7 Weirdest Comics to Ever Get a TV Adaptation

by

We often associate TV shows based on comic books with famous characters and storylines – think of series like Arrow, The Flash, The Boys, and the upcoming Lanterns, which all feature popular, often beloved, heroes. However, for every well-known comic that gets adapted, there’s usually a lesser-known one that gets its moment in the spotlight, and sometimes those adaptations are really strange.

Live-action TV shows based on comics can be surprisingly strange. Sometimes the adaptation isn’t bad, just an odd choice. Other times, characters are reimagined so differently from their comic book origins that it’s hard to understand the creative decisions. And occasionally, the adaptations are just completely bizarre and leave you wondering how they even came to be. Here are seven of the most unusual comics and characters that have made the leap to television.

7) American Jesus (Adapted as The Chosen One)

Mark Millar’s comic book series, American Jesus, isn’t strange in concept, but it’s an unusual choice for a TV show. Netflix turned it into The Chosen One in 2023, though the series only lasted one season with six episodes. The story centers on a 12-year-old boy who realizes he’s the reincarnation of Jesus Christ after a bizarre accident. As he learns to control his abilities, the narrative builds toward a climactic showdown that will determine the fate of humanity, exploring ideas about power and belief. The comic spans multiple installments and concludes with American Jesus: Revelation, where the Antichrist is elected president of the United States.

This six-episode series offers a unique twist: a boy in Mexico discovers he has powers similar to Jesus Christ. The story doesn’t offer easy answers, leaving viewers to wonder if he’ll use these powers for good or evil, and whether that question will spark a larger conflict between those forces.

6) Warrior Nun Areala (Adapted as Warrior Nun)

Netflix’s Warrior Nun isn’t directly based on a specific comic book storyline, but rather on the character Warrior Nun Areala, who first appeared in 1993 in Ninja High School #37. The story revolves around Sister Shannon Masters, a member of the Order of the Cruciform Sword – a group founded in 1066 by Auria, a Valkyrie who converted to Christianity. Auria chooses a new champion in each generation to continue her work. Shannon, orphaned as a child, is left at a convent, later adopted, and proves to be exceptionally gifted both academically and athletically, leading to her selection for the Silver Cross Program, where she’s trained to become a Warrior Nun.

The Netflix series takes a different approach than the original comic books. It centers on Ava Silva, a 19-year-old who mysteriously comes back to life in a morgue, with a strange object attached to her back. As a member of the Order of the Cruciform Sword, she’s now responsible for battling demons, while powerful forces from both heaven and hell try to locate and control her. Despite being well-liked by audiences, the show only lasted for two seasons on the streaming service.

5) The Tick

The Tick is a superhero who stands out as being unusual rather than poorly made, both in its original comic book form and the television series based on it. Created by Ben Edlund, The Tick first appeared in New England Comics as a satire of typical American superheroes. He’s known for his blue bug costume, which may actually be his body! The comic portrays him as legally insane, having escaped from a mental institution near a city simply called ‘The City,’ though he has little recollection of his past life before becoming The Tick.

The Tick has appeared on TV in several forms, including animated and live-action series from 1994, 2001, and 2016. Many people consider the 2016 version, which starred Peter Serafinowicz and aired on Amazon Prime Video, to be particularly well-done. It received positive reviews and was popular with viewers, but it was ultimately canceled after just two seasons.

4) Happy!

Created by Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson, Happy! centers on Nick Sax, a washed-up, alcoholic ex-cop now working as a hitman. He’s lost in a bleak world of violence, empty relationships, and personal struggles. When a hit goes wrong, leaving him wounded and pursued by both the police and the mob, Nick’s life takes an even stranger turn. A terrifying child killer dressed as Santa Claus is also on the loose. All of this culminates in a bizarre and unexpected Christmas when Nick meets a small, blue horse named Happy. It’s a truly unusual story that seemed difficult to bring to television.

In 2017, Syfy successfully adapted a rather unusual comic book into a surprisingly good TV show called Happy! The series, starring Christopher Meloni as Nick Sax, stays mostly true to the original story. It’s a delightful, though sometimes dark and violent, show—especially thanks to Patton Oswalt’s voice work as the animated blue unicorn, Happy. It’s a shame it only lasted two seasons, as it was a truly unique and well-made program.

3) Shazam!

The Shazam! TV show wasn’t closely based on a particular comic book storyline, but rather on the character himself. In the comics, Shazam! – originally known as Captain Marvel – was the alter ego of teenager Billy Batson, who could become a superhero simply by saying the word ‘Shazam!’

The CBS show, which aired from 1974 to 1976, is surprisingly stranger than the original comic books. It follows Billy (played by Michael Gray as a child, and later by Jackson Bostwick and John Davey as an adult) as he travels across the country in a 1973 Dodge motorhome with his guardian, “Mentor” (Les Tremayne), looking for wrongs to right. Mentor was created specifically for the TV series and doesn’t appear in the comics; the show never explains his connection to Billy or why he’s there. It’s a truly unusual and very much a product of the 1970s.

2) John Sable, Freelance (Adapted as Sable)

Created by Mike Grell and published by First Comics, John Sable, Freelance tells the story of Jonathan Sable, a bounty hunter and mercenary with an interesting past. He was an athlete at the 1972 Munich Olympics, but after experiencing the tragic terrorist attacks there, he moved to South Africa with his wife, also an athlete, and started leading safaris. When his family is tragically killed by poachers, he returns to the United States and leads a double life: a hired gun and a successful author of children’s books. It’s an unusual combination, but his literary agent is in on the secret.

If that description left you confused, you’re in for a ride! The comic John Sable, Freelance was turned into a TV show called Sable by ABC in 1987. And it was just as wild as the comic book. But the story behind the show—which was canceled after only seven episodes—is perhaps the most unbelievable part. Gene Simmons from the band KISS loved the comic and bought the rights, hoping to make an action movie. He even played the lead role in an unaired pilot for the TV series.

1) Night Man

Based on some truly strange comics, the adaptation of The Night Man is often considered one of the worst superhero adaptations of all time, but it still has a dedicated fanbase. Originally published by Malibu Comics (later bought by Marvel), the series centers on Johnny Domino, also known as Night Man. Johnny was a famous jazz saxophonist in San Francisco until a bizarre cable car accident involving lightning gave him the power to sense evil thoughts. However, the accident also left him unable to sleep – he can ‘hear’ evil, but never rest. It’s true! After Marvel acquired Malibu Comics, Night Man even appeared in crossovers, including a three-issue series with Gambit called Night Man/Gambit.

The show Night Man originally ran for two seasons, from 1997 to 1999, and stays fairly true to the source comic book material. However, being a syndicated series meant it had a limited budget, which was very noticeable in the often-poor special effects and overall production quality. To be honest, the writing and acting weren’t particularly strong either. It’s a completely over-the-top and uniquely strange comic book adaptation – arguably the strangest one ever made.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/comics/list/5-best-event-build-ups-in-dc-comics-history/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-12 19:16