5 Comics Continuations Even Better Than The TV Shows They Come From

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It’s sad but true: all TV shows eventually finish. Sometimes a show ends naturally, after telling its complete story. Other times, it’s cancelled before it has a chance, leaving viewers wanting more and imagining what could have been. Usually, the final episode really is the end. However, occasionally there’s more to the story, and what seemed like the end is just a new beginning.

Sometimes when a TV show ends, the story continues in comic books. A recent example is The Expanse, which Amazon cancelled after six seasons despite having more story to tell. BOOM! Studios continued the story with The Expanse: A Little Death last year. While that comic wasn’t a huge success, some TV show continuations in comic form are actually excellent—even better than the shows themselves.

5) Batman: The Adventures Continue

Continuing the story after The New Batman Adventures (itself a sequel to Batman: The Animated Series), Batman: The Adventures Continue expanded on the original animated series, introducing characters that hadn’t appeared before. Overall, the series did a great job of both continuing Batman’s adventures and enriching the larger DC Animated Universe (DCAU) with more detail and depth.

One of the best things about Batman: The Adventures Continue is that it’s created by the same team behind the original animated series – Paul Dini, Alan Burnett, and Ty Templeton, who also worked on other Batman: The Animated Series comics. This makes the comic feel like a natural extension of the show, and fans will appreciate how well it fits with what they already enjoy.

4) Jericho

The TV show Jericho had a rocky run. It first aired on CBS in 2006, telling the story of a small town in Kansas isolated after a nuclear attack. Although it initially gained attention, the show was canceled after its first season. A passionate fan campaign led to a second season, but it was again cut short, leaving many storylines unfinished. Fortunately, the story continued in comic book form.

As a fan of Jericho, I was thrilled to see the story continue in comic form with IDW. They gave us two extra seasons – Season 3 in 2009 and Season 4 in 2012 – and it felt like the creators finally got to finish what they started. Season 3 directly followed the TV show’s ending, tying up loose ends and even explaining the mystery behind the initial nuclear attacks. Season 4 then built on that, providing a satisfying continuation while cleverly leaving the door open for more stories down the line. Honestly, it’s a fantastic addition for anyone who loved the show – it’s like getting extra episodes with the benefit of hindsight and a chance to really explore the world they built.

3) Angel: After the Fall

The TV show Angel, a spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, ended after five seasons with an unresolved cliffhanger, leaving fans wanting more. Luckily, they received a continuation in the IDW comic series, Angel: After the Fall. Written by Bryan Lynch and developed with the show’s creator, Joss Whedon, the comic is considered a genuine and official extension of the Angel storyline.

One of the best things about Angel: After the Fall is that it wasn’t intended as a quick ending. It started as a 12-issue story, grew to 17 issues, and then became a regular, ongoing comic book. The series eventually lasted 44 issues, breathing new life and complexity into the Angel universe. Notably, Angel: After the Fall also spawned its own spin-off comic, Spike.

2) Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight

Similar to how Angel: After the Fall continues the story of Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight continues the story of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Published by Dark Horse Comics, the series was created by Joss Whedon and features writing from him and other talented authors.

As a huge fan, I always thought the comic books really captured the spirit of the show, and honestly, they were able to go to some places the TV series just couldn’t – which, for me, actually made them even better! The popularity of Season Eight led to more stories being told in comic form, and in 2019, BOOM! Studios even started a whole new take on the series.

1) Smallville: Season 11

Many fans were a little let down by the ending of Smallville because Tom Welling’s Clark Kent didn’t fully transform into Superman on screen. Luckily, a comic book series continued the story, picking up six months after Clark first put on the suit, and maintained the show’s continuity.

The series finally let fans see this version of Superman in action and cleverly combined characters from the show with their more well-known DC Comics counterparts. This approach both continued the story in a satisfying way and gave fans exactly what they were hoping for – a perfect combination of both worlds.

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2026-01-05 01:15