Comic book shows and movies, specifically those about superheroes, have taken the world by storm. It’s not hard to see why. Comics offer a near-endless wellspring of stories and inspiration for artists. Superheroes have proven themselves to be sources of reliable and effective narratives and characters to bring to life onscreen, with plenty of creative twists that can be used to keep them fresh. For better or worse, these properties are here to stay.
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As you would expect though, not everyone is sold on the comic book craze. Or they used to be, but have since been put off by the sheer over-saturation. However, just as there are superhero stories that were not adapted from comics, there are a ton of comic books that do not involve superheroes, or that do but are so atypical for the genre that even the non-mainstream crowd would be interested. Television is probably the best place to find them and there are a few, in particular, worth checking out.
‘Deadly Class’
Based on a comic series from Image Comics, this short-lived Syfy show centers on Marcus Arguello, a troubled teenage street urchin who enrolls in King’s Dominion, a private academy designed to train assassins during the ’80s. While a bit too reliant on familiar high school tropes, the show has a well-rounded cast of interesting and oddball characters surrounded by a style reminiscent ofTarantinomovies, with unabashed violence, animated backstory sequences, and a wicked sense of humor.
‘Doom Patrol’
This is aDC Comicsseries about a group of societal rejects with strange abilities and conditions living in a mansion with their wheelchair-bound benefactor. If you think that sounds likeX-Men, you would not be the first to do so. But beyond that basic premise,Doom Patrolshares almost nothing in common with the popularMarvel Comicsfranchise. For one thing, this show is so very, very weird.
It is not weird in the sense that it uses an avant-garde style of filmmaking, but in that its episode plots feature Nazi puppet shows, parallel dimensions that spit on the very concept of the fourth wall, and magical farting donkeys that swallow up entire towns whole (yes, you read that right). And all that is barely the tip of the iceberg. Yet, even with its committed embrace of the bizarre, the series maintains a strong focus on itscharacters and emotional storytelling. You will want to watchDoom Patrolsimply because there is no other show like it.
‘The Umbrella Academy’
An eccentric billionaire takes in several inexplicably birthed children with paranormal powers and trains them to be superheroes. Years later, the kids, now adults, return to their childhood home when their “father” dies and have to figure out how to move on while also trying to prevent the apocalypse.
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This adaptation of a Dark Horse comic is less about superheroes and more about a surrogate family coming to terms with their shared trauma growing up under the tutelage of a man who treated them more like soldiers or experiments than children, and how this abuse has affected each of their lives since then. But even dealing with such heavy themes, the show still manages to deliver a healthy amount of levity and present its world and story in a vibrant and offbeat style to keep viewers entertained.
This contemporary marvel of surrealism starsDan Stevensas the X-Men character David Haller, a schizophrenic young man who is a powerful mutant psychic being targeted by a shady government agency.
The show eschews the conventions of its comic book roots and traditional narrative structure in favor of an experimental visual approach worthy of the best ofDavid Lynch’s works, making you feel like you are truly in the mind of its protagonist. Half the time, you will not understand what is going on, but you will be too mesmerized to turn away. It is one acid trip that you will not soon forget.
‘The End Of The F***ing World’
Love can be strange. It certainly is for James and Alyssa, the leads of thisdark and quirky teen dramaadapted from a series of mini-comics. At first, Alyssa convinces James to run away with her to escape her rough home-life, while James is a self-proclaimed psychopath with hidden intentions to claim Alyssa as his first victim. But as the story progresses, their feelings toward one another become genuine and grow into something tender.
Lead starRose McIverdemonstrates remarkable versatility in this Vertigo comic-inspired procedural about a zombie morgue attendant who assists the Seattle police in solving murders by eating the victims' brains and receiving flashes of their memories and personalities. Despite the morbid premise, this show is highly entertaining and funny, thanks in no small part to sharp writing and an extremely likable cast of characters.
‘Legends of Tomorrow’
Before you write this series off as just another superhero show because of its inclusion in theArrowverse, rest assured that it is anything but, at least in its later seasons. This began as a fascinating experiment on the CW’s part, wherein they put a bunch of supporting characters from their existing Arrowverse shows together with some lesser-known ones from DC’s catalog and have them travel across time confronting various evils.
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The show has evolved considerably since then,finding its own identityin being self-aware and irreverent, creating a consistently humorous sci-fi adventure in which superheroes face down threats ranging from time-traveling conquerors to demon unicorns every week.
‘The Gifted’
Imagine an X-Men TV show without any actual X-Men in it. Who would ever be interested in that? ButThe Giftedsucceeds in being a compelling series thatcould take placein the X-Men universe, where paranoia of mutants runs amok and these individuals live in constant fear of being persecuted for their extraordinary abilities, except that the X-Men are not around to help them.
The show focuses on one family in particular, as they are forced to go into hiding and seek help from an underground group of resistance fighters after the children are revealed to be mutants. The narrative and themes are hardly innovative, yet the series still provides poignant and insightful drama about prejudice and the extremes that people on both sides of this conflict are willing to go to stand up for what they believe in, without skimping on the impressive special effects-laden action expected of a show like this.
‘Constantine’
You do not need to be a fan of DC to appreciate this gem. A supernatural detective drama revolving around restless specters, cryptic angels, and possessed vinyl records, this show is notable for introducing to the worldMatt Ryan’s inimitable performance as the eponymous John Constantine, a wily magician sleuth haunted by a past full of sorrow and shame, which he hides behind a cheeky smile and a snarky attitude.
While certainly not lacking in horror and mystery, the understated quality of this series is the ambiguity with which it addresses many moral and ethical issues presented to its characters throughout its single season. Even if the show sadly never saw a proper revival following its abrupt cancellation, it remains a favorite among fans ofAlan Moore’s now-iconic creation and opened the door forMatt Ryanto reprise the role in several DC properties.
‘Human Target’
There has been more than one version of the comic book character Christopher Chance portrayed on television, but the 2010 series starringMark Valleyas Chance represents the one that has had the most longevity onscreen. A former assassin turned mercenary and bodyguard-for-hire, Chance spends the series taking on various jobs for different clients, assisted by a small crew of close allies, while also occasionally dealing with ghosts from his less-than-reputable past.
The show seemingly pays homage to the action films and shows of the ’90s, and it does so without taking itself too seriously, maintaining a fine balance of solid action and comedy, strengthened by a dynamic supporting cast that includesChi McBride,Indira Varma, andWatchmen(2009) starJackie Earle Haley.
