Tag Archives: Karen Page

I know I just did a piece on comic book TV shows but today I got a great idea for a show.  It’s so perfect that I think I can fill a whole column with it.  It’s such a great idea that I feel like I should probably charge for it.  In fact, I just thought of another!  I need to get a job with a TV network.  Seriously.

There seems to be a few types of shows that always survive no matter how many copycats are on the air.  Doctors, lawyers, and police officers always seem to have a place on TV unless they’re singing.  Daytime talk shows too, but those are harder to combine with comic books.  Powers is already being turned into a TV show, so that takes that off the board.  But, there’s another Police/Superheroes comic book that I think could make for a great TV show.

Gotham Central (GC).  This was a series by two of the best writers working in comics today – Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker.  It was about cops working the beat in Gotham City.  While Powers is about cops, who may or may not have powers themselves, working in a city where superpowers are illegal, GC is about regular joe cops solving crimes in the wake of the Batman.  The comic lasted for 40 issues, but introduced and developed quite a few non-powered police officers.  It could have done in one crime stories and arcs that follow the detectives as they track down supervillains.  Batman and Robin could make cameos and Commissioner Gordon could star.

No brainer, right?  I think if they made it gritty like NYPD Blue, and not campy like Birds Of Prey, it could seriously last for a long time.  I think that’s the real secret.  Treat it seriously, and the audience will treat it seriously.  If the creators don’t respect it, how can it last?

Secondly – Daredevil.  A superhero who’s secret identity is a blind lawyer.  Oh my God, it’s like the perfect superhero TV show.  Every week there would be a new case.  Matt Murdock would defend the sceptical defendant in court while Daredevil would prowl the streets looking for proof that his client was innocent.  Throughout the seasons he could find more and more links between organized crime and respected citizen Wilson Fisk.  Eventually he would discover that Fisk was also the Kingpin of crime and he would keep trying to find ways to bring him down.

For comic relief add Foggy Nelson, Matt’s bumbling attorney sidekick.  For moral support there’s Ben Urich, a reporter at the local newspaper.  And for a love interest, the somewhat unstable firm secretary – Karen Page.  It seems like the perfect combination of typical law drama and superhero action.  Argh!  I would pay to see this.

How could those shows not last!?  I think you should really start a petition to make me the show runner of one or more of these fine programs.  I would certainly not stand in your way.

Graham Becksted is an idea machine for comic book to TV show ideas.  He is the author of Graham’s Grumbles the second blog by that name that is listed in Google results when you search for Graham’s Grumbles.  If you would like to be his 52nd follower (thank you, bots), he can be followed on Twitter @GrahamBecksted.