Comic Book TV and the Art of Pain

Comic book TV is more than colorful characters and gaudy action sequences. The genre can be a highly effective medium to spotlight and explore troubled people dealing with recognizable struggles.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise. Comic book television and movies have evolved to the point of encompassing a broad spectrum of moods, styles and storytelling approaches. From bright, uncomplicated escapism to dark, intricate character drama to bold experiments in form and structure, comic book TV shows, like the source material on which they’re based, embrace a considerable amount of diversity.

And while not ignoring the big ticket action moments that fans expect, three current series have provided an intriguing canvas for exploring pain that’s human rather than super.

Spoilers ahead.

The Super-Family

The newest entry, Superman and Lois, after only a handful of episodes has distinguished itself in the long line of TV takes on the Man of Steel with a focus on the challenges of Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) in raising twin sons Jonathan and Jordan (Jordan Elsass, Alex Garfin).