7 Great Supernatural Comic Book TV Shows (Without Any Superheroes)

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We often discuss comic book movies and shows featuring popular superheroes, but there are many great adaptations that focus on the supernatural without the capes and costumes. While magic and the supernatural are common in superhero stories – think shows like WandaVision and Agatha All Along, or the Doctor Strange films – there are plenty of options that don’t involve traditional heroes at all. These adaptations often come from publishers other than Marvel or DC, though some are connected to them. Importantly, a fantastic streaming series doesn’t need to be based on a Marvel or DC property to become a huge success.

Here are seven of the best TV shows based on supernatural themes, but without any traditional superheroes.

7) Lucifer

The comic book series Lucifer stood out because it didn’t feel like a typical comic book, and it strangely avoided referencing the story it came from. Lucifer Morningstar first appeared in Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comics before becoming a popular character with his own series, which followed him after he left Hell and started a new life on Earth.

The show centers around Lucifer, who owns a nightclub in Los Angeles. He still possesses his supernatural abilities and uses them to assist a detective with the LAPD in solving crimes – initially because he’s bored and finds it entertaining. Over time, though, Lucifer evolves into more of a traditional hero, giving this unexpected character a path toward redemption. Tom Ellis delivered a fantastic performance as Lucifer, and the show remarkably ran for six seasons and 93 episodes. It actually gained even more popularity after moving from Fox to Netflix, which finished the series.

6) Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Based on the Archie Comics character, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina isn’t the first time Sabrina Spellman has been on TV. A lighter, sitcom version starring Melissa Joan Hart aired years ago. But the 2018 Netflix series offered a much darker and more intense take on the comics, bringing its supernatural horror to life. Kiernan Shipka played Sabrina, a teenager trying to juggle her normal human life with her magical abilities, all while protecting her family and friends from dark forces.

From the beginning, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was popular with viewers. Despite facing challenges like the pandemic halting filming and ultimately leading to its cancellation by Netflix after only two seasons, the show delivered fantastic supernatural horror. It’s still considered one of the best adaptations of the Archie Comics universe.

5) The Sandman

The highly anticipated Netflix series Sandman debuted in 2022, bringing the popular DC Comics story to life. Created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg, the series centers on Morpheus, the ruler of the Dreaming. When Morpheus is captured and held prisoner, both the human world and his realm begin to fall apart, as people lose the ability to dream.

It’s a real shame Netflix cut ‘The Sandman’ after just two seasons and 23 episodes – external factors, sadly – but honestly, what we got was phenomenal. Allan Heinberg really nailed it as showrunner, and Tom Sturridge? He was absolutely perfect as Morpheus. As a longtime fan, I’d waited decades to see a faithful adaptation, and it completely delivered. Those 23 episodes were everything I’d hoped for, and more.

4) Sweet Tooth

Sweet Tooth was a comic book created by Jeff Lemire that was later adapted into a Netflix series. It’s a supernatural story, but unlike many comic adaptations, it doesn’t feature superheroes. The series is set in a world thrown into chaos when children begin being born as human-animal hybrids. It centers on Gus, a ten-year-old boy who is part deer, and his struggle to survive in a world where many humans fear and hunt those who are different from them.

Sweet Tooth was a big hit for Netflix, with three seasons and 24 episodes total. Importantly, the show was able to completely and accurately adapt the entire story from the original comic books. Thanks to a talented cast and relevant themes, it was a surprisingly successful series that didn’t always get the attention it deserved.

3) Preacher

The AMC series Preacher was a surprising success, managing to adapt a famously controversial comic book story for television. The show centers around a small-town preacher who becomes host to a powerful, otherworldly being that has escaped from Heaven. Dominic Cooper gives a fantastic performance as Jesse Custer, the preacher, and he’s joined by Ruth Negga and Joseph Gilgun, who play the complex characters of Tulip and Cassidy.

This series really took risks, even more so than most adaptations – it notably featured Adolf Hitler escaping from Hell, a storyline not found in the original comics. On the other hand, it also stayed very true to the source material with characters like Helmut Starr and the Saint of Killers. Like the comics themselves, this show won’t appeal to everyone, but fans of the books will find it exceptional.

2) The Walking Dead

Without question, The Walking Dead is the most popular and successful comic book adaptation focusing on the supernatural, and not superheroes. This AMC series depicts a world overrun by zombies. While the TV show altered some aspects of the original story—adding characters like Daryl Dixon and changing the roles of Andrea and Carol—these changes didn’t hinder its popularity.

The show surprised viewers by unexpectedly removing its lead character, Rick Grimes, and changing the original ending. Even so, it stayed popular and continued to attract a large audience until the very end. Several spin-off shows were also created, and new content set in The Walking Dead universe is still being made today. Despite the success of Invincible, The Walking Dead remains Robert Kirkman’s biggest achievement.

1) Locke & Key

Locke & Key was a comic book series created by Joe Hill, son of Stephen King, and artist Gabriel Rodriguez. It tells the story of the Locke family – a mother and her three children – who move back to their family’s old home, Key House, after a tragedy. There, they discover a collection of magical keys that grant incredible powers, but they also awaken a dangerous demon who intends to possess one of the children and escape.

Netflix brought the popular comic book series Locke & Key to life in 2020, creating a show that ran for three seasons with a total of 28 episodes. Like many adaptations of comics, the show went through changes in leadership to better suit the television format, but ultimately stayed true to the original story. Featuring a talented young cast and strong visual effects, Locke & Key is another example of a comic book show succeeding without relying on the superhero genre.

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2026-02-24 02:41