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Here is a breakdown of some recent comic book-related debut television shows. While DC has a strong lineup with their CW shows (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow), it looks like Marvel is hitting back strong with a ton of Marvel-related shows (with the exception of Happy!).
THE PUNISHER
netflix.com
I did enjoy The Punisher quite a bit, which was a win, considering that I thought Iron Fist and The Defenders were lackluster. Ever since The Punisher appeared on Daredevil, I knew he would spin off in his own series… and I was right.
I’ve always liked the Punisher, ever since that amazing limited Steven Grant and Mike Zeck mini-series in 1986 (can it really be over 30 years old?) and followed his stories in his ongoing series, plus his War Journal and War Zone, I ate all of it up. I love it so much, that even though I own all these books on the original single issues (and some collected books), I still bought some Punisher books on the recent Comixology year-end sale.
Since I feel like I know The Punisher really well, I had a very hard time accepting Jon Bernthal’s southern accent as part of this TV Punisher. It just sound wrong, and it would automatically rule out any storyline where the Punisher had to go undercover as an Italian mobster. I guess I must be the only person in the world that didn’t really like Bernthal’s portrayal of the Punisher.
If you were to ask me, I really love Ray Stevenson’s The Punisher, but unfortunately, I don’t think anyone remotely liked Punisher: War Zone (my favorite of the three Punisher films).
Despite my not liking Bernthal, the Netflix show was actually really engaging. It kept me interested, but there were a few episodes that I thought could have been shortened, and like all the Neflix shows, maybe 13 episodes were just too long.
netflix.com
I did enjoy The Punisher quite a bit, which was a win, considering that I thought Iron Fist and The Defenders were lackluster. Ever since The Punisher appeared on Daredevil, I knew he would spin off in his own series… and I was right.
I’ve always liked the Punisher, ever since that amazing limited Steven Grant and Mike Zeck mini-series in 1986 (can it really be over 30 years old?) and followed his stories in his ongoing series, plus his War Journal and War Zone, I ate all of it up. I love it so much, that even though I own all these books on the original single issues (and some collected books), I still bought some Punisher books on the recent Comixology year-end sale.
Since I feel like I know The Punisher really well, I had a very hard time accepting Jon Bernthal’s southern accent as part of this TV Punisher. It just sound wrong, and it would automatically rule out any storyline where the Punisher had to go undercover as an Italian mobster. I guess I must be the only person in the world that didn’t really like Bernthal’s portrayal of the Punisher.
If you were to ask me, I really love Ray Stevenson’s The Punisher, but unfortunately, I don’t think anyone remotely liked Punisher: War Zone (my favorite of the three Punisher films).
Despite my not liking Bernthal, the Netflix show was actually really engaging. It kept me interested, but there were a few episodes that I thought could have been shortened, and like all the Neflix shows, maybe 13 episodes were just too long.
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HAPPY!
syfy.com
I love Grant Morrison (I am a huge fan of Doom Patrol, Invisibles, and JLA), but kind of gave up on him after his Batman R.I.P. series, which I did think I lost the plot after a few issues. This television show is based on Morrison and Darick Robertson’s graphic novel of the same name.
So watching the show is really the first time I’m experiencing the story, which, at the moment, is really fun. The problem in all the silliness of Happy is that, at any given point, do I feel like our character is in mortal danger.
So I’m on board, I hope he finds and saves his daughter!
P.S., I’m probably going to try and find the Happy! comic book now.
syfy.com
I love Grant Morrison (I am a huge fan of Doom Patrol, Invisibles, and JLA), but kind of gave up on him after his Batman R.I.P. series, which I did think I lost the plot after a few issues. This television show is based on Morrison and Darick Robertson’s graphic novel of the same name.
So watching the show is really the first time I’m experiencing the story, which, at the moment, is really fun. The problem in all the silliness of Happy is that, at any given point, do I feel like our character is in mortal danger.
So I’m on board, I hope he finds and saves his daughter!
P.S., I’m probably going to try and find the Happy! comic book now.
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THE GIFTED
fox.com
I actually got really confused with The Gifted vs The Runaways. I think both shows had super powered kids running away… but between the two shows, I’m more keen on The Gifted.
The show started off strong, with The Sentinels, and featured genre actors like Stephen Moyer and Amy Acker. These parents are doing everything in their power (excuse the pun) to save their mutant children.
Bonus appearances of familiar X-Mutants like Sunspot and Polaris help sells the show to me.
Admittedly, the show has not kept my interest, and I may be a few episodes behind.
fox.com
I actually got really confused with The Gifted vs The Runaways. I think both shows had super powered kids running away… but between the two shows, I’m more keen on The Gifted.
The show started off strong, with The Sentinels, and featured genre actors like Stephen Moyer and Amy Acker. These parents are doing everything in their power (excuse the pun) to save their mutant children.
Bonus appearances of familiar X-Mutants like Sunspot and Polaris help sells the show to me.
Admittedly, the show has not kept my interest, and I may be a few episodes behind.
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THE RUNAWAYS
hulu.com
I never read the comic book series, but I’ve always thought the kids in The Runaways were mutants. I guess I am wrong, they’re just kids with superpowers. I tried out a few episodes, it’s really not my thing. I guess I’m just too old to understand these group of kids. Unlike The Gifted, you never get to see the parents in the Runaways (at least in the first few episodes).
I really wanted to like it, but unfortunately, I just didn’t like any of the kids… well, maybe except for the girl with the pet dinosaur.
So far, 8 out of 10 episodes just aired, but I stopped watching the show with episode 5. Maybe next Saturday I will try and catch up.
Also, the other problem is that you pay $7.99 a month, but you still get advertisements.
hulu.com
I never read the comic book series, but I’ve always thought the kids in The Runaways were mutants. I guess I am wrong, they’re just kids with superpowers. I tried out a few episodes, it’s really not my thing. I guess I’m just too old to understand these group of kids. Unlike The Gifted, you never get to see the parents in the Runaways (at least in the first few episodes).
I really wanted to like it, but unfortunately, I just didn’t like any of the kids… well, maybe except for the girl with the pet dinosaur.
So far, 8 out of 10 episodes just aired, but I stopped watching the show with episode 5. Maybe next Saturday I will try and catch up.
Also, the other problem is that you pay $7.99 a month, but you still get advertisements.
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THE INHUMANS
abc.go.com
I had really high hopes for the live The Inhumans, but the series turned out to be a dud. I did not love the over-acting of Anson Mount as Black Bolt… but it’s understandable since his character cannot (or should not) speak.
The most striking thing about the Inhumans would be Medusa’s animated hair… yet the series cut it off at the beginning. Karnak, possibly the most dangerous inhuman weapon (he can see the weakness in everything) is taken out easily.
After giving three episodes, I gave up on the television show. It wasn’t the Inhumans that I wanted.
abc.go.com
I had really high hopes for the live The Inhumans, but the series turned out to be a dud. I did not love the over-acting of Anson Mount as Black Bolt… but it’s understandable since his character cannot (or should not) speak.
The most striking thing about the Inhumans would be Medusa’s animated hair… yet the series cut it off at the beginning. Karnak, possibly the most dangerous inhuman weapon (he can see the weakness in everything) is taken out easily.
After giving three episodes, I gave up on the television show. It wasn’t the Inhumans that I wanted.
