Serial Box Publishing is getting a facelift and modifying its business strategy to include podcasts as Realm. Shows like “Orphan Black: The Next Chapter” and “Memory Lane” are two of the first to enter the podcasting ecosystem.

New Features and Old Updates

Realm is also going the route of Amazon’s whispersync for voice, where users can read and listen simultaneously. The new feature, called “Flow Reader™” allows for short sections of text to appear onscreen one at a time and update automatically as the audio plays.

Already, many of Serial Box’s officially licensed stories from companies like Marvel are available on the platform. The Arrowverse spinoff shows that were supposed to start releasing in October 2019 have been on an indefinite hiatus since July 2020 or earlier, according to an email sent to people who pre-ordered Serial Box’s “The Flash: Rogues” production. A refund has already been sent to those people who pre-ordered the audio show.

What Shows and Where to Listen

The following shows, in addition to Orphan Black: The Next Chapter are available on platforms like Apple Podcasts. Just search for “Realm” in it and possibly other podcasting apps.

1. “Gods and Lies”
2. “Ctrl-Alt Destroy”
3. “Machina”
4. “Beatrix Greene”
5. “The Triangle”
6. “Memory Lane” (Coming Soon)

The rest of Realms series are available on their app on website and these versions include the Flow Reader™ technology introduced with the new name change.

The Future of Realm

The sudden shift from premium audio content to include free podcasts is an unexpected one as the first episodes dropped on April 1, 2021 on the shows mentioned above. However, after looking up several different shows on Apple Podcasts, it appears not to be an April Fools’ Day joke. The second episodes for the aforementioned shows are not available, but a monthly release schedule is confirmed for those shows.

All Realm originals will be released as podcasts. That means no Marvel, DC or third-party shows like Graphic Audio’s version of “Warbreaker” from Brandon Sanderson. These titles, including the first season of Wolf 359 are temporary additions to the Realm catalog.

One of the only incentives to purchase these shows might be the Flow Reader™ feature and not everyone will want or need that — leaving the accessibility concerns at the door. Still, it works as far as free samples and marketing are concerned. I’m listening to the Black Panther and Black Widow stories between work, hobbies and school and have been enjoying them much more than my first Serial Box Production of “The Witch Who Came in from the Cold.”

Both Marvel stories are $9.99 or $6.99, individually, depending on whether you’re an Unlimited Member or not. There’s both a monthly and yearly membership plan. $2.99 and $29.99, respectively as well as a 2-week free trial. For these purchasable titles and the DC Comics’ stories Realm produces, you don’t need an unlimited membership. All other titles, Flow Reader access requires a membership to use on their app.