Jules Verne's 1870 novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea has been adapted and referenced in popular culture on numerous occasions.
Comic book and graphic adaptations
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea has been adapted into comic book format numerous times.
- In 1948, Gilberton Publishing published a comic adaptation in issue #47 of their Classics Illustrated series.[13] It was reprinted in 1955;[14] 1968;[15] 1978, this time by King Features Syndicate as issue #8 of their King Classics series; and again in 1997, this later time by Acclaim/Valiant. Art by was Henry C. Kiefer.
- In 1954, the newspaper strip Walt Disney's Treasury Of Classic Tales published a comic based on the 1954 film, which ran from August 1-December 26, 1954. This was translated into many languages worldwide. Adaptation was by Frank Reilly, with art by Jesse Marsh.
- In 1955, Dell Comics published a comic based on the 1954 film in issue #614 of their Four Color anthology series called Walt Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.[16] This was reprinted by Hjemmet in Norway in 1955 & 1976, by Gold Key in 1963, and in 1977 was serialized in several issues of Western's The New Micky Mouse Club Funbook, beginning with issue #11190. Art was by Frank Thorne.
- In 1963, in conjunction with the first nationwide re-release of the film, Gold Key published a comic based on the 1954 film called Walt Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.[17] This reprinted the Frank Thorne version.
- In 1963, Gold Key published Walt Disney's World Of Adventure, which featured The Adventures Of Captain Nemo, a prequel to the Disney film. Story & art were by Dan Spiegle, who eventually did 6 episodes of the series between 1963-1972.
- In 1972, IPC in England published Donald And Mickey. The first 12 issues featured The Adventures Of Captain Nemo, with art by Sam Fair.
- In 1973, Vince Fago's Pendulum Press published a hardcover illustrated book.[18] This collected a new version which had been previously serialized in Weekly Reader magazine. Adaptation was by Otto Binder, with art by Romy Gaboa & Ernie Patricio. This was reprinted in 1976 by Marvel Comics in issue #4 of their Marvel Classics Comics series; in 1984 by Academic Industries, Inc. as issue #C12 of their Classics Illustrated paperback book series; in 1990 again by Pendulum Press, with a new painted cover; and again, using the same cover, in 2010 by Saddleback Publishing, Inc., this time in color.
- In 1974, Power Records published a comic and record set, PR-42.[19] Art was by Rich Buckler & Dick Giordano.
- In 1975, Look And Learn Ltd. in England published an adaptation of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea as 11 chapters in issues 707-717 of their Look And Learn magazine. This version was reprinted in late 1980 by Fleetway in their Lion Annual 1981.
- In 1976, Marvel Comics published a comic book adaptation via issue #4 of their Marvel Classics Comics line.[20] This was a reprint of the Pendulum Press version.
- In 1990, Pendulum Press published another comic based on the novel via issue #4 of their Illustrated Stories line.[21] This was a reprint of the Pendulum Press version, with a new painted cover.
- In 1992, Dark Horse Comics published a one shot comic called Dark Horse Classics.[22] This was originally announced as part of the Berkeley/First Comics Classics Illustrated series, as a full-color "prestige format" book, but was delayed when the company went bankrupt. The Dark Horse version was scaled back to a standard comic-book format with B&W interiors. It was reprinted in 2001 by Hieronymous Press as a limited-edition of 50 copies available only from the artist's website, and more recently, in 2008 from Flesk Publications as an expensive full-color book, as originally intended. Adaptation & art by Gary Gianni.
- In 1997, Acclaim/Valiant published CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED #8.[23] This was a reprint of the 1948 Gilberton version with a new cover.
- In 2001, Hieronymus Press published a reprint of the Dark Horse Comics version, with a new cover, as a limited-edition of 50 copies, available only from Gary Gianni's website.
- In 2008, Sterling Graphics published a pop-up graphic book.[24]
- In 2008, Capstone Publishers / Stone Arch Books published a graphic novel called Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under The Sea. The adaptation was by Carl Bowen, the cartoon-style art by Jose Alfonso Ocampo Ruiz, and the coloring by Benny Fuentes.
- In 2009, Flesk Publications published a graphic novel called Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under The Sea.[25] This was a reprint, in color for the first time, of the Gary Gianni version.
- In 2010, Saddleback Publishing, Inc. published a new reprint of the Pendulum Press version, this time in color, and reusing the 1990 cover painting.
- In 2010, Campfire Classics, a company in India, published a new version. Adaptation was by Dan Rafter, with art by Bhupendra Ahluwalia.
- In 2011, Campfire Classic published a trade paperback.[26]
- In 2012, Glénat Editions published a graphic novel called Nemo, by French artist Brüno.[27] It had previously been released in four parts from 2001 to 2004. In 2017, IDW Publishing published an English translation.
- Polish painter Waldemar Andrzejewski adapted the novel as a comic book titled Kapitan Nemo (Captain Nemo). Its creation is estimated at late 1970s or early 1980s; the exact date is unknown, as the comic book was discovered in 2015, after the author's death.