Entertainment
10 Superhero Shows That Are Amazing From Start to Finish
Superheroes have completely taken over the film and television spaces. While superhero movies may make the most money and be arguably a lot more popular, many would argue that it is on television where they really get the chance to shine. On the silver screen, audiences get to spend numerous hours with the protagonists, rather than just two and a half or three at the max.
Spending this much time with a character can help a viewer grow closer to them and become more invested in them and their story. The best way to do this in an effective manner, though, is to develop a series that is amazing—gripping, thrilling, and emotionally compelling—from the first episode, to the last. There are a lot of great superhero shows out there, but there are only a few that can really be considered amazing from top to bottom.
‘Teen Titans’ (2003–2006)
If an American-made series can take inspiration from anime and make it work, it could work very well in its favor, which is exactly what can be said about the legendary Teen Titans. Taking heavy inspiration from anime allowed creators Glen Murakami, David Slack, and Sam Register to perfect their tone-balancing, and make space for serious, mature moments, while keeping the show primarily lighthearted.
Tone balancing is really difficult, and Teen Titans is proof that, if done right, it can make every episode of a series amazing. Most of the time, it has audiences grinning and laughing as the team jokes around and kicks some serious butt, but it gets them emotionally invested when it tackles serious topics like racism, PTSD, and more. Teen Titans is a surefire masterclass in tone-blending.
‘Danny Phantom’ (2004–2007)
Young Danny Fenton (David Kaufman) was just 14 when his parents built a very strange machine— you know how it goes. The story of this young man having the power to “go ghost” is incredibly unique, which already gives Danny Phantom an edge against a lot of superheroes on TV. Unique powers and premise is one way to get audiences hooked immediately, but what’s most important, though, is making sure they stick around.
Thankfully for creator Butch Hartman, Danny Phantom does a great job at this, as well, as it is enjoyable from start to finish. This is primarily thanks to the fun nature of the show, and its slow escalation into more serialized storytelling. It starts episodic, which is fun and helps get people invested in the series, so that when storytelling moves on from episodic to serialized, viewers are already engaged in Danny, and most viewers will have decided that they’re in for the long haul with this one.
‘The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ (2010–2012)
Before the major Disney era of Marvel television shows, they had a golden age, which consisted of shows like The Spectacular Spider-Man and the ever-iconic The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. While both of these series were considered amazing as they were, it was The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes that would go on to still be considered to this very day as one of the best adaptations of the overall Marvel Comics universe as a whole.
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes does a phenomenal job balancing a large cast, giving everyone their time to shine, while still primarily keeping the overarching plot focused on the original team of Avengers that audiences grew attached to. Almost every major Marvel hero gets at least one episode featured in this show, and it allows the world to feel grand and lived in. On top of this, the large cast of characters opened up a plethora of storytelling opportunities for the show, which made for stories that were unique to this show specifically, and would and will most likely never be seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
‘Superman & Lois’ (2021–2024)
Superman & Lois is a very special show, in that it takes a character like Superman (Tyler Hoechlin)—whom people have said is hard to relate to because of how ever-powerful he is—and brings him even more down to Earth than he could have been before by making him a father and husband back in Smallville. Doing this brought a certain relatability and earnestness to the character that is a step above other iterations, leading to a phenomenal series.
Not only does every cast member on this series do a spectacular job bringing their roles to life, but it manages to cover some heartfelt topics, too. It’s things like this that make Superman & Lois worth every single episode, and amazing from its first to its last. Some even consider this to be the best adaptation of Superman in modern cinema, and they’d have every reason to. It’s an incredibly honest, true, genuine, and heartfelt iteration of the character that never stops being so.
‘Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ (2018–2020)
There have been countless adaptations of the heroes in a half shell over the decades, but none quite as unique as the likes of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Giving the Ninja Turtles cool powers, an incredibly fun story, and a super stylistic animation, well, style, to boot, this series finds itself being extremely enjoyable the entire way through.
On top of all that, though, what people really remember this series for is the quality of said animation. The fight sequences in this show are absolutely stupendous. While Nickelodeon Animation Studio worked on the pre-production of the animation, it’s Flying Bark Productions, an animation studio in Australia, who is to thank for this production quality. All of this combined makes this high-flying, ridiculously fun show something that people can enjoy from minute one to the final second.
