28 Years Later, And Fans Still Consider This Forgotten Live-Action Comic Adaptation One of the Worst

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Superhero and comic book movies weren’t common on TV or in theaters during the late 1900s. Despite this, creators continued to attempt bringing these characters to life, resulting in a few surprisingly good projects alongside many that didn’t quite succeed. The syndicated TV show Night Man is a prime example of a failure, with a weak storyline and arguably the poorest production quality of any science fiction series in the last fifty years. Although it was officially a television project, the reality was far more problematic.

Many people now think of when they hear the name , but the comic book character actually came about over ten years earlier. Created in 1993 by Steve Englehart and Rick Hoberg, Night Man debuted during a high point for comic books. Major companies like Marvel and DC were consistently selling well, and new, independent publishers like Image, Dark Horse, and Valiant were also gaining popularity. Night Man was part of a larger interconnected story called the “Ultraverse,” and he was the only character chosen for a television adaptation. Unfortunately, the show’s design stayed very close to the original comic book appearance. As a syndicated series, it had a much smaller budget than shows on major networks, which only made the show’s existing problems with its story and writing even more noticeable. While the show does have a dedicated fanbase, viewers really had to overlook its flaws to enjoy it, especially when compared to today’s superhero shows.

Night Man Was the Last Gasp of the Ultraverse, a Rival Universe Bought by Marvel

As a huge comic book fan, I’ve always noticed how characters need to change with the times to stay interesting. It’s not just about the look, but how writers try to give them a little extra something. In the world of one particular comic universe, people with powers were called ‘ultras,’ and Night Man was just one of many. His comic actually did pretty well, lasting over 20 issues – which is rare! They even tried a Sega CD game based on the character Prime in 1994, but it was a flop. It was super short and felt cheap, mostly filled with digital comics and interviews. Then, in 1995, Ultraforce got a cartoon, but sadly, it only lasted 13 episodes before getting canceled. It’s a reminder that even cool ideas don’t always translate perfectly!

The Ultraverse wasn’t a complete failure, despite its short run. Malibu Comics promoted its advanced digital coloring as a major draw, but the real story is that Marvel wasn’t interested in their technology or characters. In fact, Marvel initially tried to buy Malibu, which would have allowed DC Comics to become the leading comic book publisher for the first time in decades. Ultimately, after only a few crossover stories with Marvel heroes, the Ultraverse was discontinued about a year later.

The actor known for playing Topaz in Thor: Ragnarok also took on the role of Night Man. Glen A. Larson, a seasoned television producer famous for creating shows like the original Battlestar Galactica, Knight Rider, and Magnum, P.I., decided to develop the series. Writer Englehart contributed to three episodes. However, the show significantly departed from the comic book source material, removing other characters from the Ultraverse and completely altering Night Man’s abilities. In the comics, Johnny Domino is a saxophone player who develops the power to read evil thoughts after a car crash. The series reimagined this, giving him powers from being struck by lightning on a trolley and equipping him with a high-tech suit similar to Iron Man’s.

The Night Man Series Is a Great Example of How What Makes a TV Show ‘Good’ Is Invisible

It’s fair to say Night Man wouldn’t exist without the success of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Because The Original Series did so well in reruns, TNG became the first hour-long drama to launch directly into syndication. This meant selling the show to local stations with a commitment of at least two seasons, and other sci-fi and fantasy shows like Xena: Warrior Princess and, later, Night Man, copied this approach. Night Man likely had a similar deal in place, because it’s hard to believe any network would have willingly ordered a second season of this show.

While Night Man definitely had a limited budget and older technology, many shows from that time period faced similar challenges. The biggest problem with the live-action Johny Domino series isn’t its special effects – which were noticeably worse than those in shows like Star Trek or Hercules – but rather the creative decisions made during production. The directing and camera work often ignored basic filmmaking principles, and the fast, choppy editing actually hurt the action and made it hard to follow the conversations. Even if viewers can’t specifically identify these issues, they still make the show feel awkward and poorly made.

Beyond the show’s technical problems, the stories in Night Man were bland and often didn’t make sense. The acting felt unnatural and forced, even from the main cast. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why the show is so bad without carefully analyzing all 44 episodes, but perhaps its greatest value is as a case study in how not to make a television series. When a show is well-made, you usually don’t even notice the writing, acting, directing, editing, or music – everything just blends together seamlessly.

This Show Marked the End of an Era for Superhero Adaptations in Live-Action

Though it ended in 1999, just before the success of the X-Men movie proved comic book adaptations could be huge, Night Man helped lay the groundwork for the popularity of superheroes we see today. Improvements in visual effects technology allowed for more detailed work to be done quickly enough for television production. At the same time, shows were moving away from the over-the-top style of the 1960s Batman series, focusing instead on more complex characters and emotionally engaging stories. Night Man, however, didn’t quite reach that level. The show’s creators, experienced from working in the 70s and 80s, may have found it difficult to adapt to these new trends, and Night Man could be seen as a case of seasoned professionals struggling with a changing landscape.

The series feels inconsistent and poorly thought out, with plot holes and continuity errors throughout. While a few storylines span multiple episodes, most feel disconnected. Individual episodes often have confusing or illogical plots, and even within scenes, things don’t always make sense – characters forget important information or act inconsistently, switching between humor and anger with no clear reason. Crucially, events rarely have lasting impact; for instance, a major event like the murder of Johnny’s father is quickly forgotten. The show also fails to clearly explain why Johnny becomes Night Man, leaving his motivations unclear.

Creating a single hour of television is challenging, and the team behind Night Man had to produce 44 episodes. While those involved – including the producers, directors, and actors – didn’t intentionally set out to make a terrible superhero show, it’s often considered one of the worst ever. Limited funding and a tight filming schedule likely contributed to issues like poor special effects, rough editing, and lackluster performances. We can’t know exactly how the creators felt, but viewers are justified in feeling a lack of effort. Despite the disappointment, Night Man has gained a strange notoriety, with some enjoying it ironically as a “so bad it’s good” experience. Ultimately, the series stands as a reminder of an older, outdated belief that live-action comic book adaptations were inherently less serious than other forms of drama.

The complete two-season Night Man series is available on DVD, digital and streams on Tubi.

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2025-11-10 05:37