Top 15 comic book adaptations

THE WALKING DEAD:

Based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, the post-apocalyptic phenomenon, developed by The Shawshank Redemption director Frank Darabont, introduced limb-lopping hardcore gore to the small screen. Starring Egg from This Life, Andrew Lincoln, as the leader of a disparate bunch of survivors. The bloody twist? The humans they encounter are far worse than the flesh-eating undead threat that constantly shuffles behind them.

Watch now: Foxtel Now

WONDER WOMAN:

Boasting the finest theme song known to man… or wonder woman, a fabulous star turn by Lynda Carter as the Amazonian Princess who fought for our rights in her satin tights, a delightfully cheesy line in spinning costume changes and an invisible plane; the 70s Wonder Woman oozes camp charm from every star spangled pore.

BATMAN:

A delirious high-camp classic, the Adam West-starring Batman is still THE Caped Crusader for anyone enraptured by the Sixties. With eye-popping visuals “Pow!” the grooviest of soundtracks “Zap!” and a definitive rogue’s gallery of villains including The Joker (Cesar Romero), Cat Woman (Julie Newmar) and The Penguin (Burgess Meredith) “Bam!”; the show is riddled with humour and remains a kitsch delight.

PREACHER:

Adapted from Garth Innis and Steve Dillon’s comic book series by Breaking Bad’s Sam Catlin and funny men Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, this is a dark horror splat-hetti western that isn’t afraid to drench the screen in plasma or tickle the blackest of funny bones. Dominic Cooper takes on the lead role as a possessed preacher with a criminal past while Joseph Gilgun and Ruth Negga lend brilliant support as a fun-loving blood sucker and the sermoniser’s criminal ex.

Watch now: Stan

THE INCREDIBLE HULK:

As the sorrowful piano of “The Lonely Man Theme” marks the end of another episode and David Banner (played by Bill Bixby) leaves town like a short-ripping The Littlest Hobo, The Incredible Hulk played on green form by muscle man Lou Ferrigno, wins again as the ‘70s most sombre comic book adaptation. The creature that Banner turns into after a near fatal dose of gamma radiation is wanted for a murder he didn’t commit. You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN:

Long before Tobey Maquire and Andrew Garfield squeezed themselves into the famous red and blue spandex, the king of the swingers enjoyed mild success on the small. With The Sound Of Music’s Nicholas Hammond spinning yarns in the lead role of Peter Parker, the young photographer who was bitten by a radioactive spider, the show suffered the wrath of Marvel fans not happy with the changes to the Spider-Man mythos.

LOIS & CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN:

More lustful glances than superhuman powers and flapping capes, Lois & Clark plays on the budding romance between the fearless journalist and the Man Of Steel. The couple, as played by Teri Hatcher and Dean Caine, finally got hitched in the final fourth season. Not that the show skimped on adventure. John Shea ensured that Lex Luther remained a worthy adversary.

AGENT CARTER:

A Captain America spin-off taking place within the timelines of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Agent Carter, starring Hayley Atwell as the titular agent Peggy Carter, the show sees her juggling her life at the SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve) and top-secret spy shenanigans she is involved with at the behest of Howard Stark, father of Iron Man himself, Tony Stark.

THE TICK:

The Tick, created by cartoonist Ben Edlund, has had two television incarnations. The first in 2001 starred Patrick Warburton aka. David Puddy from Seinfeld, and the second, in 2016, starred British comedian Peter Serafinowicz (Shaun Of the Dead). Both follow the adventures of the 7-foot, 400-pound superhero with nigh-invulnerability, superhuman strength and super speed. “Spoooooon!”

ARROW:

Take a bow, sharp-shooting vigilante Green Arrow. The billionaire playboy turned shadowy superhero after he is stranded on a mysterious island for five years. Using his father’s notebook as a kill list. Living in the same universe as Constantine and featuring Supergirl, The Flash and the, erm… legends from Legends Of Tomorrow in its 100th episode, the hooded crack shot spearheaded the D.C. TV renaissance.

RIVERDALE:

Playing like a demented mix of Gossip Girl and Twin Peaks, no surprise as the show features Peak’s star Mädchen Amick, Archie adaptation Riverdale is an ultra-stylised throwback to the 80s and 90s with added Molly Ringwald and Luke Perry. With a too cool for school young cast, who barely go to lessons, Riverdale is the guiltiest of pleasures.

Watch now: Netflix

iZOMBIE:

Loosely based on the comic book by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred, iZombie is a full-bloodied comedy that combines a hunger for “brains” with a witty and intelligent script as medical student Olivia Moore ditches her studies for a job at the local morgue after she is turned into a zombie. Why the mortuary? The fringe benefits! She eats the brains of the bodies she autopsies.

Watch now: Stan

THE GREEN HORNET:

How can you not mention a comic book adaptation that stars Bruce Lee? The big boss plays the Green Hornet’s crimefighting martial arts expert assistant, and occasional chauffeur, Kato. The Hornet is the secret identity of playboy bachelor Britt Reid (played by Van Williams) and the duo do battle in the sleek black Hornet-mobile known as Black Beauty.

MARVEL’S JESSICA JONES:

A dark neo-noir psychological thriller, the Jessica Jones of the latest Marvel adaptation is a broken woman. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after the tragic end of her superhero career. As played by Kristen Ritter, Jones is a deeply disturbed with a vicious line in acerbic wit. A future member of The Defenders, with Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist.

Watch now: Netflix

TALES FROM THE CRYPT:

“Hello boils and ghouls!” So welcomed the Crypt Keeper, the puppet host of Tales From The Crypt. A horror anthology series based on the EC Comics of the 1950s. The show took full advantage of its censorship free cable home in the 90s and delivered the requisite blood, gore and graphic violence that the ground-breaking comics were renowned for.