Comic Vine News

256 Comments

Off YOUR Mind: What Comic Books Would Make a Great TV Show?

We all have opinions, here's the chance to give yours.

This week we all got very excited when it was announced that Joss Whedon would be working on a television pilot for a S.H.I.E.L.D. show. He (obviously) did a great job on The Avengers and his past experience in successful TV shows means he has a great idea what works and what would not. He understands the limitations of technology and budgets.

In a perfect world, we could get (great) TV shows based on all our favorite comic book characters. Realistically, that's not possible. Some characters just wouldn't translate as well as others in the live-action format. Then, of course, there would be the budget that could prevent the characters actually using their superpowers or abilities.

No Caption Provided

The question this week is, what comic book series or characters would make a great TV show? Let's keep it realistic. We're not going to see an X-Men or Justice League TV show using the characters to their full potentials. There have been some decent attempts in the past. Technology has improved.

Share your thoughts below. Maybe some eager and conniving TV exec will read your response and make it happen. You won't get the credit for it, of course but the world would get an awesome show out of it.

No Caption Provided

Tony Guerrero is the Editor-in-Chief of Comic Vine. You can follow him on Twitter @GManFromHeck. He hopes to someday see a TV show based on Doctor Guerrero.

256 Comments

Avatar image for frsty13
frsty13

22

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By frsty13

Nothing would make me happier than seeing an Astro City tv series (assuming Kurt Busiek is heavily involved).

Avatar image for nijis
Nijis

143

Forum Posts

8

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Nijis

There are so many I would to see as a live action TV show! Batman, Green Lantern, Deadpool, X-men, Wolverine, so many!

Avatar image for redheadedatrocitus
RedheadedAtrocitus

6958

Forum Posts

8982

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 3

These guys...

And no, not as an animated either. I want this as a live action television series. Oh and any incarnation of the Six would work for me really. I just put this incarnation up here because I loved Gail Simone's work on it ^^

Avatar image for lightsout
lightsout

1886

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By lightsout

@wowylied: I could not agree more. People (who know that Supes is my favorite super hero) are always shocked when I tell them I don't care for Smallville. You're dead on (and it's what I try to tell these people). It wasn't about Superman (and all the themes he brings with him). It was about a young Clark Kent, and it was a CW teen-drama focusing on relationships (not super-heroics). I like superheroes because of the un-realism to escape from the real world, I don't want a show with beautiful young folks with "problems", haha. I'm going to give Arrow a chance (since it's being spun as having a lot of action), but I'm not going to get my hopes up.

Avatar image for black_lantern_mar_vell
Black Lantern Mar-vell

2119

Forum Posts

2656

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 4

Powerman & Iron Fist!

Avatar image for wdchefdave
wdchefdave

136

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By wdchefdave

Cage and Danny, or Cloak and Dagger.

As long as they don't change them TOO much.

(And, they will.)

Even Wonder Man could do well in the right hands.

Avatar image for cptalgonquin17
CPTAlgonquin17

9

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By CPTAlgonquin17

I think creator owned and non capes stuff are easier and cooler to make. I love to see Y:The Last Man or Sweet Tooth made into a show on HBO

Avatar image for sniprizzle
sniprizzle

26

Forum Posts

148

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

Edited By sniprizzle

I think Superman/Batman would be a great tv series, especial Jeph Loeb's run. The movies were great but there is more you could fit into a regular ongoing series than a movie. I bet they could have fun when it comes round to the Batzorro appearance. Plus other story lines like Search for Kryptonite was so awesome.

Avatar image for thesmallvillefan12
TheSmallvillefan12

276

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Y: The Last Man

Brian K. Vaughan already has experience in tv and it could be on HBO.

