested, and Apollo finally learns whether or not he’s done enough to return to his place on Mount Olympus. But if you’re desperate for more stories in this universe, don’t despair as there’s one more standalone novel that ties into the world of Percy Jackson.

6. The Sun and the Star

Bringing two fan favorite characters to the forefront of their own story, The Sun and the Star centers on Nico di Angelo and Will Solace who were introduced in earlier Percy Jackson novels. Nico is the son of Hades which means that life is far from easy for him, and as the son of Apollo, Will has had his fair share of adventures too. But when Nico starts hearing a voice calling him to the depths of the underworld the pair are tested like never before, in this story that will sate the appetites of Percy Jackson fans everywhere, especially those who miss Camp Half-Blood.

What’s Next for the Percy Jackson Series?

Following the recent release of Wrath of the Triple Goddess, Rick Riordan will be adding a final book to this trilogy. He stated this clearly in a November 2024 update where he confirmed he “will be writing the third and final ‘Senior Year Adventure’ about Percy Jackson’s quest to get into college”. We don’t yet know the name of the upcoming book, but we know it will somehow involve Percy acquiring his final recommendation letter. Once that book wraps up, the future of the Percy Jackson books is unclear.

As for the TV show, Disney has confirmed that season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians will arrive in December 2025. This is a full two years after the release of the first season, which IGN’s review described as “adding a hint of modernity” to the world of gods and monsters.

Rosie Knight is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything from anime to comic books to kaiju to kids movies to horror flicks. She has over half a decade of experience in entertainment journalism with bylines at Nerdist, Den of Geek, Polygon, and more. Rosie is a published comics author who has written titles including Godzilla Rivals vs. Battra and The Haunted High-Tops. She co-hosts the weekly Crooked Media pop-culture podcast X-Ray Vision. When she’s not writing, you can find her playing Dragon Ball FighterZ or rewatching weird old horror and martial movies in her free time. She loves making comics and zines as well as collecting VHS and reading much manga as humanly possible. You can find her on social at @rosiemarx.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is now playing at the Marquis Theatre in New York City and The Phoenix Theatre in London.

Is mega-budget stage prequel Stranger Things: The First Shadow a necessary addition to the hit Netflix show’s lore? Definitely not. But is this breathtaking theatrical spectacle a hell of a lot of fun? Absolutely so.

Chiefly an origin story for Henry Creel, a.k.a. the fourth-season big-bad Vecna, The First Shadow is set up to expand on the bizarre goings-on in Hawkins, Indiana and satisfy fans with some familiar characters, all without messing with anything of significance to the series’ continuity. There’s enticement for diehards in the form of younger versions of Joyce Byers (né Moldanado), Jim Hopper, the sadistic Dr. Brenner and, of course, Bob Newby. (If you don’t remember who that is, don’t worry – it scarcely matters.) And since Vecna will return for the show’s much-delayed fifth and final season, First Shadow makes sense as a bridge between seasons. But it’s not like you’ll be completely at sea if you can’t make it to the play before the last batch of episodes drops on Netflix.

What you’ll see, however, is hugely enjoyable – packed with astonishing stage images, impressive jump scares, and genuinely exciting feats of theatricality. And if the script sometimes gets bogged down in fan service, it does find a surprising emotional potency in its main character’s doomed effort to save himself.

The setting is 1959, and a teenage Henry (Louis McCartney) is seeking a fresh start, following a violent incident at his last school. At Hawkins High, he finds romance with the kindly Patty Newby (Gabrielle Nevaeh) when the two are cast as leads in the student play. But at night, a dark power takes hold of Henry’s body, using his powers of telepathy and telekinesis to horrible ends – brought to life by a seemingly bottomless bag of theatrical tricks.

Ably guided by seasoned director Stephen Daldry and co-director Justin Martin, The First Shadow’s makeup, effects, and scenic teams conjure wonder after wonder on stage, a healthy mix of huge set pieces and old-fashioned stage magic. The opener, in which a battleship is beached by attacking Demogorgons, is jaw-dropping. Creel’s telepathic jaunts across Hawkins use doubles, stage tricks, and puppetry to haunting effect. And when the Mind Flayer makes her appearance, the big girl does not disappoint.

