In the golden age of superhero television, it’s hard to decide which shows are the best.
Marvel and DC Comics have established their own universes on the small screen but how do they match up? Check out the list below with our top twenty-five picks for best superhero shows to watch.
25. Powers (PlayStation Network)
The first scripted series on the PlayStation Network was stumbled to pick up an audience as well as translate its source material to the small screen. Powers originated as a gritty crime comic created by comic genius, Brian Michael Bendis, about two homicide detectives in a world populated by heroes called “powers”. The show shifts the location from Chicago to Los Angeles where former power, Christian Walker (Sharlto Copley) now heads up the “Powers Division” which deals with superhero related crimes.
His partner, Deena Pilgrim (Susan Hayward), is a brash rookie looking to prove herself within the unit especially because of her father was a beloved detective. While neither resembles their comic book counterparts, the two aren’t the biggest casting change by a long shot. In fact, Retrogirl (Michelle Forbes), is a deceased but adored teenage crime-fighter in the original comics but is now a middle-aged heroine who once dated Detective Walker. It’s a jarring change that confused many readers but nonetheless, Forbes brought a lot to a role that never expanded past death.
Of course, Powers problems ran deeper than just the characters. The actors on the show lacked the chemistry that a team needed and the location change displayed the show’s inability to go as dark as the comics. Looking back at the series now, Powers had so much potential to become another gritty Netflix adaptation if it had premiered only a few years after the success of the streaming website’s shows. With a small budget and an inability to tell compelling stories, Powers was canceled after only two seasons in 2016.
Photo Credit: ABC
24. No Ordinary Family (ABC)
A family of four that accidentally gets super powers? Not exactly a new premise but ABC’s No Ordinary Family was a fun ride even if it was only for a season. The series centers on The Powell family, who develop powers after a plane crash in Brazil. Patriarch, Jim (Michael Chiklis) is a police sketch artist who gains super strength and becomes invulnerable while his wife, Stephanie (Julie Benz), develops super speed.
Jim starts his crime-fighting career alongside his best friend, George (Romany Malco), while Stephanie confides in her co-worker Katie (Autumn Reiser) causing the two to investigate their newfound abilities at their job in a laboratory. However, they aren’t the only two who end up discovering and using their abilities.
The oldest daughter, Daphne (Kay Panabaker), is overwhelmed by her new telepathy while under-achieving son, JJ (Jimmy Bennett) is gifted with hyper-intelligence. While a majority of the series revolves around the Powells trying to find out more about themselves while keeping their powers hidden, No Ordinary Family has plenty of fun side stories with every member of the family enjoying some of their new abilities.
Despite being a fun superhero show similar to The Fantastic Four (Michael Chiklis has super powers in both!), No Ordinary Family wasn’t able to achieve the ratings success to garner a second season. While it was an incredibly fun series to watch, the show didn’t introduce anything new to the genre and thus is not missed by many. Considering a lot of the superhero shows on television now are much darker, it seems unlikely that No Ordinary Family would have survived now anyway.
Photo Credit: ABC/DC Comics
23. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (ABC)
A big complaint among fans of superhero shows nowadays is that they focus too much on romance. For those people who would rather watch Superman save the day rather than the girl, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman is not the show for you. Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher star as the infamous couple who stoles the hearts of millions of viewers.
A winning combo, the first season was both a critical and ratings hit for the network. Despite multiple casting changes in season two, like switching out Michael Landes for Justin Whalin in the role of Jimmy Olsen, turning John Shea as Lex Luthor into a guest role, and dropping the character of Cat Grant (Tracy Scoggins), the series could not be stopped and the ratings only continued to increase. By season four, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was averaging around fifteen million viewers per episode.
While focusing on the romantic side of the relationship of Lois and Clark, may not jibe well with viewers nowadays but there is no denying that it captivated audiences back in the day. One of the most iconic couples of all time, Teri Hatcher, and Dean Cain will forever be immortalized as one of the best looking versions of these characters.
In fact, the two became so popular that DC Comics gave the show its own comic book line and many authors wrote popular selling books that continued the theme of focusing on the romance rather than the superhero antics.
Photo Credit: FOX
22. Lucifer (FOX)
With a title like Lucifer, one would expect this FOX show to be about villainy. However, this crime procedural is actually about a bored version of the devil who becomes a consultant to the LAPD. Tom Ellis plays the titular character with glee, ramping up the campiness as he attempts to hone in his evil side. The first season is a bit of a drag, due to the scattered story-telling and the show’s attempts to successfully build up its world.
