Some animated series fromMarvel,DC, and beyond are so great they are essential viewing for superhero audiences. Animated superhero shows have long been a cornerstone of comic book fandom, offering bold reinterpretations of iconic characters, emotionally rich storytelling, and boundary-pushing visuals that often surpass their live-action counterparts. Whether diving deep into mature themes or delivering kinetic action with a twist of humor, animation has repeatedly proven to be an ideal medium to adapt superhero narratives.
From fresh takes on villains-turned-antiheroes to futuristic reimaginings of beloved icons, many animated shows redefined what it means to wear a cape, or not wear one at all. For both longterm and new superhero viewers, these series should be considered a must-watch. They’re not just good superhero stories, they’re compelling, character-driven sagas that rival the best of prestige television.
10Harley Quinn (2019-)
HBO Max
Harley Quinnis a wildly irreverent and unexpectedly heartfelt dive into the chaos of Gotham City, centered on everyone’s favorite former sidekick-turned-queenpin. Voiced by Kaley Cuoco, Harley breaks free from her toxic relationship with the Joker and embarks on a chaotic, self-discovery journey alongside her best friend (and eventual love interest), Poison Ivy. The show isa bloody, hilarious romppacked with mature humor, gory action, and sharp satire of superhero tropes.
Yet beneath the mayhem lies a surprisingly sincere narrative about growth, friendship, and found family. With its vibrant animation and fearless storytelling,Harley Quinnstands apart from the typical DC fare. It’s one of theboldest interpretations of Gotham’s underworld– and proves adult animation can offer just as much heart as it does chaos and carnage.
9The Incredible Hulk: TAS (1996-1997)
Fox Kids & Disney+
Often overshadowed by its contemporaries in the ’90s Marvel animated universe,The Incredible Hulk: The Animated Seriesis an underrated gem that deserves a revisit. This darker,more introspective take on Bruce Banner’s tragic existenceblends monster movie aesthetics with classic superhero drama. The show dives deep into the psychological torment of Hulk and Banner’s duality, with excellent voice work by Neal McDonough and Lou Ferrigno.
The Incredible Hulkalso introduced compelling arcs involving She-Hulk, General Ross, and even Ghost Rider. While limited by its budget and era,Hulk: TAStackled surprisingly mature themes, including identity, mental health, and redemption. For those who love character-driven storytelling and the more tragic elements of Marvel lore, this seriesoffers a powerful, emotionally resonant journeythat still holds up decades later.
8Young Justice (2010-2022)
Cartoon Network, DC Universe, & HBO Max
Young Justiceisn’t just a teen sidekick show – it’s one of the most layered and ambitious superhero animations ever made. Debuting in 2010, the series follows a covert team of young heroes, including Robin, Miss Martian, Aqualad, and Superboy, as they navigate missions, secrets, and personal growth within the shadow of the Justice League. With its complex storytelling, political intrigue, and rotating cast of familiar and obscure DC characters, the showrapidly gained a cult following.
What truly setsYoung Justiceapart is its willingness to let characters evolve across time jumps and multiple seasons, offering a rich continuity thatrewards long-time viewers. The animation is sleek, the stakes are real, and the emotional arcs, particularly around identity and loyalty, are often devastating. It’s must-watch, smart, serialized superhero storytelling.
7Batman Beyond (1999-2001)
Kids’ WB
InBatman Beyond, the Batman legacy is reborn in a cyberpunk future, one where Gotham’s skies glow neon, and high-tech corruption runs rampant. Set decades after Bruce Wayne’s crime-fighting days, the series introduces Terry McGinnis, a troubled teenager who dons the Bat-suit under Bruce’s guidance. What begins asa futuristic twist on a familiar mythosquickly evolves into a complex story about mentorship, legacy, and redemption.
