Summary
The comic book industry has long turned to TV and film for inspiration, with iconic properties likeStar Trek,Power RangersandSpace Ghostmaking their way into print.When it comes to shows, the industry has historically offered a way for audiences' favorite stories to continue on, sometimes giving them a conclusion they were robbed of by network cancelation. These titles can often become bestsellers when adapted to comics, thanks to a built-in audience.
Comics based on TV shows are among the best tales in print, since they have a habit of attracting some of the most passionate writers in the business. These books can work in different ways, with some adopting a done-in-one format of their inspiration, while others opt for longer, more detailed arcs.For some franchises, they go on to have their best comic stories through crossovers and miniseries, which bring out the best of what made them great on TV.
10The X-Files/30 Days of Night
Steve Niles, Adam Jones and Tom Mandrake
The X-Fileswas among the biggest TV success stories of the 1990s, following two opposite-minded FBI agents, Mulder and Scully, as they investigate a series of paranormal phenomena. In comics, their story was continued after the dissatisfying ninth season, with IDW becoming their de facto home between the ninth and tenth seasons.
The X-Files’best comic actually didn’t come from a solo book at all, but rather their crossover with Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith’s30 Days of Night.Though the franchise does have some great solo books from IDW, including a continuation of the original series, their vampire crossover took viewers back to what made the first season so great.
The X-Files
The X-files takes the police procedural formula and applies it to sci-fi mysteries. Conspiracy theorist Fox Mulder and skeptic Dana Scully team up to solve cases surrounding alien invasions and other unexplained, paranormal phenomena.
9Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight
Joss Whedon, Georges Geanty, Jo Chen, Brian K. Vaughan, Paul Lee, Andy Owens, Dave Stewart
To say that Joss Whedon’sBuffy the Vampire Serieswas one of the biggest shows of the 1990s would undersell its cultural impact for the decade’s youth. Revolving around the teen monster hunter as she attends Sunnydale High School, the series follows Buffy Summers as she befriends Xander and Willow, studies under Giles and falls in love with the vampire Angel. The show concluded with the destruction of Sunnydale to defeat the First Evil – and that’s where the comics pick up.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8directly continues on from the events of the series, with Joss Whedon himself writing its stories in classic quippy yet eerie form.The series kicks off with a bang as long-time Buffy enemy Amy resurfaces, forcing a battle of magic with Willow. From there, the Scoobies continue their adventures, withfan-favorites like Faithmaking a comeback.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
Buffy Season 8: Bringing Back [Spoiler] Made the Show’s Darkest Moment So Much Worse
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Six was the Scooby Gang’s darkest year ever, but Season Eight proved the comics were prepared to go even darker.
8Batman ‘66 Meets the Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Jeff Parker and David Hahn
The 1960s were a decade full of iconic TV shows. Chief among them were Adam West’sBatmanseries andThe Man From U.N.C.L.E., a spy series. In 2016, the two franchises crossed over in a fantastic tale that blended the campy super-heroics of Gotham with the Bond-inspired Cold War nature of U.N.C.L.E. The series follows Batman, Robin, Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin as THRUSH recruits from Gotham’s criminal underworld at the behest of Hugo Strange.
Batman ‘66 Meets the Man From U.N.C.L.E.serves as a fun look at ’60s entertainment, and shows a surprising fit between the two shows.It also works as a rare title that hypes up Hugo Strange, reimagining him as a Cold War mastermind who comes close to brainwashing his enemies.
7Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
In the 1990s, the Power Rangers became a pop culture sensation, delivering young TV viewers weekly martial arts, science fiction and creature feature stories. In the five Rangers, each sporting their own colors, audiences had a different personality that could resonate with them in their battle against villains like Rita Repulsa.
Under BOOM! Studios,Mighty Morphin Power Rangershas continued the heroes’ ongoing battle with Rita Repulsa and her minions. The comics have also added to the team dynamic, revisiting Tommy (the Green Ranger) and his turn to villainy.Now a repentant hero, he seeks to make amends and earn back the respect and trust of his friends. That’s not to mention thePower Rangers’ fun crossovers with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Cast
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers marks the beginning of the Power Rangers franchise, centering on a group of teenagers with attitude who transform into superheroes. They are tasked with defending Angel Grove from the evil witch Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd, Emperor of evil, along with their monstrous minions.
6The Green Hornet(2010)
Kevin Smith & Jonathan Lau
Created at the height of detective-themed comics, the Green Hornet is Britt Reid, the wealthy publisher ofThe Daily Sentinel. By night, he dons the green costume, with his martial arts expert sidekick, Kato, aiding him in his war on crime. He has a strong profile in comics, most famously under writer and film-maker Kevin Smith. His 2010 story arc follows the passing of the mantle to Britt Reid Jr, who continues his father’s legacy with a duo of sidekicks.
Though he technically first appeared in radio format, the Green Hornet’s 1966 series has remained the standard formula for a variety of writers, from Kevin Smith to Mark Waid. Throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood, he appeared in film serials, later making his way to comics and TV.Played by Van Williams, the hero was among the most prolific of the ’60s, and Smith’s story arc on the character is a pure love letter to the franchise.This came to full fruition when Smith pennedBatman ‘66 Meets Green Hornet.