Avatar image for russia599
russia599

102

Forum Posts

64

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By russia599

Batwoman

No Caption Provided
Avatar image for confirukia
confirukia

229

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By confirukia

Supergirl ,seriously

Avatar image for kennybaese
kennybaese

1241

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

Edited By kennybaese

Daredevil would make for a good series. You could really easily adopt it to a "case of the week" format with Murdock working a case as Daredevil and a case in the court room. Plus, it wouldn't really require much in the way of CGI or expensive special effects. A Luke Cage and Iron Fist Heroes for Hire show could be pretty alright too. Again, not as much of a need for CGI and it could easily be serialized.

I think someone above mentioned Gotham City Central which would be pretty awesome. Super easy to serialize and you could really easily turn it into something that feels like the Nolan Batman films, just minus the Batman.

Avatar image for ccraft
ccraft

12437

Forum Posts

169

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 11

Edited By ccraft

I think The Killing Joke should become animated movie

batman kevin conroy

joker mark hamill

Avatar image for vandinejd_1991
vandinejd_1991

508

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By vandinejd_1991

Captain America should get his own show. Whether animated or not all that matters is that the main focus should be on him alone with the Avengers being only reserved for cameo roles. It should last as long as Smallville did and maybe have the first 3 or 4 seasons focus on his World War II days while the rest of the series focuses on his adventures in the present day.

Avatar image for sky_pirate
sky-pirate

115

Forum Posts

30

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By sky-pirate

I could see Power Girl work as a character driven series (explore her early time on Earth, her start as a heroine and journey towards becoming a millionaire CEO and the JSA:s first chairwoman).

The same with Ultimate Spider-Woman. Start off with her escaping from the Jackal (I'm mixing together Ultimate and mainstream here), discovering that she's female and slowly adjusting to that and the fact that she's now attracted to boys (something that her having the memories of the heterosexual Peter Parker's memories, causes a conflict with), throughout the first 2-3 seasons. So, you'd have a coming of age story, from an original perspective. To add additional conflicts and problems, I would have the real Peter Parker be dead and a few other clones running around, some posing a threat to Peter's family and loved onces (who Jessica now has to protect, without making direct contact at first, as she's unsure if aunt May would accept her).

And then you've got Spider-Girl. Same premise: a coming of age story. And once again, I would have Peter be dead. Partly, because I wouldn't want him to overshadow the show's protagonist, but also to add conflict, problems and drama to the show. Okay, so May is 15 and starting to develop her powers. The thing for her would be to talk to someone, who's gone through the same thing, but she can't as the first candidate his dead and the second (Kaine) has little to no contact with the Parker family (as MJ would likely cut him out of their lives, once Peter's dead, as she'd find it to painfull to look at a man, who looks and sounds exactly like him) and MJ can't help her in that way (+ she's also very much against her daughter's new superhero career, having already lost Peter years ago and not wanting to bury another member of her family).

Avatar image for rajaman
RajaMan

5

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By RajaMan

How about Heroes For Hire, Daredevil, or Martian Manhunter?

Avatar image for poncho
Poncho

68

Forum Posts

6

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Poncho

Winter Soldier

Avatar image for necrotic_lycanthrope
Necrotic_Lycanthrope

2501

Forum Posts

11364

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 11

WitchDoctor, Swamp Thing/Animal Man (especially involving the rot), I, Vampire or American Vampire and, I'm just throwing this out there now, a Red Hulk based TV show. Now I say this because, yes Loeb made him a dick at first, but under Jeff Parker Thunderbolt Rulk has evolved emotionally into a brand new hero, leaving his tattered life far far behind him. To make a good show, you need a good rounded arc to base it off of.

Avatar image for chernobylcow
ChernobylCow

96

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 4

Edited By ChernobylCow

Y the Last Man

Ex Machina

Fables

Avatar image for foolkiller1
foolkiller1

262

Forum Posts

109

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By foolkiller1
No Caption Provided

Mooney Mooney Mooney

Avatar image for th3jok3r
th3jok3r

17

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By th3jok3r

I think Daredevil would make a fantastic TV show. He doesn't have "super" powers, it could easily be contained budget-wise, and he is a lawyer, which is easily adaptable for TV. Plus, he could have some guest appearances from Luke Cage, Iron Fist, etc.

