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These days, you can't scroll your Twitter timeline without seeing word of another comic book property being developed into a television series. This month alone, we get NBC's Vanessa Hudgens-starring Powerless and FX's Legion, which are set in the DC and X-Men universes, respectively. While all aren't the usual "bad ass dude sets out to destroy all of the evil in his town" ala Batman, they all play with the idea of transporting you into the worlds that these characters inhabit, and showcasing how a universe inhabited by people with extraordinary powers would actually function.
While the world of comic book-based television shows is the hotness right now, we've been getting inundated with these tales for 50+ years. As technology has advanced, we've been able to go from the black-and-white Superman on strings to a black man who has entire city buildings falling on his head. Better technology doesn't mean better shows, but the ability to show how Daredevil "sees" in a room full of strangers or to properly showcases The Flash's speed has been a marvelous thing to behold.
The real question seems to be "what makes a great comic book adaptation?" Is it staying true to the source material, warts and all? What about a creative spin on stale storylines? Or are we just dazzled by feats of "oh sh*t, they finally are able to do that"? Now's as good of a time as any to figure all of this out. Here's a breakdown of the best TV adaptations of your favorite comic books and comic book characters.
20. The Walking Dead
Network: AMC
Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Danai Gurira, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Number of Seasons: 7 (2010 - present)
Yes, it's wild to think that the fallout of the zombie apocalypse has been on air for almost seven seasons. The show, which was birthed from a comic book series that debuted in 2003, has made a huge impact, leading the Nielsen ratings in its 18-49 demographic since its third season (even though the ratings for season seven's mid-season finale fell), but people still come back, primarily for those gory-ass deaths. And while Jeffrey Dean Morgan picking up the barbed-wire bat to portray Negan has been the creative jolt that the series needed, it's hard to not get frustrated at how many of these bigger episodes end up producing the same mid results. As long as those ratings continue to stay high, AMC has no plans of stopping The Walking Dead (hell, it's already received its own spin-off series), but critically? The series is falling down, HARD.
19. Blade: The Series
Network: Spike
Starring: Kirk Jones, aka Sticky Fingaz from Onyx
Number of Seasons: 1 (2006)
The idea makes sense: the Blade trilogy of movies did very well at the box office (and was a lowkey precursor to the superhero cinema era we're in today), why not put it on TV? This could be a lesson in not pursuing every idea that pops into your head, though.
To be fair, the premiere episode was the most-watched series premiere in Spike TV history [Editor's Note: Sounds like a low bar.], but it reportedly fell in viewership as the series went on. While it's dope to have the series be in the same continuity as the films, Sticky Fingaz just didn't have what Wesley Snipes did when it came to being Blade.
18. The Amazing Spider-Man
Network: CBS
Starring: Nicholas Hammond
Number of Seasons: 2 (1977 - 1979)
While not the first Spider-Man live-action series (that'd belong to the Spider Super Stories that played during The Electric Company three years prior), the late-1970s ended with a weird run of Spider-Man movies and TV shows, where the aim wasn't to be camp ala the Batman series, but trying to flesh out Peter Parker as a real-life human being. It's an interesting take, but gives us a more mature Peter Parker, which is hot if all you want is an action-packed program and not the Spider-Man we see dropping one-liners and beating all of the ass.
The series did birth this amazing fight scene, though. So, there's that.
Wow @ that webbing technique. Praise Uatu that times have changed.
17. Gotham
Network: Fox
Starring: Ben McKenzie, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Robin Lord Taylor, Donal Logue
Number of Seasons: 3 (2014 - present)
Fox's Gotham takes place in the DC Comics universe, but is not a part of the DC Extended Universe. It's also one of those shows that got better as it went on, with its second season totally sonning the first (we're looking at you, The Leftovers). It was originally intended to be a look at Commissioner Gordon's early days, but turned into a series that delves into the rich history of Gotham's heroes and rogues, with the likes of Bruce Wayne, Joker, The Penguin, Selina Kyle, and many more being introduced into the series. It's not always on, but when it is on, Gotham is unstoppable.
