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TWoP 10: Comic Books That Should Be TV Series

Somebody in Hollywood has been eating brains. That was our first thought when we heard that Robert Kirkman's epic "surviving a zombie apocalypse" comic book series The Walking Dead was close to being developed as a television series by AMC. Add that to the fact that the Vertigo title Fables, about storybook characters living in New York, is in development at ABC, and it almost kinda looks like a trend. We started thinking about other comic book series that we'd like to see on the small screen, and were able to come up with ten off the top of our heads that barely even touch on the tights-and-capes crowd.

1. Preacher (Vertigo)
For 66 issues, this epic story followed Jesse Custer, a small-town preacher granted the power of the Word, so that when he spoke, people did as he asked. With his hitwoman girlfriend Tulip and his vampire drinking buddy Cassidy, Custer criss-crossed the globe hunting for an absent God, meeting a host of unsavory characters and avoiding the unstoppable Saint of Killers, even as they learned more and more about each other's sordid histories. Originally pitched as a TV series, it is currently in development as a feature film, which means that we'll only see a small chunk of the story, with no guarantee we'll get more. We'd rather see it as a slow-burn shock-fest, a la True Blood, with Jeffrey Donovan Burn Notice in the role of Jesse.

2. Gotham Central (DC)
What are the police doing while Batman is off solving crimes? How do they deal with a super-powered or technologically advanced criminal when the Caped Crusader is otherwise occupied? This comic series focused on the men and women of the Gotham City Police Department, including their love-hate relationship with Batman and the hazards that came with the job. Batman hardly ever appeared, although the Bat-Signal was practically a supporting character, and most of the Bat-villains they dealt with were ordinary lunatics with a penchant for costumes. Commissioner Gordon would need to be a regular presence, so start looking for an older actor who can grow a mustache. What's Martin Sheen up to?

3. Ex Machina (Wildstorm)
In an alternate reality, one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center was saved, spared from the plane's impact by a jet-pack-wearing vigilante named the Great Machine. Becoming a New York City hero, the costumed adventurer was easily elected to the office of Mayor, and the series follows Mayor Mitchell Hundred as he and his staff deal with various crises that pop up, from gay rights protests to blackouts to serial killers. Occasionally, we flash back to see what his life was like as a superhero, as well as how he gained his ability to talk to mechanical and electronic devices. If Spin City can be a series, then surely this can. We can see Ron Livingston making a great mayor, if/when Defying Gravity doesn't work out.

4. 100 Bullets (Vertigo)
Across the country, people are given guns and untraceable bullets, to be used to get revenge on someone who has wronged them. The connection between the recipients is unclear, but the man who gives the guns out, one Agent Graves, has chosen these people to re-form the Minutemen, a group of stone-cold killers that has existed in one form or another for centuries. The long-term plans of Agent Graves play out over the course of the series' 100 issues, and would make for a twisty crime drama akin to The Wire or The Sopranos. We can see John Mahoney as a good Graves type (he pretty much played him on Burn Notice) and maybe Alicia Keys as Dizzy Cordova?

5. Sleeper (Wildstorm)
Imagine if everyone on Dark Blue had super powers. Not only would that show be more interesting, it would also be a lot like Sleeper, which is about a government agent named Holden Carver who gets super powers from an alien artifact and is sent undercover in an organization of super-criminals. However, once he's inserted undercover, his boss -- the only person who knows of his status as a double agent -- is put in a coma, which means that he's out in the cold, with no way to return to his loved ones. Having to simultaneously do what his boss says and keep him from accomplishing too much, Carver strikes up relationships with his fellow gang members, but is always trying to figure out a way home. A Vic Mackey type would be great to play Carver, but maybe someone with a bit more hair than Michael Chiklis?

6. John Constantine: Hellblazer (Vertigo)
Supposedly, Keanu Reeves is willing to reprise his role in a Constantine movie sequel, but if that doesn't happen soon, we'd much rather see the paranormal investigator on our TV screen on a weekly basis. And hey, maybe we can bring him a little closer to the comic book version? In other words, make him blonde, British and a total jerkwad. Heck, why not see if Paul Blackthorne would be willing to bleach his hair and play a slightly more dickish version of his character on The Dresden Files?

