10 Greatest Animated Superhero Shows That Aren't Marvel Or DC
Not all superhero cartoons are Marvel or DC.
For decades, superheroes have thrived through animated shows, from Marvel teams like the X-Men to DC Comics' Batman and Superman. However, outside the big two, independent and original universes have found success in a variety of ways, from unique powers and stunning visuals to well-written character arcs. Despite some of these great animated shows and their respective source materials borrowing from established superheroes, some surpassed their inspirations.
The superhero genre has become one of the most successful in history, both in film and TV, as franchises like the MCU rake in tens of billions at the box office. Decades before this success, the genre thrived through animation, where some of its more high-concept ideas could be done justice without seeming absurd or campy. Shows like Batman: The Animated Series might be king, but independent universes have shown they can be just as exciting.
10 Dynomutt Dog Wonder (1976)Your RatingThe Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour Release Date 1976 - 1977In 1976, the world of Scooby-Doo grew when the gang first teamed up with Dynomutt and Blue Falcon. After their team-up, the Batman pastiche and his clumsy robot dog went on to have their adventures, typically styled after the Super Friends cartoon. Much like its predecessor, each episode follows the new dynamic duo investigating a fresh mystery, pitting them against the Falcon's unique roster of villains.
There have been 13 Scooby-Doo animated shows.
Dynomutt Dog Wonder borrows from the Batman formula, trading Robin for a goofy but powerful robot dog sidekick to great effect. While far from the most successful Hanna-Barbera series, the character's design coupled with his lovable friend left audiences wanting more. From its heroes strange gimmicks and creative gadgets to the use of slapstick humor, the series is perfect for young viewers but might be too lowbrow for older ones.
9 Ben 10 (2005)The Show Blended Kaiju Action and Family DramaYour RatingBen 10 Release Date 2005 - 2007 Network Cartoon NetworkTara Strong
Ben 10 brought something unique to the superhero genre from the outset, focusing on a boy who, instead of having a fixed ability, could turn into one of ten monsters using an alien device. As he, his sister, and their grandfather tour the country in an RV, they happen upon a variety of creatures and super-powered people. The show blended a variety of great formulas and tropes, from weekly mysteries to family drama.
Blending the vacation fun of Phineas and Ferb with the action of a Power Rangers episode, the show is childhood escapism at its best.
The main appeal of the show for young audiences was tuning in to see which of his ten creatures Ben would turn into next, discovering new powers along the way. Ben 10 combined just about every popular sub-genre there is, from Kaiju monsters and science fiction to road trip adventure and family comedy. Blending the vacation fun of Phineas and Ferb with the action of a Power Rangers episode, the show is childhood escapism at its best.
8 Baymax! (2022)The World of Big Hero Six Lives OnYour RatingDisney's Big Hero 6 captured the hearts of viewers through its exploration of the team-up between a young boy and a healthcare robot to defeat a supervillain. As the story took off, Disney explored the characters in greater depth, through a direct sequel animated show and a collection of short films that highlight Baymax's importance. Great as the animated series is, 2022's Baymax! showed there's more to being a hero than fighting evil.
Baymax! breathed new life into the world of Big Hero 6, trading the superhero angle for something more touching and emotional. Here, the character is less of a standard hero and more of a friendly companion, showing how small deeds and being supportive can be every bit as significant as fighting criminals. For people who do love the heroic side of the character, they can also look to the equally great Big Hero 6 animated series for a companion piece.
7 The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022)The Show Captured the Dark Satire of The BoysYour RatingThe Boys Presents: DiabolicalSuperhero
Release Date 2022 - 2021 Showrunner Eric Kripke Directors Eric Kripke Writers Eric KripkeAntony Starr
One of the biggest pieces of superhero media of the last decade has been Amazon's The Boys. Exploring a world where superheroes are generally despicable people adopting the face of patriotic vanguards, calls for more stories led to the creation of an animated series: Diabolical. Here, key context was added to characters from the main series, allowing for a greater exploration of their stories and motivations than had been shown.
In keeping with its live-action counterpart, Diabolical brings plenty of dark humor and grim satire to audiences, using animation to get even more violent and over-the-top. With each episode presented in a unique style by different creators, the series had room to grow its characters, while also showing the inner workings of Vought. As a way of filling the gaps between seasons, the show enriched the world of Amazon's main series, bringing more from the comics that inspired it to life.
6 Captain Caveman and the Teen AngelsHanna-Barbera's Show Applied the Scooby-Doo Formula to a SuperheroYour RatingCaptain Caveman and the Teen Angels Release Date 1977 - 1979 Network ABCLike so many Hanna-Barbera shows of its era, Captain Caveman capitalized on the success of Scooby-Doo, this time reinventing it as the premise for a superhero show. Revolving around a trio of women, the Teen Angels, and their thawed-out caveman superhero friend, it explores everything from the mysteries of the ancient world to dastardly crime capers of the 1970s.
As one of Hanna-Barbera's most enduring series, the show is a brilliant chaser for Scooby-Doo fans.
