In a world seemingly saturated with superhero content, there are several TV series that stand out. Series centered on the stories of superheroes are opportunities to explore these characters in more detail than if they were simply given movies to headline. There are many superhero series that have defined the genre by telling unique stories and by expanding on the stories of characters already introduced in comics.
Many superhero series exist in the broader context of franchises like the MCU or DCEU. Some of these series that are attached to these bigger franchises manage to tell unique stories with characters that already have a fanbase. Other superhero series offer completely new stories, and introduce completely original characters.The best superhero series that are masterpieces capture what makes the superhero genre so beloved, and highlight just how deep these kinds of stories can get.
10’Peacemaker' (2022- )
Created by James Gunn
Peacemakerfollows the titular mercenary, played byJohn Cena, who was introduced inThe Suicide Squad. Peacemaker is recruited to join a mysterious black ops squad known as “Project Butterfly”. With his fellow misfits, he’s tasked with identifying and destroying an alien that takes over people’s bodies.Peacemakeris a series about found family, and how even the most dysfunctional and morally gray antiheroes can come together to save the world.
Peacemaker’s opening sequence is a masterpiece on its own. More broadly, however, the series succeeds in expanding the story of a character who otherwise could have remained firmly in the background of the DCEU. Cena’s performance is one of many compelling ones featured throughout the series. What stands out aboutPeacemakeris its ability to take otherwise unlikable characters and make them easy to root for.
Peacemaker
9’Legion' (2017-2019)
Created by Noah Hawley
Legionfollows David Haller (Dan Stevens), a mutant who is diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teen. He does his best to learn how to control his powers while being pursued by government agents and supernatural forces.The series also starsAubrey Plazaas The Shadow King, a being who has manipulated David for years. Throughout the series, David has to determine which threats are real and which ones are just illusions.
Legionstands out as a masterpiece because it offers a sometimes horrifying but always interesting exploration of the human psyche. This series is notable because it’s a psychological horror, which is unique for a superhero story.Legionalso uses compelling visual storytelling rather than relying solely on action, which many superhero stories are prone to do. Ultimately,Legionoften feels like a cinematic experience, which makes it a unique superhero series.
8’Spider-Man: The Animated Series' (1994-1998)
Created by John Semper
Spider-Man: The Animated Seriesfollows Peter Parker (Christopher Daniel Barnes) as a college student who struggles to balance his personal life with the fact that he’s becoming a more well-known superhero in his universe. The series explores themes of responsibility, the importance of family, and sacrifices that must be made in the name of the greater good.Spider-Man: The Animated Seriespresents a defining version of this hero, beloved by fans of every generation.
Much of what makesSpider-Man: The Animated Seriesone of the best superhero series ever is the fact that it’s such a faithful adaptation of the comics. This series also set the stage for future animated series about superheroes by highlighting the fact that these series could explore mature themes and could be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.Spider-Man: The Animated Seriesshows its titular hero at his most vulnerable, showing that he was always more than a wisecracking web-slinger.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series
7’Jessica Jones' (2015-2019)
Created by Melissa Rosenberg
Jessica Jonesintroduces its titular character, played byKrysten Ritter. Jones is a former superhero-turned-private investigator who operates her own agency. After Jones accidentally kills someone with her superpowers, she retreats into an isolated existence before re-emerging as an investigator who’s able to live her own life. She eventually has to confront her past, including Kilgrave (David Tennant), a villain who Jones has to stop at all costs.
What makesJessica Jonessuch a masterpiece is the fact that it presents such a compelling character who is clearly struggling with the trauma of her past. Although she has superpowers, her struggle to move forward after such a horrifying experience makes her deeply human. Relatedly,Jessica Jonesalso stands outbecause it presents a superhero who refuses to use her powers, which makes her a fascinating character to follow.
Jessica Jones
6’X-Men: The Animated Series' (1992-1997)
Created by Mark Edward Edens, Sidney Iwanter, Eric Lewald, Margaret Loesch
X-Men: The Animated Seriesintroduces characters introduced in X-Men comics, including Jean Grey (Catherine Disher), Cyclops (Norm Spencer), Wolverine (Cal Dodd), Rogue (Lenore Zann), Storm (Iona Morris), Beast (George Buza), Gambit (Tony Daniels), Jubilee (Alyson Court), and Professor X (Cedric Smith). The series explores themes like the AIDS crisis, the lasting impacts of the Holocaust, and the realities of confronting one’s own religious beliefs.
