Comics that were made into movies: ‘Garfield’, ‘Archies’ and more

DC and Marvel superheroes have been the twin titans of the Western comic book world. They first dominated newsstands and then theatres. But, parallel to the high octane fights, several comics have charmed audiences with their simplicity, satire and humour. Instead of relying on a fictitious universe, they found stories in everyday life, making the ordinary entertaining. Also, they offered a breath of fresh air against the adrenaline-fuelled fights. Be it the quirky love triangles between Popeye, Olive and Brutus or the witty one-liners of Garfield. These comics did not rely on action-packed sequences but enticed audiences with their sharp storytelling.

Created by a Belgian cartoonist, Herge, ‘Tintin’ was the earliest successful comic book of the 20th century. It follows the journey of a young reporter by the same name who is accompanied by his long, faithful companion dog, Snowy. In 2011, renowned director Steven Spielberg adapted the comic into an animated movie. Just like in the comic, Tintin embarks on a journey with Snowy and Captain Haddock to search for the treasure of the Unicorn, a ship once captained by Haddock's ancestor. But face dangerous pursuits en route to their journey. The movie is available on Amazon Prime.

The comic Archies revolves around the life of teenagers. Archie Andrews, Jughead Jones, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, and Reggie Mantle are great friends in the city of Riverdale. Our hero, Archie, often finds himself caught between Veronica and Betty. He and his friends deal with issues in relationships, managing finances, parent-child issues and everything in between. The original publisher of the comic book was MJ magazines, but due to the immense popularity of the Archie character, it was renamed Archie Comic Publications. In December 2023, Indian filmmaker Zoya Akhtar brought the world of Archies to the big screen by giving it an Indian spin. The backdrop of the movie was set during the 1960’s, with Riverdale being a fictional hill station near Mussoorie. Much like the comics, the teenagers in the movie also deal with parent-child issues, infidelity and also debate on privilege, society and moral responsibility. It is available on Netflix.

Created by famous American cartoonist Charles Addams, the comical series talks about a family whose members all have distorted facial shapes. Though they appear scary because of the grim atmosphere of their isolated house, they are not evil at all. Instead of being self-conscious of their appearances, the family cherishes the fact that they can frighten normal people. Their comedic conflicts with the world outside are sure to leave all viewers and readers in splits. The nonconformist charm of the family members is the highlight of the series. The first Addams Family cartoon was published in 1938, in a one-panel gag format. Gradually, members of the Addams family were introduced, and the sales of the comics skyrocketed. The comic ran for 25 years until it was adapted into a TV show. Later in 1991, Barry Sonnenfeld introduced the series to the big screen. The screenplay is filled with puns and witty one-liners, which will have all of us rolling on the floor laughing out loud. This chaotic family comedy is available on Amazon Prime.

We all know that Popeye’s love for spinach knows no bounds. But one thing that Popeye loves more than Spinach is his lady love, Olive. But it's not only Popeye who loves his lady to death. Another wrestler, Brutus, far stronger and able-bodied than Popeye, also has his eyes on her. The love triangle between Popeye, Olive and Brutus is one of the most entertaining aspects of the comical series. And moreover, who can forget his iconic entry song “I am Popeye the Sailor Man”. The comical series was adapted into a live-action film by director Robin Altman in the year 1980. The US audience can watch Popeye’s adventures only on Amazon Prime.

Created by Jim Davis, ‘Garfield’ is a fictional American cat who is known for his love for lasagna, pizza and his sleep. Due to his large appetite, Garfield’s owner sells him off, and there he begins his adventure. He meets several people, and his witty one-liners, topped with humour, sarcasm and cynicism, are what make him appeal to the audience. He first appeared in a comic strip in 1976 and, since then, has gone on to win hearts due to his savage comebacks. This popular comic strip was adapted into a movie by Peter Hewitt in 2004 and became one of the highest-grossing movies of the year. Watch Garfield give some savage comebacks only on Zee5.