From I Love Lucy to Charmed, Some of TV's Best Shows Have Comic Adaptations
Comics enjoyed a massive boom in the '50s and '60s, which was coincidentally the same time that TV came into its own. Consequently, many savvy business people made the decision to make comic book adaptations of some TV shows that struck a chord with audiences at the time (and still do today).
Some of the classic TV series that received comic book adaptations seem like they were tailor-made for the comic book format. Meanwhile, others are a bit more off the beaten path of what you'd expect from comic book source material. Some series that have received the comic book treatment are from the early days of television, while others are more recent — but classic nevertheless.
10 The Twilight Zone
1959-1964
An anthology series decades before shows like American Horror Story was even an idea, The Twilight Zone saw every episode as a standalone story that usually featured strange or discomforting events that often had some sort of moral revealed at the end. The Twilight Zone was such a huge part of the cultural zeitgeist that it has been used, and still is today, as a term to describe bizarre things or occurrences.
The comic book adaptation actually lasted longer than the original TV show by almost 20 years.
A mammoth success, there have been countless references to The Twilight Zone as well as reboots and films. Likewise, there has been a comic book adaption that was published by Gold Key Comics. The comic book adaptation actually lasted longer than the original TV show by almost 20 years. The comic books even had Rod Serling, or at least his likeness, appear, introducing the stories much like he did in the actual TV series.
9 Charlie's Angels
1976-1981
Charlie's Angels followed three crime-fighting women who worked at an L.A private detective agency, which sounds like a premise destined to be a comic book. Moreover, a hit show, Charlie's Angels launched the careers of its leads, Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith, and Kate Jackson. One of the most popular shows of the '70s, Charlie's Angels generated multiple movie adaptions, reboots, merchandise, and even comics adaptations.
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A June 2018 Charlie's Angels comic book series that was only six issues was published by Dynamite Entertainment. While there was a previous comic book adaptation of Charlie's Angels in the 1970s, the 2018 adaptation was the first American comic of Charlie's Angels to be published. Dynamite Entertainment decided to go a step further with the Charlie's Angels brand when they made a crossover between the classic TV show and another classic show of the '70s, The Bionic Woman.
8 The Beverly Hillbillies
1962-1971
Following the rags-to-riches story of the Clampett family, The Beverly Hillbillies was a fish-out-of-water sitcom that saw the poor and backwoods Clampetts of the Ozarks move to the posh Beverly Hills after they strike oil on their land. The Beverly Hillbillies was a major success, being the number one series of the year during its first two seasons and was among the top 20 most watched TV shows for the majority of its airing.
Banking on the popularity of the show, a comics adaption by Dell Comics was published throughout the '60s and into the early 1970s, ending when the show wrapped in 1971. The comic book version of The Beverly Hillbillies had similar storylines to what audiences would have seen in an episode of the series.\
7 I Dream Of Jeanie
1965-1970
A fantasy comedy sitcom, I Dream of Jeannie was about a 2000-year-old genie who fell in love with an astronaut named Tony and the shenanigans that would ensue as a result. Starting out in black and white before eventually being shown in color, I Dream of Jeannie is a beloved pop culture icon of the 20th century that continues amassing fans today. Barbara Eden as the titular Jeannie became a household favorite for her mischievous character that audiences could not help but love.
Given that the show had such a large and devoted following, a comic series comprised of two issues was published in 1966. The '60s version was not the only comic adaption of the series though, with an early 2000s adaption also being released. Running from 2001 to 2002, Airwave Comics ran three stand-alone I Dream of Jeannie comicbooks.
6 Sesame Street
1969 - Present
You'd be hard-pressed who does not know what Sesame Street is, with numerous international versions of the classic children's educational program. One of the longest-running shows in the entire world, Sesame Street had a profound impact on children all over the globe, starting with its humble beginnings in late 1969. With all kinds of reading material made using Sesame Street characters, settings, and plots, it is no surprise that comic books were just one of the many sources of literature that kids (or kids at heart) could read about the Sesame Street lovable bunch.