However, season two is an incredibly joyous time through a ridiculous premise that pays off loyal viewers with better stories. Lauren German plays the female lead, Chloe Decker, who gets partnered up with Lucifer during their police investigations.
There are many characters on Lucifer but Ellis and German have a remarkable amount of chemistry that will hook viewers almost immediately. The unlikely allies bring out the best in each other with Decker’s rebellious side coming out while Lucifer slowly finds himself becoming a better person. Whether it’s as friends or love interests (there are plenty of debates), Lucifer makes great use of its series leads despite some uneven plot lines.
Will this campy adaptation win over every viewer? Definitely not, but Lucifer makes it on this list as a reminder of what good superhero shows used to be. The earliest series was the most outrageous, low-budget shows on cable but nowadays most shows take themselves incredibly seriously. If you can, check out Lucifer just for fun because the two season show is a fun binge over a long weekend.
Photo Credit: Netflix/Marvel
21. Iron Fist (Netflix)
Kudos to anyone who made it through Iron Fist without cringing through a majority of it. Where exactly did Netflix go wrong with adapting this iconic comic? Perhaps the first problem was the controversy surrounding the casting of Finn Jones before the show even aired, as well as the lofty expectations set because of the success of the previous three series.
However show runner, Scott Buck, didn’t seem to have a good grasp of the titular character, therefore the entire show suffered for it. Iron Fist revolves around a young orphan, Danny Rand (Finn Jones), who is presumed dead after the plane carrying his entire family crashes. However, Danny spent his childhood training K’un-Lun, a mystical place that is defended by the immortal “Iron Fist”. Once he is old enough, Danny abandons his job in order to return to New York City so he can reclaim his fortune and business from childhood friends, the Meachums (Tom Pelphrey and Jessica Stroup).
When he realizes that his former friends aren’t willing to give him back his family’s business, Danny discovers deep roots of corruption that his new friend, Colleen Wing (Jessica Henwick) helps him face. One of the biggest problems Iron Fist faces is Jones’ who’s boyishness makes any scenes involving anger or Buddhist teaching seem ridiculous. Henwick easily outshines the titular hero so much so that many people wished she would become the focus of the series in season two.
Why is Iron Fist ranked so low? It doesn’t offer up much in the genre as a superhero show. Rushed to release before The Defenders, Iron Fist has mediocre fight scenes despite having the character who is supposedly a kung-fu master. It’s on Netflix so the Claire Temple and Colleen Wing storylines shine while the show is also beautifully shot but overall, Iron Fist is easily the weak link of the four heroes.
Photo Credit: ABC
20. Adventures of Superman (ABC)
Running for six seasons, Adventures of Superman was the first live action Superman television appearance. George Reeves played Clark Kent but had no relation to Christopher Reeve, who would go onto to play the character in a later incarnation.
Unlike Smallville, Adventures of Superman followed Clark’s adventures as the titular superhero alongside Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson), Lois Lane (Phyllis Coates for Season one/Noel Neil), and Perry White (John Hamilton). The show was beloved by many including the network who wasn’t willing to say goodbye to the series even after the death of multiple actors.
Hamilton’s death was quickly written around with a new actor taking on the role of White’s brother, however, Reeves’ suicide was a different problem they would need to work around. While ABC tried to pitch a series with Jimmy Olsen taking the lead, actor Jack Larson immediately rejected the idea feeling like it would be dishonorable and insulting to the memory of his costar.
Hamilton’s death was quickly written around with a new actor taking on the role of White’s brother, however, Reeves’ suicide was a different problem they would need to work around. While ABC tried to pitch a series with Jimmy Olsen taking the lead, actor Jack Larson immediately rejected the idea feeling like it would be dishonorable and insulting to the memory of his costar.
Although Adventures of Superman was surrounded by tragedy, the series was an introduction to the superhero genre on television. Sure, it will never be considered the greatest show of all time, but at the very least it paved the way for more networks to take a risk adapting comic books onscreen.
Of course, Adventures of Superman didn’t faithfully take into account the source material with many infamous characters not appearing in the series. For example, Lex Luthor never makes an appearance despite being Clark Kent’s biggest foe but the series did keep his weakness to kryptonite.
Photo Credit: NBC
19. Constantine (NBC)
Constantine was not a great show, but Matt Ryan made a great John Constantine. In fact, his performance was so entertaining that he was invited to join the Arrowverse on the CW after the cancellation of his series. John was once a con man, however, he’s graduated to a demon hunter/ detective who’s trying to save his own soul from being eternally tormented.
