The Walking Dead is a hit on comic book racks and the TV dial, but could other comics make the success leap? Check out our list.

Written By Adam A. Donaldson

The Walking Dead continues to be a runaway success on AMC, the ABC network has got series in the works based on The Incredible Hulk and Alias from Marvel Comics, and Sy-Fy just announced its intention to turn DC Comics hero Booster Gold into a TV show. The Watchtower Podcast recently put forward the question: what other comic books might be turned into compelling television series? So we decided to answer.

Below are 10 possible suggestions for comic books that can be turned into TV shows. Hopefully, they represent various genres and different characters and situations, and more importantly, lay the ground work for some really good TV. But you be the judge…

Title: Global Frequency

Think: 24 Meets Fringe

The Plot: Global Frequency is the name of a covert intelligence group that responds to imminent threats to the world from terrorist attacks, to weapons of mass destruction, to paranormal phenomena. The mysterious intelligence agent Miranda Zero responds to every call, and at her disposal are 1,001 sleeper agents from various walks of life – military, intelligence, police, scientists, academics, athletes, criminals and assassins – who are only activated when their expertise is needed.

It’d Be a Good TV Show Because…: They already tried to make it happen. In the mid-2000s, John Rogers (Leverage) adapted it in a pilot for The WB starring Michelle Forbes as Zero, but the netlet opted not to proceed with the series. (Although you can find the pilot online with minimum effort.) Think of the cliffhangers of 24 with the weird science of Fringe, and the one-and-done format of a procedural, and you’ve got Global Frequency. For the truly ambitious, the writers can add an element of continuity; perhaps all the emergencies are leading to something… scarier. It’s said all the time, but with Global Frequency, the possibilities really are endless.

Title: Ex Machina

Think: The West Wing Meets Heroes

The Plot: Mitchell Hundred, a civil engineer, becomes a superhero called The Great Machine. With his super-ability to communicate with machines, he designs a costume and devices – including a rocket pack and ray gun – to protect the City of New York and its citizens. On September 11^th, 2001, The Great Machine stops United Flight 175 from crashing into the South Tower of the World Trade Centre. Two months later, he’s elected Mayor of New York. Ex Machina follows his term in office.

It’d Be a Good TV Show Because…: It’s classic sci-fi; take the real world and real issues, and give it a fantastical bend in order to explore the issues and problems of our time. Not only does Mitchell Hundred have to deal with politics, but he has to deal with super-villain plots and mischief-making masked avengers. Because of his unusual super-power, Hundred is no Superman, but he is a flawed kind of hero that always struggles to do the best with what he’s got. Imagine Spin City, but instead of the Mayor’s buffoonery impeding the staff from doing the work of the people, it’s the Mayor’s old roster of super-villain opponents using any means necessary to prevent a second term in office.

Title: Darkhold Redeemers

Think: The X-Files Meets The Evil Dead

The Plot: Thousands of years ago, the untold power of black magic was put to paper in a book called The Darkhold. Its magics were so powerful that it was sought after by gods, was responsible for the creation of vampires and werewolves, and even Merlin himself was unable to destroy the book. In the modern day, a group of occultists endeavour to contain the evil of the Darkhold and prevent its lost pages from finding their way into the wrong hands, or even the right ones.

It’d Be a Good TV Show Because…: Scary evil coming back from the past to haunt the present is a very big theme on TV right now (Grimm and American Horror Story). Within the Darkhold is a wide variety of story possibilities, including supernatural creatures, mythological monsters, killer magic and doomsday scenarios, and its cast may seem oddly familiar to those who watch another show with limitless impossibilities: Fringe. There’s Victoria Montesi, protector of the Darkhold; Prof. Hastings, an occult expert; his grandson, Jinx; and Interpol agent Sam Buchanan, Montesi’s assigned bodyguard. Together they make a pretty potent Scooby Gang as they chase supernatural threats across the globe.

Title: Rex Mundi

Think: The Da Vinci Code Meets Boardwalk Empire

The Plot: In an alternate world where Europe is split amongst feudal kingdoms, a powerful Catholic Church never suffered the Reformation, and magic is common courtesy, a pair of doctors are caught up in a murder mystery as church elders and European nobles search for the Holy Grail.

It’d Be a Good TV Show Because…: It’s got everything you could want in a series: drama, intrigue, espionage, mysticism, romance, and fun with historical events. A series like Rex Mundi would probably be more suited for premium cable over network TV, but the dense storytelling and denser mythology would be huge for people that like sprawling TV epics like Carnivale, Rome and Game of Thrones, all series that take place in the past. There are hidden clues, political intrigue and black magic, as well as all the fun of Easter Eggs and the little details on this alternate Earth. For instance, America’s Civil War ended in a stalemate and the Confederacy survived and still trades in slaves, and all this takes place in the 1930s! Dark, atmospheric and engrossing, Rex Mundi could be another great TV obsession.

Title: Static

Think: Spider-Man Meets Boyz ‘N’ the Hood

The Plot: Virgil Hawkins is your typical African-American teenager living in the metropolis of Dakota City. Caught in a gang war and hoping to get revenge on a gang member that’s been bullying him, Virgil is exposed to a chemical that gives him and others present super-powers. Virgil’s ability is the manipulation of electromagnetism, and he decides to use his new powers to keep the city safe from the “Bang Babies” and other super-villains.