The First Shadow also holds onto Stranger Things’ oddly pleasing clash of teenage hijinks and bloodthirsty violence. Since Daldry ensures the play is always moving at a steady clip, harsh jumps from fratricide to theater-club drama can certainly feel jarring. But the tonal whiplash is, for all its grossness, in keeping with Stranger Things as we know it.

A little more about that play-within-the-play, since it takes up about as much storytelling real estate here as Henry himself (barely an exaggeration): The kids are pretending to put on Oklahoma! But secretly, their student director, an impassioned Joyce (Alison Jaye), has a different vision. She conceives a “revolutionary” production of Dark of the Moon, an obscure 1945 play (not to be confused with the Transformers sequel) centering on a witch-boy who falls for a young girl and seeks to become human. The parallels with Creel’s story are, fortunately, not excessively underlined.

Jaye pulls off an artful Winona Ryder impression, echoing Ryder’s strange mannerisms without overdoing it. Joyce is always fending off the interest of a young Jim Hopper, also nicely captured by Burke Swanson, who finds an overcompensating machismo that is, again, of a piece with David Harbour’s beloved take on Hopper. But ultimately, outside of the fan-pleasing need to feature some familiar faces, there is no reason for either of them to be in The First Shadow. Joyce and Jim’s storyline technically has connections to Henry’s, but it always feels like it’s happening in its own play. The inclusion of Bob Newby (played in the show’s third season by Sean Astin) is even more needless, and Juan Carlos’ breathlessly frenzied take proves grating.

Though its 2-hour-and-45-minute running time flies by, First Shadow loses focus a bit in a jumbled second act. Henry’s outsider bond with Patty is genuinely touching, but their central relationship gets lost amidst much gruesome business with Dr. Brenner. Alex Breaux does well as the future father figure/tormentor of Henry’s fellow telekinetic Eleven, and it’s fun to watch him and McCartney have a freak-off. But after about a scene and a half with Brenner, we basically get the gist: He’s evil!

The anchor amidst all the madness is McCartney, a virtuosic breakout talent who brings a sweetly yet demonic flair to young Henry. The battle raging inside Henry always feels palpable, even as he makes valiant attempts at a normal life. It’s the anti-Eleven story, and McCartney holds the whole thing together.

Razer’s new 2025 lineup of Razer Blade 16 and Razer Blade 18 gaming laptops, which are currently exclusively available only at Razer.com and Razer stores, are now shipping out for as early as late April delivery. Prices for the Razer Blade 16 start at $2,999.99 for the RTX 5070 Ti configuration, $3,499.99 for the RTX 5080 configuration, and $4,499.99 for the RTX 5090 configuration. Currently the Razer Blade 18 is out of stock.

Razer Blade laptops are well known for their impeccable build quality. The chassis is built from a single piece of aluminum and is designed to be exceptionally thin and light for a gaming laptop. In order to get away with the svelte form factor, Razer employs its own proprietary cooling design which incorporates a vacuum sealed, liquid filled, copper vapor chamber to effectively whisk away the heat. Much like Apple MacBook Pros, a lot of engineering goes into a Razer Blade laptop, which is why they command a premium price compared to other mainstream brands.

Razer Blade 16

Shipping now

I am someone who reads a lot. I have other hobbies, but reading is the most accessible of all of them largely thanks to my Kindle. I’ve had a Kindle Paperwhite for almost a year now and use it quite literally every day. The convenience of being able to read easily at night with the soft backlight paired with the ease of moving on to the next book in each series make my Kindle one of my favorite pieces of technology I own.

The main downside of a Kindle is the upfront cost of actually buying one. They are fairly expensive if you want the newer models, and Amazon doesn’t offer Kindle device deals that often. So when there’s a sale like the one happening right now, it’s worth considering picking one up for yourself or as a gift for the reader in your life. Right now, the Amazon Book Sale includes a 20% discount on the new Kindle Colorsoft for a limited time.