The show co-starred Angelica Celaya as Zed and Charles Halford as Chas Chandler, as the only two friends to Constantine. Unsurprisingly, the show was canceled relatively quickly by NBC due to the low ratings despite a very passionate fan base. Warner Brothers was desperate to keep the series alive because they didn’t want to squander the opportunity to earn more goodwill from their fans.
Even though Constantine suffered from dull storytelling, it had the potential to be so much more. Which is why it came as no surprise when Matt Ryan guest starred in an episode of Arrow which cemented his place in the DC Universe.
This past January, the CW announced their plans to continue the show in an animated capacity on the CW Seed like the series, Vixen. Considering Maisie Richardson-Sellers has transitioned to a live-action series regular on Legends of Tomorrow, it seems more than likely that Ryan may make the move as well. Constantine might have been sub par by NBC standards, but the fact that fans are still trying to keep the series alive is a testament of how it effected a strong group of people.
Photo Credit: CBS
18. Wonder Woman (CBS)
With the Wonder Woman craze continuing after the success of the movie, it’s necessary that the original series gets mentioned on this list.
Starring Lynda Carter as the Amazonian princess, Wonder Woman was first set in the 1940’s during World War II. Steve Trevor (Lyle Waggoner) crashes onto the island and becomes the prize for an Olympics style event for the women. After successfully winning the right to accompany him back to America, Diana suits up for the first time. During this time the audience is introduced to the infamous “invisible jet” along with the iconic twirl for the costume change.
After the first season, the show shifted into the 1970’s with a casting overhaul with the exception of Carter and Waggoner. Despite the big change, Wonder Woman never loses sight of its titular hero along with the heroic Trevor. Like a lot of the other older superhero shows, Wonder Woman suffers from poor special effects, fight choreography, and acting but did have a lot of influence over the comics. After the show premiered, the comic book character adopted a lot of Carter’s personality traits as well as the signature spin to change into costume.
Despite going through multiple casting changes through its three season run, Wonder Woman will always be remembered for the lasting effect it had on the character of Diana Prince rather than just its fifty-nine episode run.
Even after watching the movie, the television show helped make the film a possibility and offered up a lot of inspiration for who Wonder Woman would be.
Photo Credit: ABC
17. Batman (ABC)
Easily the most contentious ranking decision made, Adam West’s iconic Batman series falling in at number seventeen. Despite being listed as one of the best television shows of all time, Batman doesn’t make it into the top ten superhero series list.
Unlike a lot of other series that embrace their campy side but still maintain a minutia of realism, Batman stood firmly on the side of comedy. The simplistic white and black morality paired with the basic life lessons like drinking milk or using seat belts makes the show a bit too childish to move further up the list. Adam West stars as the titular hero with Burt Ward playing Dick Grayson/Robin, his orphaned ward.
Their ridiculous costumes and banter led many people to believe that the two had a sexual relationship, with Ward himself remarking on the massive amount of innuendos which the series embraced. Yvonne Craig played Barbara Gordon or Batgirl, the third member of “The Terrific Trio” that Batman referred to their group as. Her father, Commissioner Gordon (Neil Hamilton) owns a Bat-Phone which gives him immediate access to the “Dynamic Duo” or the “Terrific Trio” in case of crime.
Whether Batman is your kind of show, there’s no denying its place in history. Considered iconic, Adam West and Burt Ward were immediately type cast due to the success of the three season show. After one hundred and twenty episodes, it has earned a place in the heart of pop culture getting referenced in multiple television shows and movies.
Photo Credit: The CW
16. Legends of Tomorrow (The CW)
Like Iron Fist, Legends of Tomorrow was unlucky to debut to high expectations but fail. The expensive CW time travel show follows a group of superheroes, called “legends,” that go to different time periods to try and stop the villainous, Vandal Savage (Casper Crump). Crump is one of the main reasons that the first season is so mediocre, he is unable to make Savage into an enticing villain and falls victim to being “too campy”.
He isn’t the only actor that is tough to swallow, Hawkman (Fans Hentschel) and Hawkgirl (Ciara Renee), never seem to gel with the rest of the cast, dragging down a lot of the scenes they’re in. Luckily, Legends of Tomorrow manages to course correct where the show went wrong in the first season for an entertaining sophomore run. Adding Nate Heywood (Nick Zano), Amare Jiwe (Maisie Richardson-Sellers who also voices her character on her animated Vixen series), and the Reverse- Flash (Matt Letscher) goes a long way to vastly improving the group dynamic.
