Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took over the film world, we relied on the small screen to fulfill our sci-fi and fantasy addictions. We weren't disappointed, especially when the television world exploded with new channels in the 1980s and 90s. They filled our days and nights with network and syndicated programming that delved into space opera, horror-comedy, and conspiracy theories.
When these shows ended their runs, many moved to the pages of comic books. Some of these were written or produced by the creators who gave us exciting television each week. To prove this point, here are the 10 best comic book sequels to popular TV Shows.
10 The A-Team
It only lasted three issues, but the A-Team series from Marvel Comics was a huge success. No one was surprised about this at the time. The show was a major draw for NBC in 1984, so people were looking for more about the group of highly skilled ex-military personnel who couldn't hit the side of the barn if it had a target painted on it.
While the TV show and comic fizzled out in the U.S., it remained popular across the pond. The A-Team stories were reprinted by the Marvel UK label in 1985 and '86 as well as a 1991 annual. This means the comic version of the team technically lasted longer than the TV show.
9 Futurama
Did you know that the Futurama comic ran for 18 years at Bongo Comics? Neither did we, until we looked it up. Between 2000 and 2018, there were five bi-monthly issues created each year. They ran when the series was on FOX, canceled, renewed on Comedy Central, then canceled again.
The comic followed the same premise as the show, with each story contained in one issue. All the characters, their quirks, and the humorous elements, were found on each page. After 80 print and two digital issues, Futurama ended when Bongo shut down.
8 Riverdale
This one is a little meta. The hit CW show Riverdale is, of course, based on the Archie Comics universe. Yet, it's different. You probably won't see Archie having adult relations with Miss Grundy in the pages of Archie's Jumbo Digest. But we digress.
Due to its popularity, Riverdale itself has become a comic book. This is not a scene-by-scene replay of each episode. Rather, the creators delve deeper into many of the mentioned-but-unseen situations. In turn, it fleshes out the show to give it a more three-dimensional feel.
7 The Flintstones
When The Flintstones premiered on the ABC primetime schedule in 1960, no one thought it would succeed. Let alone did they feel the show would have a legacy that stretched half a century to influence the long runs of families from Springfield and Quahog. However, this isn't the only place this Bedrock royalty could be found.
From 1962 to 1977, The Flintstones, Rubbles, and their progeny appeared in over 100 comic book issues. The first volume was produced by Gold Key while the second group was produced by Charlton. After that, The Flintstones floated among different publishers. Eventually, they ended up re-imagined at DC Comics for a 12-issue run that received positive reviews.
6 Doctor Who
A comic version of this iconic show appeared almost immediately after its 1962 premiere. Illustrated adventures first appeared in the UK magazine TV Comic and TV Action/Countdown from 1964 to 1979. Between 1984 and '86, when the Doctor Who brand started to wane, Marvel produced a 23-issue series that focused on the Tom Baker and Peter Davidson versions of the character.
Meanwhile, Marvel's UK branch was instrumental in creating Doctor Who Magazine, which started at the end of the Fourth Doctor's era and continues today. Since the Doctor's reintroduction to a new slew of fans, their adventures have appeared in an illustrated form at Titan Comics.
5 Star Trek
Like Doctor Who, the world of Star Trek comics started quickly with a Gold Key series that ran from 1967 to the end of the 70s. Though popular, the stories strayed from continuity - something that probably ticked off fans, especially when everyone was portrayed wearing lime green tunics. So much for four-color comics.
Marvel took the reins in 1979 for the Star Trek: The Motion Picture adaptation and subsequent adventures from un-used Phase II plots. However, the sequels didn't hit their stride until they moved to DC. There, the series had two successful runs that focused on adventures between the movies and beyond.
4 Adventure Time
From 2012 to 2018, 75 issues of the Adventure Time comic were released by Boom! Studios. While the company thought the regular issues were enough, fans had other ideas. They demanded more stories, and the publisher obliged.
A series of spin-offs and one-shots were released by different creators, including those connected to the show. When the show ended in 2018, Boom! wanted to create a season 11 that continued the story of Finn the Human and his friends. However, since none of the series' creators wanted to be involved, the stories were shelved.
3 Angel
Fans of the Buffy spin-off Angel were slightly miffed at the show's season 5 finale. Torn asunder during a battle with the Senior Partners, Angel and his team were about to battle a bevy of beasties when the screen went dark. Fans clamored for a resolution.
Enter IDW and Joss Whedon. Together, they created Angel: After the Fall, the comic version of the un-aired season 6. After that, Angel, Spike, and whoever was left were placed in a regular series. Their adventures continued when Whedon transferred the rights to Boom! Studios.
2 Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Without the comic book success of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel may not have come to pass. Or, at least not a version that satisfied the needs of their fans. However, because Joss Whedon didn't want anyone to mess with his babies, he made sure to write or co-write Buffy's season eight comic.
In the end, what was supposed to be a mini-series turned into a regular run that spanned five years and featured other writers, like Jeff Loeb and Brad Meltzer. In addition to positive reviews by fans and former stars, the series won or was nominated for several awards. Eventually, Whedon moved both Buffy and Angel to Boom! Studios to continue their stories.
1 The Simpsons
Starting in 1993, Bongo was home to Simpsons Comics. In fact, the company was founded after the success of Simpsons Comics and Stories. From there, The Simpsons and their friends ruled the comic book world for nearly a quarter-century.
This wasn't simply the flagship title, Simpsons Comics. On top of the 245 issues of that series, Bongo also produced 14 limited series and one-shots. The longest-running of these was the annual The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror anthology. Though Bongo shutdown in 2018, its legacy can be found in comic collections across brick-and-mortar and online stores as well as your local library.