DC High Volume: Batman – Episode Summary

Podcast: DC High Volume: Batman
Host: Koi Jondreau (for DC | Realm)
Guests: Cristina Rosato (voice of Sofia Falcone), Arianna Turturro (DC Comics Editor)
Date: August 28, 2025
Main Comics Covered: Batman: Year One, The Long Halloween, Dark Victory

Episode Overview

This episode gives listeners an in-depth look at how key DC stories are brought to life in the audio adaptation, focusing on the formidable character of Sofia Falcone and the stories around her. First, host Koi Jondreau interviews Cristina Rosato, the voice of Sofia Falcone, exploring the psychology, nuance, and transformation of Sofia in the adaptations of The Long Halloween and Dark Victory. The second half features an interview with Arianna Turturro, one of DC’s leading editors, who shares her journey as a Batman fan-turned-editor, her process in guiding contemporary Bat-stories, and the importance of honoring the legacy of these revered comics.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Cristina Rosato on Portraying Sofia Falcone

• Casting and Personal Connection
  • Cristina describes the process of landing the role: a combination of persistent auditioning and enthusiasm for the DC world.
  • She drew on her Italian Montreal background and real-life knowledge of “shady people” to connect with Sofia’s underworld legacy.
    [02:34] Cristina: "Growing up as an Italian Montrealer, I mean, I knew a lot of shady people...So I just knew these people inside and out. I felt very connected to her on that level."
• Crafting a Layered Performance
  • She aimed for Sofia’s intimidating presence to be rooted and effortless, often visualizing herself grounded, speaking "from the floor."
  • The challenge and fun in voicing a character with so much inherent power, without "pushing." [04:38] Cristina: "I wanted her to feel powerful without pushing...just knowing that you have that power that you grew up in...I didn't want to push at all for her."
• Inspiration from the Graphic Novels
  • Rosato kept the graphic novel open during recording, using Tim Sale’s art to inform Sofia’s physicality and menace.
  • Visual cues from the comics directly impacted her decisions in the booth. [06:36] Cristina: "I did have the graphic novel open next to me...just to get the visual of it. I found it really helpful."
• Recording Challenges and Surprises
  • She recorded from her home studio, often alone, yet found the finished product thrilling due to the collaborative, layered sound design. [06:59] Cristina: "Hearing it so polished and put together...it sounded so effing cool...I have a bit of a trucker mouth."
  • Sofia’s relationships felt real through Cristina's technique of mentally casting real and imagined people as other characters, especially Carmine and her "annoying brothers." [08:16] Cristina: "I just pictured very specific people...to make [the relationship] feel the same all the way through."
• Navigating Different Mediums and Interpretations
  • Cristina avoided watching other Sofia interpretations (notably Cristin Milioti’s take in Penguin) until after completing her performance, to keep her version unique and self-derived. [10:52] Cristina: "I made sure not to watch anything until we finished recording this...I wanted to be inspired by what I was originally inspired by."
• Sofia’s Vulnerability and Motivation
  • Emphasized the importance of Sofia’s desire for her father's approval and her complex mix of feminine strength and relentless ambition. [12:41] Cristina: "I really think that Sophia really wanted her father's approval...growing up in a man's world...she had that motor going at all times."
• The Art and Challenge of Audio Drama
  • Adapting her physical expressiveness (waving hands) into a vocal-only character.
  • Ensuring every line in audio is full of subtext. [13:55] Cristina: "When you can only rely on your voice and words that someone else has written, you really have to imbue everything with, like...every moment has to be rich with subtext."
• Spoiler-Free Hints
  • Teased Sofia’s mastermind-level plotting in Dark Victory, hinting at impressive turns for listeners unfamiliar with the original comic. [18:25] Cristina: "She's a mastermind...the lengths she went to and goes to are impressive."
• Favorite Moments
  • Expresses awe at doing scenes with Catwoman and Joker, iconic Gotham figures she grew up with. [19:22] Cristina: "Anytime I had scenes with Catwoman...[or] Joker...I was like, 'Oh, man, I'm in Gotham City.'"
• Big Takeaway of Sofia Falcone
  • The lasting message: "Don't mess with Sofia."
    [20:31] Cristina: "Don't f— with Sophia. I mean, that's the reality."

