If you think comic books are all about capes and cowls, then you’ve been living under a rock. While it’s true that the superhero genre has dominated the comic book landscape for decades, the medium has always been a limited source of creativity, with storytellers and writers exploring a range of genres, from crime thrillers to coming-of-age dramas.
And the small screen has been more than happy to bring these diverse comic books to life by adapting them faithfully. Beyond the never-ending conveyor belt of Marvel and DC superhero shows, there are plenty of series that have drawn inspiration from comic books, capturing the essence, imagination, and visual style of the source material. This list celebrates comic book TV shows that are not about superheroes, but just as exciting to watch.
10
‘The Walking Dead’ (2010 – 2022)
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Release Date
October 31, 2010
Network
AMC
Seasons
11
One of the longest-running TV shows of recent times, The Walking Dead is adapted from the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. In the wake of a zombie apocalypse, former sheriff Rick Grimes leads a group of survivors who struggle to stay alive while fearing the undead, navigating a treacherous new world, forming alliances, and confronting their own ethics and how far they’re willing to go to survive.
A Character-Driven Nightmare
The Walking Dead forms the core of a franchise that spawned a series of spin-offs and a video game. The direction by Frank Darabont and others brings a cinematic quality to the series and makes each episode feel like a mini-movie. Driven by complex, flawed characters and their unending struggle to retain their humanity in a jarring environment, the series delivers gripping and emotional gut punches season after season. The show saw a decline in quality later in its run, but The Walking Dead still influences and appeals.
9
‘Stumptown’ (2019 – 2020)
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Stumptown
Release Date
September 25, 2019
Network
ABC
Seasons
1
In Stumptown, Cobie Smulders plays the role of Dex Parios, a sharp-witted, tough-as-nailed former military-turned-private-investigator who does not have it easy in life. Grappling with her own personal demons, PTSD from war, the loss of her college sweetheart, the responsibility of a younger brother, a gambling addiction and a mountain of death, she’s a far cry from your typical superhero. Which is what drives her to use unorthodox methods and sole crimes in Portland, Oregon.
Engaging Mystery with a Female Lead
Based on the comic book series by Greg Rucka, Matthew Southworth and Justin Greenwood, Stumptown is a gritty, character-driven crime drama that subverts the conventional detective story. How? Well, Smulders’ Dex is no squeaky-clean hero; she is a mess of contradictions, haunted by the past and struggling to keep her present afloat. The show also captures the moody and noir atmosphere of Portland and combines it with action, humor, and emotion.
8
‘Resident Alien’ (2021 – Present)
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Release Date
January 27, 2021
Network
USA Network
Cast
Alan Tudyk
, Elizabeth Bowen
, Judah Prehn
, Levi Fiehler
, Corey Reynolds
, Alice Wetterlund
, Sara Tomko
Seasons
4
Published by Dark Horse Comics, Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse’s graphic novels act as the inspiration for this sci-fi comedy series. The plot centers around an alien who crash-lands on Earth and assumes the identity of a doctor named Harry Vanderspeigle in the sleepy town of Patience, Colorado. His initial mission is to destroy humanity, but as Harry integrates himself into the lives of the townspeople, he starts questioning his purpose and tries to understand humanity better.
Sci-Fi Dramedy That Defies Expectations
Resident Alien is a unique juxtaposition of science fiction, mystery, comedy, and drama. It creates a delightful and offbeat, yet surprisingly wholesome viewing experience for audiences through the lens of its main character as he finds himself drawn to the quirks and complexities of the people surrounding him. Alan Tudyk’s brilliant performance as the conflicted alien and his awkward attempts to fit in bring depth to the series.
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7
‘Happy!’ (2017 – 2019)
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Release Date
December 6, 2017
Network
SyFy
Seasons
2
Set in the gritty, neon-soaked underbelly of New York City, Happy! tells the twisted tale of Nick Sax, a disgraced ex-cop turned hitman whose life takes a wild turn when he encounters a tiny, relentlessly optimistic blue unicorn, who tells him that he’s an imaginary friend of a young girl named Hailey, and that she’s been kidnapped by a deranged Santa Claus. With his cheerful companion, Nick tries to rescue Hailey.
An Unforgettable Comic Book Adaptation
Happy! stands out for its unique and unconventional protagonist, who is deeply flawed and caught in a haze of booze and violence as he faces bizarre challenges along his way of saving Hailey. The show offers an edgy, one-of-a-kind viewing experience that is equal parts captivating and unsettling and surreal. Staying true to the comic series by Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson, its bold storytelling and vibrant animation has made Happy! a cult favorite.
6
‘Locke & Key’ (2020 – 2022)
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Locke and Key
Release Date
February 7, 2020
Cast
Petrice Jones
, Darby Stanchfield
, Jackson Robert Scott
, Emilia Jones
, Griffin Gluck
, Laysla De Oliveira
, Connor Jessup
Seasons
3
After their father’s brutal murder, the Locke family, which includes siblings Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode, moves into their ancestral home, Keyhouse. Soon, the inquisitive kids discover that the house is filled with a series of mysterious keys that grant them unique supernatural powers. As they explore each of the keys’ abilities, they also confront a sinister entity named Dodge, who intends to use the keys for its own good.