Avatar image for theprez
ThePRez

466

Forum Posts

1454

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 73

User Lists: 1

Edited By ThePRez

chew and Y: the last man

Avatar image for cypher4
Cypher4

84

Forum Posts

437

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By Cypher4

I would love to see a live action Batman series that was serious. The one from the 60's with Adam West was just too campy. Also, a better Flash series. The one from the early 90's with John Wesley Shipp had its moments and some episodes were really good, but there were other times it was just so bad. As for a series that hasn't been tried yet, I can't find too many ones that wouldn't require a big budget and be done decently with today's technology. Perhaps Hawkeye, but I don't really care for him that much. Besides, they might use him in the S.H.I.E.L.D. show anyway. Maybe Dr. Strange or Iron Fist. Dare Devil might be doable.

Avatar image for razzatazz
RazzaTazz

11948

Forum Posts

234582

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1887

User Lists: 79

Edited By RazzaTazz

Has anyone said Danger Girl yet?

Avatar image for adamgamer23
adamgamer23

9

Forum Posts

101

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By adamgamer23

Devil Dinosaur gets my vote ;-)

Avatar image for potanicalpardon
PotanicalPardon

13

Forum Posts

141

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By PotanicalPardon

All of these as HBO/Showtime/AMC types of productions:

Y - The Last Man, Runaways, Fables, Suicide Squad/Secret Six, Animal Man, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold/Time Masters, Starman, The Shade, Hourman, Doom Patrol, Invisibles, Preacher.

Avatar image for lykopis
lykopis

10845

Forum Posts

40100

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By lykopis

Only one person mentioned The Boys, but seriously -- it would be a great idea. Completely outside of what is usually presented when it comes to superheroes but in a compelling, realistic and bare/honest way. Maybe pull back a little on the visuals and sexual content, but I think it would really work.

Clearly Y: The Last Man is a favourite and as for Alias, it was green-lighted with a heavy focus on the detective side of things with Ms Marvel and Daredevil and Luke Cage intended to make appearances. But it was axed. :(

I can see Daredevil -- you have crime-fighting and law together.

Dr.Strange is another good one -- so pretty much everyone has mentioned all the ones I would like. Fables is already being done in a sense, but maybe that's a good thing? One based on the comic book would have a following already, and the fans following the other show would definitely give it a try.

Heroes for Hire. Maybe a spin-off of the Exiles? Runaways would be good too, especially with the whole evil parents shtick...

Wow -- I contributed nothing new on this thread, lol. How about The Warlord? Conanish with a bit of magic/sorcery and warrior savagery and a window into present day every so often? It could work.

Avatar image for knighthood
knighthood

1918

Forum Posts

412

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 49

Edited By knighthood

@russia599: Batwoman would be good too.

Avatar image for grimwyrd
Grimwyrd

8

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Grimwyrd

Daredevil would be easy peasy, Morbius the Living Vampire might work, Groo the Wanderer would be cool, Remo Williams, The Sandman, and maybe Judge Dread.

Avatar image for jawshco
Jawshco

252

Forum Posts

13

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 3

Edited By Jawshco
No Caption Provided

Y:TLM and Moon Knight are both excellent choices. I love Sweet Tooth, but that budget would have to be enormous, and you'd really need a director like Del Toro to make it work.

My number one choice goes to:

<---Psylocke Cosplayers, the Show!

No, just kidding... It's really the Runaways. It's an amazing story that would translate very well to TV IMO, and would have a chance to be successful by reaching a large audience.

No Caption Provided
Avatar image for red_jack
Red_Jack

318

Forum Posts

733

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 4

Edited By Red_Jack

@4donkeyjohnson said:

The Suicide Squad! Amanda Waller, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang in a Prison Break meets Alias type show with cameos by the DC big guns

I like this idea to a certain extent. However, it would have to be tweaked somewhat. The suicide squad came from all different cross-overs so there was always a new guest appearance that made the comics appealing. Seeing this as a TV series once a week would be great but the demographic audience would need to be at least late teenagers and older.

