[Editor’s Note: this list was originally published in March 2018. It has since been updated with new entries.]

It’s easy to think of the kind of stories that get told in the comic book world as just one genre or tone, but as seen below, graphic novels, comic strips, and other sequential art have offered up an incredible range of storytelling. And these stories have been inspiring great TV shows for years, even before superhero stories dominated the box office.

There were plenty of options that nearly made the list, like the WB’s “Smallville,” which squandered its early potential after running just a few seasons too long. Because one of the most exciting things about these stories is that there’s a rich variety to choose from.

With editorial contributions from Liz Shannon Miller, Ben Travers, and Hanh Nguyen.

27. “DuckTales” ‘DuckTales’©Disney Channel/courtesy Everett / Everett Collection

Yes, really, “DuckTales” is based on a comic book. Scrooge McDuck and his nephews Hughie, Dewey, and Louie come...