My Picks on What to Watch This Fall

Every fall I find myself rereading some of my favorite graphic novels. As much as I enjoy movies with book prequels, I’ve also been loving the live action adaptations of my favorite comics. For me, comics offer a form of escapism just as much as the small and big screen do. In a similar sense, comics allow me to imagine worlds I would never dream up on my own. With that, here are the best binge-worthy TV series and movies adapted from the comics: 

• Watchmen, comic by Alan Moore and David Gibbons: Perfect for today’s climate, Watchmen examines the fraught state of the world today through the lens of a superhero guise, just as the original comic did. I hate spoilers but there was never a more perfect speech in comic history than, “I did it thirty-five minutes ago.”
• The Umbrella Academy, comic written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá: If the name isn’t a dead giveaway that it was created by the lead singer of My Chemical Romance, the plotline will. I’ve been binging this Netflix series that follows estranged members of a dysfunctional, superpowered family who are tasked with saving the world. I must caution: the comic yields a much crazier storyline than the tv series, but nonetheless, the casting and acting are dynamic and fun. 
• Luke Cage, Hero for Hire comic by Marc McLaurin. Luke Cage, also known as Power Man, is an ex-convict imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, who gains the powers of superhuman strength after being subjected to an experimental procedure. In typical Marvel Cinematic Universe fashion, Luke Cage’s character is introduced and weaved into the first season of Jessica Jones (another favorite that deserves its own deep dive at another time) before headlining his own fantastic rendition of his comic on screen, which, in my very humble opinion, does the comic complete justice.
• Legion: Two words: freakily fantastic. A tragic, modern superhero love story? Perhaps. Some will argue this may not belong on this list. Legion, aka X-Men’s Professor X’s son who has schizophrenia, doesn’t have his own graphic novel or comic per se, but is a running character in the Marvel Universe. What I love more than a running subtheme, is the show co-produced by an amazing ragtag group and it’s quite obvious in the final cuts: X-Men veterans Lauren Schuler Donner, Bryan Singer, and Simon Kinberg, as well as Marvel Television's Jeph Loeb, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Jim Chory.
• Hellboy, comic by Mike Mignola: Three live action films later, I’d be surprised if you haven’t seen one of them. Not all are spot on, and if I had to recommend one, I’d say start with the 2019 version. Director Neil Marshall takes everything that made the original comics great, and executes on Mignola’s visions perfectly. This one’s quite the thriller, so keep that in mind before deciding to watch.

And while we’re on the topic: here are two comics that I believe deserve their own live action adaptation: 

• Love and Rockets by brothers Gilbert, Jaime, and Mario Hernandez. As one of the first comic books in the alternative comics movement of the 1980s, it really set the stage for graphics of the 1980s (and if you saw my favorite movies list, you’d know that  I love the ‘80s). This one’s a blend of sci-fi, superhero tales, jokes, and short stories and is vastly different than anything recommended above. I’d want to see this series come to life, if not for the visuals alone.
• Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan: Truthfully, I’d watch anything that comes from the mind of Brian K. Vaughan. As three-time Eisner Award winner, this chaotic, post-androcide series would be perfect for the small screen. And while it has been in talks for years, it seems a bit wrought. I’ll keep holding my breath for now.

I’d love to hear what graphic novels and comics you’re reading, watching or dreaming up. Share your recommendations in the comments section below.