16. Riverdale
Network: The CW
Starring: K.J. Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse
Number of Seasons: 1 (2017 - present)
With most of the comic book-related shows diving into the Marvel and DC Comics worlds, it's dope to see a f*cking Archie comic come out swinging like the premiere episode of Riverdale. So far, we're only two episodes into the first season, but there's something about this CW program that has us open. It might be because, at it's most basic, it's The O.C. with murder, but with burgeoning stars like Camila Mendes slaying every scene she's in, this feels like just what we needed in the teen drama genre, and another win from The CW. Hopefully the rest of the season (and series) lives up to the promise of its earlier episodes.
15. Agent Carter
Network: ABC
Starring: Hayley Atwell, James D'Arcy
Number of Seasons: 2 (2015-2016)
If you hated the '40s flavor that Marvel fed us in Captain America: The First Avenger, you probably f*cked around and slept on Agent Carter, as it was a direct descendant of that film. If you slept, you played yourself, as Atwell shone in this series, which died way too soon. There's something about a series where a strong af woman who is all-spy-everything without being superpowered that stood out amongst the pack. Even amidst whatever ABC was doing with its schedule, Agent Carter still received critical acclaim. We just hate that the series wasn't given the time to truly flesh itself out.
14. The Incredible Hulk
Network: CBS
Starring: Bill Bixby, Lou Ferrigno
Number of Seasons: 5 (1977 - 1981)
If you want to talk about consistent camp, The Incredible Hulk is up there. Even though the people creating the show weren't fans of comics so they decided to change things like how Banner was exposed to gamma rays in the first place (as well as giving Banner the first name David, although he didn't end up turning Hulk red instead of green), the impact of the series is undeniable. It's another example of framing an extraordinary comic book idea in a more realistic vision, but no matter how much they tried to flip the script, you can't sleep on the show's legacy. Hell, it helped introduce the likes of Thor and Daredevil to the comic book-loving TV world, even after the series' cancelation.
13. Marvel's Luke Cage
Network: Netflix
Starring: Mike Colter, Mahershala Ali, Simone Missick, Alfre Woodard, Rosario Dawson
Number of Seasons: 1 (2016 - present)
Living in a world where tragedies like the Trayvon Martin murder can occur and Black Lives Matter is the hashtag, we need bulletproof, hoodie-rocking superheroes like Luke Cage. After being a fixture in the first season of Jessica Jones, Mike Colter's performance as the bald-headed hero was so hot that Netflix and Marvel fast-tracked his series. Set in Harlem, the first season of Luke Cage is a love letter to hip-hop wrapped in a dazzlingly black story. Amazing performances from the likes of Simone Missick, Alfre Woodard, and Rosario Dawson made this show much more than a one-trick pony, and while there were some missteps in the fluidity of the first season, we're excited to see where Cage ends up post-Defenders.
12. DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Network: The CW
Starring: Victor Garber, Brandon Routh, Arthur Darvill
Number of Seasons: 2 (2016 - present)
Of the superhero series that The CW has been cultivating, none match the fun of Legends of Tomorrow. Spinning out of Arrow and Flash, Legends of Tomorrow features a squad traveling time in order to right wrongs. Where Arrow and Flash can be more solo head-trips, Legends is more vibrant due to its ensemble cast. We're talking an amazing group of characters embarking on an epic journey turning it into one of the most fun programs within the superhero genre. It might feel like a lot at times, but the potential here is second-to-none.
11. Supergirl
Network: The CW
Starring: Melissa Benoist, Mehcad Brooks, Chyler Leigh, Calista Flockhart
Number of Seasons: 2 (2016 - present)
If you want to talk potential, you have to look towards Melissa Benoist's time as Kara Danvers, aka Superman's cousin, and her ride through Supergirl. Moving the series from CBS to The CW so it can be aligned with the rest of the Arrowverse is a key, and while it's not perfect, Supergirl is another show where it's moved from strength to strength. Hell, not even Superman could overpower Benoist's performance during his season two episode. With so much potential wrapped up in this series, and with it now residing on The CW, there's no telling where Supergirl can ascend.
10. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Network: ABC
Starring: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton
Number of Seasons: 4 (2013 - present)
Hands down, when it comes to "world building," Marvel's Cinematic Universe has been great, for the most part, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is an example of how you can bounce from the silver screen to TV while within the same world. No, it isn't the greatest superhero show out there, but it's also more than just a way to service Phil Coulson fans. The interplay with the Marvel films is key, where plot points about how organizations like Hydra operate being given the room to breathe without wasting movie time. It's continuing to hit its stride, with a darker plot featuring Ghost Rider fleshing out its fourth season, but time will tell if ABC will continue to invest in a series that's losing viewers year-after-year.
9. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Network: ABC
Starring: Dean Cain, Teri Hatcher
Number of Seasons: 4 (1993 - 1997)
Dean Cain's time in the sun seems to have come and gone, but his work as Clark Kent / Superman isn't to be overlooked. With every superhero property now wanting to get deeper into what makes these beings tick, especially when they aren't rocking the spandex, you can look to Cain's portrayal in Lois & Clark as one of the first places this was done (properly) on network TV. The series even spent more time focusing on Clark than it did on what Superman did.
Maybe the folks making these new DC movies can look back to this series and crib some of its high points for their next Superman flick?
8. Smallville
Network: The CW
Starring: Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenblaum, Allison Mack
Number of Seasons: 10 (2001 - 2011)
Before the Arrowverse, The CW shined with Smallville, which they inherited from The WB to finish out its 10-year run. If you need an idea of what the show was about, it was somewhere in the middle of Gotham and Riverdale, weaving a tale of how a young Clark Kent became the Superman we know him to be. It sounds corny, but Smallville netted The WB its highest-rated series debut, and as the show progressed, the writing and acting stayed on par, keeping people intrigued for the long haul. It also helped that while the show flipped the comic book into a more modern era, Clark felt true to the source material, which is always a plus.
7. Marvel's Jessica Jones
Network: Netflix
Starring: Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, Rachael Taylor, Carrie-Anne Moss
Number of Seasons: 1 (2015 - present)
For those of us who a) wish that Marvel would just give ScarJo her own Black Widow film and b) can't wait to see what Brie Larson does with Captain Marvel, it's been dope to see Krysten Ritter step into the whiskey-soaked leather jacket (and those jeans) as Jessica Jones, a C-list Marvel superhero in an A-list world. In the comics, Jones has super strength and can jump, but made her mark as an abused, alcoholic investigator paying the rent with jobs no one else would take while navigating a superhero world she didn't want to be associated with. In the Netflix series, Jones' voice is similar, and not only do we get her relationship with Luke Cage, but we also saw David Tennant embody The Purple Man, taking his fascinatingly frightening superpower (mind control) to new heights.
The show won when it gave those who've been abused a voice (and a fist). Perfectly cast and gloriously dark, Jessica Jones ended up being the jazzy noir smash that we didn't know we always needed.
6. Preacher
Network: AMC
Starring: Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Lucy Griffiths
Number of Seasons: 1 (2016 - present)
All praise due to Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg staying the course and getting their vision of Preacher, the critically-acclaimed Vertigo comic book series, made at AMC. You might also want to bless up The Walking Dead for showing AMC that blood and guts from the comic book world could work, especially with the right story.
With an already-insane premise (how many shows are basically "a preacher who received the power of God sets about changing the world" would you actually watch), Preacher wins when it throws all of its eggs into one basket. The show can, at times, feature everything from small town religion and vampires to corrupt industries and two angels beating the sh*t out of someone. It also helps that Dominic Cooper nails his role as Jesse Custer, and future starlet Ruth Negga is ultra-strong as femme fatale Tulip.
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.
5. Wonder Woman
Network: ABC, CBS
Starring: Lynda Carter, Lyle Waggoner
Number of Seasons: 3 (1975 - 1979)
When it comes to bad ass ladies doing the damn thing, Lynda Carter was it in the mid-'70s. Not only was she a sex symbol with her portrayal of Wonder Woman in the series, but she could also be seen as an empowering figure for women in need of a strong role model. Sure, the show is steeped in camp, with Diana Price's spinning transformation into Wonder Woman becoming the butt of a number of jokes, but Carter's portrayal carries all of the impact due to the show's impeccable timing. Who was really checking for that strong of a female lead in that era? Our hats off to you, Lynda Carter.