The Best Kindle Deal at Amazon Today

The monster is back for more: the teaser trailer for the upcoming sci-fi action sequel Predator: Badlands just hit the internet.

In the sneak peek visual, below, we meet star Elle Fanning’s character, who appears to be the resident of a dangerous future remote planet. But it also seems as though the Predator she will come into contact with is, simply put, not like the others. “The director of Prey welcomes you to a world of pain,” the teaser promises.

Predator: Badlands was revealed to be in development back in February 2024, and the release date for the film was confirmed later that year in October. The trailer debuted exclusively at CinemaCon earlier this month, but this is the first time fans have been able to catch a glimpse of what’s in store.

During CinemaCon, 20th Century Studios also released an official synopsis for the film, which reads: “In the future on a remote planet, a young Predator, outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.”

“Something unprecedented happens in this movie,” Fanning told the assembled crowd of reporters and theater industry folks at CinemaCon. “My character is not the one being chased. My character actually teams up with the Predator. And you get to see him in a completely new light. And… I’ll stop there!”

Dan Trachtenberg, who is best known for directing 10 Cloverfield Lane and Predator prequel Prey, directed the film from a script he co-wrote with Patrick Aison. Predator: Badlands is set to premiere in theaters on November 7, 2025.

Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.

Original The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion senior game designer Bruce Nesmith has said Bethesda and Virtuos’ Oblivion Remastered is so impressive that he’s not sure calling it a remaster “actually does it justice.”

The mastermind behind much of what made the OG 2006 RPG so special shared his thoughts about the newly announced – and released – Oblivion remaster during a recent conversation with VideoGamer. He touched on the “blood, sweat, and tears” that went into bringing every inch of Cyrodiil to life, and that’s why it’s been such a shock to see Oblivion reimagined in nearly every way.

“I was assuming this was going to be a texture update,” Nesmith said. “I didn’t really think it was going to be the complete overhaul that they’ve announced it to be… I would not have batted an eye at that. But to completely redo the animations, the animation system, put in the Unreal Engine, change the leveling system, change the user interface. I mean, that’s, you’re touching every part of the game.”

Bethesda didn’t officially mention Oblivion Remastered before its launch yesterday. Still, longtime fans have been left mostly impressed by the countless changes that range from shallow visual touchups to fundamental gameplay tweaks. Additions such as a new sprint mechanic and changes to the leveling system have many feeling like Oblivion Remastered is less of a remaster and more of a remake, and Nesmith is leaning the same way.

“That’s a staggering amount of remastering,” he added. “It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice.”

Elsewhere in his chat, he attempted to label what he’s seen from Oblivion Remastered so far: “The closest that could come [to categorising it] is Oblivion 2.0.”

As fans gather to appreciate the work that’s gone into Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda has chimed in with its own explanation for how it came up with the name for its RPG re-release. In a statement posted to social media yesterday, the studio explained that it “never wanted to remake” Oblivion. Instead, its focus was maintaining the experience players know and love while modernizing it for newcomers, warts and all.

“We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil,” Bethesda’s statement added. “But there are also so many who have never played it. We can’t thank you enough for all the support you have given us and our games over the years. Our hope with this remaster is, that no matter who you are, when you step out of the Imperial sewer – you feel like you’re experiencing it for the first time.”

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered was revealed and released yesterday as a shadow drop from Bethesda. You can hop into its reimagined version of Cyrodiil on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S now, and if you’re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, it’s available at no extra cost. For more on how Oblivion Remastered has reinvigorated the Elder Scrolls community, you can check in on how the modding community responded to the surprise launch.

We’ve got a comprehensive guide to everything you’ll find in Oblivion Remastered, including an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Superhero comics aren’t just inspiring movie and TV adaptations these days, but also big-budget podcasts and audio dramas. DC recently kicked off its most ambitious podcast initiative to date with the debut of DC High Volume: Batman, a series that aims to adapt some of the Dark Knight’s most iconic comic book storylines.

