As comics gained popularity, they began to transcend their print format, expanding into other forms of media. In the 1960s and 1970s, animated TV shows like "The Superman/Astro Boy Show" and "Batman: The Animated Series" brought comic book characters to life on the small screen. The 1980s saw the rise of comic book movies, with films like "Superman" (1978) and "The Dark Knight" (2008) achieving critical and commercial success.