Led by the reincarnated Sarah Lance (Caity Lotz), Firestorm (Victor Garber and Franz Drameh), Mick Rory (Dominic Purcell), and Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh), the legends try their best not to mess up the timeline as they travel through the ages meeting different icons. The CW also has built up an impressive Arrowverse and allowed Legends of Tomorrow to introduce its own version of “The Legion of Doom,” composed of The Reverse- Flash, Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman), and Damien Darhrk (Neal McDonough) that becomes a fierce adversary to the legends.
A lot of fans didn’t give Legends of Tomorrow another look after its disappointing freshman season but that’s a big mistake. It’s rare for a show to be so self-aware of its problems and course correct so quickly but Legends was able to do so. If they continue on this path, then it’s likely that season three becomes one of the best superhero adventures of the year.
Photo Credit: CBS
15. The Flash (CBS)
After the CW brought The Flash back to screens a couple of years ago, the original series began to get more attention. John Wesley Shipp was once suiting up as Barry Allen himself rather than his father and became the scarlet speedster.
Only one season, this version of The Flash is a much campier look at the superhero rather than one grounded in reality. Barry is still a forensic scientist but now his friends are coworkers Tina McGee (Amanda Pays) and Julio Mendez (Alex Desert) who help him learn about his powers. Just from reading the cast, it’s clear that The Flash didn’t have much of an interest in sticking to its comic book counterparts regarding characters.
However, the show did introduce ridiculous costumes to the genre on-screen allowing shows in the future to adapt suits closer to the source material. For example, Mark Hamill’s very campy Trickste wears an eccentric outfit along with a ridiculous hair style that would initially be too wacky for television but is embraced here. Despite a small budget, The Flash managed to introduce a large amount of characters from the superhero’s Rogue’s gallery allowing them to flesh out the world with a deep roster of villains.
Fans of The CW reboot will undoubtedly love to see where the show drew its inspiration from with this older rendition. Back in a time before great fight choreography and special effects, The Flash spends most of its time building the characters up and embracing its quirkiness.
Photo Credit: NBC
14. Heroes (NBC)
If Heroes had only one season, it would have been considered one of the best superhero shows of all time, maybe even of the science fiction genre. Unfortunately, the Tim Kring helmed series lost a massive amount of steam following the success of its first season as well as a pretty terrible revival.
Despite all of its missteps, Heroes’freshman run was one of the most enjoyable seasons of television as well as a massive triumph for NBC. The series follows a group of gifted individuals in different parts of the world as they try to figure out who they are as well as preventing a massive explosion in New York City. Before his This Is Us fame, Milo Ventimiglia starred as Peter Petrelli, a nurse who dreamed of saving the world. Petrelli found himself with the ability of mimicry, allowing him to copy other peoples’ powers if they’re in his vicinity. However, with a vision of the future, his destiny is set where he must “save the cheerleader to save the world.”
Said cheerleader is Claire Bennett (Hayden Panettiere), a confused girl who is coping with her immortality as well as the knowledge that her adopted father (Jack Coleman) works for a nefarious organization. Without realizing it, she is being hunted down by Sylar (Zachary Quinto), a psychopathic villain who steals other people’s powers. If it seems confusing to follow, Heroes expertly paces out the show in a comic book format that makes it incredibly easy to comprehend upon viewing despite the large ensemble cast.
Despite its many missteps from season two onwards, Heroes was innovative to genre television. For the first time, it adopted a true ensemble like a comic book as well as keeping the feel of reading rather than watching. There’s a reason the show has garnered such a following even today, and that’s because it’s truly a show for comic books fans who need characters that feel like genuine people rather than fiction.
Photo Credit: E4
13. Misfits (E4)
Freeform might be trying to adapt this edgy superhero drama, Misfits, but nothing will beat this E4 original. Not a show suitable for children, Misfits took a different interpretation of what kids would do with super powers rather than become heroes. The series follows a group of juvenile delinquents that accidentally kill their probation officer after getting powers from a freak storm that happens in their city.
