While some ofStephen King’s works have been adapted to movies, television shows, or comic books, the surface has barely been scratched. It’s time for King and his works to get a new spotlight, and one that only the graphic novel medium can make possible.
WhileStephen King has made some comic masterpiecespossible, far too many of his classics have either not been adapted to the medium, or are desperately in need of being revisited. We’re breaking downthe King short stories and novels that could finally be done justice in comic book form, and the few existing comics that left room for improvement.
10Needs To Be Revisited: The Stand
Marvel Adapted The 1978 Novel To Comics 2008-2012
With the impressive creative team of writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and artists Mike Perkins and Laura Martin (and Lee Bermejo on covers), Marvel’s adaptation of King’s novel is what most fans would hope for. Released across 31 issues with Stephen King overseeing the project as Creative and Executive Director, the faithful execution made it a success.
As a successful adaptation, enough time has passed for another creative team of modern storytellers to return to the source material. Considering the comics' reception compared toThe Stand’s onscreen adaptations, King’s dark fantasy is worth reintroducing to a new set of readers.
9Never Been Done: The Running Man
Released by Stephen King (as Richard Bachman) in 1982
The Running Manmanaged to be a starring vehicle for Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987, followed by Glen Powell in 2025. With renewed interest (and a very different tone), now is as good a time as any to revive the story into comic book form. For one, it’s a rare case where Stephen King opted for the sci-fi genre instead of horror.
The results make for abrutal dystopia crafted by Stephen Kingand adored by his fans. The remake has allowed Hollywood to update the technology and special effects, but adaptations are always going to be limited by what is and isn’t possible onscreen. On-panel, illustrations are only limited by the amount of ink in the creative team’s pen.
8Needs To Be Revisited: The Dark Tower
Stephen King’s Magnum Opus, Novels Released 1982-2012
The question fo whether or notThe Dark Towerseries is truly ‘unadaptable,’ due to its ambitious fantasy and sprawling, intricate world-building, is still up for debate. Unfortunately the lukewarm reaction to the Idris Elba-led movie adaptation is freshest in mind, overshadowing the series of critically acclaimed comic books starting in 2007.
The books were plotted by Robin Furth, scripted by Peter David, and drawn by several notable artists from Marvel first, later published by Gallery 13. The comics are still recommended readingfor any die-hard Stephen King fan, but a single prestige adaptation from a set creative team would be the perfect rallying cry for theDark Towerfanbase.
7Never Been Done Before: IT
Original Novel Released by Stephen King in 1986
ITmay be Stephen King’s most famous work, and yet, it has never seen the inside of a comic book. That’s shocking considering how imaginative the novel has proven to be both in book form and in its multiple onscreen adaptations. The absolute weirdness of Pennywise the Clown needs to be seen to be believed in any medium.
Welcome to DerryisStephen King’s latest follow-up toIT, and the prequel remains a hit with fans and critics, proving that Pennywise works in any medium. All that’s missing now is an attempt to bring Pennywise to the comic book world, where the creativity behind the character may flourish best without being stifled by CGI limitations.
6Needs To Be Revisited: Creepshow
Both the Movie and Graphic Novel Came Out in 1982
Rather than a novel,Creepshowwas written by Stephen King for the screen and remains one of his most popular titles. To coincide with the release of the movie that came out later that fall, the summer of 1982 saw Stephen King release a graphic novella calledCreepshow, based on the movie and published from Penguin’s Plume imprint.
Given the concept, writing actual comics in conjunction was smart. The only problem is that the novella flew under the radar by coming out before the movie grew in popularity. Luckily, the concept is timeless.Every story in Stephen King’s movieis worthy of a comic book adaptation. If not, then new stories can be produced inCreepshow’shonor.
5Never Been Done Before: Cell
Released by Stephen King in 2006
Considered by many to beStephen King’s most underrated novel, Cell is about a New England-based artist who is trying to reunite with his son as a cell phone signal broadcast begins, turning the worldwide population into actual animals. The book is filled with vividly told images that evoke pure terror.
A terror like this deserves to be given the full visual treatment from any number of artists in the horror scene. Not to mention, by bringing this into graphic novel or comic form, it spreads awareness about Stephen King’s most underappreciated novel, which some readers still have never read or heard of.
4Needs To Be Revisited: Talisman
The Talisman #0-6 by Robin Furth and Tony Shasteen
Just over 25 years after Stephen King and Peter Straub releasedThe Talismanin 1984, Robin Furth and Tony Shasteen adapted the first story arc,The Road of Trials,into comic book form. The second arc,A Collision of Worlds, was announced but never released following delays from publisher Del Rey.
Enough time has passed that it would be justified to try a second attempt at giving The Talisman the comic book treatment, this time by completing and releasing each arc in full, especially now thatStephen King is currently working on a sequel. A comic book or graphic novel would be the best way to bring in new fans in time for the third entry.
3Never Been Done Before: Needful Things
Released by Stephen King in 1991
This underrated novel by Stephen King centers around a mysterious antique collector who convinces the local townsfolk to commit abhorrent feats in exchange for an item from his shop that they feel they desperately need.Needful Thingshas immensely dark overtones, although the comedic undertones are prevalent enough that itwas meant to be a comedy.
This one holds a special place in King’s bibliography as he wrote it following his alcohol addiction. In comic form, there’s potential to turn this into a full-blownCreepshow-esque sketch series. Imagine each issue centering around a new sucker whom this demonic spinster convinces to commit a prank to get what they want, exploring how far they’re willing to go.
2Needs To Be Revisited: The Lawnmower Man
Bizarre Adventures#29 by Stephen King and Walt Simonson
Stephen King’s short story was originally published in 1975 and then collected in Night Shift before being adapted for the big screen. Before the movie, though, Stephen King collaborated withThor comic legendWalt Simonson to bringThe Lawnmower Maninto panel form in one of the first times that King joined forces with Marvel.
With King in the writer’s chair for his adaptation, it’s one of the more faithful adaptations that a King adaptation could ask for. That being said, with respect to Simonson, the artwork is what’s lacking here, not because of Simonson, but because it’s in black and white. The lack of color doesn’t do justice to a colorful story.
1Never Been Done Before: Carrie
Released by Stephen King in 1974
Stephen King’s first-ever novel has been adapted to the big and small screen several times, but shockingly, it has never seen the inside of a graphic novel page. If only because of how bloody the final act gets,Carrieis ripe for a comic book adaptation. The comics horror genre has no shortage of incredible artists worthy of illustrating the text.
Mike Mignola, Sally Cantirino, and Tyler Boss are just some examples who come to mind as artists who would create something disturbingly beautiful for the artwork of aCarrieadaptation. For all the times thatStephen King’sdebut novel has been adapted, doing so in graphic novel form for the first time would be a unique change of pace.
