HBO’s 7-Year-Old Miniseries Is the Last Time Comic Book TV Took a Real Risk

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For years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been the dominant force in bringing comic books to life on screen. Both its movies and TV shows have largely stuck to a safe formula, rarely taking big risks. While Disney+’s Wonder Man is a step forward, comic book TV hasn’t been truly exciting or innovative since 2019.

HBO’s continuation of the highly praised comic book series Watchmen quickly became a phenomenon, and it did something few adaptations have: it wasn’t afraid to be bold. At a time when most shows based on existing properties play it safe with familiar superhero stories, Watchmen dared to be different, and that’s what makes it one of the best comic book TV shows in recent years.

HBO’s Watchmen Did What Its Comic Predecessor Did Decades Ago

As a huge comic book fan, I can tell you Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen isn’t just one of the best comics ever made, it pretty much defined what comics could be. When it first came out, it totally changed the game. It was way darker and more mature than anything else at the time, tackling really complex and political themes, but it still managed to be a superhero story with all the costumes and powers you’d expect. It really set the standard for the whole medium, and honestly, it still holds up today.

I was completely captivated by Damon Lindelof’s 2019 take on Watchmen, and honestly, it arrived at exactly the right moment. So much superhero content feels predictable these days, but this series really broke the mold. It didn’t try to simply recreate the original comic for fans or just celebrate Alan Moore’s work. Instead, it brilliantly built upon the world and ideas of the original Watchmen and updated them for today. The HBO series tackles really important issues – police brutality, systemic racism, and the growing gap between rich and poor – putting those front and center instead of just rehashing old ground. It felt fresh, relevant, and incredibly powerful.

Lindelof’s Watchmen isn’t a simple retelling or tribute to the original comic. It has its own distinct point of view and creative direction. It feels like a fresh piece of work, not just an attempt to recreate something that already succeeded. The 2019 series stands on its own, which is what makes it so unique among today’s superhero stories.

Fans Deserve More Comic Book TV Like Watchmen

Recent superhero movies like those in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony’s Spider-Verse films, and James Gunn’s Superman demonstrate a new trend. Fans now often judge adaptations not on how good they are as standalone films, but on how faithfully they recreate the original comics and evoke feelings of nostalgia. It’s almost as if staying true to the source material has become the primary measure of success.

Unlike some adaptations, HBO’s Watchmen doesn’t simply retell the original story, and that’s a major reason why it’s so good. The creators clearly understood what made the first Watchmen special, but they weren’t afraid to forge their own path. The series brilliantly explores themes like hero worship, corruption, and prejudice, making it remarkably relevant today. It stands on its own as a powerful story, rather than just celebrating the original work by Moore and Gibbons.

Modern comic book TV shows have lost the depth and impact that made Watchmen so captivating, and it’s time to recapture that quality. Instead of settling for average shows like Secret Invasion, Agatha All Along, Hawkeye, or similar content, creators should learn from Watchmen. That show was a rare risk-taker, and it might have been the last time comic book television truly delivered something exceptional.

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2026-02-15 06:10