Misfits finds inventive ways to show typical super powers with each teenager getting an ability which showcases their greatest vulnerability. Quiet Simon (Iwan Rheon as an adorable sympathetic nerd before Game of Thrones) is able to turn invisible when no one is watching due to everyone typical ignoring him anyway. Party girl, Alisha (Antonia Thomas) thinks people only like her because she’s pretty and is no longer able to be touched without sending someone into an aggressive sexual frenzy which terrifies her. Famed former athlete, Curtis (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), is able to transport himself back in time to fix mistakes due to his wish that he had never bought the drugs which destroyed his track career.
Street smart, Kelly (Lauren Socha) always thinks someone is talking about her behind her back so the storm gave her the ability to always hear what everyone else is thinking. Finally sarcastic and prankster, Nathan (Robert Sheehan) is terrified of dying without accomplishing anything and by the end of season one he discovers that he is immortal. While Misfits seems like a ridiculous premise, it’s actually a touching story about insecurities while being laugh-out-loud hilarious.
Not a very well-known show, Misfits is an incredibly underrated show. Like Heroes, it probably should have ended after season two when the show lost a majority of its original cast members.
Despite its dark humor (the killing of probation workers is continuing joke), the show is able to juggle a lot of different themes without ever losing sight of its original premise. Also, it features one of the most touching but tragic love stories of all times that is sure to win over even the most cynical.
Photo Credit: FOX
12. Gotham (FOX)
When Gotham was first announced at FOX, almost everyone wondered why a show about a universe without Batman was necessary. The first season struggled to define itself, with Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) just entering law enforcement in Gotham City.
Learning the intricacies of Gotham’s underground takes time and a lot of time is wasted setting up villains for later seasons that the show drags on a bit. Luckily, by season two it comes into its own with many over-the-top villains who seem to be having the best time. David Mazouz proves himself as a capable Batman with a budding romance with Camren Bicondova’s Catwoman as the two try to cope with their own upbringings.
Robin Lord Taylor is a standout out as the Penguin, a thug who quickly begins to descend into madness as his feelings for the Riddler (Cory Michael Smith) aren’t reciprocated. Comic book purists will not be a huge fan of Gotham for the way it butchers the backstories for a lot of characters as well as the fact that Jim Gordon is the one fighting these criminals, not Batman. However, it’s unabashedly unique and offers up an expansive roster of DC Comics characters who many people crave to see on screen.
Considering Gotham exists in its own universe (not part of the DC Cinematic Universe or the Arrowverse), it is even able to tell stories that many writers would never dream of.
Even if you’re not a fan of Gotham, it’s worth checking out Cameron Monaghan’s version of the Joker, which is easily one of the best to appear on-screen. That alone bumps Gotham up quite a few places on this list.
Photo Credit: The CW
11. The Flash (The CW)
The Flash suffers from the same problem as many shows on this list that after its first season the quality dipped by a lot. In its freshman run, The Flash was a jovial adaptation of the comics that easily embraced the nerdiness and fun of its premise.
Led by an incredibly likable Grant Gustin as Barry Allen, it was easy to root for the scarlet speedster to succeed. Flanked by tech genius Cisco (Carlos Valdes), and talented doctor Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker), The Flash tries to fight crime in Central City.
After the villainous Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanaugh) creates a particle accelerator explosion which turns residents of the city into “metahumans” or super-powered criminals, Barry is forced to fight crime as a superhero and as a forensic investigator for the CCPD.
At the police station, he is helped by his foster father, Detective Joe West (Jesse L. Martin), who raised him since his mother was murdered and his father was arrested for the crime. While trying to acquit his father, stop crimes, and maintain a normal wife, Barry is also attempting to woo his best friend/sort of foster sister (it’s best not to think about that too much) Iris West (Candice Patton) who is a reporter with a big crush on the scarlet speedster.
Season two and three are massive steps back for The Flash where the show spirals into dark convoluted story-telling. However season one reminds fans that superhero shows are supposed to be fun and is one which will cement the show in history.
Photo Credit: The CW
10. Supergirl (The CW)
Even though Supergirl is in hot water with shippers, the show has proven to be one of the most diverse on television. One of the few female led superhero shows, Supergirl has consistently anchored the show around the relationship between two foster sisters, Kara (Melissa Benoist) and Alex Danvers (Chyler Leigh).
With the latter working as an agent of the DEO (Department of Extranormal Operations), her sister strives to save the day as Supergirl. Never sacrificing its heartwarming tone, Supergirl has always encouraged both empathy and kindness as the true super powers compared to Kara’s abilities. It’s rare for a show to uphold such values these days rather than sacrifice an uplifting tone for darker drama that many others resort to.
