Including both Marvel and DC, what are the best superhero TV series of all time? Most critics take the view that the superhero TV genre really began in 1949, when Clayton Moore starred in The Lone Ranger. They’ve been a mainstay of television ever since, with Marvel and DC comics serving as the inspiration for countless small-screen adaptations. But superheroes have never been bigger than they are right now, with both Marvel and DC producing a wide range of comic book shows, while lesser-known brands like The Umbrella Academy are likewise inspiring popular shows.
The modern superhero genre is surprisingly diverse, embracing everything from science-fiction to supernatural fantasy, from dark and gritty violence to cheesy fun and humor. All of the best are character-driven, exploring what it is that makes their heroes tick, and setting them up against challenges that make even the greatest quail. Many have a strong social conscience, aware that their heroes are supposed to stand against injustice and thus using the superheroic adventures to explore real-world issues.
Given this is such a packed field, it’s a challenge to choose the best superhero TV shows. Here, we’ve deliberately chosen shows that have stood the test of time; either series that have been running for several years, or shows that are still fondly remembered years or even decades after they aired.
10. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. launched in 2013 with star Clark Gregg reprising his big-screen role as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson and has since become Marvel Television’s most popular show; season 6 is due to air in May this year, while ABC has already signed off on season 7. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. boasts an excellent cast, all of whom have grown into their roles over the last five seasons; Chloe Bennet’s Quake, in particular, has evolved into a deep and complex character. But S.H.I.E.L.D.’s greatest strength is its seemingly limitless ability to reinvent itself; it can pivot from supernatural near-horror to dystopian science-fiction with effortless ease. While the first two seasons leaned strongly on their MCU connections, nowadays Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has built up a mythology all of its own, one it delights in building on.
9. Legion
Loosely inspired by a third-tier X-Men character, Noah Hawley’s Legion demonstrates the sheer diversity of the superhero genre. It stars Dan Stevens as David Haller, a man who believes he’s suffering from a version of schizophrenia but who is really a powerful mutant. The series explores its world through David’s eyes, meaning viewers have to constantly question the nature of reality; while Legion does deploy traditional superhero tropes, it usually gives them an intelligent and unexpected twist, meaning they land with fresh force. Legion has been renewed for a third (and final) series, which will introduce Harry Lloyd as Professor Charles Xavier, David’s father.
8. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Starring Dean Cain and Terri Hatcher as Clark Kent and Lois Lane, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a fascinating reinvention of the Man of Steel inspired by John Byrne’s comics. This series is as much a superhero romance as anything else, focused primarily on the relationship between Lois and Clark, and exploring just what drives Clark Kent to be a hero. The show is unique in its portrayal of Clark Kent, who is more assertive than usual; notice that the typical hairstyles are inverted, with Superman featuring slicked-back hair and Clark having the more natural fringe. Lois & Clark ran from 1993 through to 1997, with a will-they-won’t-they romance that was drawn out just a little too long; it says everything that the eventual wedding was in a season 4 episode entitled “Swear To God, This Time We’re Not Kidding.” The same week, DC Comics married the couple in the comics as well.
7. Teen Titans
Teen Titans is generally viewed as one of the best animated shows in the last 20 years, superhero or otherwise. Incredibly, according to third-party analytics provided to Screen Rant, it’s still one of the most in-demand TV shows today, almost 13 years after it came to an end. Created by Glen Murakami, it’s based on Marv Wolfman and George Perez’s iconic Teen Titans run from the comics. It premiered in 2003, with Cartoon Network originally planning four seasons but commissioning a fifth due to its popularity; there was even a spin-off movie, Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo, that essentially served as a series finale. Teen Titans became one of Cartoon Network’s most beloved and critically acclaimed series, earning a strong reputation for consistent character development and surprisingly mature themes.
6. Arrow
When Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg launched Arrow in 2012, they had no idea how big it would become. The series stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, a billionaire playboy who has been missing for five years and returns to his city with a secret mission to serve as a vigilante. Arrow is still ongoing, and The CW has built an entire shared universe of superhero TV shows upon its foundation. Amell’s performance is really what holds Arrow together, while the twisted tales are strong enough to make the series compelling viewing. It’s rightly come under fire for lifting more Batman plots from the comics than Green Arrow stories, but in general that’s worked well.