7. Y the Last Man (Vertigo)
Another comic currently being developed as a movie, this epic story would be much more successful as a TV series chronicling the adventures of Yorick, the last man alive in a world full of women. Less a fantasy and more a horrible, horrible nightmare, Yorick has to make his way halfway around the technologically crippled world to Australia to find his girlfriend, often pretending to be a woman himself while being guarded by a government agent and hunted by his own brainwashed cultist sister. Shia LaBeouf has said he won't play the role in the movie, but perhaps Kyle XY's Matt Dallas could be convinced?

8. The Pulse (Marvel)
In the Marvel Universe, superheroes are celebrities, so when Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson creates a weekly section in his newspaper about them, who better to act as consultant for it than a former superhero herself? Jessica Jones used to be the vigilante known as Jewel, although her powers have since waned, and when one of the Bugle's reporters is killed, she helps the journalists track down the supervillain responsible and expose his true identity. Kristen Bell is probably tired of playing superheroes and reporter/detectives, but we'd love to see her back on TV, and maybe wearing a purple wig in flashbacks to Jessica's days as Jewel.

9. Concrete (Dark Horse)
Abducted by aliens, speechwriter Ron Lithgow wakes up to find his brain encased in a massive, stone body. Escaping from the ship before it leaves Earth, Concrete turns himself in to the government, who allow him to live on his own as long as a scientist can study him. Of course, the scientist is beautiful and smart, and Ron falls in love, but there isn't much he can do about it in his current state. He can only type with a pencil, so he hires an assistant to take dictation about his many adventures, including climbing a mountain, walking across the ocean floor, playing a monster in a movie and protesting a logging company. The Concrete costume might pose a special effects challenge, but they made a movie about dinosaurs, so anything is possible. We imagine his voice is kind of gravelly (no pun intended), so Ron Perlman would be ideal to voice him.

10. Transmetropolitan (Vertigo)
In the distant future, technology has turned urban America into a permeating web of advertisements, body modifications, information streams and alternate forms of existence. Living in self-imposed exile in the mountains, the famous journalist Spider Jerusalem (a tattooed, pill-popping homage to Hunter S. Thompson) returns to the city after a long absence to gather material for two books that he owes his publisher, or he'll have to give back the advance. Getting his old job back writing columns for one of the main news outlets, Jerusalem finds himself at the center of genetically modified alien-human riots, police brutality allegations and political grandstanding, and he has to take on an assistant and a bodyguard in order to bring down a presidential candidate who is not what he seems. We have no idea who can play Spider Jerusalem, since Hunter S. Thompson is dead, but his frequent vacillations between wicked grins and frenzied shouting makes us think of Alan Tudyk, he of Dollhouse and Firefly fame.

What comic book would you like to see as a TV series?

41 Comments

August 14, 2009 10:06 AM
The Mad Maple
Reply

I totally agree with most of your list (although I preferred Jessica Jones as the emotionally damaged private detective in Alias, and think that would make a much better series).

11th on my list would be Damage Control, a Marvel comic about the contracting firm that rebuilds the damage caused by superhero battles. It had a great comedic tone to it (not unlike Chuck), and would make a great series. Or movie, at least.

August 14, 2009 11:30 AM
Clara
Reply

Everything on this list is grim and/or dystopian.

How about oldie-but-goodie Elfquest? Yay for sexy, sexy elves. It would have to be animated, though.

August 14, 2009 11:41 AM
BishopX
Reply

I'd second a vote for [i]Damage Control[/i]. I also wouldn't mind seeing [i]The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius[/i]. Think Jimmy Neutron on crack.

August 14, 2009 1:10 PM
evilandproud
Reply

The Pulse would be an amaaaazing television series. I don't know if any of the other shows would be able to survive on one of the big three networks since they are all super dark.

August 14, 2009 1:21 PM
Steve
Reply

You should add 2000Ads The Button Man to that, I reckon it would make a fantastic movie, maybe even a series as well.

August 14, 2009 2:23 PM
Chelsea
Reply

My personal favourite is Runaways. If cast correctly and Brian K. has a hand in it, this would make a fabulous TV series. I'll be thrilled with a movie if it makes it that far though.

