10 great comic book adaptations on TV nobody talks about

Deeya
Still from Raising Dion (Image via Netflix)
Still from Raising Dion (Image via Netflix)

Comic book adaptations on TV are one of the most popular methods of creating shows for the viewers in modern times. Comic books have a lot of interesting stories and therefore are the perfect source for creating interesting plots. However, many times fans and viewers forget that a popular show is actually taken from a comic book and it is one of the comic book adaptations on TV. Therefore, here are 10 such comic book adaptations on TV, which are a must-watch.


The Boys, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and other great comic book adaptations on TV

1. Sweet Tooth

Still from the show (Image via Netflix)
Still from the show (Image via Netflix)

Based on the comic book series by Jeff Lemire that is published by the DC comics, this fantasy drama series is developed by Jim Mickle. The show has three seasons and aired from 2021 to 2024. Featuring Nonso Anozie, Adeel Akhtar, and others, the series is one of the must-watch comic book adaptations on TV. The show focuses on a world where a virus has killed the majority of the humans. Amidst all this, there is an emergence of hybrid babies being born with animal characteristics. The show is critically acclaimed and focuses on an innocent 10-year-old Gus (Christian Convery), who is a deer hybrid and wants to find his mother after his father’s death. The show is therefore heartfelt, poignant, and filled with interesting adventures. Lemire’s comics have a whimsical quality and this show is therefore the perfect watch for all the comic book lovers. The series received positive acclaim and is a cult classic. Therefore, it is one of the great comic book adaptations on TV.


2. Lucifer

Still from the show (Image via Netflix)
Still from the show (Image via Netflix)

Developed by Tom Kapinos and starring Tom Ellis, Lauren German, and others, this urban fantasy and police procedural series is based on the DC comics character of the same name, which was created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg. The show is one of the must-watch comic book adaptations on TV. The series focuses on the devil, Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis), who runs Hell, but abandons it to arrive in Los Angeles and begins to run a nightclub. However, he crosses paths with a Los Angeles Police Department detective, Chloe (Lauren German), who is the only woman who is immune to his charms. Intrigued, he begins to help the police force and solves cases with them, trying to stay close to Chloe. The show has a lot of fantastical elements. The show was well-loved by fans and it is easy to forget that its origins come from a comic book. It does a stellar job of converting comic book characters into a police procedural show. Therefore, it is one of the must-watch comic book adaptations on TV.


3. The Umbrella Academy

Still from the show (Image via Netflix)
Still from the show (Image via Netflix)

Based on the comic book series of the same name by Gerad Way and which is published by Dark Horse comics, this superhero comedy and drama show is created by Steve Blackman. Developed by Jeremy Slater, the series is one of the must-watch comic book adaptations on TV. The show revolves around a dysfunctional family that has adopted siblings and are superheroes in their own right. All of these siblings reunite at their father’s funeral and must battle together the threat of an apocalypse. The show features Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, Robert Sheehan, and others. The show has four seasons and aired from 2019 to 2024. It has received positive reviews and has been loved by critics and fans. The show is quirky and entertaining and that is because even the comic books that it is inspired from is niche. The show is one of the best comic book adaptations on TV.


4. The Boys

Still from the show (Image via Amazon Prime Video)
Still from the show (Image via Amazon Prime Video)

One of the most famous and critically-acclaimed comic book adaptations on TV, this satirical superhero drama series is developed by Eric Kripke. It is based on the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The show turns the superhero genre on its head as it focusses on a group of superheroes, known as “supes”, who maintain an image of heroism in front of the public but actually work for a powerful company called Vought International and abuse their powers for personal gain. Against them, a team of vigilantes surface, who want to expose their hypocrisy. The show features Karl Urban, Antony Starr, and others. The show has four seasons till now and has been a smash hit, receiving numerous award nominations. The show’s popularity makes it easy to forget that it is based on a comic book series and considering that the comics themselves are not traditional, it makes sense that the show is a satire. It is one of the must-watch comic book adaptations on TV.


5. The Walking Dead

Still from the show (Image via Amazon Prime Video)
Still from the show (Image via Amazon Prime Video)

Another famous comic book adaptations on TV, this long-running post-apocalyptic horror and dram show is based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The show has eleven seasons and aired from 2010 to 2022. Like the show, even the comic books are one of the longest-running modern comics. Developed by Frank Darabont, the series features a world that has been overrun by zombies and has become a wasteland. Amidst this, a group of survivors must stay alive and not only protect themselves from zombies, but also stay safe from other conflicting human survivors. The show has had a lot of cast changes and some of its long-standing members include Andre Lincoln, Norman Reedus, and others. The show has spawned a media franchise and is one of the most famous shows, which is liked by fans and critics alike. It is therefore one of the must-watch comic book adaptations on TV that many fans forget comes from comic books.