But if you’re only listening to DC High Volume: Batman itself, you’re not getting the full story. That’s because DC is also launching a companion show within the main DC High Volume feed. These episodes, hosted by writer and journalist Coy Jandreau, offer a look at the making of the series through interviews with the cast and crew, as well as some of the creators whose work inspired DC High Volume: Batman in the first place. The first companion episode, due out on Thursday, April 24, features interviews with Batman voice actor Jason Spisak and DC’s Creative Director, Animation & Audio Content Mike Pallotta.

IGN recently had a chance to chat with Jandreau over the phone to learn more about the series and how it acts as a companion and extension of the DC High Volume: Batman saga. Read on to learn more about how these episodes will enrich your Batman experience.

What Is DC High Volume: Batman?

To understand what DC is looking to accomplish with this companion series, it’s best to establish what DC High Volume: Batman is in the first place. Essentially, the series is a collaboration between DC and podcast giant Realm – an ongoing audio drama closely based on iconic Batman comic books like Batman: Year One. The series stars Jason Spisak as the voice of Bruce Wayne/Batman and Jay Paulson as the voice of Jim Gordon.

“DC High Volume is the first of its kind to this scale, basically one-to-one telling of classic Batman comic books but in this incredible audio long-format radio play,” Jandreau tells IGN. “It’s taking Batman: Year One. It’s taking Long Halloween, and it’s turning them into this full, immersive audio experience with incredible production design, audio special effects, super-talented voice actors, a score where different villains and heroes/characters have their own piece, and it adds up to this incredible new way to listen to a story that, for me, I’ve been reading my whole life but now can hear in a new way.”

As Jandreau explains, the idea is to craft an ongoing narrative using the seminal Batman graphic novels as key chapters in Batman’s story. That’s why High Volume starts with Batman and Gordon’s shared origin story in Year One and then progresses into The Long Halloween, which is set in Year 2 of Batman’s career.

“The idea is kind of have the long-running Batman myth but in this new medium and allow the audience that either is a ride-or-die fan, like myself, that’s grown up with these characters as well as brand-new audience members that might only know the character from the movies or from the animated series or just be aware of Batman to have a jumping-on point,” Jandreau says. “It is going back to the roots for a reason and playing the big moments but in this shared universe and keeping the same voice actors and making sure it is something that grows and evolves through the storytelling of these classic stories.”

As a lifelong comic book fan, Jandreau sees plenty of appeal in experiencing these iconic stories in a new way and seeing stories from an entirely visual medium translated into a purely auditory experience instead.

“Listening to this, it’s crazy the emotion and the experience that comes out of these stories in a different way,” Jandreau says. “I don’t personally see it as subtracting art. I see it as adding audio. And what’s really great is you can listen to these by themselves and listen in a car or listen with incredible headphones or listen with tower speakers and get an experience.”

Jandreau continues, “You can also listen while you read if you want, and then you’ve got a full different experience than just audio. You can also do this and to have conversations around a fire in the old 1920s way. And there’s so many ways to do it, but none of them are taking away from the comic. And I love that because I’ve listened to this by itself. I’ve listened to this while reading. I’ve listened to this while driving, and each version is different, but none of them make the comic any less interesting.”

The High Volume Companion Series

Jandreau’s companion series is just that – a companion to the ongoing DC High Volume: Batman saga that delves into the making of the show and the challenges of adapting the comics for audio. The series is being released both in audio format on the DC High Volume: Batman feed and as a separate video series. The first episode premieres on April 24, just one day after High Volume kicks off its adaptation of Batman: The Long Halloween.

“They’ve been developing this for a number of years before I was brought on board, but they always wanted to highlight the incredible behind-the-scenes talent,” Jandreau says. “Whether it’s voice actors or the composer or people actually at DC that have been involved all the way to the writers of the original story or artists of the original story, they always felt it was important for people to get to know them as well.”

Jandreau explains that he was brought on board due to his work on the DC Studio Showcase video series, making him a natural fit to dig into the making of DC High Volume: Batman.

“I’ve been working at DC Studio Showcase, which is a bi-weekly show every other Friday on Max and Max’s YouTube, and that is the studio side. DC Studios being the James Gunn, Peter Safran leg of this world they’re building, and I’m the comic correspondent there. Once that started going well, they tapped me to do this, and I was so honored because comics are the reason I want to do any of this. I love the medium of comics, so it’s really cool to have a show that’s about comics and another way to adapt them.”

