Prepare To Be Adapted ... Resistance Is Futile

ACT I

Hello viewers. Welcome to the first exciting episode of "Prepared To Be Adapted," a new column for SyFy Portal. I know what you’re thinking … "So, what is it about?" Good question.

In each thrilling episode of adventure I will be covering graphic novels (the "grown-up" word for comic books) that either have been adapted to television/movies or television/movies adapted to graphic novels. Heck, I’ll even cover an occasional video game adapted to a television series or movie (heaven knows there are enough of those out there).

You will be entertained and educated. Yes, it shall be a happy time of edutainment for all.

So, enough blabbing, let us begin.

ACT II

Adaptations of graphic novels for film and television are big business. I’m constantly surprised by how many people don’t realize their favorite movie was adapted from one. They are not just your usual superhero stories, like Spider-Man or Batman. "300," "Men In Black," "Timecop," "A History of Violence," "Crow," "Sin City," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "V for Vendetta," "Ghost World," "Road to Perdition," "The Mask," "Constantine," "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," "Judge Dredd," "From Hell," "Tank Girl," "Bulletproof Monk," "Painkiller Jane," and so many more (fingers … tiring) come from humble graphic novel origins. Yes, the adaptation of graphic novels is big business and it ain’t going anywhere.

It really isn’t that big of a surprise. One step of making a film is storyboarding and heck, the graphic novel has already done most of the work for you. You can see a visual style, which helps a director develop a vision for a film.

But adapting anything to a new medium always comes with criticisms. They either change a story to much, add controversial characters, remove popular characters, or (and I’m often puzzled by this) change a character’s name.

I’ve only been studying/working in film for a short period of time, but it has been long enough to appreciate how different the rules are for film compared to comi … cough … graphic novels.

Graphic novels don’t have to worry about budgets. This is one of the best things about graphic novels. They can show anything visually. Imagination and drawing skills are the only limitations. Ever increasing technology is helping bridge this gap, but it can get pricey. Actually, the technology now allows film to do just about anything, but the budget is what limits the possibilities.

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