# Comic books that deserve adaptations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 23, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423 "2016-05-23T00:22:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/1 "2016-05-23T00:22:31Z")
We’re seeing more and more comic books being adapted in movies and television series. But there’s still plenty of untapped works out there. So let’s throw out some ideas. [The American](http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/a/american.htm): A miniseries from the late eighties. Presents superheroes as part of a government conspiracy. [Astro City](http://toonopedia.com/astrocit.htm): A series that shows different aspects of what life would be like in a city inhabited by superheroes. Would work great as an anthology TV series. [The Elementals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementals_(Comico_Comics)): A vastly under-appreciated series from the eighties and nineties. In my opinion, Bill Willingham should be ranked alongside Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, and Frank Miller in modern comic book history. But putting that aside, this was an excellent series about four people who were brought back from death and given superpowers. [Kamandi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamandi): A Jack Kirby series from the seventies. Basically a well done rip-off of Planet of the Apes. Would make a great sci-fi thriller. [Nexus](http://toonopedia.com/nexus.htm): A superhero story set in a science fiction universe. We finally have the technology to make this work in a movie. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/2 "2016-05-23T00:50:14Z")
[Elfquest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elfquest) - The grandmother of cinematic alternative comics. [Yummy Fur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yummy_Fur_%28comics%29) (not even a cross between John Waters and David Cronenberg could do it justice) [Transmetropolitan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmetropolitan) - Insightful and at times evil with a all-time level protagonist. [Top Ten](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_10_%28comics%29) - Superheroes done right. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/3 "2016-05-23T01:11:19Z")
I wish HBO, or Netflix, or some other no-holds-barred would do a series based of the “ **Hoppers/Locas** ” stories from _ **Love and Rockets** _. You know, something that would start with a young **Maggie and Hopey** , and actually follow them through the years season by season, and last as many, or at least almost as many, seasons as the Locas stories had lasted. I know there were gaps in the stories, so maybe the series would last quite as many years, and there would eight have to be skip aheads (ie, “One Year Later” titles) or else the whole thing would have to be presented as a flash-back, so it could be non-linear. It has potential to be something great, especially if the bros. Hernandez would come aboard as writers. It would be the first show I’d be really excited about since I don’t know when. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/4 "2016-05-23T01:21:47Z")
Turok, Son of Stone. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/5 "2016-05-23T01:47:47Z")
I just want Doctor Doom to be portrayed as the awesome master villain that he is. A [Grendel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grendel_(comics)) adaptation would also be incredible, though it might be a tough sell. I’d be first in line to see a [Great Lakes Avengers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Lakes_Avengers) movie. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/6 "2016-05-23T01:59:11Z")
[Wild Cards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Cards#Comics), by George R.R. Martin et al. Once he’s done with this Game of Thrones thing he’s working on, he could do that. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/7 "2016-05-23T02:14:06Z")
[Plastic Man!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_Man) I think he has to remain mostly a comedy character in order to work, but it could be done. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/8 "2016-05-23T02:28:17Z")
[The Ballad of Halo Jones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ballad_of_Halo_Jones): Set far in the future, an ordinary girl tries to escape her life and ends up having an extraordinary adventure. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/9 "2016-05-23T02:45:34Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > [The Ballad of Halo Jones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ballad_of_Halo_Jones): Set far in the future, an ordinary girl tries to escape her life and ends up having an extraordinary adventure. Good news, everyone! Halo Jones has been made into a play [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xyO54tXA4kc/hqdefault.jpg "The Ballad of Halo Jones - January 2012 Manchester Fringe theatre performance - opening scene") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyO54tXA4kc) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OnRKYULAabE/hqdefault.jpg "Night Network 2000AD Pat Mills & Kevin O'Neill Interview - Part 1") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnRKYULAabE) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4pRhR5uzbR0/hqdefault.jpg "Night Network 2000AD In the Red Theater Company Performs Halo Jones - Part 2") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pRhR5uzbR0) ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/10 "2016-05-23T04:32:22Z")