6. Essex County

Still from the show (Image via CBC)
Still from the show (Image via CBC)

Another one of the comic book adaptations on TV that people often forget comes from comics is this Canadian drama limited series. Directed by Andrew Cividino and based on Jeff Lemire’s graphic novel, the show features Molly Parker, Brian J Smith, and others. The series focuses on two interconnected families in Essex County, Ontario. The show focuses on the characters of Lester, who is a young boy who has to move in with his uncle Ken, after his mother’s death. The show also revolves around his biological father, Jimmy, who has returned to Essex County. On the other hand, there are also the characters of Anne and Lou, who is a nurse and an ill uncle, respectively. The show premiered in 2023 and has one season. The show has been praised for its quality and its themes of family and loss, which are rarely explored in comic book adaptations on TV. Lemire is known for his artful storytelling and he also co-wrote the show.


7. The End of the F***ing World

Still from the show (Image via Netflix)
Still from the show (Image via Netflix)

Based on the mini-comics of the same name by Charles Forsman, this British black comedy and drama series is created by Jonathan Entwistle and directed by Charlie Covell. The show has two seasons which aired from 2017 to 2019 and is one of the best comic book adaptations on TV. Featuring Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden, the show focuses on James (Lawther), who is a 17-year-old, who believes that he is a psychopath and must kill someone. On the other hand, he comes across his angry classmate Alyssa (Barden), who sees in James a chance to escape her troubled home life. The show was a viral hit and received positive reviews from fans and critics. The show is quirky and has the perfect balance of love, dark humor, and sentimentality. The show is one of the must-watch comic book adaptations on TV and because of its popularity, people often forget that its origins reside in a comic book.


8. Raising Dion

Still from the show (Image via Netflix)
Still from the show (Image via Netflix)

A superhero drama series based on the 2015 comic book and short movie by Dennis Liu, the show has two seasons and aired from 2019 to 2022. Executively produced by Michael B. Jordon, who also is a recurring guest star in the show, the series is one of the must-watch comic book adaptations on TV. Featuring Ja’Siah Young, Alisha Wainwright, and others, the show is about a woman called Nicole (Wainwright), who is a widow and is trying to raise her son Dion (Young). However, the simple life of the mother and son changes when Dion begins to manifest superhero abilities. Nicole must now protect her son from evil influences who want to exploit his powers, while also keeping her son’s powers a secret and trying to find out the origin of his powers. The show is unique as it tells the story of superhero from the perspective of a mother. It has stunning visuals and it is easy to forget that the heartfelt story comes from a comic book and is therefore one of the best comic book adaptations on TV.


9. Preacher

Still from the show (Image via Amazon Prime Video)
Still from the show (Image via Amazon Prime Video)

Developed by Sam Catlin, Seth Rogen, and Evan Goldberg, this supernatural and adventure series is based on the comic book series of the same name by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, which is published by the DC comics. The show is one of the best comic book adaptations on TV and features Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, and others. The show has four seasons and focuses on Jesse Custer (Cooper), who is a drinker and a smoker, but is also a preacher from Annville, Texas. He has a criminal past and during a crisis of faith, he gets superpowers of his own. Jesse therefore embarks on a quest to understand his gift and find God, literally. The show is quirky as it also features Jesse’s rebellious ex-girlfriend and a vampire friend, who join him on his mission. The show stays true to the comics and is a great watch for all those who have read the comic and for others who want to begin reading the comic after the show. It is one of the must-watch comic book adaptations on TV.


10. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

Still from the show (Image via Netflix)
Still from the show (Image via Netflix)

One of the few comic book adaptations on TV that maintains the same art style as the original graphic novels from where it is inspired. This anime adventure series is based on the graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley, who also developed the show. Directed by Abel Góngora, it features the voices of Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and others. The show premiered in 2023 and has one season. The show received acclaim from critics and fans and the graphic novels has also led to a movie that was released in 2010. While the film was faithful to the comics, the show has a different plot. It features Scott Pilgrim, who disappears mysteriously. Now, it is up to his love interest, Ramona Flowers, to find out Scott and who is responsible for the disappearance. The show is quirky and has lots of comedic moments. Entertaining and colorful, it is one of the must-watch comic book adaptations on TV.

Edited by Deeya