HBO could have a new Euphoriain their hands if they adapt a cult comic book from the late 1990s. HBO’s Euphoria skyrocketed to popularity by breaking the traditional mold of teen soap and leaning into a visceral, neon-soaked exploration of the Gen Z experience. Its high-end cinematography perfectly brings its dark themes to life with special intensity.
The enduring appeal of similar dramas like Skins, Sex Education, Yellowjackets, and 13 Reasons Why lies in their willingness to tackle taboo subjects with authenticity. While their tones vary, they all share a commitment to portraying young people as deeply flawed and capable of profound growth. Intense, explicit coming-of-age stories are a versatile genre that won’t go away anytime soon.
Stray Bullets Could Be The Next Euphoria
Stray Bullets; Written by David Lapham; Art by David Lapham
David Lapham’s Stray Bullets is a gritty, award-winning crime noir comic anthology that explores the collateral damage of violence from the perspective of multiple protagonists. Eschewing traditional linear storytelling, Stray Bullets‘ plot jumps through different decades and locations, weaving together the lives of recurring figures like the runaway teen Virginia Applejack and the hitman Spanish Scott. The chaotic, random nature of tragedy and the lingering effects of trauma present a visceral web of intertwined plots where every bad decision has a devastating consequence.
Stray Bullets mirrors Euphoria‘s unflinching depiction of youth caught in a cycle of dysfunction. Both works utilize a hyper-stylized yet grounded atmosphere to explore each young character’s intense emotional states, afflicted by their drug use and their loss of innocence. Like Euphoria, Stray Bullets prioritizes the internal lives of its troubled ensemble, with an intimate, uncomfortable focus on adolescence.
A live-action adaptation of the black-and-white Stray Bullets could become a streaming sensation by embracing Euphoria‘s acclaimed noir-pop aesthetic, which combines grim situations with high-gloss visuals and score. Stray Bullets‘ non-linear structure is tailor-made for modern binge-watching, as it encourages readers to piece together the overarching mystery like a complex puzzle. A Stray Bullets show would capture the same audience that craves Euphoria’s intensity, with a fresh flavor of teenage angst.
Comic Books Can Become Acclaimed, Serious Dramas
Comic Books Aren’t Exclusively Source Material For Action Movies
Comic books are commonly associated with high-octane superhero action, but the medium is a much more versatile storytelling format. Many critically acclaimed films of the last two decades have been adaptations of graphic novels that prioritize character study over spectacle. Hits like A History of Violence and Road to Perdition craft somber, Shakespearean tragedies about family and crime. Oldboy and V for Vendetta tackle complex themes of human endurance and political philosophy, respectively.
Series like The Walking Dead, Snowpiercer, and DMZ have moved far beyond the binary of heroes and villains, focusing instead on class warfare and the psychological toll of survival. These shows treat their source material as a foundation for gritty, expansive world-building. A Stray Bullets series would be the natural successor, with an exploration of the painfully real consequences of human error.
- Release Date
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June 16, 2019
- Showrunner
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Sam Levinson
