10 Superhero Shows That Are 10/10, No Notes
Despite superheroes having taken over the cinema landscape completely in the last few decades, they’ve been in—and ruled over—the television medium for far longer. This amount of time in the spotlight has given audiences a plethora of shows that are absolutely incredible in so many different ways.
Whether they’re coming from one of the “big two”—Marvel and DC Comics—or another company, superhero series are unlike any others. They provide an amazing escape for audiences, and use said escape to help tell stories that are emotionally compelling, engaging, and thought-provoking all while giving some amazing action and character arcs. These shows aren’t ranked, but are simply being appreciated for how 10/10 they truly are. No notes!
‘Batman Beyond’ (1999–2001)
The character of Batman has always been one of the most popular superheroes out there. So, it’s no question that any show about the Caped Crusader would be successful and beloved in some way, shape, or form. However, most media surrounding the character are focused on the likes of Bruce Wayne. This is where Batman Beyond finds itself being different from all the rest in all the best ways. The series follows the young Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle) as he becomes the new Batman post-Bruce Wayne’s (Kevin Conroy) retirement, with a new, high-tech suit to boot.
Batman Beyond takes typical Batman storytelling and flips it on its head. It introduces classic characters in new ways, using the futuristic world of Neo Gotham City. Terry McGinnis is an incredibly compelling and relatable character, pretty much living out the audience’s dreams of being Batman themselves. Not to mention, it is also part of the beloved DCAU, acting as a sequel of sorts to the ever-loved Batman: The Animated Series. It takes a lot of notes from said series, too, by not letting the fact that it’s made for younger audiences keep it from deep storytelling. It has its cake and eats it too, with no problem, introducing dark and mature themes without losing the fact that it is, in fact, for young audiences.
‘Young Justice’ (2010–2022)
If there’s one fact that’s true in animated television, it’s that the mind of Greg Weisman has always made some beautiful series, and one of his greatest works is none other than DC Comics’ Young Justice. The concept of the team known as the Teen Titans has always been famous and loved by superhero fans everywhere. Having a team of sidekicks and teens is, and always will be, enjoyable, which is part of why Young Justice is so successful. The series depicts the sidekicks of DC’s biggest heroes coming together to be their own team, and leads to an engaging series that has some very well-written character arcs.
Much like the aforementioned Batman Beyond and the rest of Weisman’s best works, this show doesn’t dumb itself down to be “more suitable for kids,” but rather treats them as smart as they truly are. The character arcs within the series are some of the best in DC Comics television. Viewers get to watch as these kids grow up into the young adults they were always meant to be—Robin (Jesse McCartney) becoming Nightwing being a great example. In fact, people loved Young Justice so much that, after campaigning for a continuation after an untimely cancellation in 2013, the team got to come back for two more seasons beginning in 2019.
‘The Batman’ (2004–2008)
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Matt Reeves‘ The Batman isn’t the first movie or television series to take on the title. In 2004, Batman fans were treated to The Batman, an incredible series that reinvents the Caped Crusader’s first years into the time that the Justice League forms, and he recruits Batgirl (Danielle Judovits) and Robin (Eve Sabara). Season 1 begins with Batman’s (Rino Romano) third year as The Dark Knight, and the series continues onward, deep into his later years as the hero. This means that viewers get to truly grow with this iconic hero and explore this new DC Universe along with him as he meets other characters like The Flash (Charlie Schlatter), Superman (George Newbern), and many others.
A great example of how this series redefines the Batman mythology, is the way it establishes his close relationship with Gotham City Police Department detective, Ethan Bennett (Steve Harris), and the way he falls into becoming the legendary villain, Clayface. The storytelling in this series is excellent, thanks to the many episode writers and directors, but most specifically, the series’ creators, Michael Goguenand Duane Capizzi.
‘My Hero Academia’ (2016–2026)
Another one of the best animated superhero shows out there doesn’t come from either Marvel or DC, but Studio Bones, Toho Animation, and mangaka Kohei Horikoshi, My Hero Academia. This anime is one of the best modern anime out there, with the final season this year going down as one of the best modern seasons of anime—winning Anime of the Year, Best Ending Sequence, Best Supporting Character, and Best Voice Artist Performance at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards, and 9 other awards across other major awards shows.
Despite it getting some flak for its fanbase, My Hero Academia itself has more than proven itself as one of the best superhero series out there. The show features stunning animation (again, this final season has some of the best), great character development (specifically from the likes of Izuku Midoriya (Daiki Yamashita and Justin Briner) and Katsuki Bakugo (Nobuhiko Okamoto and Clifford Chapin)), episodes that can be considered masterpieces, and thrilling story arcs. My Hero Academia really goes the distance across its eight seasons and cements itself as a truly unforgettable experience.
‘Justice League’ (2001–2004)
Alongside the Avengers, the Justice League is one of the most prominent and popular superhero teams out there. Many young adults today found their exposure to the team via the iconic animated series simply titled Justice League. Being part of the DCAU meant that, just like Batman Beyond and Batman: The Animated Series, this show has some of the best animated superhero storytelling and character arcs out there.