August 14, 2009 2:32 PM
amchornetgirl
Reply

Sleeper has a plot similiar to an episode of Fall Guy I watched last night (no, really!)--Colt and Howie go to prison undercover as inmates, only once there the warden, the only one there who knows Colt and Howie aren't real prisoners, has a heart attack and goes into a coma. Shocking!

August 14, 2009 2:49 PM
JM
Reply

The comicbook A*holes would make an awesome animated series -- www.assholescomic.com

August 14, 2009 2:59 PM
chris.t
Reply

i have to agree that runaways would be awesome to see on the small screen. but you already have two bkv comics on your list, so i'm going to throw the invisibles out there. definitely my favorite cast of characters in the comic book world.

August 14, 2009 3:03 PM
jessicajason
Reply

Four words: Bring. Back. [/i]The Middleman![i]

August 14, 2009 3:11 PM
tvgirl48
Reply

I'd love to see Constantine made well. The idea has so much potential but the movie was kind of eh.

August 14, 2009 3:17 PM
dnique729
Reply

No man with gorgeous brown eyes such as Paul should ever dye his dark hair platinum blonde!

N-O!

August 14, 2009 3:21 PM
thursdaynext27
Reply

Transmetropolitan, Ex Machina, Y: The Last Man, and (agreeing w/ Mad Maple), Alias would all be fantastic series. More so than Walking Dead, if only because the zombie thing is played out.

Gothan Central is also one of my picks, along with what is still my favorite Rucka work: Queen & Country. The only wrinkle would be the similarities between Q&C and Spooks/MI-5.

Another one with potential would be Brian Wood's Northlanders series. We need more Vikings.

August 14, 2009 3:23 PM
MrGuyManMale
Reply

Y: The Last Man is my favourite out of those suggestions, but I'd rather have unknowns for most of the parts.

To the person that said Runaways, just no. It barely works as a comic book, and it has no hook to speak of. It's just kids doing stupid things that no one can relate to.

I'm bitter.

August 14, 2009 3:28 PM
TLJ
Reply

The Black Pearl would make a great series, since it started out as a screenplay and morphed into a comic. The character looks just like a blond Neil Grayston, who does put upon, nerdy, needy yet likable very well.

August 14, 2009 3:28 PM
Aubrey
Reply

Oh man I love Transmetropolitan! I think our boy Johnny Depp might want a crack at Spider but I think Nathan Fillion would be awesome.

August 14, 2009 4:00 PM
Neenie
Reply

BPRD from the Hellboy-verse would make an awesome animated series. It's the x-files investigated by x-files

August 14, 2009 5:07 PM
kieyra
Reply

How is Sandman not on this list?

August 14, 2009 5:13 PM
LTG
Reply

I'd love to see Sandman Mystery Theater as an ongoing series. A noirish, late '30s thriller with plenty of sex and violence, and a fantastic romantic relationship at the core. TV would probably want to make Wesley Dodds a bit buffer, but that's probably a sacrifice I could live with.

August 14, 2009 5:30 PM
LizB
Reply

As much as I love Sandman, I can only imagine that going horribly, horribly wrong...

Gotham Central could work, though, and would fit into the police procedurals genre with its own twist. They could even set it in Dark Knight Gotham City and have the hunt for Batman be part of the storyarc.

August 14, 2009 6:08 PM
Alenore
Reply

I think Concrete would make a great TV series. It's not at all grim or dystopian.

August 14, 2009 6:29 PM
Jason (Lantern7)
Reply

Isn't Preacher in development at HBO?

BishopX . . . the closest we'll get to Barry Ween is The Life And Times Of Juniper Lee, where Judd Winick ripped himself off in a few episodes, what with the Bigfoot-turned-human and the token hyperactive supporting character (Jeremy/Ray-Ray). Personally, in terms of indie cartoonists getting animated series, I'd take Evan Dorkin, who got shortchanged by Adult Swim when they dropped Welcome To Eltingville from consideration.

August 14, 2009 8:46 PM
Heather
Reply

I would love to see Paul Blackthorne back on TV in a role that does not go along the lines of Mr. Brooke Shields. Burn Notice wasn't enough for me. I agree with above. Don't dye his hair!

August 14, 2009 10:07 PM
Nick
Reply

Preacher rocks! It lends itself more to the mini-series formant than film or television series, however. Jeffrey Donovan is a good choice for Jesse, though he is a good few years older.