Oni Press, in collaboration with Sesame Worksho,p made the 2024 comic series that has had four issues so far. One issue follows the character Grover as he tries to help each of his friends on Seasme Street with their respective problems.
5 Bewitched
1964-1972
A fantasy series that would later inspire the creation of another sitcom, the aforementioned I Dream Of Jeannie, Bewitched was about a witch living as a suburban housewife after she marries a mortal. An iconic opening that was animated by The Flintstones and Jetsons creator, Hanna Barbera, Bewitched was the second-rated show in its debut season, an impressive accomplishment.
With several spin offs, crossovers and remakes, Bewitched was made into a movie with Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell. The impact of Bewitched is still seen today with Wandavision referencing the classic series. With as many adaptions as Bewitched has had, a comic adaption is pretty par for the course. In the later half of the '60s, Dell Comics made a 14-issue comic book series that used the show's humor and types of storylines in its comic issues.
4 Charmed
1998-2006
Taking place in San Francisco, Charmed chronicled the Halliwell sisters, an extremely powerful trio of good witches that uses their powers to protect the world from evil. The show may have ended, but the series still enjoys a devoted cult following. Moreover, audiences loved Charmed from the beginning, with its debut episode being the most-watched first episode for the entire network of the WB (the WB channel was discontinued but is now the CW channel).
Charmed was the second highest rated TV show of the network, only being surpassed by the family drama, 7th Heaven.
With audiences not satisfied with the escapades of the Halliwells only being confined to TV, Charmed was given a comic series that acted as a continuation of the show. For instance, comics were numerated by seasons like a TV show rather than volumes like a traditional comic book would. Published by Zenescope Entertainment, Charmed comics were published from 2010 to 2016.
3 Alf
1986-1990
A story about an alien that crash lands in the garage of a California family and then becomes a member of the gangis Alf. The character of Alf as well as the show itself enjoyed immense popularity, with Alf having a hold on pop culture of the '80s, his likeness featured on myriad merchandise. He even had his own animated series that revolved around his time before he was on Earth and an Alf talk show.
Alf also had his own comic book published by Marvel (under Star Comics). Surprisingly long-running, the Alf comic was published for almost four years, having 50 issues and 3 annuals. The comic series stayed more or less close to the continuity of the TV show as well as the cartoon series that was all about Alf,.
2 Gunsmoke
1955-1975
Starting as a radio show before making the jump to television, Gunsmoke was a Western drama series that centered on Marshal Matt Dillon and the American West in 1870s Kansas. Gunsmoke ran for a whopping 20 seasons, spawning a massive 635 episodes. In addition to being immensely popular among audiences, it was also a critical smash, with the series winning 15 Primetime Emmys.
Gunsmoke has had a sizable impact on pop culture, with museums, toys, and brand endorsements for products as strange as cottage cheese and cigarettes being marketed using the show's brand.
One of the longest-running primetime live-action television series ever, Gunsmoke has had a sizable impact on pop culture, with museums, toys, and brand endorsements for products as strange as cottage cheese and cigarettes being marketed using the show's brand. Likewise, books and comic books were also part of Gunsmoke's legacy, with Dell Comics publishing 7 issues of the adaptation. Moreover, Gold Key Comics also published comic adaptations with 6 issues from 1969 to 1970.
1 I Love Lucy
1951-1957
As iconic as Lucille Ball's red hair, I Love Lucy is a titan of American pop culture and one of the most famous sitcoms ever. Regarded as one of the most influential television shows, I Love Lucy achieved a lot of firsts. For instance, it was the first show to have an ensemble cast. The show was about the misadventures of Lucy, much to the annoyance of her husband Ricky, and her schemes concocted with her neighbors Fred and Ethel, especially her best friend Ethel.
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As big a success as I Love Lucy was and still is, there have been all sorts of adaptions, including comic books. Dell Comics, who published many other TV-based comic book adaptations, published a comic book version of I Love Lucy. 35 issues were made of the I Love Lucy comic book series, published from 1954 until 1962.
