the middleman -- from page to screen: how's the transition?

Ever hear of "The Middleman" before the commercials appeared on ABC Family? It first debuted as a comic book in July of 2005. And now, in just a few days, it'll come to life on your TV screen.

The million-dollar question: Just how good is the adaptation?

Well, as the Designated Fan, I popped the pilot into my DVD player and cracked open my trade paperback copy of the first book to find out. Sure, there were changes (chimps became gorillas; Wendy Watson's roommate, Lacey, had more to do), but for the most part, the book read
like an exact script of everything on the screen. Wow.

Fans of the comics won't notice most of the differences. But here's the best part: If you've never picked up a "Middleman" book in your life, you won't miss a thing if you only catch the show. Not a single beat is missed here. At no point during the program will you become confused, only to have your comics-savvy friend retort, "You really should have read the book first. It explains everything!"

Whether you're a blank slate or a long-time fan making notes in a second copy of your graphic novel (no true comic geek would ruin his or her only copy!), there's plenty here to get excited about, from action and adventure to emotional turmoil. The pilot episode alone is packed with enough relationship drama, explosions, pretty faces, gadgetry, and talking gorillas to fill an entire season of another show.

What are some of your favorite live-action comic adaptations, and how close were they to the source material?