Perfectly combines Fantasy and Family Drama
Adapted from the acclaimed comic book series by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez, Locke & Key is known particularly for its combination of fantastical elements and family drama. Not only are the main characters, played by Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, and Jackson Robert Scott, grappling with the grief of losing their father, but they’re also undergoing personal transformation as they take on high-stakes missions in various enchanted worlds.
5
‘Snowpiercer’ (2020 – 2024)
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Release Date
May 17, 2020
Cast
Daveed Diggs
, Mickey Sumner
, Alison Wright
, Iddo Goldberg
, Sheila Vand
, Lena Hall
, Annalise Basso
, Roberto Urbina
Seasons
4
Bong Joon-ho’s 2013 post-apocalyptic thriller, which drew inspiration from the acclaimed French comic book series, Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette, got a full-blown television series treatment in 2020 with Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs starring as leads. Like the movie, the last remnants of humanity survive aboard a perpetually moving train, with the wealthy taking up the luxurious front and the impoverished masses struggling at the tail. Diggs plays Andre Layton, a former detective leading a revolution.
A Socially Conscious Sci-Fi Thriller
Snowpiercer expands on the source material’s dystopian themes by crafting a rich, immersive, visually stunning world that serves as the perfect backdrop of a truly gripping narrative that explores themes of class, power, survival, and revolution. It captures the fight for equality, certain dark secrets, and the moral dilemmas faced by the main characters in their quest for justice. While staying true to the graphic novel, the series also adds new timely layers.
4
‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ (2018 – 2020)
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Release Date
October 26, 2018
Seasons
2
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina reimagines the origin and adventures of Sabrina Spellman, a half-witch, half-mortal teenager and a character based on the Archie Comics series. Set in the small town of Greendale, the series follows Sabrina caught between two worlds – attending high school in the human realm and embracing her occult legacy as a student of the Academy of Unseen Arts. At the same time, she must contend with the dark forces of the witching community threatening the peace in the human world.
Reimagines a Classic With Gothic Charm
A darker, more mature take on a character’s journey that has seen several iterations, the series sets itself apart from the classic Sabrina the Teenage Witch tale. The show’s direction by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is eerie and gothic in aesthetic; it blends the horror and the coming-of-age elements of the source material effortlessly. The strong performance by Kiernan Shipka captures the strength of the character, the weight of her heritage, as well as her eventual assertion of autonomy.
3
‘Sweet Tooth’ (2021 – 2024)
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Release Date
June 4, 2021
Seasons
3
Sweet Tooth is a fantasy drama series that premiered on Netflix in 2021 and ran for three genuinely heartwarming seasons. It takes place during the aftermath of a viral outbreak that decimates much of humanity and leaves behind a new breed of hybrid children who are part human and part animal. We follow Gus, a young human-deer hybrid who ventures into the world in search of his mother with a wandering loner named Jepperd.
Emotionally Poignant and Immensely Entertaining
Adapted from the beloved DC/Vertigo comic series by Jeff Lemire, Sweet Tooth is a captivating mosaic of post-apocalyptic adventure, wholesome character drama, and imaginative fantasy. It stars Christian Convery as Gus, who breathes heart into the character’s journey of uncovering the truth about his past and the origins of the hybrids. The fact that it arrived right after the pandemic also makes it more captivating, and the series handles its ingenious premise deftly.
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2
‘The End of the F***ing World’ (2017 – 2019)
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Release Date
October 24, 2017
Network
Netflix
Cast
Jessica Barden
Seasons
2
The protagonist of Jonathan Entwistle’s Netflix series, James, is no ordinary teenager. Convinced that he’s a budding psychopath, he looks for a target to kill and sets his sights on Alyssa, an angry classmate who sees James as an escape and insists they run away together. James decides to go along with it, hoping to find an opportunity to commit the murder, but as the two misfits go on a chaotic road trip, they get caught up in a series of bizarre situations.
Subversive Coming-of-Age Story With a Twist
The End of the F***ing World features the most twisted and unconventional main characters, doing complete justice to the mini-comics by Charles Forsman. The series, which lasted only two seasons, is celebrated for its dark humor, gritty realism, and bursts of shocking emotional depth. It is anchored by standout performances of Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden, who peel back the layers of their seemingly doomed characters and reveal hidden desires and vulnerabilities.
1
‘I Am Not Okay With This’ (2020)
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Release Date
February 26, 2020
Seasons
1
Another Charles Forsman comic-book classic, I Am Not Okay With This centers around Sydney Novak, a seemingly ordinary high school girl dealing with the awkwardness of being in high school. Her challenges of adolescence and her friendships with best friend Dina and neighbor Stanley are further complicated when Sydney finds out that she has telekinetic powers that are linked to her emotional state.
Authentic Portrayal of Teenage Angst
Even though the series makes use of a classic superhero origin story angle as its premise, it actually subverts the genre by using a teenager’s lens. A coming-of-age drama with a touch of supernatural intrigue, I Am Not Okay With This is all about the angst of being young and undergoing transformation, because rather than wholeheartedly embracing her powers, Sydney is overwhelmed with them and the social isolation that comes with being different. Despite getting positive reviews, the series was canceled after just one season, which disappointed fans.
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