Marvel and DC maybe at the forefront of comic book adaptions, but they aren’t the only game in town. With the announcement of an Amazon movie adaption of the stellar and recent indie comic mini-series 8 Billion Genies I thought I would list off a few other lesser-known indie comic series that could use an adaption.
Shotgun Wedding
Not to be confused with the 2022 film starring Jennifer Lopez Shotgun Wedding is a 2014 miniseries from Top Cow that follows a former assassin who’s wedding is almost ruined by the return of his ex-fiance who is also an assassin and out for revenge after he betrayed her and
The series is short enough I could see it being adapted into a Taratino-esque Romaction movie with a strong female lead. While maybe not for a theatrical release I could see an adaption going straight to Netflix or another streaming service
The Paybacks
A short-lived superhero parody comic series by creator Donny Cates that follows a squad of superhero Repo-men. The Paybacks is a fun idea with lots of wonderful characters, a teleporting van, and so much more which could be Amazon’s next hit after The Boys ends next year
Kill all Immortals
What if a family of Vikings was granted immortality and hundreds of years later one turns on the others. That’s the basic premise behind the 5 issue miniseries by Zack Kaplan for Dark Horse comics. It’s got plenty of high octane action that would translate well to the movie screen. The last issue hinted at the existence of other immortal families from different cultures, which is a plotline that would undoubtedly be explored in the sequel comic but will could also lead to a franchise if a movie is made
Uncanny Valley
Written by Tony Fleecs and illustrated by Dave Wacther for BOOM! Studios this mini-series is a love letter to cartoons, from old school loony tunes, to over the top 80s action cartoon. With great art and a wonderful story involving a 12 year old boy discovering he is half-cartoon and that he has amazing powers because of it. The story is short enough to fit in a film and I think a mix of animation and live-action similar to Who Killed Roger Rabbit or even Space Jam would be fun to see.
Commanders-in-Crisis
An 12-issue Image Comic series from Steve Orlando and Davide Tinto Commanders in Crisis offers an unique spin on the multiverse concept which many feel is over played. It follows 5 survivors of alternate worlds who come together to form a team and investigate the death of compassion itself. It’s a fun series and I could see it either be translated to a movie or maybe a television series.
Assorted Crisis Events
Another crisis series and the most recent series on this list which is still ongoing and has only 5 issues out so far, but it’s already turning into a classic. Similar to Black Mirror it’s a sci-fi anthology series dealing with things like time travel, alternate earths, and other sci-fi concepts in small one-issue stories. Some of the issues may be hard to translate to screen, but I could see a limited series adapting some of the stories from the comic and maybe even some original stories.
Nocterra
Written by Scott Snyder who is mostly known for his tremendous run on the Batman comics in the 2010s which created The Court of Owls. Nocterra is a comic book similar to The Walking Dead that follows and brother and sister pair who must survive in a world completely covered in darkness that turns anyone in touches into monsters while searching for a fabled source of light.
Nocterra has a great and expansive world which would make for a good multi-season series and maybe even continue from where the comic left off. I think the villain Blacktop Bill would translate to an iconic tv villain especially if portrayed by someone like Walter Goggins
Pretty Violent
Don’t let the cutesy, cartoonish art by Derek Hunter fool you, this comic written by Jason Young is full of violent, swearing and even some gore. Following a super-powered girl named Gamma Rae who just wants to be a superhero despite the fact her entire family is supervillains. While it might do ok in live-action I think an animated adaption, keeping the art style of the book would be warranted with a quirky female comedian such as either Sarah Sherman or Tina Fey voicing Gamma Rae.
Those are just a few lesser-known comic series that could use and adaption. Which ones do you wanna see? What are you picks? Let us know in the comments.