Despite all of this, the series has done a great job of being nostalgic by casting actors who were previously in Superman related movies/shows like Teri Hatcher, Dean Cain, Erica Durance, and Lynda Carter.
Supergirl famously made headlines when it made the move from CBS to the CW after its first season and there it seems to have found its home. While there were parts of season two which took away from the best parts of the show, such as the focus on romance, but it also managed to find a better use for most characters.
Despite the jarring adjustment to add more romance, Supergirl was able to craft a beautifully told coming-out storyline for one their leads that is very inspiring for many. However, like a lot of comic book oriented shows, Supergirl addresses a lot of issues like prejudice, sexism, and racism that will be off-putting for people who want to avoid such hot topics during their shows but luckily the series never attempts to force ideas on viewers.
Photo Credit: CBS
9. The Incredible Hulk (CBS)
Lou Ferrigno as The Hulk? How can that not make the top ten of this list? Debuting on CBS in 1977, The Incredible Hulk was the first onscreen appearance of the giant green superhero. Unlike the recent incarnations that have the same actor play both Dr. Banner and The Hulk, the television series had two different actors take on the roles.
Ferrigno was The Hulk while David Bixby took on the much calmer counterpart for the hero. Not to mention, the five seasons that The Incredible Hulk ran for allowed the show to explore the character of the Hulk more in-depth than most movies. Banner’s trauma from his wife’s (Lara Parker) accidental death that he is diving into a study about adrenaline field feats of super strength.
However, when he’s exposed to gamma radiation, Banner transforms into the Hulk, a giant anger fueled monster. He runs into a massive problem when journalist, Jack McGee (Jack Colvin) stats to follow the Hulk sized trail for a story.
The Incredible Hulk has been praised greatly for being an intelligently written series meant for adults but one that kids could enjoy. Years later, it is still one of the best, if not the best, version of the Hulk on screen.
It became so popular that after the series ended, CBS purchased the movie rights and released three movies to allow up to the television show. Even today, the pilot, named, “The Incredible Hulk,” is considered one of best episodes of the genre in a long time.
Photo Credit: ABC
8. Agent Carter (ABC)
Lack of viewers killed Agent Carter but that doesn’t mean it deserved to be canceled The short-lived ABC series followed Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) a Strategic Scientific Reserve Officer who was fighting crime before the beginning of S.H.I.E.L.D.
A critical darling, Agent Carter took a lot of risks rather than playing by the books to cater to larger audiences. In spite of this, the two seasons were incredibly well-received with many critics and a loyal fan base campaigning aggressively for a third season.
Ever since her introduction in Captain America: The First Avenger, Peggy Carter has become enormously popular with the Marvel fan base. Agent Carter followed her attempt to earn the respect of her fellow officers through her superior job performance despite being surrounded by men. There’s Edwin Jarvis (James D’Arcy), the butler to Howard Stark who becomes one of Peggy’s most loyal allies.
.She also has Jack Thompson (Chad Michael Murray) the brusque SSR Officer who serves alongside Peggy, Daniel Sousa (Enver Gjokaj) the crippled war veteran who takes a job with the SSR, and Roger Dooley (Shea Whigham) Carter’s chief who has a deep respect for her work. Debuting before Supergirl, Agent Carter was a major risk by ABC by introducing a female led show about a superhero set in the past.
Due to the time period, the show would never be able to cross over with other Marvel properties and thus limited the exposure it got. Despite being impeccably written, Agent Carter just couldn’t find the fan base to keep it on the air.
Photo Credit: Netflix
7. Luke Cage (Netflix)
Introduced in the first season of Jessica Jones, Luke Cage easily won over fans’ hearts with his impenetrable skin. Mike Colter brought a lot of warmth to the role of damaged ex-convict just trying to make a living. Working at Pop’s (Frankie Faison) Barber Shop, Luke tries to live a quiet life in Harlem after the events of Kilgrave with Jessica.
Unfortunately, he’s dragged into a gang war with Cottonmouth (Mahershala Ali) a notorious criminal who uses his cousin’s (Alfre Woodard) political collections to keep himself out of jail. With the help of a talented detective, Misty Knight (Simone Missick) and Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson), the first half of Luke Cage is an exciting thrill ride due to Ali’s winning performance. Unfortunately, once he exits the series, Luke Cage crumbles into a convoluted mess.
A superhero show is only as good as its villain and Diamondback (Erik LaRay Harvey) is such a disappointment compared to Cottonmouth. His ridiculous desire to kill Luke because of their familial relation is pretty contrived and sadly Luke Cage drags itself to the finish line.