4. Arrow
Network: The CW
Starring: Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, Colin Donnell
Number of Seasons: 5 (2012 - present)
This is where it all started for modern DC series on The CW. Dubbed the Arrowverse, the Steven Amell-lead series is truly the base of what the CW is doing with the DC Comics world. Is the show a 100% banger? Not at all; somewhere around the middle of season three, many felt Arrow was falling into murky waters, with characters finding love trumping the superhero plots that kept people captivated. It's still well-worth the watch, and heads above a number of current comic book-born series.
3. The Flash
Network: The CW
Starring: Grant Gustin, Candce Patton, Danielle Panabaker
Number of Seasons: 3 (2014 - present)
When comparing The Flash to Arrow, it's a situation where the student surpassed the teacher. For those who are concerned about the ways Arrow has added onto (and deviated from) it's core, The Flash has whipped up a story that's easy to consume and true to what it started out as. It genuinely feels like someone learned from where Arrow lost its way and avoided those issues with Flash, all the while making the show a bit lighter and more fun than Arrow.
It's also important to note that Flash stays true to the comic, which in this case is a huge benefit. The madcap insanity of time travel, compounded with multiple universes? For a lesser show, that'd be too much to handle, so kudos to the writers who find a way to wisely deliver the funny while satiating our hunger for truly extraordinary tales.
2. Marvel's Daredevil
Network: Netflix
Starring: Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Vincent D'Onofrio
Number of Seasons: 2 (2015 - present)
While Marvel's Cinematic Universe made sense (and MAD cents) on the silver screen, their relationship with Netflix to build out this massive world? That was uncharted waters until Daredevil hit. The most intriguing part is that while Cox is a dynamo as the blind lawyer by day, vigilante by night Matt Murdock/Daredevil, the series shines when its putting others on. Daredevil not only brought us Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson), who ended up becoming an integral part of season 1 of Luke Cage, but it also allowed Vincent D'Onofrio to shine as the Kingpin, Wilson Fisk. Some of season 1's most captivating scenes were easily those featuring D'Onofrio. Season 2 upped the ante, allowing Jon Bernthal to become Frank Castle, aka The Punisher. Daredevil is the series that started it all, setting a tone that's become a major key for the series following (Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist).
The most major key, though, is that they did it while also being as dark and as violent as they want to be. Sure, Daredevil has his issues with killing people, but we need someone to do a tally on the number of broken bones and punches to the face we've seen in the first two seasons. That doesn't mean that Jessica and Luke got a license to destroy folks, but there's no question that Daredevil's envelope pushing (and overwhelming acceptance) allowed those subsequent series to push the envelope in the realms of sex and diversity. This thing started with Daredevil, and while there might be series that surpass his top dog status at some point, as of right now, Daredevil's impact pushes it clearly to the top of the heap.
1. Batman
Network: ABC
Starring: Adam West, Burt Ward
Number of Seasons: 3 (1966 - 1968)
Comic books are one of the illest forms of escapism out there. We pour through the beautiful pages filled with snappy dialogue and larger-than-life depictions of epic battles and beautiful romance because we either can't get these things in our everyday lives or we'd get arrested if we tried some of these things out. And while we all have to grow up and put childish things away, there's something to be said for not only returning to the original sources, but honoring them in the style that they were presented to us. Thus, when you look at a series staying true to the source material, and doing it in a fun way? The late '60s Batman series is where it's at.
While it's run was only over a two-year period, the Adam West-starring Batman was at its peak airing two episodes a week. Within those episodes, we got a ton of straight-out-of-the-comic-book sound effects, a fun-loving batch of camp, and the age-old battle of good versus evil, with good always triumphing at the end. We're talking about "the biggest TV phenomenon of the mid-1960s," one that was so confident that you were completely hooked. As a child, those cliffhangers could seem like everything to you, and once Batman pulled out some crazy invention, like the shark repellent spray that he just so happened to carry on his belt, it was nothing to declare Batman the GOAT superhero.
As the saying goes, when we grow up, we should put away our childish things, but fam, the OG Batman series stands the test of time. Nostalgia might play a big part of it, but Batman owned its insanity and delivered on a consistent basis. It's a series that will stand the test of time, and remind us that no matter how packed those Comic-Con halls get, there was a time where we all stopped taking ourselves and our entertainment so damn seriously and just hammed it up.