If you’re here on this website, chances are, you love superheroes. But you want to know what we live in? A world that is consumed by Marvel and DC. And while they do have some great TV shows that are out there, it’s almost… too much to handle sometimes.
That’s why today, I’m going to talk about four other TV shows that have nothing to do with the famous superhero comics. These are either adaptations from something else or completely original ideas—and full of all the superpowers you can imagine.
Invincible
This was my first pick because I genuinely love Invincible. The series is based on the comic book series of the same name, written by Robert Kirkman (the same guy who created The Walking Dead).It mainly follows Mark, a teenager who, after years of waiting, finally inherits the same powers as his father, a legendary superhero known as Omni-Man.
However, as he starts to learn how to become a hero, he learns things about his family and the world around him that change everything.
Without spoiling too much, this animated series is honestly so good. Every single time a new season comes out on Amazon Prime, I am locked in. It gets crazier, and crazier, and crazier with each new plotline. And what makes it better is that there are so many different variations of powers and characters that there’s always someone to root for.
One thing is for sure: this is not for children in any shape or form. It is an adult animated series, so keep the kids away. But if you’re looking for something amazing, this is the one. It even has a killer voice cast, with stars like Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, and more voicing the characters. There are four seasons so far on Amazon Prime, with a fifth one on the way.
The Boys
Oh, you knew The Boyswould be on this list; don’t lie. You can’t have a superhero list without mentioning these characters.
The Boysis also based on a comic series and was developed by Eric Kripke for a major Amazon television show that ran for five seasons. The series is essentially about a world where superheroes have become monetized—think the Marvel Cinematic Universe but in real life with real powers.
All of the heroes are jaded. All have twisted, dark secrets. And many people want revenge—namely, Butcher, the leader of a group known as the Boys, who work together to take down the “Supes,” who abuse their power.
The Boyscertainly isn’t for everyone. If you’re just used to the fights of Marvel and DC and you’re not really a gore person, then maybe this series isn’t for you. There are several moments where you will actively turn away from your TV screen and feel sick because of how gory it gets. I swear, every new season, they just try to find more creative ways to kill people.
But if you’re okay with gore, then The Boysis a great one to check out because the story is intense and features some incredible stars, like Karl Urban, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chace Crawford, and more. There are five seasons, all streaming on Amazon Prime. And some spinoffs are coming too, if you end up loving it.
I Am Not Okay With This
If you want a series that’s just one season (and I’m still upset that it was only one) that isn’t as gory as the previous two, then you should check out the Netflix show IAm Not Okay With This.
Adapted from the graphic novel of the same name by Charles Forsman and starring Sophia Lillis, the series follows a teenager having a rough time who discovers she has telekinetic powers often influenced by strong emotions. The only issue is that she feels hard,so these powers can be…quite impossible to control.
Personally, I think I Am Not Okay With Thisis the perfect balance of black comedy, where it’s just dark enough for you to enjoy it without getting too bloody, and coming-of-age. There’s something always so gratifying about watching a coming-of-age movie or show, but adding superpowers into that makes it that much better. There’s so much to love about it, and I think it deserves at least one watch—even if it was canceled because of COVID-related issues.
Heroes
Lastly, I give a shoutout to Heroeson NBC. Created by Tim King, this show follows ordinary people who discover they have powers and how that changes their lives, all while working with others to prevent circumstances that could destroy the world.
There were four seasons total, and a whole slew of stars were featured, including Hayden Panettiere, Jack Coleman, Ali Larter, Milo Ventimiglia, and many more. If you’re looking for a show that’s a lot more family-friendly, this is the best one—and the stories are great too. With so many characters, everyone has at least someone to relate to, which is what makes it so great. You can watch all four seasons on Netflix.
You can check out all of these shows on streaming now to have the time of your life and pretend to be a superhero for a bit.
