While it is based on the Dark Horse comic book series of the same name created and written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá, Netflix's The Umbrella Academy is not a one-to-one adaptation, as it makes use of numerous original ideas that were not in the original comics. However, according to showrunner Steve Blackman, some of these ideas are actually being worked into future Umbrella Academy comics.
"It's challenging," Blackman said in an interview with LRMonline after being asked about the adaptation process for The Umbrella Academy. "I don't directly adapt. The graphic novel was used as a springboard and inspiration. It helps at the forefront is I'm good friends with Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. I love talking to them, and I'm very collaborative with them. In my effort, I pitched them the whole season at the beginning of the year. They're not involved day-to-day, but I wanted them to love where I'm going. I would hate not to be on the same page." Notably, Way and Bá are both executive producers on Netflix's adaptation of their comic book.
"What makes the graphic novel so great is that it's nonlinear," Blackman continued. "It's such incredible creative storytelling but wouldn't translate to a ten-hour TV show. First of all, some of these we could simply not afford and other things that just couldn't work in a 10-hour story. So, I picked and chose the things I like. Afterward, I mentally had the freedom to bring my ideas that don't exist in the graphic novel. It's lovely now that some of the things we're doing, Gerard will be writing into the story. These two mediums are now combining and coexisting, which is wonderful."
The first Umbrella Academy series by Way and Bá, The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, was initially published in 2007. It was followed up by The Umbrella Academy: Dallas and The Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion. A fourth series, The Umbrella Academy: Sparrow Academy, is currently in the works, according to Way. There's also the spinoff limited series You Look Like Death by Way, Shaun Simon and I.N.J. Culbard, which is slated to launch next month.
The Umbrella Academy stars Ellen Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher and Justin H. Min, with Ritu Arya, Yusuf Gatewood, Marin Ireland, Jordan Claire Robbins, Kate Walsh and Colm Feore. Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.