August 14, 2009 11:54 PM
ratgirlagogo
Reply

1) Nexus
2)Sandman
3)Dr. Strange
4)The Spirit

August 15, 2009 12:12 AM
thatgirl
Reply

I heard awhile ago that ABC is developing Fables.

August 15, 2009 12:32 AM
nik
Reply

The thing about the Walking Dead is that it isn't just another zombie comic/show/etc. It's more about how the people left behind have to learn to live again. That's what makes it so different and so good.

Also, I had no idea about Fables--I'm really excited to see it. I hope they include all of the characters and don't just cherry pick their favorites.

August 15, 2009 1:00 AM
Fresh Hell
Reply

One word bitches...

Fables.

But it needs to be on HBO or Showtime

August 15, 2009 5:14 AM
denise
Reply

Fables is being made, I believe. I think it's going to be on one of the major channels.

August 15, 2009 8:33 AM
lady f
Reply

i dunno, i think i'd like to see james marsters as constantine.. but maybe that's just me missing spike..

August 15, 2009 10:26 AM
S.C.
Reply

Gotham Central sounds like it has potential.

I've heard about ABC and Fables, but I'm getting the feeling that it'll end up like NBC's interest in it a few years back.

One series that could be really interesting would be Lucifer. I'm pretty sure most networks might be a bit skittish about a series where the Devil is the protagonist, and it might be too philosophical at times for TV tastes, but there's plenty of good material there (the storyline where Gaudim travels through the realm of discarded theological constructs would be a hoot, for example).

August 15, 2009 10:32 AM
House_Draven
Reply

You think Ron Perlman's voice is *gravel-ey*? More like soft honey with a shot of bourbon.

August 15, 2009 2:23 PM
ironchefpicnic
Reply

For a look at the world of superheoes through the eyes of ordinary people, I would suggest Astro City. And for a very funny and touching love story, what about Strangers in Paradise?

August 15, 2009 5:50 PM
GDex
Reply

I've said it to people before. Runaways is so obviously ready to be a TV show that the promo's for it pretty much write themselves. The idea for Pulse sounds like heaven though, and possible gets Kristen Bell back on my screen.

August 16, 2009 6:05 AM
The Mad Maple
Reply

Another good one would be Powers, a police procedural set in a superhero universe.

And speaking of superhero cop shows, The Savage Dragon would make a great series, too. (It would have to be on HBO, though.)

August 16, 2009 12:46 PM
ChojinRa
Reply

SO many good suggestions. I'm really liking Barry Ween, but no way they'd be able to pull that off.

I'd like to say The Authority, but that's more suited for movie format.

What about a modified version of The Incredible Hercules? Herc and Cho, Bro'ing it up cross country.

August 16, 2009 2:55 PM
nik
Reply

I think someone is working on a Powers movie? I don't know if that's still going on because I think I read about it a few years ago. I think it would make a better series, though.

August 16, 2009 5:46 PM
Eric
Reply

I'd love to see the Wildstorm series Gen 13 become a show, maybe on the CW. 5 super powered teens who don't want to be super heroes but also don't want to get killed. I think it would be great.

Also, I would kill for a Spider-Man show in the vein of Smallville, but with costumes and all.

August 17, 2009 9:31 AM
Hannah
Reply

Neil Gaiman's Sandman would make an awesome TV series.

August 17, 2009 10:07 AM
Temmere
Reply

Sandman would not make a good tv series -- not because the comic wasn't genius (it was) but because the budget of a television show would never allow for the special effects necessary to create the worlds Dream traveled through.

Sandman Mystery Theatre I would love, though that, too, would be tricky due to the period setting. Mad Men succeeds because they can restrict themselves to a few indoor sets -- mostly just the office, Don's home, and various apartments. SMT would require more outside shots, which would be tricky. Combine that with more action and it would be really tough. If anyone was willing to put the effort in to create it, though, I'd be all for it.

August 18, 2009 1:31 AM
Captain Average
Reply

Warren Ellis' "Planetary" would be lovely on TV - but it'd have to be on HBO or Showtime.

"Pluto," Naoki Urasawa's "Dark Knight" take on the "Astro Boy" arc, "The World's Greatest Robot" [by Osamu Tezuka], would make pretty compelling television, too.

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