The closest thing to superhero comics on television right now isn't, surprisingly, any of the superhero series on television right now. It is, in fact, the humble soap opera. Like superhero comics, they've usually been running for a long time, with no ending in sight. People get killed and come back all the time. Continuity is an issue. There's a lot of histrionics, hyperbole, unrealistic dialogue and ridiculous romances. X-Men is especially closer to soap operas than most comics, with the series being almost as famous for its love triangles and interpersonal relationships as it is crazy superhero action. So, even if the X-Factor angle is what they go for, isn't an X-Men TV show pretty much just a soap opera with a slightly higher budget and less silly names and outfits? That's essentially what the animated series X-Men Evolution was. It's what Smallville was. But this could be the best superhero soap opera...
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
