Comics enjoyed a massive boom in the ’50s and ’60s, which was coincidentally the same time that TV came into its own. Consequently, many savvy business people made the decision to make comic book adaptations of some TV shows that struck a chord with audiences at the time (and still do today).
Some of the classic TV series that received comic book adaptations seem like they were tailor-made for the comic book format. Meanwhile, others are a bit more off the beaten path of what you’d expect from comic book source material. Some series that have received the comic book treatment are from the early days of television, while others are more recent — but classic nevertheless.
Bewitched
1964-1972
4Charmed
1998-2006
Taking place in San Francisco, Charmed chronicled the Halliwell sisters, an extremely powerful trio of good witches that uses their powers to protect the world from evil. The show may have ended, but the series still enjoys a devoted cult following. Moreover, audiences loved Charmed from the beginning, with its debut episode being the most-watched first episode for the entire network of the WB (the WB channel was discontinued but is now the CW channel).
Charmed was the second highest rated TV show of the network, only being surpassed by the family drama, 7th Heaven.
With audiences not satisfied with the escapades of the Halliwells only being confined to TV, Charmed was given a comic series that acted as a continuation of the show. For instance, comics were numerated by seasons like a TV show rather than volumes like a traditional comic book would. Published by Zenescope Entertainment, Charmed comics were published from 2010 to 2016.
3Alf
1986-1990
A story about an alien that crash lands in the garage of a California family and then becomes a member of the gangis Alf. The character of Alf as well as the show itself enjoyed immense popularity, with Alf having a hold on pop culture of the ’80s, his likeness featured on myriad merchandise. He even had his own animated series that revolved around his time before he was on Earth and an Alf talk show.
Alf also had his own comic book published by Marvel (under Star Comics). Surprisingly long-running, the Alf comic was published for almost four years, having 50 issues and 3 annuals. The comic series stayed more or less close to the continuity of the TV show as well as the cartoon series that was all about Alf,.
Gunsmoke
1955-1975
Starting as a radio show before making the jump to television, Gunsmoke was a Western drama series that centered on Marshal Matt Dillon and the American West in 1870s Kansas. Gunsmoke ran for a whopping 20 seasons, spawning a massive 635 episodes. In addition to being immensely popular among audiences, it was also a critical smash, with the series winning 15 Primetime Emmys.
Gunsmoke has had a sizable impact on pop culture, with museums, toys, and brand endorsements for products as strange as cottage cheese and cigarettes being marketed using the show’s brand.
One of the longest-running primetime live-action television series ever, Gunsmoke has had a sizable impact on pop culture, with museums, toys, and brand endorsements for products as strange as cottage cheese and cigarettes being marketed using the show’s brand. Likewise, books and comic books were also part of Gunsmoke’s legacy, with Dell Comics publishing 7 issues of the adaptation. Moreover, Gold Key Comics also published comic adaptations with 6 issues from 1969 to 1970.
1I Love Lucy
1951-1957
As iconic as Lucille Ball’s red hair, I Love Lucy is a titan of American pop culture and one of the most famous sitcoms ever. Regarded as one of the most influential television shows, I Love Lucy achieved a lot of firsts. For instance, it was the first show to have an ensemble cast. The show was about the misadventures of Lucy, much to the annoyance of her husband Ricky, and her schemes concocted with her neighbors Fred and Ethel, especially her best friend Ethel.
As big a success as I Love Lucy was and still is, there have been all sorts of adaptions, including comic books. Dell Comics, who published many other TV-based comic book adaptations, published a comic book version of I Love Lucy. 35 issues were made of the I Love Lucy comic book series, published from 1954 until 1962.