Captain Caveman is one of the most unique animated superhero shows, thanks to its bizarre hero and his oddball powers. From a beard that holds a variety of strange objects to the ability to consume explosives, the character is a staple of '70s Saturday morning cartoons for good reason. As one of Hanna-Barbera's most enduring series, the show is a brilliant chaser for Scooby-Doo fans.
5 Darkwing Duck (1991)Disney's Vigilante Combined Pulp Comics With Donald DuckYour RatingDarkwing Duck Release Date 1991 - 1991Jim Cummings
Terence McGovern
In Darkwing Duck, Disney brought '90s kids a pastiche of classic pulpy heroes, such as the Shadow and Zorro. Following the vigilantism of Drake Mallard, the series immersed its audience into the world of old-school heroics, giving them a weekly bumbling detective-inspired adventure. With a surprising amount of world-building and fun villains thrown in for good measure, the series is one of the best uses of Disney's anthropomorphic heroes.
Darkwing Duck is one big love letter to pre-Golden Age heroes and adventure stories, casting its hero as everything from a seafaring explorer to a jungle adventurer. Facing pirates, wild animals, and super criminals, the series holds much of the same appeal as Batman: The Animated Series, but taken to a more juvenile degree. Here, young audiences were given a level of swashbuckling escapism rarely seen in modern animation.
4 Spawn (1997)Todd McFarlane's Hero Was Redeemed Through AnimationYour RatingSpawn Release Date 1997 - 1998After dominating '90s comic book sales, Todd McFarlane's Spawn headed to Hollywood in an ill-fated flop of an origin story. Fortunately, the character was soon revived for TV by HBO, where the early years of his comic book series were adapted through animation. In exploring some series that previously had been seen as too dark for animation, the show proved some characters thrive best in the medium.
Spawn's animated series did the character and his world justice, bringing audiences one of the darkest animated superhero shows there is. Taking the premise behind Batman to extremes, the show focuses on a grim look at crime and vigilante justice, while also exploring the influence of Hell and demons on Earth. As an entry point to McFarlane's universe, as well as a gritty blend of horror and action, the show perfectly reflects '90s comics.
3 Space Ghost (1966)Space Ghost Was the Superhero For The Space AgeYour RatingSpace Ghost Release Date 1966 - 1967 Network CBSIn the 1960s, science fiction took off like never before, and this was just as true in children's media as anywhere. One of the best cases of this exploration of the final frontier was Space Ghost, a Hanna-Barbera series that follows a space-based superhero and his young sidekicks. Borrowing a few premises from Star Trek, the series gave audiences a new look at the perils and unique worlds of deep space with each new episode.
Related"You Can't Just Be A Superhero Show": Robert Kirkman Addresses "Superhero Fatigue" Ahead Of Invincible Season 3Robert Kirkman addresses "superhero fatigue" ahead of Invincible season 3, offering his thoughts on the concept and how it impacts the genre.
The appeal of Space Ghost comes from the character himself, who can best be described as a combination of Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern all in one. At its core, the series is an adventure show for the Space Age, giving kids a show with a similar concept as Star Trek but much more action. Modeled after the classic sci-fi serials and comics of its day, the show beat DC and Marvel at its own animation game in a decade that saw a revival of the superhero genre.
2 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)The Series Did the Turtles JusticeYour RatingTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Release Date 2003 - 2009 Network FOX, The CWIn 1984, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird introduced the world to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a band of heroic mutants created as a parody of Frank Miller's Daredevil comics. As the brand took off, the characters became pop culture icons and landed a series of cartoons. While the '90s series is packed full of nostalgia, the 2003 reboot captured the grittier, action-focused tone of the comics.
RelatedEvery Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie & Series (In Chronological Order)Keeping track of all the TMNT movies in order can be tricky as the franchise has had over a dozen screen adaptations.
Arguably the best piece of TMNT media outside the original comics, the series nailed the different personalities of its heroes and presented their villains as genuinely menacing threats. The dynamic between the group, as well as their supporting heroes, made the series the icon it is, giving the audience a healthy balance between comedy, action, and family. With some stories ripped straight from the comics, the show is a roadmap for faithful adaptations.
1 Invincible (2021)Amazon's Show Became A Modern SensationYour RatingInvincible Release Date March 26, 2021 Network Amazon Prime VideoCreated by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker, Invincible became one of the most popular independent comic books of the 21st century. With its iconic status, an animated show was almost inevitable, something Amazon finally made happen in 2021. Following the story of a young superhero facing his supervillain father, the show combines elements of coming-of-age, family drama, and conspiracy thriller.
As a pastiche of just about every prominent superhero in pop culture, from Superman and Spider-Man to Hellboy, Invincible united the entire superhero genre into a single story. Here, fans of a variety of superheroes from across the spectrum have something to enjoy, particularly those who love younger heroes like Superboy and the Teen Titans. From quotable characters to stunning action sequences and genre deconstruction, Invincible is the best animated superhero show outside of Marvel and DC.
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