TV

4 Brilliant Shows You Didn't Know Were Actually Comic Based

4 Brilliant Shows You Didn't Know Were Actually Comic Based
Image credit: AMC

Check out these unusual shows based on comic books.

These days, there are so many series and movies based on comics that it is easy to get lost, and it's almost impossible to watch them all.

But there are shows that stand out — they don't look like your typical comic book adaptations, and viewers often don't suspect that this is not an original story.

Alice in Borderland

Though Haro Aso's manga was published long before Squid Game came out, it features a similar plot, following Arisu and his friends as they participate in survival games in a deserted Tokyo. The events of the manga have been adapted into two seasons of Alice in Borderland.

In the first season, the group is forced to play deadly games in order to extend their 'visas' to stay in Borderland. The intrigue grows along with the stakes for the characters, leading to an unexpected finale in Season 2.

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The Walking Dead

In case you didn't know, The Walking Dead is based on Robert Kirkman's black-and-white comic epic. The hit show ran for 11 seasons between 2010 and 2022, uniting fans of horror and complex human drama and following a handful of survivors of a zombie apocalypse.

Despite its popularity, the series was criticized by some viewers, who wanted to see the characters fight zombies instead of facing moral dilemmas and internal showdowns all the time. Still, The Walking Dead fans praise the story and especially the cast, including Norman Reedus, Andrew Lincoln, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

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Preacher

Before making The Boys, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg did an adaptation of Garth Ennis' cult comic Preacher. The series about a priest who becomes possessed by a cryptic demon proved to be a solid black-humored adventure story.

With great acting by Dominic Cooper, Joe Gilgun, and Ruth Negga, the characters seem to have stepped out from the pages of the comic book.

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Kingdom

The South Korean series Kingdom, adapting a story of a small digital comic, went from a rather dull Season 1 to a stunning full-on blockbuster in Season 2, capturing the hearts of millions of viewers across the world.

With its plot focusing on political intrigue in the Joseon Kingdom, the show seems to outdo even the highest-rated Game of Thrones series. The epic, large-scale battles of the second season are sure to impress.

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