The Old Guard: Other Comics Netflix Should Adapt

Posted by David Winnick

[Image: still from Netflix's The Old Guard trailer]

Over the last few years, Netflix has really held the market on adapting comics to television. Sure, other streaming services have done the same, like Amazon Prime with The Boys and Hulu with The Runaways, but comic adaptations like Locke and Key, Daredevil, October Faction, and The Umbrella Academy have been the bread and butter of Netflix. This month, they're at it again with The Old Guard, based on the comic of the same name by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez and starring Charlize Theron as the lead character. Well Netflix, here are some other comic books which could really use a good show!

 

 

Farmhand by Rob Guillory

At fifteen issues so far, Farmhand is one of the most engrossing reads in the last decade. The tale follows Ezekiel, a young man who went home to help his father Jedidiah run a spooky business. Jed has developed a method of using plant matter to help bring back or replace dead human tissue and his business is huge. It is up to Ezekiel to find out what is lurking in his father’s past and if he is lucky, save his home town from the evil spores which are taking seed there. No doubt, Netflix could kill it on the half man half plant special effects needed to pull this one off.

Buy Volume 1:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Bookshop

 

 

Pretty Deadly by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Emma Rios

Nothing says fun like a phantasmagoric western. Narrated by a butterfly and the bones of a dead rabbit, this story is an old-timey revenge story which follows Deathface Ginny, the daughter of the Grim Reaper himself. Ginny goes rogue, trying to help other women defend themselves, and then ends up being chased by another reaper named Big Alice. This comic has amazing visuals and would be right up the ally of fans of shows like Justified.

Buy Volume 1:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Bookshop

 

 

Mesmo Delivery by Rafael Grampa

Grampa’s work is incredibly visual and is the perfect backdrop on which to build multiple stories. Mesmo Delivery follows Rufo, an Ex-boxer turned delivery man who takes some of the most dangerous and sought after deliveries in the world. While Rufo never inspects his cargo, he knows that he must get it to its designated location safe and sound. This comic would be great for expansion into a long running series, following Rufo across multiple different states and stories with new cargo each season.

Buy the Comic:

AmazonBooks A Million

 

 

100 Bullets by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso

One of the most highly acclaimed comics of the early 2000s, 100 Bullets is a huge thought experiment wrapped in an espionage story. When the mysterious Agent Graves shows up with a gun and 100 untraceable bullets, there is no telling what mayhem may ensue. Graves hands that weapon off to multiple people throughout the series to get their revenge whoever has wronged them, but Graves's intentions are so much more complex than providing poor souls the closure they so desperately need. This could easily be Netflix’s most talked about show if they take it on.

Buy Book 1:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

 

 

Black Science by Rick Remender and Matteo Scalera

This would be a wild ride to watch. When lead character Grant McKay figures out a way travel through multiple dimensions which her refers to as The Onion, he and his friends and family go on a dangerous adventure where some of them might not make it back. Like a much more serious Rick and Morty, this would be a killer live action TV show. It’s far past time this one was snapped up by someone. Netflix, make it happen.

Buy Volume 1:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Bookshop

 

 

I Hate Fairyland by Skottie Young

Netflix has been crushing it with cartoons in the last few years and more than that, they have one of the best adult themed cartoons in recent memory with Big Mouth. I Hate Fairyland would be the perfect adaptation to help them expand on the demographic that already likes their adult themed cartoons. After Gertrude is taken into Fairyland on a fairly standard adventure meant to take no more than a few days, she finds herself stuck for 30 years trying to finish her quest and get out. Unfortunately for Gertrude, she has been ageing mentally but not physically and she can’t find her way out to save her life. 

Buy Volume 1:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Bookshop