Comic book adaptations have been doing incredibly well on television over the years, from the Emmy award winning limited series Watchmento the superhero satire that is The Boysto the multi-show connected universe of Arrowverse. Plenty of channels and streaming services have brought these stories to the small screen, and Freeform is adding one more comic book adaptation to its catalogue with Kristen Gudsnuk's Henchgirl. While comics have been dominating television for years, this addition is a welcomed one because of its unique take on the world of superheroes, supervillains and the people who work for the big bads.

Who is Henchgirl

Written and drawn by Gudsnuk, Henchgirl follows Mary Posa, a henchwoman for Monsieur Butterfly, one of Crepe City's dastardly villains. Along with seeing the inner workings of being a henchperson, like the inconsistent pay, surprising health benefits and coworker rivalries, the comic also explores Mary's struggle with roommates, family and friends.

Like Snotgirlthis series features over the top characters in wild yet somehow relatable situations, providing plenty of laughs along the way. The story doesn't pull any punches in showing the more ridiculous side of comics and superheroes, from its take on magical girls to several characters with obtuse superpowers. Furthermore, the story is a reminder of how fun the comic medium and superhero narratives can be.

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A Change of Pace for Comic TV

A lot of comic adaptations on TV right now feature more mainstream stories. DC and Marvel remain major contributors to television and streaming services. Meanwhile, many shows based on independent series, like The Walking Dead or The Umbrella Academy, had over a decade to develop a comic fan base before coming to the small screen, so seeing a creator-owned comic that's only been out for five years get picked up is surprising in the best way.

Furthermore, the comic itself is unlike most superhero narratives. Instead of following a hero or villain, readers get to see what it's like to be one of the minor characters. While this leads to more mundane adventures at times, it makes the protagonist more relatable, and it leads to many comedic situations. Henchgirl has action and heists, but it also deals with day to day issues, and this blend will hopefully make for a unique adaptation on television amongst so many other superhero shows.

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The Silly Side of Superheroes and Supervillains

Along with bringing a more niche story to television, Henchgirl is a great critique of superhero culture. There are a few shows that also take a more self-referential look at the comic medium they're adapting; however, these series tend to lean into the dark side of superheroics. Even The Boys, which is full of absurdity and comedy, is a more gritty look at superheroes and villains. Henchgirl pokes fun at the genre and medium too, but it does so in a way that's less doom and gloom.

The comic, while it does feature violence and crude humor, feels more geared towards people who are fans of sitcoms or slice-of-life narratives, not high stakes, season spanning dramas. There are obstacles and threats in Henchgirl; however, the obstacles are often something the average person can relate to, while the threats feel more akin to those seen in bizarre cartoons like Adventure Time or Regular Show.

By having relatable struggles and ludicrous situations, the story revels in the strange and silly of superhero comics, similar to what Scott Pilgrim vs. the World does on page and screen. For long time fans of comics, reading something like Henchgirl pays off greatly because it's a love letter to the medium while also satirizing it in a bubbly way. After years of supes being taken seriously, whether as heroes or threats, it's time for a more ridiculous take on the television genre, and Henchgirl is the perfect adaptation to do so.

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