As far as graphic novels go Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá's Umbrella Academy series is as pulp, eye-catching and absolutely insane as they come. For the most part Netflix's new adaptation captures everything special and unique about the source material.

This is how an adaption should be done, every main character gets the right amount of screen-time and backstory to feel important and 3 dimensional. Most of the core ideas are present, including concepts as crazy as a 58 year old time-traveler with the physical appearance of a 13 year old. Other concepts are toned back to work for TV, with the ending especially taking liberties with the original source material.

The whole show is perfectly cast, Tom Hopper and Robert Sheehan have found their dream roles and relative new comer Aidan Gallagher makes his unbelievable character feel totally real.

There are a handful of incredible visuals including a handful of great action sequences and multiple dance sequences (the best of which coming in the first episode). Between these moments the camera work can be rather flat and basic but the elaborate set pieces tend to make up for this.

Similarly the dialogue can be a little hit or miss with some scenes featuring great character interactions and memorable quotes and other feeling ripped from a typical soap opera.

Honestly that's what is so fascinating about this show, it makes the crazy and unique stuff look easy and tends to trip up on the basics.

Definitely check this one out if you feel like these stories have become stale in recent years, with brilliant performances, great visual effects and a story that feels fresh despite the X-Men similarities. I can't wait to see where they go with season 2.