There’s far more to the world of comic books and graphic novels than Marvel or DC Comics and many of these seminal series have already been turned into popular and groundbreaking TV shows, including The Boys, Invincible, The Umbrella Academy, and the many Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles adaptations.

While Marvel and DC dominate the fandom when it comes to film and TV adaptations, some of the most widely respected and beloved work come from publishers like Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, or IDW Publishing. Naturally more are in the works, but these comics specifically could make for fantastic television, whether in live-action or animation.

Saga

Cover of Saga #1 by Image Comics.

After nearly four years since its last volume, Saga is finally returning in October 2022. The beautifully epic series is one of Image Comics' best, written by Brian K. Vaughn – widely regarded for Paper Girls, Runaways, and Lost, to name a few. It’s Game of Thrones meets Star Wars, but far more personal, as it showcases the heartwarming and heartbreaking endeavors of a single family caught between interstellar war.

Saga has received numerous awards and nominations for its art and thoughtful narrative, highlighting the dangers of war and diverse representation. Frankly, Saga is perfect for television, whether in live-action or animation. However, Brian K. Vaughn has expressed disinterest in that possibility, though that could change after the series comes to close in the future.

Hellboy

Featured Image for Hellboy covers

Hellboy has already had several adaptations in film – most recently being played by Stranger Things’ David Harbour, which was thoroughly reviled. In that case, it might be a character that could work better in television going forward. From three decades of content there is surely plenty to adapt from, especially the art showcasing Hellboy's battles against the supernatural.

A series could even take inspiration from the Guillermo del Toro films, starring Ron Perlman, and hopefully rely on practical effects if in live-action. However, it would also work quite as an animated series too, which could allow for some distinct stylistic experimentation.

Spawn

Spawn wielding a sword in mid-air in Satan Saga Wars

One of Image Comics’ defining characters is Spawn, the assassin turned hellspawn hero. He’s had steady representation outside the comics like Hellboy, some more successful than others. His series has led to several spin-offs, including the character Angela – who now resides in the Marvel universe as Thor’s sister – so a Spawn show could establish a new franchise, whether in television or film.

Supposedly, several projects are in the works based on Spawn, such as a film starring Jamie Foxx and Jeremy Renner – though there has been little news made about that over the past year – and animated shows. It can be difficult, especially now, to compete with behemoths like Marvel and DC Comics, yet Spawn helps Image Comics do so.

Witchblade

Witchblade comic book

Another prominent and popular Image Comics series worthy of a TV adaptation is Witchblade. This show would follow Sara Pezzini, a detective in New York City, gain extraordinary powers after a mysterious gauntlet, the Witchblade, grafts onto her. While she uses her newfound abilities to fight back against the supernatural and wicked, Sara finds herself also combating the corruption within the Witchblade.

There have been other adaptations of the series, including a show on TNT, which was canceled after two seasons, and a NBC show, but that’s been in limbo since 2017. Witchblade is a unique series that deserves the recognition of a dedicated miniseries adaptation like Watchmen.

The Wicked + The Divine

A superimposed imnage of a group of heroes and a woman's head in The Wicked + The Divine.

While some of these comics might work better in live-action, aThe Wicked + The Divine adaptation is perfect for animation. Like Thor, Wonder Woman, and Netflix’s most recent comic-book adaptation, The Sandman, The Wicked + The Divine takes established mythology and folklore, uniting gods and beings from across cultures with uniquely modern twists.

Importantly, this show, like the comics would be built on the foundation of diverse and genuine representation, embracing characters of all ethnicities, sexualities, and gender identities. Music would also play significant role – in fact it could be a musical adaptation.

Monstress

Maika stands with her hair blowing in the wind from Monstress

Like superheroes and science fiction, comics are a breeding ground for ambitious fantasy stories like Monstress from Image Comics. Like Saga, it’s been compared to A Song of Ice and Fire and Lord of the Rings for its expansive world-building across the forty issues currently available. Monstress is highly awarded non DC or Marvel Comic, having won numerous prizes for Best Graphic Story, which can help its appeal for a TV adaptation.

The art is hauntingly beautiful and would translate incredibly well to animation, as long as ample time is taken to perfect it. While it should certainly be on the docket for a tv adaptation, it isn’t something fans should be expecting any time soon.

Black Hammer

Black Hammer Cover

Netflix should look at another fantastic Dark Horse Comics property to adapt into a ridiculous show like The Umbrella Academy. One of the best contenders for something like that is Black Hammer. The ongoing series was created by Dean Ormston and Jeff Lemire – whose work was recently adapted in the MCU as Moon Knight – and follows a group of superheroes stuck in purgatory.

Like The Boys, a Black Hammer show would be a unique exploration into the phenomenon of superheroes and could lead to several spin-offs like in the comics. It would set itself apart by being quite introspective, though still not lacking in the grand spectacles audiences want to see. Lemire is even interested in bringing the show to live-action and is actively working on deals for such.

Descender

Descender

Like Black Hammer and Sweet Tooth, Jeff Lemire’s Descender would make for an interesting tv show. It centers on TIM-21, a childlike android living in a world where robots have been deemed illegal and dangerous. As one of the most-wanted beings, TIM-21 is on the run and being hunted by a myriad of mercenaries and bounty hunters.

This is another series that would work quite well as an animated series, especially if it keeps the comic’s paint-like aesthetic and space-faring scope. While a child is the protagonist, it wouldn’t be a juvenile story as it could explore some mature and emotional topics fit for all ages.

The Valiant

Full Valiant team from Valiant Comics

Valiant Comics has no shortage of characters who could make for fantastic tv shows. One of the most prominent characters is Bloodshot, who was portrayed in the 2020 film Bloodshot by Vin Diesel. That could be establishing a shared universe akin to the MCU and DCEU, but if that’s not the case, such a thing could happen in TV.

In fact, they could take an approach similar to The Defenders, by introducing specific characters in their own series, which would lead to a team-up series. Other characters who could be involved are Eternal Warrior, Harbinger, Zephyr, Ninjak, and/or X-0 Manowar, to name a few.

Divinity

A specific Valiant Comics character that has great potential to make a tv show unlike any other is Abram Adams aka Divinity. Unlike Superman or Thor who are essentially born gods compared to human, Abram ascends to that role. He gains incredible powers – holding sway over time and reality – from a mysterious Cold War space-exploration mission.

A show like this would be able to delve into the relationship between man and god and what might happen if the wrong person gets these extraordinary abilities – all on top of the sociopolitical implications revolving around the Cold War.

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