As mentioned, Spisak is one of the two guests in the first companion episode. Jandreau teases their discussion, saying much of the talk centered around the challenge of finding Batman’s voice in this universe and exploring the ways in which it changes depending on which characters Batman is interacting with.

“Not to give spoilers for the first episode, but talking to Jason Spisak, who is our Bruce Wayne Batman, he really found a fascinating new take on Batman in doing the role,” Jandreau says. “In Year One, as you’ve been hearing, it’s Bruce Wayne becoming the Bat, and we’ve seen that in TV. We’ve seen that in movies. We’ve read that. But hearing it, it’s fascinating to hear the Bat voice develop, to hear it play like an equalizer and discover levels in it and how Batman sounds with Gordon versus how Batman sounds with Alfred versus how Bruce Wayne sounds with Alfred versus, what does the voice in Bruce Wayne’s head sound like, and does that change as he becomes Batman?”

We were curious about the structure of the series. Will there be one episode of the show for each chapter of DC High Volume: Batman, or is the format less rigid? Jandreau explains that it’s more the latter, with the companion show tied to key emotional beats and plot points from the main series.

“It doesn’t always go this is Year One four issues, and then we have a conversation, and then it’s Long Halloween,” Jandreau says. “I actually love our first one is following a huge, huge moment in the first issue of Long Halloween. We’ve got Year One, and then we have right from Year One a beat of Long Halloween. And then I dive in, and that way I got to discuss the evolution from Year One into Long Halloween, the character growth and all those things. It’s more for me trying to hit an emotional beat that resonates with the people I’m interviewing that ties into where the audience is getting that interview, and I always want to make sure what I’m doing is additive to their experience. It’s giving them context at the right time to what they just experienced.”

We were also curious if Jandreau was inspired by any particular interview shows or podcast companion series for this project. He revealed that his show draws inspiration from Inside the Actors Studio and Hot Ones, along with classic late-night talk shows.

“I went Inside the Actors Studio. James Lipton has always been a hero of mine. It was kind of a blend of how James Lipton does his interviews in long form meets how Sean Evans finds very, very nuanced ways to uncover new ideas from the talent across the table’s perspective. And then old-school talk show Johnny Carson, Conan O’Brien. A blend of long-form Lipton, new wave, ‘find a question talent has never been asked’ Sean Evans. And then I want it to feel the energy of a talk show a la a Conan or a Johnny Carson. To me, I want to blend all the different forms of this.”

The Future of DC High Volume: Batman

Looking ahead, we were curious what DC creators Jandreau is hoping to interview on the series. Unsurprisingly, he’s hoping to get The Long Halloween writer Jeph Loeb on board, along with Loeb’s Batman: Hush collaborator Jim Lee.

“Jim Lee, now that he’s at his position at DC, has been so inspiring because he’s got so much creative oversight while also being an artist,” Jandreau says. “His own work is some of my favorite, and his insight is some of my favorite. Since he inspired so many stories I love and because of what he’s doing at DC broadly, I think Jim Lee is definitely one.”

Jandreau continues, “Jeph Loeb I’ve actually talked to at Cons. I’ve hosted some of his panels, and Jeph Loeb is responsible for so many of the comics that I consider the framework for the adaptations people know. When people look at classic Batman stories, a lot of times they don’t realize it’s Long Halloween. A lot of the DNA of Long Halloween. It’s a lot of Dark Victory, and I feel like Jeph Loeb is someone who I want to have that long-form chat with to have that insight.”

“Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee also just very conveniently are doing Batman: Hush again. Those two guys are absolutely cornerstones for me. I want to pick their brains about Batman.”

Jandreau also specifically named Tom King, who wrote a lengthy Batman run from 2016-2019 that included the controversial, failed marriage between Batman and Catwoman. It’s not clear when or if King might appear on the show, given that his Batman run is set much later in the Caped Crusader’s career, but he’s definitely on Jandreau’s bucket list nonetheless.

