10 Non-Superhero Comics You Didn't Know Were Becoming Films And TV Shows

The comic book cinematic revolution isn't all just superheroes!

Black Magick
Image Comics/Nicola Scott

With the wealth of amazing stories coming from the pages of comics, graphic novels, and manga from all over the world, it's unsurprising that many new shows coming out in the next few years are based on such existing work. And while many of them, with the world-changing success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the prime-time hits of DC TV shows, are all about superheroes, there are still a good number of titles to look forward to that don't need capes and cowls to get audiences excited.

From supernatural horrors to aliens both threatening and friendly, not even mentioning the semi to post apocalyptic survival shows (like The Walking Dead), or even weird mishmashes of sci-fi and fantasy - these are the colourful tales and high concept stories that'll be getting audiences hooked in no time at all.

These stories twist, subvert, or openly embrace the weird and wonderful genres they spring from, and deserve as much, if not more attention than their super-counterparts, especially from viewers who may be feeling "superhero fatigue" after so much superhero media coming out in the last decade.

Fortunately, there's a whole host of awesome titles not about superheroes heading to the big and small screens in the next few years. Here are the most exciting ones of all...

10. Trese

Black Magick
Visprint Inc.

The first ever Netflix original anime based on a Filipino comic, Trese, by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, is an ongoing black and white noir horror-fantasy title following a supernatural detective who watches over the hidden monstrous underground of the city of Manila.

Trese does a lot of things that many comic fans would find familiar in occult detectives like John Constantine, but with a unique Filipino folkloric and cultural flare, with the titular Trese being the youngest daughter of four brothers. She's also the heir to the family business of dealing with the supernatural that she inherited from her father, and an almost crime-boss feel to her position of power in her family and the city.

Her stoic competency is balanced out by the more exuberant personalities of her half-god bodyguards called the Kambal (literally, Twins) - who, even with superpowers, face masks, and guns, are somehow less threatening than their human boss, Alexandra Trese.

Finding ghosts murdered and gods causing trouble, with nuno (dwarven) coroners and tikbalang (horse-headed humanoid) drag racers, and owning a night club where supernatural beings gather, Trese creates a world audiences are sure to love seeing animated onscreen when it comes out on Netflix.

Contributor
Contributor

Writer, artist, professional animator. Indie comics and Hi Nay podcast creator. Queer Filipino storyteller || @MotzieD on Twitter || Originally from Quezon City, The Philippines. Currently based in Toronto, Canada || motziedapul.com