The show’s art style mixes sharp noir with sleek futurism, creating a visually distinctive world that feels both retro and ahead of its time. Beyond its striking design, the writingnever shies away from tackling real-world issues like corporate greed, social inequality, and the emotional cost of heroism. For fans ofBatman: The Animated Seriesand sci-fi enthusiasts alike,Batman Beyondis essential viewing.
6Invincible (2021-)
Amazon Prime
Invincibleexploded onto the scene with its jaw-dropping brutality and subversive storytelling, proving that animated superhero content can go toe-to-toe with prestige drama. Created by Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), the series follows teenager Mark Grayson as he comes into his powers, only to discover his father Omni-Man harbors a terrifying secret. What starts as a coming-of-age tale quicklytransforms into a gripping epicfilled with betrayal, cosmic horror, and moral ambiguity.
The voice cast, including Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, and Sandra Oh, delivers powerhouse performances that elevate every emotional gut-punch. While the gore and violence are extreme, they serve a greater narrative purpose,reflecting the brutal reality behind the superhero illusion. With its compelling character arcs and unpredictable twists,Invincibletoys with what the genre can be.
5Wolverine and the X-Men (2009)
Nicktoons
Wolverine and the X-Menisa criminally underrated entryin the Marvel animated universe. Premiering in 2009, this one-season wonder offers a darker, more serialized take on the X-Men mythos. After an explosion leaves the team scattered and Professor X comatose in a dystopian future, Wolverine steps up to reunite the fractured team and prevent the looming apocalypse.
The show balances classic X-Men action with an overarching storyline full of political intrigue, mutant discrimination, and emotional complexity. Notably, it spotlights lesser-seen characters like Emma Frost and Nightcrawler, adding depth to the ensemble. In many ways, it feelsjust like a continuation of the iconicX-Men: The Animated Series.While it was sadly canceled before resolving all its threads, its 26 episodes deliver high-stakes storytelling and surprising maturity.
4Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994-1998)
Spider-Man: The Animated Seriesremains one of the most faithful and beloved adaptations of the wall-crawler’s adventures. With Christopher Daniel Barnes voicing Peter Parker, the show captures the perfect balance between Peter’s everyday struggles and his superhero responsibilities. Iconic story arcs – like the symbiote saga, the Clone Saga, and the Secret Wars – werebrought to life with impressive ambition and fidelityto the comics.
Despite being bound by the censorship rules of the era, the series never felt watered down. It explored themes like identity, loss, and sacrifice with surprising depth. The animation, while dated by today’s standards, was cutting-edge for its time.Spider-Man: TAShelped define a generation of Marvel fans andremains essential viewingfor anyone wanting a complete Spider-Man experience.
3Justice League Unlimited (2004-2006)
Cartoon Network
Building on the foundation ofJustice League,Justice League Unlimitedexpanded the DC animated universe intoa sprawling epicfilled with depth, character development, and massive superhero crossover potential. The series introduced a much larger roster, featuring everyone from Booster Gold to The Question. However, it still gave ample screen time to core heroes like Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern.
What truly setsJLUapart is its serialized storytelling and political undertones, particularly in the excellent “Cadmus” arc, which explores government overreach, ethical heroism, and the dangers of unchecked power. The voice acting is top-tier, with standout performances from Kevin Conroy and Clancy Brown. Balancing action, wit, and philosophical depth,Justice League Unlimitedis not just a superhero cartoon, it’sa masterclass in ensemble storytelling.
2X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997)
Few animated superhero shows had the cultural impact ofX-Men: The Animated Series. It was groundbreaking in its willingness to tackle serious themes like racism, genocide, and identity through the lens of mutantkind. With its instantly iconic theme music, bold storytelling, and rich cast (Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Jean Grey, Beast, and more), itbrought the X-Men to mainstream audiences like never before.
Adaptations of comic classics like “The Dark Phoenix Saga” and “Days of Future Past” were done with impressive fidelity and emotional weight. It wasn’t afraid to be serialized, which wasrare at the time for children’s television. While the animation occasionally showed its age, the writing and voice acting made the stories unforgettable.X-Men: TASlaid the groundwork for the superhero media boom that followed.
1Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)
Fox Kids
Batman: The Animated Seriesis widely regarded asthe gold standard of superhero animation, and for good reason. The show combined noir aesthetics, mature storytelling, and timeless art design to create a Gotham City like no other. Kevin Conroy’s definitive portrayal of Batman, alongside Mark Hamill’s unforgettable Joker, elevated the voice acting to legendary status.
Episodes like “Heart of Ice” and “Over the Edge” showed that animated television could be asemotionally resonant and thematically richas any live-action drama. It also introduced original characters like Harley Quinn, who would go on to become a cultural icon. The animation was cinematic, the scripts were sharp, and the tone was dark without being bleak.Batman: TASdidn’t just redefine Batman – it redefined what superhero storytelling could be.
Harley Quinn
Cast
Harley Quinn is a 2019 animated series focusing on the titular character’s evolution after severing ties with the Joker. As she seeks to establish herself as an independent force in Gotham City’s criminal underworld, the film explores her journey toward becoming Gotham’s criminal Queenpin.
The Incredible Hulk
In this animated series, Dr. Bruce Banner grapples with his transformation into the Hulk, a formidable creature triggered by anger. Pursued by General Ross and the military, Banner’s quest for a cure leads him into battles with various villains and monsters. With the support of friends like Betty Ross and Rick Jones, Banner strives to find peace and prevent the Hulk from causing destruction, all while dealing with the complexities of his dual existence.
Young Justice
Young Justice is an animated Superhero Sci-Fi television show created by Brandon Vietti and Greg Weisman. The series follows the Young Justice group of superheroes, including names like Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Superboy. Viewers will recognize voices from Jesse McCartney, Khary Payton, Jason Spisak, and Nolan North.
Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond is an animated action-adventure television series set twenty years after the events of Batman: The Animated series. Bruce Wayne, now in his twilight years, continues to fight crime with new gadgets, suits, and tech - but his old age has revealed that even the Caped Crusader has limits. Enter Terry McGinnis, a teenager with athletic prowess and a strong sense of justice. When pursued by a gang one night, Terry is helped by the elderly Bruce Wayne - an event that leads to Terry’s training as the new generation Batman.
Invincible
Based on the comic book character by Robert Kirkman, Invincible follows Mark Grayson, a seventeen-year-old who leads a seemingly average life save for the fact that he lives behind the shadow of his superhero father, Omni-Man. Mark goes on to develop superhuman abilities, but he must also learn that his father’s legacy isn’t as glitzy and glamorous as he’s been led to believe.
Wolverine and the X-Men
Wolverine and the X-Men is an animated series that premiered in 2008, focusing on Wolverine’s efforts to reunite the X-Men and prevent a dark future. Following a catastrophe that rendered Professor Xavier comatose and scattered the X-Men, Wolverine takes on a leadership role. Assembling iconic characters like Cyclops, Storm, and others, the team endeavors to combat threats and restore peace.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series
Spider-Man: The Animated Series follows Peter Parker as he develops spider-like superpowers after being bitten by a neogenetic spider. He uses his abilities to fight crime while managing the challenges of his personal life in this animated adaptation of the iconic Marvel superhero’s adventures.
Justice League Unlimited
Justice League Unlimited is the culmination of the DC Animated Universe, reuniting characters introduced in previous shows such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman and introducing new JLA members like Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Booster Gold. The series' three seasons aired from 2004 to 2006.
X-Men: The Animated Series
X-Men: The Animated Series is a television show based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name. The series, which aired from 1992 to 1997, follows the adventures of a team of mutant superheroes, led by Professor Charles Xavier, as they fight for peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants in a world filled with prejudice and fear.
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series follows Bruce Wayne as he assumes the role of the masked vigilante Batman to combat crime in Gotham City. This acclaimed 1992 series explores his dual identity and features an array of iconic villains, while Bruce vows to avenge the murder of his parents.
