Top 10 Comic Books That Deserve A Movie Or TV Show Adaptation

Top 10 Comic Books That Deserve A Movie Or TV Show Adaptation

These are the stories with the potential to really light up the screen. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 Comic Books that deserve their own live action television series or movie.

Just to give the other comics a chance, we have decided not to include mainstream or classic superheroes, instead focusing on franchises that have potential to showcase something entirely new and exciting.

#10- 100 Bullets (1999-2009)
Kicking off our list is this pulp noir series. During its run, it gave us the kind of violent drama that would be right at home on television. At its core is the mysterious Agent Graves, a man who offers victims of injustice a suitcase containing irrefutable evidence, a gun and 100 untraceable bullets. This comic has everything an audience could ask for- action, flawed characters, a slow burning narrative and major revelations.

#9- DMZ (2005-2012)
Set in the near future, this cautionary tale follows Matty Roth, a naïve photojournalist working in war torn Manhattan, which is now a demilitarized zone during the second American civil war. Caught between the federal government and secessionist “Free States” armies, his explorations unearth the population’s palpable disillusionment over America’s failed post 911 policies, both foreign and domestic, while giving us provocative thought provoking drama suitable for both film and TV.

#8- Runaways (2003-)
This unusual superhero series features a group of six teenagers who discover that their wealthy parents are members of an evil criminal organization made up of time travelers, wizards, mad scientists, aliens and mutants. Learning that they have inherited their parents’ powers, they run away together, before resolving to defeat their elders. This series’ balance of action and character driven storytelling would make for a good watch indeed.

#7- American Vampire (2010-)
This series focuses on Skinner Sweet, an outlaw from the 1800s and his progeny, an actress named Pearl Jones from the 1920s. Together, as a new breed of vampires, that are stronger, faster, and immune to sunlight, they hunt down the European vampires that tried to kill them. Filled with countless twists, a TV series would have to focus more on atmosphere and character development than on its visual effects.

#6 – “Chew” (2009-)
FDA agent Tony Chu is able to solve crimes thanks to his special power: he gets psychic impressions from the things he eats. Coincidentally, this means that he has to “sample” the victims to learn about them. Though grim, this is actually a lighthearted comedy that demands over-the-top visuals and a manic tone, no matter which format it ends up in.

#5- Girls (2005- 2007)
This comic tells the story of the people of Pennystown, a small community with only 63 members. Suddenly cut off from the rest of the world within a giant dome, they are attacked by a group of naked, egg-laying women that spawn identical copies of themselves and viciously attack females. It would certain take a ballsy director to bring this one to the big screen.

#4- Fables (2002-)
The series deals with various characters from fairy tales and folklore called "Fables", who have been forced out of their home dimension. Traveling to our world, they built a community in New York City called Fabletown. A folkloric spin, its stories shift between various characters and give us everything from murder mystery to conspiracy tales and even capers. With a solid budget and a patient audience, this series has almost limitless potential.

#3- Ex Machina (2004- 2010)
Ex Machica is centered on itchell Hundred, the world’s only superhero called “The Great Machine”. With the ability to command machines or mechanical devices, he is elected the mayor of New York only to end up dealing with various political situations in a post 911 environment. A television adaptation would have to explore Hundred’s extensive backstory, and properly touch on the theme of over-reliance of the government that is so present in the comics.

#2- Preacher (1995- 2000)
This graphic novel tells the story of Jesse Custer, a Texan preacher that became temporarily possessed by the spawn of a demon and angel, whose creation killed his entire congregation. Surviving and attaining powers, he literally goes on a journey to find God. Joined by his ex-girlfriend and an Irish vampire, Custer attempts to uncover the truth while battling various supernatural forces. As a series, it would be a controversial spin on religious themes.

#1- Y: The Last Man (2002- 2008)
Taking the top spot on our list is the series centered on Yorick Brown, the sole male survivor after the simultaneous death of every mammal on the planet with a Y chromosome, with the exception of his pet monkey Ampersand. A thrilling story, it explores the repercussions on society, and the extremes required to prevent planetary extinction. The movie been in development hell for years, but we think a TV series would be the best way to highlight the gripping stories, characters and heart of the comics.

Agree with our list? Which comic book would you love to see become its own live action series or film? For other great top 10s, be sure to subscribe to Watchmojo.com.