Batman has had many TV series but never a more edgier adult themed style. A lot of batman's enemies involve riskier subjects like serial killers, rapists, gang turf wars, terrorism. A Batman TV series like this could work with a more mature themed animation style (loved the Japanese anime shorts that went with the Batman Nolan films) but if done with real people, the budget would certainly be tricky. The costs of a weekly TV series needing locations to show Batman grapple hook amidst buildings would surely be a fortune.

However, a plus side to a more edgy tv series is the potential for well loved Batman characters (notably the popular villains) to be further explored.

Avatar image for icysloth
icysloth

1329

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By icysloth

Showtime bought the rights to chew and I am hoping they take it to production

Avatar image for manfri
manfri

2

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By manfri

Two off the top of my head:

1. Dark KnightQuest - corny, right, but hear me out. This is Smallville meets Kung-Fu. The show would be an adventure drama chronicling young Bruce Wayne's global pursuit of instructors in his various bat skillz: ninjitsu; detective work; escape artistry; acrobatics/parkour; shaolin kung-fu/tai chi; toxicology, etc. I would imagine that a young, obsessed billionaire could captivate audiences.

2. Hellblazer - John Constantine, str8, no chaser. Through Hugh Laurie in a trenchcoat with a pack of Silk Cut and let the insanity unfold. This would be Tales from the Darkside meets Luther. I envision a horror anthology with a dry, dark sense of humor and lots of supernatural/ethereal themes (ghosts, demons, angels, vampires, witches and the like). I would emphasize the aspect of the character where he reluctantly saves the day while still focused on his primary objective: getting over on everybody.

These would be fairly low budget shows with good CG handling the special effects. I would get Takashi Miike to direct Hellblazer and JJ Abrahms for young Master Wayne.

Avatar image for manfri
manfri

2

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By manfri

@darkrider: You could really play up the show within a show aspect or break the 4th wall to add to the zaniness lol.

Avatar image for geekyeverafter
GeekyEverAfter

421

Forum Posts

12356

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 11

Edited By GeekyEverAfter
No Caption Provided

Gotham City Sirens would make a Perfect T.V show! It's the sexiest trio of Female Fatals ;)

Avatar image for ectoborge
ectoborge

214

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By ectoborge

I was looking forward to the wonder woman series before it got canned. My vote is also for Daredevil the special effects would be easy and I like his personality. I would like to see a hulk series but the CG would be too hard

Avatar image for jm122313
jm122313

4

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By jm122313

What about using somebody Liberty Belle II?

Avatar image for blastov
Blastov

23

Forum Posts

7

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Blastov

I wanna see a Powerman and Iron Fist TV Show set in the 70's! That would be awesome!

Avatar image for the_tree
the_tree

8456

Forum Posts

28513

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 14

Edited By the_tree

I've always thought that a Question show could be done perfectly for TV. It could be an action/drama/thriller, and due to the character's street level nature, it wouldn't be overly expensive.

Avatar image for billy_batson
Billy Batson

62287

Forum Posts

1286746

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 11

Edited By Billy Batson

@The_Tree:

What? No Transmet? :p
BB

Avatar image for the_tree
the_tree

8456

Forum Posts

28513

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 14

Edited By the_tree

@Billy Batson: I was being kind of realistic.

A Transmetropolitan show would only be successful in my dreams. It'd need to be done by a channel like HBO, and even then it'd be pretty expensive to make. I'm also not sure if too many people would be so quick to fall in love with Spider as I have. So, if it could be done appropriately, then yeah, it'd be a kickass TV show.

