After V for Vendetta, These 5 Non-Canon DC Comics Would Make Great TV Shows

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As a huge DC fan, I’ve been following the launch of the new DC Studios with a lot of excitement. The idea was to build one big, connected universe across movies, TV, and games – bringing all those classic characters together in a way that really makes sense. But what’s been really interesting is seeing how well standalone projects like Matt Reeves’ The Batman and the My Adventures with Superman cartoon have done. It showed people love seeing different takes on these heroes, even if they don’t fit neatly into the main storyline. That’s where the ‘Elseworlds’ label comes in. Initially, I thought it would just be for reimagining familiar heroes, but the announcement of a V for Vendetta TV series blew my mind! It’s clear DC is letting creators go wild with stories that aren’t bound by the main DC Universe at all, and that’s incredibly ambitious and exciting.

Fans of the classic graphic novel V for Vendetta have a lot to look forward to with the new series. Originally published between 1982 and 1985, the story doesn’t take place in the world of DC’s typical superheroes, but it’s been a part of the DC Comics collection for years. DC uses different publishing labels to showcase stories that aren’t part of their main superhero universe, allowing creators to explore bolder and more complex themes. Imprints like Helix, Vertigo, and Black Label have given artists the freedom to tell unique stories that don’t need to fit the traditional superhero format, resulting in some of the most acclaimed comics of recent times – many of which would make great TV shows.

5) 100 Bullets

The critically acclaimed comic book series 100 Bullets starts with a fascinating idea: a mysterious man named Agent Graves finds people who have been deeply wronged. He gives each of them a briefcase containing a gun, 100 bullets that can’t be traced, and evidence identifying the person who ruined their life. Graves promises they can get revenge without facing legal repercussions. This clever premise launches a complex story about secret societies and hidden conspiracies. A television adaptation of 100 Bullets could use a ‘case-of-the-week’ format, with each episode focusing on a new person receiving the briefcase, while gradually revealing the larger conflict between a powerful group called The Trust and those who are trying to take it down.

4) Transmetropolitan

As a critic, I’m constantly searching for stories that resonate with the present, and Transmetropolitan absolutely delivers – maybe even more so now than when it originally came out. It throws you into a bizarre, futuristic city and follows Spider Jerusalem, a cynical journalist dragged back into the fray. He’s basically a rebel with a press pass, battling corruption, rampant consumerism, and the usual political nonsense with the help of his…unconventional team. What really grabbed me was the incredible mix of gritty cyberpunk visuals, genuinely funny dark humor, and incredibly sharp observations about society. Honestly, an adaptation of this would be a visual feast, offering a chance to build a truly unique world, but more importantly, it would give filmmakers a powerful way to address the issues we’re facing today.

3) The Nice House on the Lake

The Nice House on the Lake is a chilling modern horror story that expertly blends psychological suspense with a world-ending disaster. The novel opens with Walter inviting his friends to spend a week at his remote lakeside home. Their vacation quickly turns nightmarish when they realize the rest of the world has been destroyed by a fiery apocalypse while they were arriving. Walter, their enigmatic host—who may not be what he seems—has rescued them, but also confined them. The house offers every luxury imaginable, but it’s also a gilded cage surrounded by the remnants of civilization. This intimate, character-focused premise is ideal for a television adaptation, allowing for a thorough examination of the paranoia, sorrow, and changing relationships among the survivors as they confront the end of the world and the mysteries surrounding the man who saved them.

2) American Vampire

Scott Snyder and Stephen King’s American Vampire offers a fresh take on vampire stories. Instead of traditional vampires, the series presents a variety of different vampire types and introduces a new kind born in the American West. These American vampires are more powerful and can even walk in sunlight. The story centers on Skinner Sweet, the very first of this new breed, and Pearl Jones, a young actress he transforms in the 1920s. Their adventures span decades, taking them through key moments in American history as they fight off old European vampire groups and other supernatural dangers. A TV show based on American Vampire could be a visually impressive historical drama, using its long-lived characters to show how America changed throughout the 20th century.

1) Fables

Bill Willingham’s Fables is a highly acclaimed fantasy series originally published by Vertigo, and its concept is perfect for television. The story reimagines classic fairy tale characters as real people who were driven from their homes by a powerful enemy called the Adversary. Now, they live in secret in modern-day New York City, in a community called Fabletown, trying to live normal lives. The series begins as a detective story, with the Big Bad Wolf acting as the tough sheriff, but it grows into a much larger story about war, politics, and family. Featuring a huge cast of well-known characters like Snow White, Prince Charming, and Cinderella, a Fables TV show could be incredibly popular, offering a detailed and fascinating world with endless storytelling possibilities.

What DC comic, outside of the main storyline, do you think would make a great TV show? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-13 00:14