Graphic Novels That Have Inspired Screen Adaptations

A small Alaskan town is cast into a polar night, suffering with freezing sub-zero temperatures and total darkness for a month. As if that isn't bad enough, the mortals must stand off against an onslaught of genuinely terrifying vampires, all rendered in a bizarre, stunning and disorientating art style.Film: 30 Days of Night (2007)

Bryan Lee O'Malley's story of Scott Pilgrim, who must battle the ex-boyfriends of his current crush, Ramona Flowers. It's loaded with great visuals and good gags. The film that Edgar Wright made from it turns 10 this year. Film: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (Edgar Wright, 2010)

Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez's story of immortal warriors who make a living in modern time as mercenaries. But then their existence is uncovered by people who look to exploit them. Rucka has since adapted the story into the Netflix film, starring Charlize Theron.Film: The Old Guard (Gina Prince-Bythewood, 2020)

Following Eric's death and the murder of his girlfriend, he's resurrected by a crow and sets out for revenge against the killers. Written as a way for author James O'Barr to process the tragic death of his fiancee, The Crow is a tale of mourning and a true underground hit until its adaptation featuring the late Brandon Lee. Film: The Crow (Alex Proyas, 1994)

Frank Miller's neo-noir classic is a sprawling tale set on the crime-ridden streets of Basin City, aka Sin City. Presented as a series of standalone but interwoven 'yarns', Sin City explores the dark and often violent events in the lives of civilians, law enforcers and criminals of the city. This collection is a masterclass of graphic novel storytelling.Film: Sin City (Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller and Quentin Tarantino (guest), 2005), Sin City: A Dame To Kill For (Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller, 2012)

Gerard Way's story of a group of unusual children born to different mothers across the world on one day (none of the women were pregnant at the start of the day) leads to a dysfunctional adopted family tale. Can the Hargreeves save the world from an apocalypse? TV: The Umbrella Academy (2019-)

In the grimy uber-metropolis known as Mega-City One, Judge Dredd is the law. Ol' big chin Dredd has been on our shelves since '77, with dozens of spin-offs, standalone tales and adventures of varying intensity. Not only a good pulp read, but the series and its many writers are also disconcertingly good at predicting and commenting on the less-than-cool developments in modern society. Film: Judge Dredd (Danny Cannon, 1995), Dredd (Pete Travis, 2012)

It's the comic-book which inspired Guillermo del Toro's cult-favourite, full of paranormal activities and supernatural Nazi bad guys.Film: Hellboy (Guillermo del Toro, 2004), Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Guillermo del Toro, 2008), Hellboy (Neil Marshall, 2019)

Memory can be a tricky thing, but for the protagonist of Manuel Garcia's title, it's even worse, as he's being manipulated by a nefarious scientist to carry out violent deeds. Oh, and he's now loaded with nanites that can repair any injury. So that's nice. Film: Bloodshot (Dave S. F. Wilson, 2020)

This comic has it all. A disillusioned, sexually active, biblically enhanced reacher, Jesse, hangs out with a violent and alcohol abusing duo and has some twisted and darkly comic misadventures.TV: Preacher (2015-2019)

A mad deconstruction of superhero comics and teen coming-of-age high-school narratives, featuring a hyper-violent (and effective) crime-fighting father and daughter duo.Film: Kick-Ass(Matthew Vaughn, 2010), Kick-Ass 2 (Jeff Wadlow, 2013)

Alan Moore's take on the Joker origin story is widely known as a modern classic. Though it hasn't been directly adapted, 2019's Joker, featuring an Oscar-winning turn from Joaquin Phoenix as the titular villain, is said to have the comic's atmosphere as one of its impetuses.Film: Joker (Todd Phillips, 2019)

The comic collection which inspired the Thanos' MCU arc. The superheroes roster in this original version is vast and includes many heroes who have yet to make any appearance at the cinema. Nothing is simple in the Marvel universe, so The Infinity Gauntlet is best read in combo with a few others, like; Silver Surfer: Rebirth of Thanos, Infinty War and Civil War.Film: The Avengers 1-4 (2012-2019)

Pacific Rim is a huge project drawn from Travis Beacham and Guillermo del Toro's love of otaku culture, and openly pays homage to many Japanese mecha and kaiju franchises. Beacham has proclaimed his love for Neon Genesis Evangelion, and many themes and ideas are shared across the two. It wasn't the sole inspiration, but Neon Genesis is an adrenaline pumping, heart-rending, giant fighting spectacle that's a cornerstone of manga and anime history.The anime TV show and movies are currently available to stream on Netflix.Film: Pacific Rim (Guillermo del Toro, 2013), Evangelion: Death & Rebirth (1997), The End of Evangelion (1997), Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007), Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2008), Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012)TV: Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995-1996)

Alan Moore again. Psychedelic, pessimistic and environmentally conscious graphic novel which features one of the strangest supernatural heroes out there.Film: Swamp Thing (2019)

Yes, it's Alan Moore again. He's like the P.K. Dick of graphic novels – everything is adaptable and incredibly awesome. From Hell is a dark and beautifully drawn reimagining of Jack the Ripper, laced with Victorian darkness and hopelessly lost characters.Film: From Hell (Albert & Allen Hughes, 2001)

300 is the fictional story of King Leonidas and 300 hyper-macho Spartan soldiers who face off against the invading Persian Empire's endless swathes. Once you've burned through this there's a 2018 prequel-slash-sequel to enjoy; Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander. Film: 300 (Zack Snyder, 2007), 300: Rise of an Empire (Noam Murro, 2014)

Anonymous have had their way with the mask, just as Moore (again) had his way the Guy Fawkes story. Join V as he fights against fascism with an arsenal of revolutionary explosives, flamboyant dialogues and impractically suave attire.Film: V For Vendetta (James McTeigue, 2005)

If superheroes really existed, wouldn't they be narcissistic, egotistical, sociopathic, untrustworthy liabilities? Well, The Boys certainly seem to think so – they'll do what they can to keep the "heroes" in line.TV: The Boys (2019-)

"Who watches the Watchmen?" Follow Moore's tale of a failed vigilante league as they attempt to wrestle with familial torment, dysfunctional friendships, space temples, and a psychotic campaign to rival Thanos' click.Film: Watchmen (Zack Snyder, 2009)TV: Watchmen (2019)

Another of Alan Moore's creations, first appearing in Swamp Thing before being taken up by Jamie Delano. John Constantine is a reluctant detective-cum-exorcist with occult abilities, which attract him a lot of attention from places he would rather it didn't.Film: Constantine (Francis Lawrence, 2005)TV: Constantine (2014-2015)

Thanks to the imaginative forces of the world's best sci-fi novelists and filmmakers, we're pretty well versed in what happens when modern man meets extraterrestrials. This short-but-sweet comic dares to take things back a bit, with the Wild West coming under attack by far-advanced beings. Film: Cowboys & Aliens (Jon Favreau, 2011)

Red is a three-part comic following Pail Moses, a retired CIA agent living in seclusion. Eventually, his past comes knocking. It's very different to the movies it inspired. The Red comic is a thrilling espionage yarn that will have you machine-gunning through pages like no one's business. Film: RED (Robert Schwentke, 2010), RED 2 (Dean Parisot, 2013)

The zombie comic to end all zombie comics, The Walking Dead is a long-running post-apocalyptic adventure with more characters and deaths than one person can reasonably remember. Zombies provide the background, but the delight comes from seeing how different people choose to survive when there is nothing else to live for. TV: The Walking Dead (2010-2022)