1 Alan Moore Icon Could Revive A Defunct DC Comics Imprint
DC once attempted a short-lived pulp-themed shared universe; Alan Moore’s most underrated hero should lead the way in a revival for new readers.
5Firefly: The Unification War
Greg Pak and Dan McDaid
Fireflymerges science fiction and Western in a series that follows the renegade crew of a ship,Serenity, in the aftermath of a civil war. Aboard the ship are nine different characters, all looking for a way to make a living on the frontiers of space, taking work as smugglers and other illicit or dangerous jobs. After being canceled during its first season, the show’s passionate fan base demanded more.
Fireflyfound itsbest home at BOOM! Studios, withPlanet Hulkwriter Greg Pak penning an ongoing title. The series began with “The Unification War,” a story that follows Mal and Zoe fighting to save their friends when their past comes back to haunt them, shedding light on the conflict that sparked the whole show.Pak nailed the voices of the characters, turning in a comic that feels like it was ripped from the original TV show.
Firefly
Firefly is a science fiction television series set in the year 2517, focusing on the crew of the spaceship Serenity. As humans inhabit a new star system, the renegade crew, led by Captain Malcolm Reynolds, navigates conflicts and alliances while pursuing their own interests across lawless territories.
4Batman: The Adventures Continue
Paul Dini, Alan Burnett and Ty Templeton
Batman: The Animated Seriestook the world of the Caped Crusader and gave it a fresh exploration on TV. Borrowing from film noir, Golden Age tales and adding in some deep storytelling, the show is a fan-favorite among Batman fans. After a comic continuation in 1990s, the continuity made a comeback in 2020’sBatman: The Adventures Continue, which brought the series in line with recent DC stories.
Batman: The Adventures Continueserves as a fun alternate look at the world of Batman alongside the regular continuity.The series has revisited classic made-for-TV characters like Roxy Rocket and Harley Quinn, while exploring the likes of Deathstroke and Bane as they set their sights on bringing down The Dark Knight.
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series follows Bruce Wayne as he assumes the role of the masked vigilante Batman to combat crime in Gotham City. This acclaimed 1992 series explores his dual identity and features an array of iconic villains, while Bruce vows to avenge the murder of his parents.
3DC Comics’Star Trek
Peter David, James Fry, Arne Starr and Jerome Moore
Star Trekhelped usher in the Golden Age of science fiction TV, alongside franchises likeThe Twilight Zone,The Outer LimitsandDoctor Who. Telling the story of the various crews of theUSS Enterpriseexploring deep space, the series kicked off under the leadership of Captain Kirk. Taking on monster-of-the-week creatures and persistent threats like the Klingon Empire, the franchise’s meteoric success was destined for comics.
TheStar Trekcomics worked best in DC, where legendaryIncredible Hulkwriter Peter David continued on the format of the original series.Exploring threats like shape-shifters and navigating the tensions and balance of power in the galaxy, the series delivers horror, science fiction, political thriller and space opera.
Star Trek
Star Trek is one of pop culture’s biggest multimedia franchises, spanning multiple movies, TV shows, books, comics, video games, and various other media. The franchise was created by Gene Roddenberry and started with the 1960s TV series starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Over the decades, several equally popular series have come out since as Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Discovery.
Star Trek Is Going Full ‘Seven Samurai’ in Western-Inspired New Chapter for Worf
In a first look at August’s Star Trek: Defiant #18, Worf must rally together a group of farmers to thwart an invasion, not unlike Seven Samurai.
2Scooby-Doo Team-Up
Sholly Fisch and Dario Brizuela
First released in 1969,Scooby-Doo’s successhas shaped Saturday morning cartoons for decades, blending comedy, mystery and light horror. Having since been acquired by Warner Bros., the franchise is actually one of the longest-running TV properties in comics, and has been published by Marvel, DC, Gold Key and Archie. Arguably the best title isScooby-Doo Team-Up, a series that sends the Mystery Inc. gang on monthly adventures with DC and Hanna-Barbera characters.
Among the gang’s best team-ups in the comics were Swamp Thing, Space Ghost, the Super Friends and DC’s mystical heroes.Each story does a good job of bringing in the publisher’s heroes and villains, while also incorporating compelling mysteries for the gang and their friends to solve.The issues are each modeled clearly on both Silver Age comics and 1960s cartoons, which make for a great combination.
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! is a classic animated mystery series that follows the adventures of four teenagers - Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers - and their talking Great Dane, Scooby-Doo. Together, they travel around in their psychedelic van, the Mystery Machine, solving supernatural mysteries and uncovering spooky secrets.
1Space Ghost
David Pepose and Jonathan Lau
Created by Hanna-Barbera,Space Ghostranked among the best Saturday morning cartoons of the 1960s. A space-based hero in the style of Batman meets Green Lantern, the protagonist patrols the galaxy with his sidekicks, Jace, Jan and the monkey Blip.His 2024 series from Dynamitefollows the first meeting between the characters, with the hero taking the children under his wing after the death of their father.
Pepose and Lau’sSpace Ghostseries is among the best superhero books in print as of 2024, surpassing the action, pacing and stories of most Marvel and DC books.For those who want to see the origins of the original series, this title offers a better beginning than DC’s 2004Space Ghostseries, perfectly incorporating the hero’s rogues’ gallery into the adventures.