Even though the series wasn’t able to end on a strong note, Luke Cage plays an important part in genre history. The first superhero series led by a black man (and first comic book to feature a black lead), Luke Cage brought up an interesting discussion on race as well as the violence that plagues Harlem. Like Supergirl, it never shoves ideas down a viewer’s throat but it does successfully start a bigger discussion about current societal problems.
Photo Credit: ABC
6. Agents of Shield (ABC)
Produced by Joss Whedon, Agents of Shield didn’t garner much attention despite the big name behind the scenes. Like most Whedon shows, it took a little time for it to settle into its world as well as the actors to acclimate to the dialogue.
After an uneven freshman run, Agents of Shield evolved into one of the best superhero shows on television. Clark Gregg’s Phil Coulson is revived after dying in The Avengers as the new leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. with a new team to help him. Easily one of the most diverse casts in history (it seriously doesn’t get enough credit for this) with two Asian-American leads in Chloe Bennett and Ming-Na Wen as the superhero Daisy Johnson (or Quake) and Melinda May.
Fan favorites, Gemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) and Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) make up the scientist duo that transforms from best friends to star-crossed lovers who go to heartbreaking lengths in attempts to save each other. Finally, recent additions are Mack (Henry Simmons) and as “Yo-Yo” Rodriguez(Natalia Cordova-Buckley) round out a stellar cast with immeasurable amounts of chemistry.
While the show spends the first season facing Hydra, it quickly begins to explore Inhumans and more mystical storylines with Ghost Rider (Gabriel Luna). With some of the best action sequences on television, Agents of Shield is completely self-aware in season four and is a non-stop thrill ride.
Technically a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Agents of Shield does set up a lot of background information from the movies. Despite doing a lot of legwork for the films, it manages to stay its own show without needing to make too many references. A superhero ensemble show, Shield has managed to create a new storyline each season more interesting than the last.
Photo Credit: TheCW/Warner Brothers
5. Smallville (The WB/The CW)
Who knew that a show about Superman’s teenage years would become so popular? Smallville added a new layer of complexity to a character which had been the same for years. By exploring Clark Kent’s (Tom Welling) life growing up on a farm, the audience got a glimpse of his time coping with his ability.
Before he was donning a cape and tights, Superman was just trying to make it through school without being bullied. While he became a rising star on the football field, Clark had to deal with a variety of villains all while trying to keep his friends from discovering his secret identity. With newly created character Chloe (Allison Mack) and Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk), Clark’s high school life was full of great female characters.
However, the most innovative characters came in the form of Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) and Lois Lane (Erica Durance) who finally get the opportunity to be fleshed out. Luthor is no longer the one-note villain to Superman but now his childhood best friend who slowly forms a toxic opinion of Clark as the series watches their relationship deteriorate.
Meanwhile, Durance injects Lois with a new layer of depth now that she has enough time to explore her character outside of mandatory love interest. A fast-talking journalist and cousin to Chloe, Lois easily surpasses damsel in distress by becoming a fully-formed character who is a hero in her own right.
Meanwhile, Durance injects Lois with a new layer of depth now that she has enough time to explore her character outside of mandatory love interest. A fast-talking journalist and cousin to Chloe, Lois easily surpasses damsel in distress by becoming a fully-formed character who is a hero in her own right.
Come for Clark but stay for Lois, Smallville is ten seasons of Superman lore. Like Gotham, it goes through the backstory of a hero but in Smallville, its sole focus is Clark’s coming of age story. While the series hits a bit of lull near the end, it’s still one of the best superhero shows to ever air.
Photo Credit: Netflix
4. Daredevil (Netflix)
The show which started the Marvel frenzy on Netflix, Daredevil was the adaptation that fans deserved after that awful Ben Affleck movie. Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) is a lawyer by day but a vigilante by night after being blinded as a child. Known as “the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen,” Daredevil is a ruthless defender of his city but refuses to kill due to his religious beliefs. While
While Daredevil doesn’t stick the landing on every storyline, it does deliver a gritty adaptation of its source material and has some of the coolest fight choreography of all time. The hallway fight is iconic, so much so that almost every one of the Netflix series has tried to incorporate one into their own shows.
However, the crime-fighting extends to more than just vigilante justice with Matt’s best friend Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) and Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) trying to save lives through the law. Vincent D’Onofrio plays one of the best Marvel villains of all time as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin and makes the perfect onscreen foil to Matt.
