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San Diego Comic-Con was overflowing with audiobook fandom this weekend as Audible transformed SDCC into a playground for fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl, Heads Will Roll, and Bobiverse. From standing-room-only panels to immersive experiences, celebrity appearances, and even a surprise Princess Donut-themed donut truck, Audible proved that some of the biggest stories at Comic-Con weren’t just on screen—they were heard.
Dungeon Crawler Carl Brings the House Down
Fans packed the room for Audible’s highly anticipated Dungeon Crawler Carl panel featuring New York Times bestselling author Matt Dinniman and acclaimed audiobook narrator Jeff Hays. The duo gave attendees an inside look at the wildly popular LitRPG phenomenon, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, creative insights, and plenty of laughs.
One of the biggest moments came when Hays—who recently revealed he’ll voice fan-favorite feline Princess Donut in Peacock and Fuzzy Door’s upcoming live-action Dungeon Crawler Carl adaptation—treated fans to an exclusive reading from the next installment in the series. The surprise preview brought the audience to its feet with enthusiastic cheers.
Dinniman joked about pushing Hays’ vocal talents to the limit while writing the books.
“I’m always testing Jeff’s limits… it’s great for me.”
Hays explained why audiobook fans connect so deeply with his performances.
“It’s my job to bring the characters to life. It’s my job to make you forget that you’re listening to the audio and make you think that you’re actually there with the characters.”
Kate McKinnon & Emily Lynne Deliver Comedy Gold with Heads Will Roll
Laughter echoed throughout Comic-Con during Audible’s Heads Will Roll panel, where co-creators and sisters Kate McKinnon and Emily Lynne entertained a packed audience with stories about bringing their medieval comedy series to life.
McKinnon shared how essential casting was to the show’s success, revealing that legendary actor Richard Kind was part of the vision from the very beginning.
“The entire series sort of hinged on us being able to get Richard Kind, and we wrote it for him… then we wrote this song that was like a Bruce Springsteen-esque power ballad, and we needed someone with the most power. Adam Pascal came in, and it was just so beautiful.”
Lynne also opened up about the inspiration behind fan-favorite character Jojo.
“It’s loosely based on my very smart friend of 20 years. There’s a ditz in all of us, and Jojo is my ditz.”
Audible’s Level Up Lounge Was a Must-Visit SDCC Destination
The fun didn’t stop after the panels.
Fans headed to Audible’s Level Up Lounge in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, where the worlds of Dungeon Crawler Carl and Bobiverse came to life through immersive experiences designed especially for Comic-Con attendees.
Adding to the excitement, Audible surprised fans across downtown San Diego with a Princess Donut-themed food truck handing out free donut holes, while Princess Donut cosplayers roamed the streets delighting fans and creating unforgettable photo opportunities.
Between exclusive sneak peeks, hilarious celebrity panels, immersive fan activations, and delicious surprises, Audible delivered one of the most entertaining experiences of San Diego Comic-Con 2026—proving once again that audiobooks can create just as much excitement as the biggest movies and TV shows.
Photos below:
All photos courtesy: Audible