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5. The Flash
Starring Grant Gustin as the titular hero, The Flash is the CW’s most popular superhero TV series. It launched in 2014 as the first Arrowverse spin-off, and is currently in its fifth season. The Flash benefits from a light, cheerful mood that appeals to casual viewers as well as to dedicated superhero fans; although it can explore some pretty dark themes on occasion, at heart The Flash is an optimistic and hopeful show. Gustin has become the embodiment of Barry Allen for a generation, and his strong supporting cast - including Danielle Panabaker as Killer Frost Carlos Valdez as Cisco Ramone - consistently shine through. The Flash has been building up to the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” event since its pilot episode, an arc that will come to a head later this year.
4. Daredevil
The flagship series of the popular Marvel Netflix project, Daredevil was dark and brutal, and yet intensely character-driven. Charlie Cox played the conflicted hero Matt Murdock, a.k.a. Daredevil, while Vincent D’Onofrio was as much co-star as antagonist in his portrayal of the Kingpin. Daredevil ran through three top-quality seasons, strongly influenced by some of Frank Miller’s most memorable comic book stories; Jon Bernthal was cast as the Punisher in season 2, a popular choice that led Netflix to commission a spinoff series starring him. Unfortunately, the relationship between Marvel and Netflix has come to an end, and Daredevil was canceled after three seasons. That said, unlike the rest of the Marvel Netflix slate, the third season essentially served to wrap up most of the narrative threads, bringing the show to an effective close.
3. X-Men: The Animated Series
X-Men: The Animated Series was the hit show that nobody originally wanted. TV executive Margaret Loesch had long fought for an X-Men adaptation, convinced that Marvel’s merry mutants had the potential to be animated superstars, and she essentially bet her entire career on it. She was right; the series launched in 1992, featuring visuals inspired by Jim Lee’s contemporary X-Men redesigns and adaptations of memorable Chris Claremont stories, and it ran for five seasons. The creative team opted for lesser-known voice actors in order to save money, but they made just the right choices. Sadly, the quality of the animation gradually declined as the series went on; season 5 is pretty shocking in places. Still, that last season can’t possibly detract from the sheer quality of the storytelling or this show’s influence in popular culture. And who can forget that theme tune?
Read More: X-Men: The Animated Series Showrunner Reveals Season 6 Idea
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
It may come as something of a surprise to see Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer on this list; after all, this is no comic book adaptation. And yet, Buffy certainly deserves its place here; Whedon’s lead character was in part inspired by the X-Men’s Kitty Pryde, he explored common superhero tropes throughout the series’ seven-season run, and after its cancellation, Buffy has inspired a still-ongoing range of comics. Anthony Stewart Head, who played the part of Buffy’s mentor Giles, has described Buffy as “a feminist parable for everyone.” Buffy is a story of growing up as a woman, with superhero and supernatural tropes serving as metaphors for teenage angst and awakening sexuality. Whedon’s storytelling redefined TV, blending serialized narratives with “Monster of the Week” plots, and casting was perfect; Sarah Michelle Gellar wowed viewers as the lead character, Alyson Hannigan and Nicholas Brendon played her closest friends Willow and Xander, and David Boreanaz and James Marsters portrayed vampiric love interests. While Buffy’s feminism has become a little more problematic of late - Whedon seems to have been rather less feminist behind the scenes than his show was - it’s still one of the best TV series ever made. Whedon, of course, would go on to be behind other popular comic book runs, and would write and direct 2012’s Marvel blockbuster, The Avengers.
1. Batman: The Animated Series
There’s really no other contender for first place; it can only be Batman: The Animated Series. Running from 1992 through to 1995, this is frankly one of the best animated TV shows ever produced. The series was praised for its subtle themes, its stunning film noir aesthetics, and its wonderful artistic style. Batman: The Animated Series’ visual appeal was strongly influenced by the Tim Burton Batman movies, with first-time producers Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski pushing for a more adult-oriented cartoon. It featured an inspired voice cast, including Kevin Conroy as Batman, Bob Hastings as Commissioner Gordon, Mark Hamill as the Joker, and Adrienne Barbeau as Catwoman. The show has left a lasting impression on popular culture, and its legacy includes the character of Harley Quinn, who was actually created for Batman: The Animated Series and transitioned into the comics and now into the DCEU movies. It even inspired two spin-off feature films, the cult classic Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero.
