For the most part, the world of great superhero television has been dominated by the Arrowverse and the MCU (especially in 2021) over the past few years. That's the case with live-action series for sure as some great animated stuff has come from outside of those two worlds like Harley Quinn, Young Justice, and Invincible.
However, there are also some tremendous live-action television shows in the superhero genre that aren't in those universes. These could still be from the juggernauts of Marvel and DC but just set in a different universe. Regardless of who is behind these projects, they've stood out over the years.
The interesting thing about Misfits was that a somewhat similar concept had premiered on TV a few years prior. Like Heroes, this show centered on a group of seemingly ordinary people who suddenly ended up with unexpected superpowers, though in totally different ways.
In Misfits, the main characters were a group of teenagers who were struck by lightning while doing community service, giving them their powers. Well-received from start to finish, this series also gave audiences early looks at talents like Nathalie Emmanuel, Robert Sheehan, Ruth Negga, Iwan Rheon, and more.
The history of the Tick superhero is quite a long one. He debuted in comic books decades ago, was the star of an animated television series in the '90s, and then moved into the world of live-action TV with this Amazon Prime show, titled The Tick.
The show centered on a timid accountant who befriends an invulnerable superhero dressed in a weird blue costume and together they attempt to take down the criminals in their city. Reviews were strong for likable characters and the humor aspects but the show was canceled after just two seasons.
It seems like almost every take on a Batman story has been done at this point but Gotham went a pretty different route than most. Instead of giving audiences an established superhero, this focused on the time when Bruce Wayne was just a child and made Jim Gordon into the protagonist.
The premise was strong and most of the seasons were well-received, though the show did get some criticism for forcing connections to future Batman criminals and characters at times. Still, Gotham gave fans some cool depictions of iconic characters and lasted five seasons, ending on its own terms.
One of the most popular animated superhero shows in recent memory is Teen Titans, centering on a young team led by Robin. When a live-action adaptation was announced, not many fans expected it would be totally different, taking a gritty route with the characters.
The trailer was met with a mixed response at best but the show itself has exceeded expectations. Starfire, Raven, and the rest of the gang are around, along with additions like Deathstroke and Barbara Gordon after season 1. The series has worked due to the cinematography, reimagined concept, and character development.
There was no question that Smallville was one of the biggest shows when it premiered. Audiences everywhere were excited at the prospect of seeing what life was like for Clark Kent in the days before he donned his legendary cape and suit to become Superman.
Of course, they weren't aware of how long it would take to finally see that as the series lasted a decade. Despite not totally giving fans Superman in all of his glory, it was both a critical and commercial hit. Tom Welling's Clark Kent (along with Erica Durance's Lois Lane) did show up for a bit in the Arrowverse during the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover.
Like Batman, the X-Men is a group of characters who have been shown on both the big and small screen almost countless times throughout history. However, like so many other superhero shows, The Gifted found a way to deliver an intriguing take on the idea that changed things.
Instead of having known characters like Wolverine or Jean Grey as the stars, The Gifted showcased less famous mutants. The central family saw human parents struggle after their kids are revealed to be mutants given the way the world looks at the species. Although met with strong reviews, it was canceled after two seasons.
Shortly after the debut of Titans, another superhero series was created to help the launch of the DC Universe streaming service. That was Doom Patrol, which took an even more unique and obscure route to success. It focuses on characters who are less-known than the likes of Batman or Superman.
The Doom Patrol features a fun, diverse group of heroes with all sorts of abilities that help them stand out from the rest of the comic characters on television. Brendan Fraser, Diane Guerrero, Matt Bomer, and more make up one of the better casts on TV and the show was recently renewed for season 4.
Another series that is set in the world of Marvel's mutants was FX's Legion. The series centered on David Haller (aka Legion), a mutant who was diagnosed as schizophrenic as a child but it's mostly due to his various abilities including telekinesis and telepathy.
Due to the protagonist's powers, Legion was a series that was allowed to get pretty weird and trippy. It was difficult to know what to expect even from scene to scene, which made things exciting. Dan Stevens and Aubrey Plaza, along with the rest of the cast, shined and the reception was strong but the show was canned after three seasons.
When Zack Snyder adapted the Watchmen comic book for a feature film, many called it the most accurate case of a story being brought from the pages to the big screen. Although no sequels were made, HBO produced a miniseries that was designed to act as a follow-up.
Set years later in a world changed by the events of the movie, this was a colossal hit that racked up wins at the Emmy Awards, including for Best Limited Series. Regina King's lead performance was remarkable (it also won an Emmy) and the way characters from the film were portrayed was praised.
The success of The Boys has been much greater than most people expected. The series, based on the comics of the same name, is set in a world where superheroes are public and used for merchandising, making them egotistical and often sadistic. One of the most intriguing aspects of the show is that almost nobody is purely good.
The Seven (the famous superpowered people) are typically terrible, while the titular group of people who go after them also do plenty of shady deeds. With plenty of gore, shocking plot twists, and some of the best written characters on TV, The Boys is possibly the best superhero show, period.
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