It makes a lot of sense to adapt comic books to television rather than film. The serialized format makes it much easier to translate both long-term storylines and standalone issues to the screen, and digital effects have advanced enough over the years that you can get cinematic visuals in every episode without necessarily breaking the bank. Of course, the best part of the modern TV landscape is the almost complete lack of censorship – at least where streaming is concerned.
This freedom has allowed adult stories like Preacher and even Invincible to be adapted in all of their bloody glory without the need to compromise the action in order to secure a profitable PG-13 rating. That’s also how we got Prime Video’s incredibly successful adaptation of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s The Boys, a satirical comic book that went on to become one of the most popular superhero deconstructions in media.
However, with the show finally reaching its conclusion after seven years of bloodthirsty setup, long-time fans are left to wonder where they’ll turn to for their next dose of horror adjacent comic book thrills.
So, here’s a list highlighting five ultraviolent comics that also deserve the The Boys adaptation treatment, as there are plenty of genre stories that would make for some riveting programming.
That being said, this is far from a comprehensive list, so don’t forget to comment below with your own comic book favorites if you think we missed a particularly gnarly one.
With that out of the way, onto the list!
5. Wanted
Yes, I’m very much aware that Wanted already has a reasonably successful film adaptation from 2007, but as much as I enjoy that batshit crazy movie about curving bullets and deciphering prophecies from textile mills, it has absolutely nothing to do with Mark Millar’s original story!
The real Wanted was actually about the son of a superpowered killer discovering that our reality is controlled by a secret society of supervillains who emerged victorious from a war against superheroes and wiped everyone’s memories so that they could continue their nefarious activities in the shadows. In a media landscape dominated by superhero stories and fantastical cinematic universes, I think a supervillain story taking place in a more grounded reality would be a breath of fresh air. That’s why Wanted makes it onto the list, though it’s a shame that Eminem is a bit too old now to finally play the main character who was clearly based on his appearance.
4. Brat Pack
Brat Pack is probably the most controversial book on this list, with this dark satire of superhero sidekick stories delving into uncomfortable territory in order to condemn child abuse and the underlying fascism behind vigilante justice. However, despite being a frequently unpleasant read with divisive story beats regarding homophobia and sexual assault, enough time has passed that I believe a new generation of writers could tactfully approach the subject matter in order to expose how media empires exploit children.
There have been enough real-life scandals since 1990 to inform a serious Brat Pack adaptation that could very well turn out to be one of the most important Superhero stories ever put to screen – so long as the showrunners treat the subject with the respect it deserves.
3. The Strange Talent of Luther Strode
Equal parts horror comedy, Spider-Man homage, and parody of those Charles Atlas bodybuilding advertisements that used to haunt comic books during the ’50s and ’60s, The Strange Talent of Luther Strode is one of the most insanely creative projects to come out of the industry in decades.
That’s also why I think Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore’s high-octane parable about a troubled teenager who suddenly becomes a hulking strongman could also turn out to be TV’s next big superhero-themed hit. And if you ask me, a digitally de-aged Alan Ritchson would be perfect for the role of Luther!
2. Nemesis
The sadistic brainchild of Mark Millar and Steve McNiven, Nemesis is so edgy that it often becomes an unintentional comedy. And yet, there’s an undeniable charm to the over-the-top cynicism of this ridiculously hyperviolent story that can best be described as: “what if Batman was the Joker?”
However, the farcical world of Nemesis is so over-the-top that an appropriately satirical adaptation has the potential to surpass its source material. Hell, the added limitations of a TV budget might even help to make this a more easily digestible experience, though it really depends on who might be cast as the Patrick-Bateman-esque title character.
1. Something is Killing the Children
Putting James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera’s action-horror opus on this list is kind of a cheat since an adaptation has been in the works since 2021, but until Blumhouse gives us an update on the long-gestating movie and animated series, I’ll continue to beg for a live-action rendition of Something is Killing the Children!
In this ultraviolent Boom! Studios series, we follow monster hunter Erica Slaughter as she hunts down hungry abominations that are usually only able to be seen by kids. While the overarching story here is perfect for a multi-season TV epic (and maybe even a couple of spin-offs), there’s also plenty of room for monster-of-the-week stories too.
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