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

30. The Infinite Horizon

Pitch: The Soldier with No Name tries to return home in an apocalyptic near future, a journey that mirrors Homer's The Odyssey. Latest News: Greg Berlanti, the producer of Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow, has taken an interest in this more unusual fare from Image Comics, and Ryan Condal (Hercules) is set to write it. Casting and production scheduling hadn't started when the project was announced in May. Odds Of Success: Fair. Basing the work on the Odyssey is certainly a bold move, as it was when James Joyce tried it, and that ambition translates to the rest of the series, which garnered excellent reviews when it came out. Horizon isn't a particularly well-known comic and the apocalyptic near future is a little worn as a concept, but this could go far with the right talent behind it.

29. Watchmen

Pitch: In an alternate world where a superbeing won the Vietnam War but vigilantism is outlawed, the murder of one hero-turned-government-agent signals the development of a huge conspiracy that nudges other heroes out of forced retirement. Latest News: Zach Snyder, apparently no longer content with having directed the movie adaptation, is in "preliminary discussions" with HBO for a series. The news broke this month. Odds Of Success: Fffffffffair? This one is a tough call. On the one hand, Watchmen's name recognition is hard to argue with, HBO is better suited to it than a theatrical release, and Snyder has at least been scrupulously faithful to the source material. On the other hand, it's hard to see what a TV series could add to the filmed version, which was not a commercial success. Knock this one up a few points for Snyder's pull, HBO's reputation, and the prospect of a limited series, and that still only gets you to "fair."

28. RASL

Pitch: An art thief steals famous paintings by slipping to parallel universes where they're less well-guarded. But that means cutting deals with some other dimension-hoppers who aren't too scrupulous about threatening his loved ones-- or alternate-universe versions of those loved ones. Latest News: Last we heard (in late June), Universal TV was buying the rights to this Jeff Smith dimension-hopping noir adventure. Odds Of Success: Fair. The premise is solid and Smith's storytelling chops compel interest, but despite his desperate circumstances, Rasl isn't always the most likeable character.

27. Protocol Orphans

Pitch: A group of orphans have been recruited by the government as covert operatives, which draws them into conflict with each other as well as the enemies of our country. Latest News: Peter Facinelli, who created Protocol Orphans with Rob DeFranco (and developed it with writer Michael Alan Nelson and artist Mariano Navarro) is producing this adaptation for Fox. It was reconfirmed just days ago. Odds Of Success: Fair. The original series has an interesting concept, but leaves its characters underdeveloped, and that's a problem for a series that clearly makes them the focus.