“He used to work for the CIA, and he literally has lived a Batman-adjacent life,” Jandreau says. “The way he sees Batman and his view of the Bat and the Cat, the way he writes love, the way he writes women, the way he writes this pathos and vengeance, and especially the way he writes Bruce’s pain and learning from it has always been how I see Bruce Wayne.”

Jandreau continues, “And I’ve really wanted to have a conversation with him in a way that I got to share it with others. I’ve talked to him briefly at Comic-Cons and those places, but I think it’d be really great to talk with someone who did such a long run on Batman who is currently working on the Lantern show. He’s responsible for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow which is being adapted. He’s clearly such a diversified talent in what’s being adapted. It’d be really cool to talk with him about Batman while we are adapting it in an all-new way. Tom King’s up there as well.”

Ultimately, Jandreau’s hope is that his companion series can be a source of positivity for Batman fandom in a time when positivity is often in short supply.

“I think the internet can be a very dangerous place,” Jandreau says. “I think it can be a place of hostility, especially in fandom, right? Genre content is very tribal because people are protective over these stories. These stories mean the world to them. There’s so much passion, which is why they thrive, which is why Batman’s been around for so many decades, which is why these stories can come out weekly, and we can still get excited about them, which is why you can adapt them so many times, so many ways.”

Jandreau continues, “I think it’s important we find the positivity in that because there’s plenty of negativity in the world. I don’t see any reason to make negativity about this genre content, about this fandom. I just think any way we can make fandom more positive and we can share in the internet a little bit more in an uplifting way … That’s what I want to do with this show and any show I’m a part of. I hope it makes comic fans, especially diehards, that have wanted to share in these stories in a new way, feel like they have a new home, a new comic store, but I also hope people that have always been like, ‘Batman’s so cool. I wonder what it’s like to read a comic book,’ … They get a chance to also come in and go, ‘This is something so special.’ We want this to be the least gatekeeping. The comic book store door is wide open, and that’s really important to me.

For more Batman fun, check out the top 10 Batman costumes of all time and the top 27 Batman comics and graphic novels.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

IGN can exclusively reveal four new photos from Netflix’s The Old Guard 2, which can be seen by scrolling through the gallery below. Like the 2020 original, the action sequel is based on the graphic novel series of the same name written by Greg Rucka and Illustrated by Leandro Fernandez.

Oscar winner Charlize Theron reprises her role as Andromache of Scythia, aka Andy, the leader of a band of immortal mercenaries who must once again protect humanity from a grave threat, but Andy’s situation is far more dire here than it was in the first film. (Read IGN’s The Old Guard review.)

“The stakes have never been higher. Andy is mortal now, so there’s a very real possibility that she could die during any mission this time around,” Theron told us via e-mail.

“The last film saw some intense changes in the dynamic of the group: Andy lost her immortality, Nile [KiKi Layne] became immortal, and Booker [Matthias Schoenaerts] was exiled. We see that Andy’s leadership style has changed. Because she’s mortal now, she’s dedicating however much time she has left to doing the most good she can.”

Theron, who is also a producer on the movie, said “the Old Guard has also never been more powerful — with Nile fully assimilated into the group, they’re even more lethal, and the action sequences in this film are next-level. They’ll face old friends and new foes, and Andy will certainly have to face her past in a way we haven’t seen yet – and decide what that means for her future, however long that might be.”

In addition to Theron, Layne, and Schoenaerts, Chiwetel Ejiofor returns as the team’s handler Copley and Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli are back as Joe and Nicky, respectively.

Veronica Ngô also returns as former Old Guard member Quynh, who it was revealed in the original film had escaped her centuries-long underwater imprisonment.

Kill Bill’s Uma Thurman has joined the cast in an undisclosed role, while The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’s Henry Golding plays a team member named Tuah.

Victoria Mahoney directs The Old Guard 2 from a screenplay by Greg Rucka and Sarah L. Walker.

The Old Guard 2 launches on Netflix on July 2, 2025.

