Superheroes have invaded the cinema. Marvel and DC Comics, among many other comic properties, have been crowding movie theater slots with everything from major blockbusters that have broken box office records (Avengers: Endgame) to Oscar-nominated films (Joker). With so many littering the multiplex, they were bound to spill out onto television. And there were indeed plenty of superhero series that stretched several different genres. In the same way that comic book heroes have become overwhelming for the movie-going public, so, too, does the TV crowd face a similar problem, especially when all superheroes seem to smear together in their various outfits and stories. But here are 10 series that may surprise you with how engaging they are and how worthy they are of your stream time.
1. Harley Quinn
An animated series about the Batman villain Harley Quinn is far more than just a misfit mash of evil characters doing evil things. More akin to The Venture Bros, the animated Harley Quinn series has a surprising amount of heart for the Joker’s romantic sidekick. Fed up with being abused as the second banana to the clown crime lord, the titular villain decides to start out on her own, trying to become her own villain with her own crew. After assembling an eclectic ensemble, she learns to value love and respect that she receives from her villain collective. That devotion to character makes the adult-oriented animation and biting satire all the more hilarious in what is clearly the crowning jewel of the DC Universe online streaming service.
2. Daredevil
Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) was blinded as a child in an accident. After such an incident, he now works as a lawyer during the day. But when night falls, he straps on the suit to become the masked hero Daredevil to do battle against crime on the streets of New York City. Conflicted by his sense of justice, Murdock will struggle to do battle against such figures as the criminal Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) and the violent anti-hero Punisher (Jon Bernthal). Developed by Drew Goddard (The Good Place), the series became the jumping-off point for the Netflix Marvel TV universe that led to such titles as Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Punisher and all leading to the crossover event of The Defenders.
3. Watchmen
The sequel series to Watchmen does far more than just rehash the classic comic book series. Picking up decades from where the comic book left off, the show continues to follow a few familiar characters (Adrian, Jon, Laurie) as well as new ones (Angela, Wade, Lady Trieu). What follows is a false utopia tale that builds off the comic book’s questioning of superhero morality, asking the tougher questions if justice can be found when such wealthy and god-like beings dominate the conversation. Show runner Damon Lindelof adds a great amount of worldbuilding to this series that makes this show feel more whole as a commentary on contemporary political issues of fascism and racism rather than just rehashing the doomsday plot of the source material.
4. Young Justice
While the younger crop of superheros vying to be as heroic as the iconic Justice League may not sound like the most intriguing superhero series, Young Justice holds its own with great grit, pathos and action. A band of sidekicks including the likes of Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Artemis, Miss Martian and Superboy struggle to prove themselves in the face of great threats to the world. But with their messy backstories and bitter pathos, they’ll be forced into dark and difficult times as they tangle with the most dangerous threats of the DC Comics universe, including the sinister Vandal Savage, the determined Black Manta and the interdimensional warlord Darkseid. The well-animated series comes from the talented mind of co-creator Greg Weisman (Gargoyles).
5. The Tick
Though the satirical superhero of The Tick has had multiple series developed around him, including a Saturday morning cartoon of the 1990s and a much darker take in the 2010s, the 2001 live-action series on Fox holds the most hilarity. Patrick Warburton plays The Tick, a bold and buff superhero who never takes off his costume and can’t remember where he came from. He rooms with the aspiring superhero Arthur (David Burke) in a city brimming with heroes and villains. Though the duo fight off crime, they’ll also find themselves dealing with the troubles dating and meeting court dates in this quirky comic book comedy produced by Barry Sonnenfeld and Larry Charles.
6. Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
Just before the Avengers had assembled for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Disney unleashed the ensemble in Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Taking many cues from the plans forming for the cinematic films that would follow, the show features the adventures of the iconic Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Black Panther as they take on the task of saving the world. Maintaining the action and charisma of the films, the show is daring enough to pull off its own blockbuster flair while embracing more characters from the comics, including characters from future films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Thanos. If the MCU has you longing for more, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes should quench that thirst.
7. Justice League Unlimited
Having built up strong enough interpretations of Batman and Superman from their 1990s animated series, Justice League Unlimited is the perfect payoff to everything Bruce Timm and his team had been creating. Teaming up with multiple heroes throughout the DC Comics line, the show ups the ante of superheroes from the previous animated series to a whopping 50+ in some surprisingly intense stories of vigilantism, politics and security. Featuring an astounding all-star voice cast and some of the most crisp animation of any DC Comics series, there’s a little something for everyone in this earnest saga that isn’t afraid to poke fun while still tackling serious superhero stories.
8. Legion
Based on the Marvel Comics character of the X-Men lineage, Legion takes a trippy route on the world of mutant heroes and villains. The series follows David Haller (Dan Stevens), a mutant with schizophrenia who finds himself locked up with many more mutants and pursued by dangerous people. Told in the unreliable narrator format, the show is exceptionally surreal for its weird imagery that shifts between different styles amid its three seasons, never quite sure what David is experiencing in his twisted tale of mutants most troubled. Developed by Noah Hawley (Fargo), the superhero series additionally stars Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza, Bill Irwin, Jeremie Harris, Amber Midthunder, and Jean Smart.
9. Green Lantern: The Animated Series
Though originally developed as a tie-in for the marketing of the failed 2011 film Green Lantern, this animated series based on the DC Comics superhero stands well enough on its own. Akin more to Star Trek, the show features Green Lantern Hal Jordan flung across the galaxy in an experimental ship with his alien partner Kilowag. In order to stop the evils of the Red Lantern Corps, they enlist the help of the defecting Red Lantern soldier Razer as well as the artificial intelligence of Aya to save the galaxy. With a surprising amount of depth and charisma, the show was developed with great care from the developers of Batman: The Animated Series and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
10. Crisis on Infinite Earths
The CW has been getting very ambitious with their numerous DC Comics series that have ranged from Arrow to Supergirl. Crisis on Infinite Earths, based on the iconic comic book saga that redefined DC superheroes, brings them all together in the massive crossover events of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, The Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow. Not only do their lives collide but so do the many alternate universes in the multiverse as different versions of familiar characters appear in this grand superhero epic where the evil Anti-Monitor threatens to destroy all life in all universes. It’s the perfect payoff for anyone willing to stick with the stellar DC Comics TV series.