The Marvel Cinematic Universe and the new DC Universe have had a few projects that are so good that they became better than the comics that inspired them, and the same has happened to other superhero franchises. While Marvel Studios is known for using comics-accurate costumes, some of the MCU’s best movies make key changes to comic book storylines.
That can either be good or bad, but it has worked well for Marvel releases. The DCEU movie franchise and more DC projects have also taken stories from the comics or characters and made them better. That practice extends to other superhero adaptations outside the MCU’s slate of projects and DC’s plans, with the following superhero adaptations being better than the comics:
The Boys
First up is The Boys, which is a clear case of the adaptation being better than the source material. While the characters and broad strokes of the story come from the comics, Prime Video’s The Boys is a much better overall product than the comics.
The latter can be fun, but the comics are sometimes more focused on edginess than good stories. The social commentary of the series, particularly in its first few seasons, is miles ahead of the comics. With gripping performances like Antony Starr’s as Homelander, The Boys elevates the source material.
Invincible
Another Prime Video series on the list is Invincible. The comic series written by Robert Kirkman is already one of the best superhero stories out there. The fact that the animated show manages to surpᴀss it just speaks to how high the quality is.
The Invincible series essentially works as a way for Kirkman, who co-created the show, to perfect the source material. That has led to better pacing, characters getting more to do than in the comics, and voice performances uncovering new depth for Mark Grayson and other players.
Peacemaker
James Gunn has shown time and again that he can make obscure characters from the comics fan favorites. John Cena’s Peacemaker is a prime example of that. Prior to season one of the DC series, pretty much no one knew who Peacemaker was.
That includes comic readers, as he made sporadic appearances before getting a new push after Cena played him. Peacemaker presents a well-rounded lead character who may be goofy and action-oriented, but has a dark backstory that adds incredible emotional depth to him. The show made an unknown character a DC fan-favorite.
Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War is an adaptation of one of Marvel’s biggest events. While there are some key elements to both, one could say that the two stories are mostly different. That said, the MCU version of Thanos’ quest works better than it does in the comics, as it is more focused.
Marvel had several characters to balance with years’ worth of standalone stories. Infinity War perfectly meshes them all together for a gripping movie that is equal parts a non-stop action sequence and an emotional tale full of superhero crossovers. Infinity War is much less complicated than its comic book counterpart, and its ending is now a cinematic achievement.
X-Men: Days Of Future Past
Fox’s X-Men movies have not always hit the mark. However, X-Men: Days of Future Past is easily one of the best in the franchise. The film is an adaptation of the storyline from the comics of the same name, though it replaces Kitty Pryde at the center of the story for Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.
The change makes the film more effective, as Wolverine is the most popular live-action X-Men hero. By uniting the two X-Men movie franchises, the cinematic version of Days of Future Past had a strong emotional component that elevated its story. It corrected franchise mistakes and expanded on a short, two-issue comics event.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is clearly influenced by Ed Brubaker’s Winter Soldier storyline from the comics, which revamped Bucky Barnes’ story. There are a few differences between the two, but the key beats to Bucky’s story, the thriller feel, and the mysteries/paranoia all remain.
That said, the MCU movie is able to pack a greater punch when it comes to the action and makes the story even more personal for Bucky and Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers. Captain America: The Winter Soldier has become the best MCU movie in the eyes of many, which elevates its position above the story it was inspired by.
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool
When ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool was first created, he was not his fourth-wall-breaking self. That would come with time, much like what happened to Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson going from X-Men Origins: Wolverine to ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool. The Merc With a Mouth’s movie trilogy is easily one of the best for a superhero.
The ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool movies perfectly feel like the character jumping straight from the pages of modern comics to the big screen. That gets heightened by Reynolds’ impeccable comedic timing and charm, making ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool one of the easiest to love live-action superheroes. It is the character at his very best.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
The Spider-Verse concept in the comics has led to a few fun storylines that are all about putting as many Spider-Man variants together as they can within reason. That leads to fun moments, but Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soars higher as a more focused version of the concept.
The movie completely changed its medium with innovative animation techniques. Miles Morales is firmly at the center of the story, with the other Spider-Men servicing his arc, which works better than the comics. The Spider-Verse franchise has become a cultural phenomenon with a lasting impact.
Logan
Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine was once meant to go out in Logan, an adaptation of Marvel Comics’ Old Man Logan. While some tonal elements and broad story strokes are shared between projects, the two stories are completely different. The comic book version has more fantastical elements and characters.
Logan is pretty much a western with an aging Wolverine trying to do some good in his final days. It has more nuanced storytelling that packs a bigger emotional punch due to the time audiences have invested in Jackman’s Wolverine and Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier. Logan is a poignant ending to Wolverine’s arc.
Guardians Of The Galaxy
From character designs to a blend of humor and emotion to a unique soundtrack, the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie completely reinvents the Marvel Comics team. It was the first project that showcased James Gunn’s ability to turn obscure characters into franchise favorites.
While Gunn made some personality changes to characters like Star-Lord, who used to be much more serious than Chris Pratt’s version, they all worked. The cosmic team added a sense of novelty to the MCU, with the franchise quickly becoming one of Marvel’s most beloved.