It’d Be a Good TV Show Because…: It’s easy to see that there aren’t a lot of superheroes of colour for young people to look up to, which is partially the reason why Static has enjoyed much success as a comic book and animated series. Not only could a Static series be trend setting, but it fits perfectly in the repeated trope of superhero TV series of the reluctant hero, one whose sense of responsibility overwhelms their desire to be “normal,” even though the inner conflict remains. A Static series could mix stand alone stories with an overarching continuity about “Bang Babies” – all the super humans created by the chemical that made Static – and the nefarious agency that’s responsible for their creation.

Title: Runaways

Think: The Vampire Diaries Meets The Fugitive Meets X-Men

The Plot: A group of super-powered teens discover that their parents are part of a criminal syndicate called "The Pride." Made up of mob bosses, time-travelers, dark wizards, mad scientists, alien invaders and telepathic mutants, the Runaways defeat The Pride and set out to atone for the sins of their parents by fighting the forces of evil.

It’d Be a Good TV Show Because…: Bickering teens, super-powers, themes of redemption, life and death consequences, and the potential to create an immersive fan experience in the tradition of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other genre shows, are just some of the reasons why this show could succeed. Brian K. Vaughan, who went on to become a writer for seasons three through five of Lost (and created Ex Machina, which was mentioned above), put the emphasis on character, changing the status quo, and killing off popular characters to keep fans on their toes. If even a percentage of the fanfare created around shows like True Blood, Glee, and The Walking Dead comes out for Runaways then we’ll have TV’s newest water cooler hit.

Title: I Kill Giants

Think: Joan of Arcadia Meets Bridge to Terabithia

The Plot: Barbara Thorson is in the fifth grade, and she’s an outsider - a social outcast that likes works of fantasy such as Dungeons & Dragons. But as she’s picked on at school, and has to deal with a tragic home life, Barbara retreats more and more into a vivid fantasy life where she’s a hero with a mystical hammer, sworn to defend the realm from the threat of giants. But as Barbara makes a real friend in classmate Sophia, she starts to find her fantasy life and real life blending into each other.

It’d Be a Good TV Show Because…: It’s unique. I Kill Giants is one of the most lauded graphic novels to be released in the last couple of years, and its mix of fantasy and relatable family drama are the reasons why it’s connected with so many readers. Plus, if the overly stereotypical geeks of The Big Bang Theory get big ratings, then a more down to earth portrayal of a geek girl should be received just as well. Plus, the combination of fantasy elements and real life struggles is already a successful idea on TV this season, at least for the viewers of Once Upon a Time.

Title: DMZ

Think: Jericho Meets Generation Kill

The Plot: America’s second Civil War has broken out between the government of the United States of America and a loose coalition of militias and anti-federalist forces based out of Montana called the Free States of America. The war is at a stalemate as the FSA faces a superior military force, but the U.S. forces are hesitant to move forward after an incident where hundreds of civilians were killed. On the island of Manhattan, 400,000 people live on the very front line between the U.S.A. and the F.S.A. Photojournalist Matthew Roth is the only reporter operating inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and tries to get the sordid stories from inside Manhattan out to the general public.

It’d Be a Good TV Show Because…: The polarization of present America could be rather dramatically addressed in DMZ. Themes include the overburdening of the American military, the disquiet amongst a large group of Americans who are heavily armed and growing ever resentful of the government, the over-reliance on private military contractors (PMCs), and the growing power of grassroots, citizen journalism. DMZ could be an expansive, character-filled drama for a premium cable channel like HBO, where all the visceral impact of urban war could be shown uncensored. Plus it could have strong historical allegory like a lot of current cable hits (like TNT’s Falling Skies).

Title: Daredevil

Think: Law & Order Meets The Cape

The Plot: As a child Matt Murdock was exposed to a chemical that resulted in him going blind, but the chemical did have an unusual benefit: all of Matt’s other senses were heightened, and it gave him a “radar sense,” which effectively allows him to see using sound waves. As a grown-up, Murdock helps people as a criminal defense attorney by day, but by night he prowls the rooftops of Hell’s Kitchen as Daredevil.

It’d Be a Good TV Show Because…: Daredevil may best be known for the not-so well received Ben Affleck movie, but the Daredevil comic book swings between hard-broiled crime drama, superhero theatrics, and the occasional touch of the mystical. Daredevil has a colourful list of arch-enemies including Kingpin, Bullseye, Purple Man, and Typhoid Mary, not to mention his ex-girlfriend Elektra, a ninja assassin. Daredevil also has a compelling group of supporting characters including Murdock’s law partner Foggy Nelson, and his on-again/off-again girlfriend Karen Page. And as a bonus, Daredevil also has a close relationship with many of Marvel’s “street level” heroes including: Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Moon Knight. (Can any one say “Special Guests for Sweeps?”).

Title: Gotham Central

Think: The Shield Meets Batman

The Plot: Following the police officers of Gotham City’s Major Crimes Unit through personal and professional developments, Gotham Central switched between story arcs involving the day shift and the night shift of the MCU. Along with dealing with the typical muggings, robberies, and homicides of a normal big city precinct, the Gotham MCU must also deal with being cops in the hometown of Batman, and all the attention that comes with it. It’s also worth noting that Batman’s appearances in Gotham Central were nominal.

It’d Be a Good TV Show Because…: TV loves a procedural. They’re all over the dial across the major networks and cable, where an army of cops pursue an equally great army of criminals. Now picture your average, weekly, crime procedural and add Batman’s Rogues Gallery, not to mention his allies like Huntress or Robin. Storylines in the comic included MCU finding a body of a teen boy in a Robin costume, The Joker doing his own version of the Beltway Sniper, and a cold case were a murder tied to the Mad Hatter might have actually been committed by The Penguin. Imagine all the flash of Batman with the straightforwardness of a cop show. I think we have a winner.

Written by :

Adam