15 Failed Comic Book TV Shows That Only Lasted One Episode

5. Aquaman (2006)

In 2006 Alfred Gough and Miles Millar had the unenviable task of trying to make DC's Aquaman palpable and cool for TV audiences. That's not an easy task given the character's punch line status in pop culture at the time. The task may have simply been too much for anyone to realize. The end product was an odd cross between Smallville, The X-files and Baywatch (which sounds a lot more awesome than it actually is).

It might have helped, though, had the pilot not been blemished by awful dialogue and flat performances. Justin Hartley is Arthur "A.C." Curry (the beach bum who would be king of Atlantis), Ving Rhames plays lighthouse keeper-turned-mentor McCaffrey and Denise Quiñones portrays USAF Lt. Rachel Torres. Given the ludicrous nature of his character, Hartley manages to not embarrass himself, which is no small feat.

Overall, the series showed a lot of potential, but the real question comes with how many others would maintain their interest in an aquatic superhero. Mixed reviews were received in the evaluation of this one-off show which most likely was too mixed to sink a TV series budget into.