‘Harley Quinn’ (2019–Present)
Superhero shows don’t have to just be action and high-stakes— no, Harley Quinn proves that people can shake up the genre, have fun, and make a great project while doing so. This series, starring Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell, Alan Tudyk, and many more talented folks, is abundantly hilarious in every which way.
Everyone loves a show that can just have a good time being goofy, raunchy, and not take itself too seriously (most of the time), and those things describe the one and only Harley Quinn to a tee. Being a total spoof of the DC Comics universe, this show is a hoot and holler in every single episode, making it a joy to watch for each one. It continues to do so as it prepares for a sixth season—pending the official greenlight (hurry up on that DC and Warner Bros.)
‘Ben 10’ (2005–2008)
Someone would be pretty much living under a rock if they hadn’t heard of Ben 10 by now. Being one of the biggest non-Marvel or DC Comics superhero properties on the planet, Ben 10 is a franchise that is known by pretty much everyone. Much like Danny Phantom, the powers of the protagonist, Ben Tennyson (Tara Strong), are super special and cannot be seen pretty much anywhere else. This makes for stories that truly cannot be found outside this wonderful show.
Ben 10 isn’t just a cool concept on the surface-level, though, as the show genuinely tells some very well-told stories, which can be credited to the fact that the franchise was created by Man of Action, a group of comic book creators who know what it takes to make a good superhero show. Ben Tennyson is a flawed kid, which makes him so interesting, compelling, and, honestly, realistic. What makes Ben and his stories really special, though, is he didn’t suffer through any kind of trauma that makes him a hero or an immediate event that forces him to be one. Ben is a hero because he chooses to be a hero all on his own. It’s these traits that make Ben and his stories so awesome to watch… on top of his cool powers.
‘Batman: The Animated Series’ (1992–1995)
Batman: The Animated Series is commonly known as one of the most popular and beloved superhero shows of all time, to this very day—a whopping 34 years later. Whether it’s because it stars the fan-favorite duo Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill or because of the genuinely thought-provoking stories it tells, Batman: The Animated Series has something for everyone.
As stated, Batman: The Animated Series tells some genuinely amazing stories—some would argue they’re some of the best Batman stories out there—and that has helped so many of its episodes go down in history as some of the most memorable in superhero television. This show doesn’t pull its punches when it comes to storytelling, and that’s what makes it so special at the end of the day… but the animation and voice acting are nice bonuses.
‘The Spectacular Spider-Man’ (2008–2009)
Yes, yes, of course The Spectacular Spider-Man is here, because why wouldn’t it be? This show is consistently called one of the best adaptations of Marvel’s web-slinging Wall-Crawler, and for good reason. The flowing animation, great character work, excellent storytelling, and the prowess behind the voice work all make The Spectacular Spider-Man something truly unforgettable, so much to the point that the hashtag, “#savethespectacularspiderman” has been prominent online since it was cancelled.
The Spectacular Spider-Man has some of the best adaptations of the most iconic Spider-Man stories from the comics. In this series, the characterization of Peter Parker (Josh Keaton) and his co-stars (and villains) are the true heart of the show, and that’s what makes this project so special: the heart and soul behind it.
‘Daredevil’ (2015–2018)
It’s not often that a superhero show is so good that people will consider it genuine art on a widespread level. This is—if one looks on the superhero corner of the internet for even a second—most certainly the case with Netflix and Marvel Studios’ Daredevil. This show has a certain X Factor to it that feels like lightning in a bottle.
Daredevil, even at its lowest (second half of Season 2), is entertaining, engrossing, masterfully told, and perfectly directed the entire way through the three season series. Not to forget, Charlie Cox gives one of the best performances in superhero television, and never stops throughout the whole project. Daredevil is something unlike any other and is genuinely masterful.
Daredevil
- Release Date
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2015 – 2018-00-00
- Showrunner
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Steven S. DeKnight
- Directors
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Phil Abraham, Stephen Surjik, Peter Hoar
- Writers
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Drew Goddard
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