X-Men: The Animated Seriescan be considered a masterpiecebecause it presents characters with superpowers who face deeply human problems.Each of the characters introduced throughout the series is morally complex. This is another example of a series that left a lasting legacy and paved the way for other similar series not to shy away from handling mature themes using characters that are mainly marketed to younger fans.
X-Men: The Animated Series
5’Watchmen' (2019)
Created by Damon Laurence Lindelof
Watchmenis based on the iconic comic series of the same name. The series serves as a sequel to the comics and takes place 34 years after the original story ends. As in the comics, in this alternate version of the United States, masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws. The series is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and follows Angela Abar (Regina King), a masked detective known as Sister Night, as she investigates a white supremacist group called the Seventh Kavalry.
Watchmencan be considered a masterpiecebecause it expands on a comic classic rather than being a beat-for-beat adaptation.The series also stands out because it’s a unique way it reckons with America’s history of racism and the trauma this has caused.Watchmenexists as a self-contained story, which also makes it stand out in a media landscape that often compels superhero stories to set up future projects within franchises.
4’Invincible' (2021- )
Created by Robert Kirkman
Invincibleintroduces Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), a seemingly ordinary teenager who inherits superpowers from his father, Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons), who’s the most powerful superhero on Earth. The series focuses on Mark’s training to become a superhero in his own right. However, the story takes a dark turn when Mark discovers his father’s dark secret. He experiences a crisis of identity as he tries to figure out his place in the world.
What makesInvincibleone of the best superhero seriesis the fact that it goes beyond being a typical coming-of-age superhero story about someone discovering their powers.The series presents a dark and often brutal story against the backdrop of a family drama.Invincibleuses its violence to make a point, and allows viewers to consider the philosophical implications of these characters' choices.
Invincible
3’Daredevil' (2015-2018)
Created by Drew Goddard
Daredevilintroduces Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, who fights crime by night as a vigilante known as Daredevil. He uses his heightened senses to sense those around him and to fight any of his enemies. As a lawyer, he makes it a point to fight for justice for marginalized people in his community. His main villain is Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), a ruthless criminal who seeks to control the city.
Daredevilcan be considered a masterpiecebecause it tells a grounded and gritty story. From the series' beginning, it always set itself apart from other superhero series by focusing on Matt Murdoch’s humanity.Murdoch is such a unique superhero in that his powers come from his ability to perceive the world in a unique way. This is also another example of a superhero series that stands out in the way it tackles deep philosophical issues, and invites viewers to think about some of life’s deeper questions.
2’The Boys' (2019- )
Created by Eric Kripke
The Boysis a dark, satirical superhero series that explores a world where superheroes, known as supes, are corrupted by wealth, power, and greed. The series mainly follows Hughie Campbell (Jack Quaid), who joins a rogue group called The Boys, led by the ruthless Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), to take down the corrupt supes. The main villain, Homelander (Antony Starr), is a terrifying and narcissistic Superman-like figure who hides his sociopathic tendencies behind his patriotic image.
The Boysis such a masterpiecebecause it subverts expectations when it comes to the superhero genre. While so many other superhero stories feature, well, heroic characters who fight the forces of evil,The Boyshighlights how deeply human these characters are.The series exists as a social commentary on the perils of falling for those who use patriotic symbols and slogans to consolidate power, and how easily tyranny can be embraced by so many.
1’Batman: The Animated Series' (1992-1995)
Created by Eric Radomski and Bruce W. Timm
Batman: The Animated Seriesis a fresh take on one of the most well-known superheroes of all time. This version of the story follows Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy) as he balances his life as a billionaire and his mission as Batman to fight crime and confront many of his most iconic villains.The series allows Batman to explore his own moral complexity, as well as that of the many villains he comes up against.
Batman: The Animated Seriesis a masterpiece and arguably one of the greatest superhero series of all time because it introduced Batman to a new generation of fans.For many, this series represents the definitive version of the vigilante billionaire.Batman: The Animated Seriesis also remembered for its mature storytelling, which is also something that makes it stand out from other superhero series that focus more on moral simplicity.
