Streaming providers like Netflix and Disney+ have given viewers a convenient way of watching TV series and movies in their favorite genres. Thanks to this, comic book fans can now choose from a wide variety of adaptations, but which are best that you want to watch?
The Sandman
Based on the 1990s DC Comics series by Neil Gaiman, The Sandman was adapted for Netflix by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. It stars Tom Sturridge as Lord Morpheus / Dream, who has escaped after being held captive for over a century and wants to bring his realm, known as the Dreaming, back to its former glory. Boyd Holbrook and Vivienne Acheampong are among the other stars of this series.
There have been efforts to adapt this comic book over several decades, and it was eventually labeled as unfilmable by some people. Still, it finally premiered on Netflix in 2022 and has been renewed for a second series since then. That was part of a record year for Netflix: this 2022 streaming wrap-up created by ExpressVPN confirms that the new season of Stranger Things and the first season of Wednesday were hugely successful. The Gray Man was another hit for the streaming service this year.
Sweet Tooth
This DC Comic by Jeff Lemire was turned into a TV series in 2012 and was quickly renewed for a second series after its release. The story takes viewers into a world where society has completely collapsed due to a virus that killed most of the human population on Earth. Another effect of this virus was that newborn babies are hybrids that are a cross between humans and animals.
Many humans fear these hybrids, and Sweet Tooth’s story follows Gus, a human-deer hybrid. Gus is on a mission to reach Colorado, accompanied by lone traveler Big Man. The first season also told us the story of a doctor desperately looking to find a cure for the virus. According to The Digital Fix, 2023 could bring the second season to Netflix, but with no trailer yet, there’s little to go on regarding the plot.
Daredevil
Marvel’s Daredevil is arguably the best comic book adaptation on any streaming platform. This series is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Charlie Cox playing the role of Matt Murdock, who becomes Daredevil when he fights crime at night. The first season came out on Netflix in 2015, and there have been two more seasons since then.
According to the official Marvel website, a spin-off called Daredevil: Born Again is due in the spring of 2024. However, it won’t be on Netflix, as Disney regained the rights to Daredevil in 2022 and added the original series to their platform, where it can be seen alongside titles such as She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and The Punisher.
The success of many comic book adaptations we’ve looked at here should ensure that more of our favorite characters switch to the top streaming services in the next couple of years.