While the first season follows Matt’s origin story, the second year introduces two of the best characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle is so complex and layered that he immediately was green lit for a series of his own.
Elodie Yung came on board as Elektra, and just like the Punisher, she became a unique anti-hero who fans fell in love with. Without Daredevil, there would be a lot of great characters missing from the MCU and three other Netflix series.
Photo Credit: The CW
3. Arrow (The CW)
Daredevil was responsible for the Marvel universe on Netflix, but Arrow was the one who got DC Comics on the CW. Starring Stephen Amell as the famed archer, Arrow is about a billionaire who gets stranded on an island and trains to become a warrior.
Oliver Queen was once a rich playboy however when he takes a boat trip with his father he finds himself deserted on an island full of monstrous criminals. By the time he returns home to Star City, he is a broken image of the man who once was and he attempts to destroy the corruption which currently plagues his home. With his bodyguard/friend Diggle (David Ramsey), tech expert Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), and sister (Willa Holland), Oliver becomes the Green Arrow, a force for justice in their broken down town.
Fans of Batman will be very aware of the story considering the character comes off like a knock-off Dark Knight, however, he eventually grows into his own unique persona. That isn’t to say that Arrow doesn’t make some missteps.
Seasons three and four are nearly unwatchable after the series begins to pander to a very vocal group of shippers however it gets back on track with season five. In fact seasons two and five are astoundingly entertaining with the villainous Slade Wilson (Manu Bennett) and Adrian Chase (Josh Segarra) stealing the show.
The CW superhero shows will never be able to compete with Marvel’s Netflix shows because the budget is infinitely smaller but Arrow is still a good ride despite not exactly staying faithful to its comic book counter part.
Photo Credit: Netflix
2. Jessica Jones (Netflix)
Brian Michael Bendis created Alias as the first R-Rated Marvel comic about a former superhero, Jessica Jones, recovering from the trauma she recently suffered at the hands of the purple man.
The television series almost faithfully adapts comics with Jessica still suffering from the repercussions of her past. Jessica Jones may be a superhero show but at heart, it’s about a woman’s attempt to cope with her PTSD and trauma. Krysten Ritter easily embodies the hard-drinking Jessica who spends her day taking private eye odd jobs, at the bar, or stalking Luke Cage (Mike Colter).
However, her life is thrown for a loop when her former captor, Kilgrave (David Tennant), returns to declare his love for her. Make no mistake, this is not a love story but instead one of a man inflicting great abuse on a woman who he can no longer control. Thankfully Jessica is not alone throughout this entire situation, endlessly supported by her foster sister/best friend, Trish Walker (Rachael Taylor).
Why does Jessica Jones top the list for the Netflix superhero shows? It’s not just the fact that it offers a refreshing look at victims of abuse that doesn’t go for the typical tropes that typically follow the portrayal on screen.
Jessica Jones has the best villain since Tom Hiddleston in Thor and the best familial relationship between Jessica and Trish. It’s so rare to see female friendships on television that never resort to cattiness or boys tearing them apart. With a talented cast, writing, filmography, and directing, Jessica Jones is one of the best shows on Netflix.
Photo Credit: FX
1. Legion (FX)
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It seems a bit unfair to rank Legion as number one because it’s only had a single season but there’s no denying that Noah Hawley’s X-Men series is a masterpiece.
Based off of the character of David Haller (Dan Stevens), the son of Professor Xavier, Hawley manages to bring to life the character’s various mental states. For those who didn’t read the comics, David is one of the most famous characters for dealing with mental illness alongside his vast powers as a telepath.
In Legion, he’s a patient at a mental hospital for schizophrenia and depression despite never knowing he has powers. After he accidentally locks lips with his girlfriend, Syd (Rachel Keller) the two swap places and David gets his first experience of living without feeling insane. However, he eventually is returned to his body and hunted down by Division 3, a mutant hunting organization, but is rescued by Professor Bird (Jean Smart) with her group of mutants.
With Rachel and the others, they discover that David’s illness spurs from him being possessed by “The Shadow King,” a notorious telepathic enemy of Professor Xavier, which has taken the form of his best friend Lenny (Aubrey Plaza) in order to trick him into complacency.
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With one of best soundtracks of the year and nail-biting writing, Legion proves that a superhero show can stay true to its comic origins while still being a legitimately great series. Not to mention, it’s one of the few times that FOX (and by extension FX) was able to get a story about the X-Men correct without completely demolishing its comic book lore.