By Azura, by Azura, by Azura – the rumors were true. Yesterday, Bethesda set the internet on fire by finally pulling back the curtain on Virtuos’ remaster (or is it really a remake?) of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. An ‘Elder Scrolls Direct’ of sorts culminated in the surprise shadow-drop, which near-immediately transformed into hundreds of thousands of concurrent players. This moment of global hype and celebration feels like a much-needed port in the current storm Bethesda Game Studios has been facing in recent years. From conducting years-long damage control to rectify Fallout 76’s misfire launch, to the lackluster reception of its new sci-fi universe, Starfield, the studio’s most recent output has had many fans asking the same question: Has Bethesda lost the magic? There’s fiercer competition in the RPG space these days, with Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 and Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds franchise both garnering critical acclaim as Elder Scrolls and Fallout spiritual successors. But while Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 may be years away from reclaiming their crowns, this re-release of Oblivion may be a step in the right direction – just not in the direction you’d expect.

At its peak, Bethesda Game Studios was an RPG juggernaut. In 2020, Microsoft’s leaked FTC documents revealed that Fallout 4 had sold 25 million units-to-date. The game shifted over 5 million units in its first week alone according to VGChartz. Likewise, in 2023 Todd Howard announced Skyrim had crossed 60 million sales (though it’s worth noting rereleasing it 50 times likely helped). So what about Starfield? Estimates put it at just over three million units a year-and-a-half post launch. While taking into account Game Pass subscribers (which would boost players if not sales) and Starfield’s lack of a PlayStation presence, this must still be something of a disappointment for Bethesda. And while there is a Starfield fanbase, it’s far smaller than that enjoyed by The Elder Scrolls or Fallout, and even it has voiced displeasure with the game’s first expansion, Shattered Space.

This all leaves the developer with a big problem. With The Elder Scrolls 6 “years away” and Fallout 5 just a whisper in the hallowed halls of the studio’s corridors, how can this once-iconic RPG developer enchant their fanbase once more? The answer lies in its past.

Rumours of the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remaster began back in September 2023, when leaked Microsoft documents revealed a number of unannounced Bethesda titles, including a remaster of 2006’s landmark trip to Tamriel (it also includes another interesting remaster – we’ll get to that soon). All was quiet until January 2025, when a former employee of Virtuos let slip more details, dividing Elder Scrolls fans as to their authenticity like the Stormcloaks vs. the Imperials. Finally, last week the dam broke (albeit early), setting the internet ablaze – there were over 6.4 million Google searches for ‘The Elder Scrolls VI: Oblivion’, rising by 713% in the last week alone. At its peak, Bethesda’s reveal livestream had over half a million viewers watching. Despite the leaks (or perhaps because of them), over 600,000 people tuned in to see a 19-year-old game re-revealed to them. The intense fervent demand to play the remaster caused discount game key websites like CDKeys to crash, and slowed Fanatical and Green Man Gaming to a crawl. As of yesterday, Steam’s concurrent players stood at 125,000 and the game is firmly the #1 best seller. The enthusiasm Bethesda fans have for Oblivion burns as bright as the flames that spill from the Oblivion gates themselves.

The message from players is clear: if you (re)build it, they will come. What better way to keep fans engaged and invested during these long development periods than to invite them to take a trip back to the mysterious isles of Morrowind or the hollowed-out husk of the East Coast? From a commercial standpoint, it makes clear sense. While Bethesda’s main development staff toils away on long-gestating new projects, trusted partners like Virtuos can use historic blueprints to craft remasters in shorter time frames. Such remasters are based on games with built-in audiences, and for many they’re the first real RPGs gamers will have sunk their teeth into during their respective generations. Restoring these works also invites a whole new generation to become obsessed with the inner workings of the land of Tamriel or crawl out from the post-apocalyptic fallout into Las Vegas and D.C.

Bethesda has already strategically uplifted its own catalogue once before. Fallout 4 was discounted by up to 75% during the Fallout TV show’s first season on Prime Video, alongside a cleverly scheduled next-gen update which brought over certain homages from the show. As a result, Fallout 4 sales jumped over 7,500% in Europe alone despite being nearly a decade old.