2. Interview with Arianna Turturro – The Editor’s Journey and Perspective

• Early Fandom and Path to Editing
  • Grew up surrounded by Batman—the Animated Series, comics read to her as a child; formative experiences with classic collections.
  • Attended School of Visual Arts in Manhattan because Steve Ditko studied there; had mentors like Klaus Janssen and David Mazzucchelli. [25:31] Arianna: "I went to the School of Visual Arts...because it was the school that Steve Ditko went to."
• What Does a DC Comics Editor Actually Do?
  • Describes editors as "gardeners," nurturing stories and helping talent produce the best versions possible, from concept through to print.
  • Involved at every stage: from initial concept, hiring writers/artists, reviewing scripts and layouts, to final quality control. [26:11] Arianna: "We are gardeners. We're taking care of these characters and stories...helping [talent] tell the best possible version of the stories."
  • Feels like a showrunner: pre-production to post, reviewing pitches, scripts, layouts, colors, and lettering.
• Editorial Approach to Characters
  • Tasked with knowing the characters deeply; ensuring their actions feel true across new stories and adaptations. [30:01] Arianna: "Part of our job is to know the character...how would they behave in a certain situation?"
• Absorbing and Adapting Media
  • Talks about experiences with adaptations (audio, film), with the editor-brain always analyzing new interpretations for truth and inventiveness.
  • Recalls hearing Kevin Conroy describe Bruce Wayne as the mask and Batman as the real person—a perspective-changing moment for her. [32:21] Arianna: "Kevin Conroy talking about...Bruce Wayne, to him, was the mask and Batman was the real guy...I never really thought about this, but it completely makes sense."
• Working on Contemporary Bat-Books
  • Developed the current Poison Ivy book with G. Willow Wilson.
  • Explains the excitement of hearing audio adaptations match the tone and gravitas of the source material—especially Michelle Lukes’ Poison Ivy. [34:47] Arianna: "You can just kind of feel the like gravitas that Tim [Sale] brought to the character reflected in her vocal performance."
  • Describes the challenge and creativity in curating art across major adaptations, including The Last Halloween (sequel to Dark Victory). [36:17] Arianna: "Getting to work with Eduardo [Risso], Bill Sienkiewicz...every one of these issues has been like that."
• Personal Connections and Fun Facts
  • Shares an uncanny family tie: her own father is named Carmine Falcone—mirroring the infamous Gotham mob boss! [40:40] Arianna: "It is true. I am the daughter of Carmine Falcone. I'm breaking that news right here..."
  • Reveals he was approached to play Carmine in a Batman film, and how he brought an unscripted, comic-true moment (“looking up at young Bruce Wayne...”) into the movie. [44:00] Arianna (paraphrasing): "He remembered a detail from The Long Halloween and brought it into the movie... As someone who works in comics, there's no greater sense of pride."
• What Makes Batman Enduring
  • Arianna describes Batman as the symbol of hope and protection in a world full of fear—especially meaningful as someone who struggled with nightmares as a child. [48:46] Arianna: "The idea that there is someone who scares the things that scare you is...so special."
  • Speaks to Batman’s rogues gallery as “core and human”—villains who have suffered, responded tragically, offering layers for the editor and reader alike.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:34 | Cristina Rosato | "Growing up as an Italian Montrealer...I knew a lot of shady people...I felt very connected to her on that level." | | 04:38 | Cristina Rosato | "I wanted her to feel powerful without pushing...just knowing that you have that power that you grew up in." | | 06:36 | Cristina Rosato | "I did have the graphic novel open next to me when we were recording, just to get the visual...I found it really helpful." | | 13:55 | Cristina Rosato | "When you can only rely on your voice...you really have to imbue everything...every moment has to be rich with subtext." | | 20:31 | Cristina Rosato | "Don't f--- with Sofia. I mean, that's the reality." | | 25:31 | Arianna Turturro | "I went to the School of Visual Arts...because it was the school that Steve Ditko went to." | | 26:11 | Arianna Turturro | "We are gardeners. We're taking care of these characters and stories...helping [talent] tell the best possible version of the stories." | | 30:01 | Arianna Turturro | "Part of our job is to know the character...how would they behave in a certain situation?" | | 32:21 | Arianna Turturro | "Kevin Conroy talking about...Bruce Wayne, to him, was the mask and Batman was the real guy...I never really thought about this, but it completely makes sense." | | 34:47 | Arianna Turturro | "You can just kind of feel the like gravitas that Tim [Sale] brought to the character reflected in her vocal performance." | | 40:40 | Arianna Turturro | "It is true. I am the daughter of Carmine Falcone. I'm breaking that news right here..." | | 48:46 | Arianna Turturro | "The idea that there is someone who scares the things that scare you is...so special." |

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Cristina Rosato Interview

  • [02:06] – Cristina joins and discusses landing the role and her background
  • [04:38] – Developing Sofia’s presence—power without effort
  • [06:36] – Using comic art as vocal performance inspiration
  • [13:55] – Challenges of audio acting; the importance of subtext
  • [18:25] – Teases about Sofia’s arc in the adaptations
  • [20:31] – Big takeaway: “Don’t mess with Sofia”

• Arianna Turturro Interview

  • [23:49] – Arianna joins and recounts her Batman fandom growing up
  • [26:11] – Explains the role and process of a DC editor
  • [30:01] – Editorial responsibilities in keeping characters true to form
  • [32:21] – On Kevin Conroy’s Batman philosophy
  • [34:47] – Reaction to audio adaptation performances
  • [40:40] – Personal Falcone connection and effect on film adaptation
  • [48:46] – On Batman as a symbol of hope against fear

• Host’s Comic Recommendations

  • [47:00] (approximate) – Recommends:
    • Poison Ivy by G. Willow Wilson
    • Batman: Dark Patterns by Dan Waters
    • Catwoman: When in Rome by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale

Tone and Atmosphere

The episode is conversational, enthusiastic, and warmly reverent toward the Batman mythos. Both guests combine professional insight with genuine, lifelong fandom. There’s a sense of awe—Cristina in “living in Gotham” through a microphone, Arianna in editing the very stories that shaped her childhood and seeing their echoes in other media. The discussion is rich with industry detail, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and an ongoing appreciation for how comic characters can be endlessly reinterpreted while retaining core truths.

Conclusion

This installment of DC High Volume: Batman offers listeners a unique window into both the performance and editorial processes behind DC’s acclaimed audio adaptations. Cristina Rosato reveals Sofia Falcone’s vulnerabilities and power, infusing her with life beyond the page, while Arianna Turturro draws the curtain back on the passion, curation, and legacy stewardship of a DC Comics editor. Whether a die-hard Batman fan or a newcomer, listeners gain new perspectives on how Gotham’s most complex characters continue to evolve in new media.