Top 10 Comic Book-Turned-TV Shows & Where To Watch Them
The world of comic book-based television shows is continuing to grow, age-old comics are being taken off the shelf, dusted off, and given a new lease of life in the form of addictive televisual entertainment.
This isn’t a new notion, the 1960’s saw the DC comic book, Batman turned into a live-action series; while the 1990’s brought with it The Flash, based on the DC Comics character Barry Allen (aka Flash). More recently, the likes of Arrow, Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D, The Walking Dead, Riverdale and Preacher have been paving the way in turning much loved, storyboard panels into popular TV series.
Here’s a breakdown of the best TV adaptations of your favourite comic books and comic book characters; and where to watch them.
10. Smallville
Where to watch: Amazon Video
Comic book publisher: DC Comics
Starring: Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, Allison Mack
The American TV series was developed by writer-producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, and based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. It follows a young Clark Kent struggles to find his place in the world as he learns to harness his alien powers for good and deals with the typical troubles of teenage life in Smallville, Kansas. The show was really the first to kick off the new tread in superhero shows. Without the massive success of ‘Smallville’, I doubt we’d have such a huge variety of comic book series on our screens now, so for that reason alone, it deserves a spot on the list.
9. Preacher
Comic book publisher: Vertigo
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Starring: Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun
The Amazon Exclusive series, Preacher is an adaptation of the critically-acclaimed Vertigo comic book of the same name. It follows the story of a preacher who enlists the help of a vampire to find God after a supernatural event takes place at his church. Amazing performances with a quirky storyline that, while deviating from the story in the comics, ultimately does justice to the spirit of its source material. The second series has just finished, catch up on Amazon Prime Video now!
8. Gotham
Source: DC Comics
Where to watch: Netflix
Starring: Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, David Mazouz, Robin Lord Taylor
Much like ‘Smallville’, this was another show that takes an established DC character and takes it back to before they become their alter ego. In this case, it’s a young Bruce Wayne, finding his way to becoming Batman as Gotham begins to drown in a rising tide of crazy villains. Up until now, Wayne story has been treated as a secondary strand, with the main focus being on Jim Gordon, the man destined to become commissioner of Gotham Police. Whilst the good guys are all perfectly fine, it’s the villains on the show who really shine. Robin Lord Taylor’s Penguin, Cory Michael Smith’s Riddler and especially Cameron Monaghan’s brilliantly deranged Jerome, aka proto-Joker are some of the best comic book bad guys on tv right now. Season 1-3 are on Netflix right now. Season 4 will arrive next year, if not before.
7. The Tick
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Comic book publisher: New England Comics
Starring: Juliet Pritner, Mimi Gianopulos, Alan Tudyk
This new Amazon Original is based on a fictional superhero created by cartoonist Ben Edlund in 1986. In a world where superheroes have been real for decades, an accountant with mental health issues and zero powers comes to suspect his city is owned by a global supervillain long-thought dead. As he struggles to uncover the conspiracy, he falls in league with a strange blue superhero. They launch into an adventure brimming with crazed archvillains, blood-soaked vigilantes, and superhuman freakery.
6. Riverdale
Where to watch: Netflix
Comic book publisher: Archie Comics
Starring: K.J. Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes
Another new-ish one, ‘Riverdale’ is a subversive take on Archie and his friends, exploring small-town life, the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade. The shows name, Riverdale is the fictional town where most of the characters appear in Archie Comics. A 2nd season is coming to Netflix from 12th October 2017, and the team behind the show have set their sights on developing a subversive version of ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’ next!
5. Lucifer
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Comic book publisher: Vertigo / DC
Starring: Mike Colter, Simone Missick, Theo Rossi
Based on characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg, Lucifer stars Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar… aka The Devil. Bored of his life in Hell he moves to LA to set up a nightclub called ‘Lux’. After witnessing a crime, he becomes intrigued by LAPD Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German), who seems to be immune to his powers of manipulation. Worming his way into the police as a special advisor, he now helps them take down criminals, which, in Lucifer’s eyes, is just him fulfilling his job as delivering punishment to those that deserve it. Whilst this adaptation deviates (quite a lot!) from the source material, Ellis is so perfectly cast as Lucifer, it makes the show a hugely entertaining watch.
