Is Netflix Supacell based on a superhero comic series?

The exciting new superhero series from Netflix Supacell is a unique and interesting twist on the genre – but is it an original story or based on a comic book? Supacell is the brainchild of British hip-hop artist Rapman, who serves as the showrunner, creator, writer and executive director of the series. The story revolves around a group of seemingly normal South Londoners with a family history of sickle cell anemia who gain superpowers and work together to fight back against the secret organization that wants to control them.

The Supacell The cast includes Tosin Cole, Adelayo Adedayo, Yasmin Monet Prince and Eddie Marsan. Dreaming while blackSebastian Thiel co-directed the series with Rapman. Supacell is a fresh and fascinating take on the tropes and conventions of superhero stories, mixing social commentary on race into its comic book spectacle. Most superhero movies and television shows are based on a long-running comic book series. Is Supacell a comic adaptation or an original creation?

Supacell is not based on a comic

Supacell is not based on a specific comic

Supacell is an original creation; it is not based on a specific comic. Similar to M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable or James Gunn’s ExcellentIt follows the tradition of superhero comics, but is not an adaptation of one. Rapman created the series from scratch and wrote all six episodes. This is not the norm for American television series, which usually use a writers’ room to pad out much longer seasons, but it is typical for a six-episode British television production to follow one writer’s unique vision.

Supacell is an original story by Rapman (but is inspired by other superhero films and series)

Rapman was inspired by the long history of superhero stories

While Supacell is an original creation and not a specific adaptation of a comic series, It owes its creative side to the long history of superhero stories in film and television. The way in which Supacell anchors its superhero narrative in a familiar reality, can be traced back to the semi-realistic superhero stories of shows like Heroines And outsiderThe concept of portraying superhero tropes as realistically as possible also goes to Unbreakable‘s groundbreaking deconstruction of the genre.

But the biggest influence on the series is not any particular film or TV series from the superhero genre, but rather the setting in South London. The most unique thing Supacell brings a new dimension to the superhero genre by placing its characters and conventions on the streets of South London. It is set in Brixton, Camberwell, Lewisham and Peckham. Supacell is a love letter to both South London and the superhero genre.

Supacell (2024)

Supacell is a British superhero drama series that follows a group of ordinary black Londoners who suddenly develop superpowers. The series explores the impact of their newfound abilities on their personal lives and the wider societal consequences. Supacell combines action with social commentary, exploring themes of empowerment and responsibility.

Pour

Michael Salami, Eddie Marsan, Adelayo Adedayo

Directors

Sebastian Thiel, Rapman

Creator

Rapman