Is Netflix's Heartstopper Really Better Than the Comics It's Based On?

Netflix's Heartstopper has become a real pop culture sensation, bringing quite a number of new fans to Alice Oseman's original graphic novels. But even before the show debuted last year, the Heartstopper books were bestsellers with millions of copies sold, which is certainly a testament to the quality of Oseman's source material.

And since many fans of the Netflix adaptation are set to check out the graphic novels while waiting for the Season 3 premiere, let's find out the answer to one vital question — are the Heartstopper books actually better than the show?

How much does Heartstopper rely on its source?

Given that Alice Oseman also serves as the writer on the show, the answer is obvious — Netflix's Heartstopper is pretty faithful to its source material. Aside from some timeline shifts, the show generally follows the narrative of the novels. Thus, Season 1 is based on Volumes 1 and 2 (Chapter 1–3 in the webcomic), while Season 2 mostly covers Volume 3 and partially 4 (Chapters 4–6).

How is it different?

There are still some minor plot differences, however. As we mentioned above, the adaptation shifts some of the events on the story's timeline: for example, the family dinner scene from Season 2, at which Nick and Charlie were present, takes place much later in the books.

Also, a number of comic book characters are absent in the series: Charlie's younger brother is not part of the adaptation, and neither is Aled Last — the protagonist of the Radio Silence novel who was a recurring character in Heartstopper. These two characters are replaced by Imogen, the group's ally who is exploring her sexuality, and Isaac, who serves as a great representation of the aro-ace people.

So which is better?

This is probably not a valid question, since both the graphic novels and the TV show are great stories in their own right.

What the show does better is focus more on the experiences of the other characters, while the comic is primarily built around Nick and Charlie's love story. In the Netflix version, Nick and Charlie's friends aren't in the background but are just as prominent as the protagonists. Fortunately, the series' timing and narrative approach allow the scriptwriters to better explore these characters' issues and personalities.

At the same time, we should not forget that Oseman is a great artist. Although some of the original visual tricks have been transferred to the show, the author is much better at conveying the emotions and experiences of the characters through her unique style.

All in all, the graphic novels and the Netflix show are equally great, and there seems to be no need to choose one over the other. So, if you feel like reading the original, now is the time!