4. Marvel’s Agents of the S.H.I.E.L.D.
Where to watch: E4 / All4
Comic book publisher: Marvel
Starring: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a Marvel Comics fictional counterterrorism and intelligence agency charged with investigating and neutralizing paranormal and superhuman threats for global security. It was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 (August 1965) and appeared throughout the publisher’s entire comic book line. This series follows the missions of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. The tv series got off to a bit of a rocky start but has grown into a solid comic book drama, weaving in and out of the larger MCU. Whilst it might not have the best ratings for ABC in the US, it’s well written and highly entertaining show. ‘Marvel’s Agents of the S.H.I.E.L.D.’ should return to E4 in Early 2018.
3. The Arrowverse Shows (Arrow/The Flash/Supergirl/Legends Of Tomorrow)
https://youtu.be/uF6KNS_T7kc
Where to watch: Sky 1 / Now TV
Source: DC Comics
Starring: Stephen Amell, Grant Gustin, Melissa Benoist, Caity Lotz, Brandon Routh, Victor Garber, Dominic Purcell, Franz Drameh, Ciara Renée
What started with one little show called ‘Arrow’, has blossomed into a huge network of DC TV comic book series for US network The CW. Dubbed the Arrowverse (or Berlantiverse, after producer Greg Berlanti), it now encompasses ‘The Flash’, ‘Supergirl’, and ‘Legends Of Tomorrow’ too. I could have added them individually, but they would have taken half the list, and as they are so tightly knitted together, it seemed fairer to add them as a group. Yes, ‘Arrow’ lost it’s way a little somewhere around the middle of season 3, with characters finding love trumping the superhero plots that kept people captivated, but it really pulled it back last season. Grant Gustin and Melissa Benoist are a joy to watch as ‘The Flash’ & ‘Supergirl’, and are utterly adorable when they are on screen together. My current personal favourite of the bunch is ‘Legends Of Tomorrow’ though. A great mix of misfit characters, in stories which don’t take themselves too seriously, and are nicely played with a knowing nod to the audience. All 4 of the DC shows are due back on Sky 1 in October.
2. Netflix/Marvel Shows (Daredevil/Jessica Jones/Luke Cage/Iron Fist/The Defenders)
https://youtu.be/4h3m7B4v6Zc
Where to watch: Netflix
Comic book publisher: Marvel
Starring: Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, Finn Jones
Much like the DC shows, Marvel have their own set of interlinking tv dramas with ‘Daredevil’, ‘Jessica Jones’, ‘Luke Cage’ & ‘Iron Fist’ all with their own slightly different styles. Netflix kicked things off with the spectacular ‘Daredevil’, an action-packed series which follows Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer by day, and vigilante by night as he used his other senses which are superhumanly enhanced for the greater good. This was followed by ‘Jessica Jones’, which had a more detective noir feel. Then came ‘Luke Cage’ which has been described as both “blaxploitation” and “hip-hop Western”. Finally, ‘Iron Fist’, which is generally seen as the weakest of the 4, but still a reasonable watch. This was followed by ‘The Defenders, which brought all 4 heroes together in a superb 10 episode run which saw them all team up to take down Sigourney Weaver… Because you need 4 superheroes to take down Sigourney Weaver. That’s a rule. Season 2 of ‘Daredevil’ also spawned a new spin-off ‘The Punisher’ which is due to drop any day now.
1. The Walking Dead
Where to watch: Fox UK / Now TV / Amazon Prime
Comic book publisher: Image Comics
Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride
Soon to be in its 8th season, ‘The Walking Dead’ is an American horror television drama series, originally developed by Frank Darabont, but grown to it’s current status by showrunner Scott M. Gimple. Based on the comic series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, it follows Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) who wakes from a coma to discover the world he knew has gone, replaced by the zombie apocalypse. What they developed is a show where no one is safe. Beloved characters can find themselves shot, stabbed, bludgeoned or torn to bits at any given moment. It’s dark, gruesome, utterly compelling, and the Season 7 opener provided some of the most harrowing drama ever to grace a tv screen.‘The Walking Dead‘ returns to Fox UK on Monday, 23rd October 2017 at 9pm, and promises “all out war” with Negan and The Saviors.
