It’s exciting when a comic outside the superhero genre gets green lit for a film, as is the case for Love Everlasting, but that is far from the only independent and/or creator-owned comic that deserves this sort of treatment. The following comics from publishers like Dark Horse, BOOM! Studios, Image Comics, and DSTLRY would make excellent films, giving audiences something different when it comes to movies adapting comics.

The demand for film adaptations of comics is still there. For instance, the second Marvel Cinematic Universe film of 2025, Thunderbolts*, recently debuted below Captain America: Brave New World. Meanwhile, Fantastic Four: First Steps is another Marvel movie releasing in 2025, and the DCEU’s first film, James Gunn’s Superman, will release this summer. Beyond the big two publishers — Marvel and DC — independent тιтles are also getting the Hollywood treatment, as it was announced Tom King’s Groundhog Day-Inspired Love Everlasting comic will get a new movie. After Love Everlasting, Hollywood should look toward these other books for new adaptations.

8

Helen of Wyndhorn

By Tom King, Bilquis Evely, Clayron Cowles, And Mat Lopes

Tom King is one of the biggest names in comics, with two movies in development based on his writing. One’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and the other’s Love Everlasting. Woman of Tomorrow also has the same creative team for King’s recent Dark Horse fantasy series, Helen of Wyndhorn, one of the best comics of 2024. Helen of Wyndhorn is a love letter to storytelling and embraces the fantasy of pulp fiction while still being relatable and heart-breaking. It’s a must-read comic that could bring something dynamic and refreshing to the big screen, especially when it comes to the high-fantasy genre.

7

Ain’t No Grave

By Skottie Young, Jorge Corona, Hean-François Beaulieu, And Nate Piekos

For another fantastical series, look no further than Ain’t No Grave; although, this is far from sword-and-sorcery fantasy. Instead, Ain’t No Grave is a supernatural western about a mother with a criminal past on Death’s doorstep. However, she is determined to take Death’s life before he can take hers. Once again, the creative team of Skottie Young and Jorge Corona deliver a phenomenal comic that packs a punch, especially with the fourth issue. Plus, the western genre is not as predominant as it once was decades ago, so Ain’t No Grave could shake things up for Hollywood genre films.

6

Made in Korea

By Jeremy Holt, George Schall, And Adam Wollet

On the more science-fiction side of comics, one must-read is Made in Korea. At only six-issues, Made in Korea fleshes out its dismal, futuristic world, feeling as if it is a potential future for the current reality. In this world, the chances of conceiving have decreased, so adopting androids has become an expensive solution. However, when one family adopts a discounted model, they discover their child is more free-thinking than expected. Made in Korea is a great exploration of idenтιтy, as well as radicalization, and it will appeal to the same audience as Companion, which was positively reviewed by critics and fans.

5

The Good Asian

By Pornsak PichetsH๏τe, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Jeff Powell, And Lee Loughridge

Shifting gears to the mystery genre, there are many comic books to check out. One of the best ones to check out, especially for film noir fans, is The Good Asian. Along with being a great crime-fiction story, it is a period piece rooted in history, specifically addressing the immigration ban in the 1930s, police corruption, and more. Detective Edison Hark is on the case of a killer in Chinatown, uncovering more mysteries and corruption along the way. The Good Asian is an engaging and informative story, one that would make for an excellent hard-boiled detective feature film.

4

The Deviant

By James Tynion IV, Josh Hixson, And Hᴀssan Otsmane-Elhaou

For a contemporary murder-mystery, The Deviant is perfect. This is written by James Tynion IV, one of the biggest writers for horror comics, with a new series, Exquisite Corpses, coming out May 14, 2025. Before that, readers should catch up with The Deviant, which is about a writer interviewing an arrested killer; however, another murderer with a similar M.O. emerges, making the writer and authorities wonder if this is a copy cat or if the arrested killer is an innocent man. This is one of the best murder mysteries in recent years, and it’s perfect for fans of David Fincher.

3

Eat the Rich

By Sarah Gailey, Pius Bak, Cardinal Rae, And Roman тιтov

Leaning more into the horror side of comics, a great series that could be adapted to the big screen is Eat the Rich. This is a miniseries that satisfies all cravings for a cannibalistic class-commentary. In it, a woman meets her boyfriend’s wealthy family for the first time. As if that were not worrisome enough, she soon learns his family has a taste for flesh, especially when it comes to their staff. Eat the Rich is a delicious comic that lives up to its name, and it is bound to be a favorite of fans of films like The Menu and Fresh.

2

I Hate This Place

By Kyle Starks, Artyom Topilin, Lee Loughridge, And Pat Bosseau

On the more B-movie side of things, I Hate This Place is sure to scratch that itch. In it, a couple moves into a country home they’ve inherited in the middle of nowhere. However, they’ve also inherited the ghosts that come with this home, as well as all the other nightmares surrounding their new house. This is a love letter to horror, delving into the supernatural, paranormal, and extraterrestrial. While it may seem like a lot on the surface, I Hate This Place is unafraid to embrace the strange and unusual, delivering a comic perfect for fans of The Cabin in the Woods.

1

Somna

By Tula Lotay, Becky Cloonan, Dee Cunniffe, Lee Loughridge

Another horror comic that would make a gorgeous A24-worthy film is Somna, the first official series from new publisher, DSTLRY. Somna is a Gothic romance about a woman in a dissatisfied marriage to a witch-finder in 1600s England. However, a mysterious being who visits her in her sleep can satisfy her sinful desires, and it’s up to her to embrace the erotic or suffer in silence. While her husband may leave her dissatisfied, Somna satisfies readers, embracing female Sєxuality while unpacking complex themes like repression and shame. Plus, for fans of Robert Eggers’ The Witch and Nosferatu, this is a must-read.