43 New And Upcoming Comic-Book TV Shows: Which Will Triumph?

34. Ronin

Pitch: Ancient Japanese spirits invade a successful biotech firm in the future, with complex and ultimately explosive results. Latest News: This announced SyFy miniseries hasn't shown any signs of progress since early May 2014. Odds Of Success: Fair if actually developed. This is early Frank Miller, which usually screens better than late Frank Miller, but it is a wild dystopian epic, clearly influenced by Akira as much as anything else, which may make it challenging to follow.

33. Pax Romana

Pitch: In an increasingly secular future, the Catholic Church discovers time travel and goes back in time to the fourth century to solidify its power base. But the commanding cardinal is shot, and building the perfect Christian society isn't as easy as his successors thought... Latest News: This is yet another of SyFy's many miniseries that's been quiet since May 2014. Odds Of Success: Fair if actually developed. The concept is solid and the idea of a clash between two offbeat timelines has been used to great effect in other stories. Jonathan Hickman, one of Marvel's stars, wrote and drew the original.

32. Enormous

Pitch: An attempt to genetically modify crops and livestock to increase the food supply has created a planet overrun with giant monsters. Ellen Grace heads up the last remaining North American Search and Recovery Team. Latest News: Fox is ordering at least a miniseries version of the graphic novella-turned-regular comics series. There was also a short film, and its producer Adrian Askarieh has returned as an executive producer here. Announced February 2015. Odds Of Success: Fair. Although it seems better suited to the big screen, this "Mad Max meets Pacific Rim" storyline has an undeniable appeal in any medium. It could use more of a personal hook, though.

31. X-Factor Investigations

Pitch: A detective and problem-solving agency specializes in mutant-related problems, and is made up of mutants itself. Latest News: The rumor mill is grinding loudly on this one. Fox and Marvel have been haggling for a while over whether the money to be made from bringing the X-franchise to TV is worth a compromise between their respective IP rights. Odds Of Success: Fair. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has proven that tying a superhero movie franchise to a TV show can work well, and Fox would very much like some of that action, on some X-TV thing or other. X-Factor Investigation is just the latest form that basic idea has taken. Fox and Marvel seem close to a deal, but it could still easily fall apart, and even if it doesn't, coordinating movies with television is a tricky business that nearly sank Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in its first season before it found its feet.