Avatar image for billy_batson
Billy Batson

62287

Forum Posts

1286746

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 11

Edited By Billy Batson

@The_Tree:

Agreed that HBO should make.
I don't think it'd be really that expensive. The futuristic elements could be done by CGI or almost completly be left out and just focus on the main thing: a reporter going up against the president, and at times like these, who wouldn't love that? :p
BB

Avatar image for treefreak32
treefreak32

29

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By treefreak32

Young Avengers TV show=awsome

Avatar image for darkmount1
Darkmount1

1535

Forum Posts

19439

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 12

Edited By Darkmount1

My ideas:

-Atomic Robo as an animated series (with Dee Bradley Baker voicing the lead with a mix of the Battle Droids and Robby the Robot--with a hint of George Costanza)

-A JSA cartoon series

-A Champions animated series

-A live-action anthology series based on DC's detectives

And these babies of mine:

-Justice League: Legacy http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fan_fic/news/?a=65975

-Flash Gordon: The Animated Series http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fan_fic/news/?a=60714

-"Bill Walko's The Hero Business" http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fan_fic/news/?a=51891

-An animated series based on David Campiti and the late Al Rio's "Exposure" http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fan_fic/news/?a=54484

Avatar image for docfishstick
DocFishstick

242

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By DocFishstick

Nightwing would work. Its a story that most people know. Have Batman and Robin show up here and there.

Avatar image for wargauntlet
WarGauntlet

35

Forum Posts

97

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By WarGauntlet

imo batman inc or one of just the hood with cameos from the others like el gaucho

Avatar image for icytower38
icytower38

1

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By icytower38

It was done for a single season, a cartoon and I don't know if it was even close to the comic; but Wolverine & The X-Men was really getting good at the end and seamed to have a good premise for season 2. So a continuation of that would be welcomed.

Avatar image for huser
huser

98

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By huser

I'd say you need things you can believably pull off and also with good characters for bottle episodes when you can't always swing for the fences dramatically.

I'd say keep it street level at best to fulfill that requirement.

Gotham Central, just make it a standard police procedural of the CBS ilk. Heck I'd love a a completely mundane pilot (which for business reasons to get the show made would have to be the second episode run out of order) that only at the end showed you what it was about. A Science Police in Metropolis might also work, but the higher stakes Big Blue typically fights might make that untenable.

Alias was pretty much a season of TV.

Some iteration of the various Heroes for Hire/Marvel Knights level teams, pick one any one.

Skewing younger, an X-men School of the Gifted that played out behind the scenes using less well known crew. Heck they could be used as extras and filler in any big budget X-men movie allowing you to keep costs relatively down using hand me downs from their "big bros." Another reason I thought Voyager and Enterprise were generally strategic failures for being purposely removed from "standard" Trek.

Avatar image for bsavelli
bsavelli

57

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By bsavelli

I think a TV show similar to Smallville focusing on Bruce's early years (between the murder of his parents and the events in Year One) would be watchable. I mean, fans would be able to see the whole building of the character and it would be doable even with a low budget

Avatar image for spider2dfly
spider2dfly

277

Forum Posts

24275

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By spider2dfly

A while back, news broke that Marvel was developing a Moon Knight tv series but it never pushed through. So I began writing a fan fiction series. I'm not really a writer so I'm just going to apologize if you have complaints..

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep-1-the-rising-of-the-moon/87-34899/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep-2-crescent-arrival/87-34982/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep-3-cry-werewolf/87-35327/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep-4-revenge-of-the-seth/87-35829/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep-5-a-warrior-darkly/87-36131/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep-6-justice-is-served/87-36411/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep-7-contingency-t/87-37374/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep8-moon-knight-rider/87-37930/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep9-fearless-knight/87-38710/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep10-demoonized/87-39560/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep11-symbiotic-relations/87-42533/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep-12-justice-and-punishment/87-44015/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep-13-fight-knight-fight/87-47353/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/spider2dfly/moon-knight-the-tv-series-ep-14-underworld-war/87-53251/