I’ve always had a soft spot for this guy. > **[Creeper (DC Comics)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creeper_%28comics%29)** > > The Creeper (Jack Ryder) is a superhero created by Steve Ditko and Don Segall for DC Comics. He is portrayed as a journalist and talk show host, usually living in Gotham City, who gains the ability to transform into the superhuman the Creeper (and vice versa) thanks to experimental science developed by Dr. Yatz. First appearing in Showcase #73 (March 1968), his origin was revised in Secret Origins (vol. 2) #18 in 1987, then partially revised again in The Creeper #1–4 in 1997, then completely r... ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/11 "2016-05-23T04:42:28Z")
> [@Sefton](#): > > A [Grendel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grendel_(comics)) adaptation would also be incredible, though it might be a tough sell. That reminds me of Matt Wagner’s other major series, _[Mage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mage_(comics))_, which I think would make a great movie or TV miniseries. The problem, of course, is that the final part of the trilogy still hasn’t been released. On the plus side, the threatened Zack Snyder version was never made. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/12 "2016-05-23T05:15:20Z")
Groo the Wanderer. Or course, it ought to be a cartoon. Also, a Telltale game. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/13 "2016-05-23T09:37:21Z")
A lot of great choices. I remember when Lethal Weapon came out some people said that the Riggs character was a great take on [the Badger](http://toonopedia.com/badger.htm). Of course that was before Gibson went insane. I think [ZOT!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zot!)would make a great movie or TV series, live or animated. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/14 "2016-05-23T10:03:23Z")
> [@Sefton](#): > > I just want Doctor Doom to be portrayed as the awesome master villain that he is. So true, I don’t know how the film makers can get this so wrong each time they re-boot the FF. Additonally I would like to see the Eternals , possibly as spin off from GOTG. Might work as a TV series rather than a movie. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/15 "2016-05-23T10:14:48Z")
> [@Johnny\_Angel](#): > > Groo the Wanderer. Or course, it ought to be a cartoon. Also, a Telltale game. And the last line of every season should be: “Mendicant?” ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/16 "2016-05-23T10:58:53Z")
I keep thinking about whether Kyle Baker’s _Why I Hate Saturn_ would work in film/television form. So much of the book is conversation-based with little actual action (apart from the ending, of course) that it might even work better for **radio**. But I suppose with some judicious editing it could be condensed into an interesting hour-long HBO movie or some such. Not a comic book but rather a webcomic - and one still in progress, so it may be far too premature: I’m hooked on Abby Howard’s [The Last Halloween](https://www.last-halloween.com/) and think an animated episodic version would work very well indeed (assuming it doesn’t go off the rails later). _Very_ dark humor. Book 1 has just finished and Book 2 won’t launch until October, so there’s a long way to go yet… ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/17 "2016-05-23T11:00:23Z")
I love the Badger…not sure how well he’d fare with a mainstream movie audience. Also a fan of Willinham’s Elementals; I can remember a few Crowning Moments of Awesome from that series. And Mage was/is (will he ever publish the third installment?) wonderful. Might be the easiest of the three to adapt into a movie. ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/18 "2016-05-23T11:02:27Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > [Elfquest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elfquest) - The grandmother of cinematic alternative comics. Not the real deal, but interesting: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7OHQf2x0OD8/maxresdefault.jpg "ElfQuest : A Fan Imagining (2011) OFFICIAL trailer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OHQf2x0OD8) ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/19 "2016-05-23T11:28:24Z")
Double-plus for Astro City and Top Ten. Both series would allow the filmmakers to explore the consequences of a superhero-rich environment without needing to directly shit all over the iconic characters we are all familiar with. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423/20 "2016-05-23T12:55:33Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > And the last line of every season should be: > > “Mendicant?” And in the midst of the carnage that begins the next season, Groo wonders, “What did he mean ‘slow of mind’?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-books-that-deserve-adaptations/755423.md?page=2)