The voice acting specifically, though, holds a special place in many people’s hearts. Not only does it feature the legendary Kevin Conroy as Batman, but also George Newman as Superman, Susan Eisenbergas Wonder Woman, Michael Rosenbaum as the Flash, Carl Lumbly as Martian Manhunter, Phil LaMarr as Green Lantern, and Maria Canals-Barrera as Hawkgirl. This entire cast became the definitive voices of these characters for so many people. So, that combined with the A-tier storytelling at play, makes Justice League something that people look back on as a total favorite when it comes to superhero television.
‘X-Men: Evolution’ (2000–2003)
While X-Men: The Animated Series typically gets all the attention when it comes to X-Men content (for good reason), there’s a show in their catalog that does not get the attention it deserves, and that is the one and only X-Men: Evolution. This 2000 series takes the main X-Men team and adapts them as teenagers and young adults, choosing to make them high schoolers rather than teachers at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.
This opened the door for far more interpersonal coming-of-age drama for the characters, with their teenage angst and emotion making their relationships, mixing with their superhero duties, feel so much more difficult. This also allowed it to be far more relatable for the youngsters watching the show. The team getting to grow in this manner made for characterization and arcs that were genuinely moving, especially given the fact that, despite them being kids, they are still ostracized and discriminated against for their mutant genetics.
‘The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ (2010–2012)
Marvel and DC both have nasty habits and track records of canceling amazing shows before they should, and one of the saddest examples of this is The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. After The Avengers film became a massive success that proved that the Marvel Cinematic Universe could actually work, Marvel Comics, across all of their mediums—television, comics, and video games—decided to change everything to synergize with the MCU’s vibe and characters more. This led to The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes being cut off and replaced with a show that many people consider far less high-quality, Avengers Assemble.
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is considered by many fans online to be one of the best adaptations of the Marvel Comics universe, and that’s not just hyperbole. While still focusing on the core Avengers, this show manages to introduce a plethora of other Marvel heroes and villains, and somehow gives them all compelling arcs and stories that are incredibly memorable. Much like the team’s comic books, heroes cycle through the team, giving everyone a chance in the spotlight. The amount of great storytelling they were able to accomplish in just two seasons is amazing, and the fact that it got cut off so soon still breaks people’s hearts today.
‘Daredevil’ (2015–2018)
It’s not often that a show—a superhero show, at that—is considered art. It takes a lot of love, care, blood, sweat, and tears to create something that could earn such high praise, but none other than Marvel and Netflix’s Daredevil manages to do just that. This isn’t just a superhero show: It’s a crime thriller that has the quality to bat up against some of the greats, like Ozark.
Charlie Cox‘s performance as the Man Without Fear is one of the most layered and complex in superhero media. It’s clear that Cox truly cares about this character and loves him—seen through the way he brings him to life with such care on screen. The intricately woven story through all three seasons is genuinely beautiful, and people were extremely upset when it ended too soon—spurring Marvel, years later, to bring it back with Daredevil: Born Again.
‘The Spectacular Spider-Man’ (2008–2009)
While there are many series out there that were canceled far too soon, there are none that received the reaction and blacklash like Greg Weisman and Victor Cook‘s The Spectacular Spider-Man. People loved this show so much that the hashtag, #savethespectacularspiderman, is still widely prominent to this day. The way this show adapts Peter Parker (Josh Keaton) and his co-stars is some of the best in Spider-Man media, with many fans online claiming it to be the best adaptation of the hero, period.
The Wall-Crawler is at his absolute best when it comes to storytelling here. Weisman and co-creator Cook weave a tangled web for the hero unlike any other. His villains are brought to life with so much grace, turning them from villains of the week into fully fleshed-out characters that have just as much development as Peter and his friends. On that note, Peter’s supporting cast is just as well-developed, if not more. The love triangles and friendship drama within them make the interpersonal drama somehow more engaging and exciting than the Spider-Man action itself.
‘Batman: The Animated Series’ (1992–1995)
There was zero question that Batman: The Animated Series was going to be on a list of the best superhero series. There’s simply no beating this 1992 title, and almost everyone can agree on that. Series developer Bruce Timm really had something great going with this show—the entire DCAU, really.
Batman: The Animated Series is almost perfect all the way around. The characters are exceptionally well-written, the plots are compelling and deeply emotionally resonant, the action is very well-choreographed, and the animation by Warner Bros. Animation is gorgeous. Batman: The Animated Series is not only unforgettable, but a prime example of what good animated television can and should be.
Batman: The Animated Series
- Release Date
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1992 – 1995-00-00
- Network
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FOX, Fox Kids
- Showrunner
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Bruce Timm
- Directors
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Kevin Altieri, Boyd Kirkland, Frank Paur, Dan Riba, Dick Sebast
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Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
