‘The Umbrella Academy’: Vanya’s 3 Biggest Changes in the Series vs. the Graphic Novels
TL;DR
- Vanya’s manipulated by someone different in The Umbrella Academy graphic novels
- She’s less sexualized in the Netflix version
- Vanya and Diego have romantic feelings for one another in the graphic novels
The wait for The Umbrella Academy Season 3 is almost over. Netflix recently announced the premiere date for the upcoming season, and it’s only a few months away. While we patiently wait for our favorite dysfunctional supernatural family to return to our screens, let’s take a look at some of Vanya Hargreeves’ most significant differences in the TV series versus the graphic novels.
Vanya’s manipulated by someone called The Conductor in ‘The Umbrella Academy’ graphic novels
When we first meet Vanya in Netflix’s version of The Umbrella Academy, she’s auditioning for a local orchestra. During season 1, Vanya’s family ignores her. They constantly dismiss her because they believe she doesn’t have supernatural powers like the rest of them. Despite the cruel behavior of her siblings, Vanya still attempts to maintain a bond with them, even though they act like she’s a nuisance.
Viewers sympathize with the version of Vanya seen in the TV series. However, in the graphic novels, she essentially turns against her family on a whim. Instead of Leonard Peabody seen in the TV version, Vanya’s manipulated by someone known as The Conductor in the comics. She joins an orchestra, and from there, The Conductor transforms her into an evil version of her old self.
Vanya’s much more sexualized in the graphic novels
In the Netflix version of The Umbrella Academy, Vanya comes across as someone desperately trying not to stand out. She wears dark, plain clothes, little makeup, and her straight hair often falls lankly around her face. The version of Vanya originally created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá is much more sexualized.
In the comics, when Vanya transforms into the White Violin, her body takes on the shape of an actual violin and turns completely white. Showrunner Steve Blackman previously said some of the changes he made to the characters in the TV show kept them more relatable. We imagine this is why he chose to simply change Vanya’s suit from black to white to indicate her transformation into the White Violin.
Vanya and Diego have romantic feelings for each other in ‘The Umbrella Academy’ graphic novels
In the Netflix series, Diego seems to barely notice Vanya. Along with the rest of Vanya’s brothers and sister, Diego doesn’t believe she has any special powers. This means she’s largely overlooked at family functions and spent most of her childhood excluded from the adventures the rest of her family embarked on as The Umbrella Academy.
In the television version of The Umbrella Academy, Luther and Allison fell in love in their younger years. However, in the graphic novels, Diego considers himself an outcast, the same as Vanya. The pair even start their own punk rock band. Over time, Diego develops romantic feelings for his adoptive sister. Thankfully, Blackman decided one oddly romantic couple amongst adoptive siblings was enough.
In Netflix’s version of The Umbrella Academy, Vanya stars to fall in love with Leonard Peabody in season 1. She also develops feelings for a woman named Sissy in season 2.
The Umbrella Academy Season 3 arrives on Netflix on June 22, 2022.
