The Singaporean creative behind new DC podcast that adapts classic Batman comics

SINGAPORE – Fans of Batman can soon enter the city of Gotham via a podcast, thanks to a Singaporean.

New York-based scriptwriter and producer Roshan Singh Sambhi, 30, is a co-writer, co-producer and assistant director of an upcoming scripted podcast series featuring direct adaptations of American comic book giant DC’s Batman stories as audio dramas.

DC High Volume: Batman will premiere on April 2 via major podcast streamers like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and will also be available on the official DC YouTube channel. New episodes are available every Wednesday.

It will kick off with adaptations of the comic Batman: Year One (1987) by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, which follows the Caped Crusader’s first year fighting crime and corruption in Gotham.

Sambhi, founder of Singapore-based audio fiction studio Andas Productions, told The Straits Times he was asked to provide a writing sample for an unnamed project in 2023 by the head of audio at Realm, an American audio entertainment company which helms the project alongside DC.

He did not hear back for months, but in June 2024, he was offered the opportunity to adapt the Batman comics into audio dramas.

Sambhi and his team at Andas, which includes an assistant editor and associate producer, are the only Singaporeans on the project.

Sambhi, whose credits include the audio drama Temujin (2020), a Webby-nominated audio drama on the rise of Mongolian ruler Genghis Khan, said it was surreal to hold a key creative role in a DC project, but chose not to dwell too much on the idea.

“There wasn’t time to overthink it. There was always something to do, and I just threw myself into the work. As the show evolved, my role evolved too – which I think is a reflection of how much I love this show and this team.”

The story of orphaned billionaire Bruce Wayne, who takes on a bat-inspired superhero persona to save his city, has seen multiple adaptations, with animation series and movies over the years focusing on different aspects of the story.

As a long-time comics fan, whose favourites include the Batman comics, Sambhi said the project is aiming for a “dictionary-definition” of the famous character.

He added: “We’re taking a close, loving look at the source material – in particular, some of the most emotionally resonant Batman graphic novels ever written, set early in his career – and crafting a faithful, immersive audio adaptation.

“In some ways, we’re aiming for a ‘dictionary-definition’ Batman: the stories that defined who he is, brought to life for a new medium and audience.”

Sambhi, who graduated from liberal arts university Yale-NUS College in 2018 with a major in arts and humanities, has been working in New York for the past four years as a creative. Prior to moving to the US, he was a freelance screenwriter in Singapore.

He believes that local talent can succeed internationally.

“There’s never been a better time to be a Singaporean creative trying to establish yourself globally. Yes, there are still barriers. But I’ve seen incredible Singaporean talents – artists I truly admire – convince themselves international success isn’t possible. If you let yourself believe this, even briefly, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy,” he said.

His advice for aspiring artists is, simply, to create.

“If you create something you genuinely believe in – and make it accessible – it will eventually find an audience. It takes persistence, faith and thick skin. But having a finished project you truly care about is more valuable than any resume.”