10 Best Superhero TV Shows Not Made By Marvel Or DC, Ranked

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While DC and Marvel are the biggest names in the superhero genre across virtually all media, there have always been other companies with their own superhero properties. Just as there are fantastic superhero movies not made by Marvel or DC, there are television shows in the genre from companies other than the Big Two. These can be other original superhero concepts while others are based on established comic book properties from different publishers. Sometimes the stories are parodies and postmodern takes on the genre, while others are more conventional narratives.

We’re taking a look at the superhero television series beyond the usual fare from the Big Two multimedia companies. These shows all feature main characters using their extraordinary abilities to protect the world, often against bona fide supervillains. From hit animated series to ambitious live-action shows in the streaming age, there is no shortage of superheroes beyond the usual suspects. These are the 10 best superhero TV shows not made by Marvel or DC ranked, highlighting just how diverse the genre truly can be.

10. The Umbrella Academy

In between recording My Chemical Romance albums, frontman Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá launched the moody comic book series “The Umbrella Academy” in 2007. The show centers on a group of adopted siblings who were raised as superheroes by the eccentric Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore). Reuniting years later as adults following Reginald’s death, the group contends with their unresolved trauma just in time to defend the world against a new threat. Later seasons feature the ensemble exploring the consequences of tampering with the timeline, leading to an adventure with reality hanging in the balance.

With Hargreeves as a clear pastiche of Professor X, “The Umbrella Academy” offers its own commentary on found family superhero teams. Like its comic book source material, this comes with a visibly quirky sensibility to its storytelling, with the work of filmmaker Wes Anderson influencing the “Umbrella Academy” aesthetic. But more than being kooky just for the sake of it, the show excels when it leans into its family dynamics and distinct trappings. A breezy four-season watch, “The Umbrella Academy” runs off the rails during its final season but its character arcs and interplay earn it a place here.

9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987)

For many a millennial who grew up in the late ’80s and early ’90s, one of the defining superhero series of the era was “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” Based on the hit indie comic book by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, the first animated adaptation premiered in 1987 with an undeniably catchy and propulsive theme song. The show centers on its titular quartet of anthropomorphic reptilian martial artists defending New York City from the shadows. In between battling various supervillains menacing the Big Apple, the heroes in a half-shell enjoy pizza and skateboarding around town.

The number of pastiches that flooded the market, like “Biker Mice from Mars” and “Street Sharks,” really underscores how big a deal “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” was at the time. While certainly not always the case in the industry, the decision to turn the gritty, violent comic into a family-friendly cartoon was a smart one that paid significant dividends. The show went on to run for an impressive 10 seasons, outlasting the live-action movie series that it helped inspire by several years. Of all the superhero cartoons to surface in the ’80s, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is the one we’re still talking about the most four decades later.

8. Raising Dion

One of the most underrated Netflix original series is “Raising Dion,” a two-season postmodern take on the superhero genre. The show is named for protagonist Dion Warren (Ja’Siah Young) raised by his single mother Nicole (Alisha Wainwright) after the death of his father. This is complicated by Dion developing superpowers, leading him to be targeted by those looking to exploit his abilities. By Season 2, Dion grows into his role as a young superhero, only for a sinister entity linked to Dion’s origins, escalating their feud with the world in the crossfire.

A more grounded take on the superhero genre than its contemporaries, “Raising Dion” mixes in family drama and coming-of-age stakes for good measure. Those elements coalescing magnificently comes largely from strong performances by Young and Wainwright, giving the story a firm emotional foundation to build from. At the same time, the show builds a taut conflict that involves possession and shadowy figures that maintain the thrills. Perfect to binge over the course of a long weekend, “Raising Dion” keeps its action more grounded but no less exciting in its execution.

7. One-Punch Man

While there is no shortage of anime shows with super-powered characters like “Dragon Ball” or “Jujutsu Kaisen,” series with more conventionally superheroes are a bit rarer. One anime above the usual super sentai fare is the action comedy “One-Punch Man,” based on the manga by ONE and Yusuke Murata. The show follows an unassuming aspiring superhero named Saitama who possesses the ability to defeat any opponent with a single blow. However, Saitama remains under-appreciated due to a number of circumstances, even as the League of Monsters attack humanity.

“One-Punch Man” is a hilarious anime parody of superhero stories from the ridiculous costumed personas that heroes come up with to its subversion of super-powered spectacle. While its core premise may seem like a one-note gag, the sight of Saitama effortlessly obliterating enemies never gets old. In fact, whenever the series tries to move away from Saitama’s comedically overpowered strength, the less effective it becomes. While later seasons aren’t on par with the show’s inaugural run, “One-Punch Man” remains good enough overall to earn a spot on this list.

6. The Powerpuff Girls

Among the best ’90s cartoons is “The Powerpuff Girls,” Cartoon Network’s hit action comedy that debuted in 1998. The titular trio are three sisters created from sugar, spice, and everything nice along with a healthy dose of the super-powered compound Chemical X. This makes them the best-suited to defend their hometown from a whole host of supervillains, as long as they can do it before bedtime. The ensemble is led by Blossom (Cathy Cavadini), joined by her precocious sisters Bubbles (Tara Strong) and Buttercup (E.G. Daily) as they keep their city safe from harm.

The charm in “The Powerpuff Girls” is that it mixes requisite superhero action while keeping the fact that its main characters are still young children very much in sight. Conflicts stem primarily from childhood struggles like being afraid of the dark or dealing with boys, punctuated by a supervillain showdown. The action usually aren’t throwaway sequences either, but infused with a vibrant, almost punk rock, energy to them as the girls make short work of their enemies. A self-aware celebration of the superhero genre, “The Powerpuff Girls” remains one of the best Cartoon Network originals.

5. Misfits

British television offers its own deconstructionist take on the superhero genre with the 2009 series “Misfits.” The show revolves around a group of young delinquents sentenced to complete community service for various crimes. Caught in a freak electrical storm, the ensemble emerges with differing superpowers, which they try to keep a secret. This is complicated by others using their newfound powers for more twisted ends, including the formation of a sinister cult, and the group’s own rambunctious nature.

There was talk of an American remake of “Misfits” on Freeform but the show really works because of its British perspective on the genre. This includes a dark sense of humor but also a bleaker depiction of consequences stemming from the show’s central premise. Try as they might, when mistakes are made, and they’re made often, there are lethal repercussions that punctuate the characters’ journey. Viciously brutal and sharply funny, “Misfits” never gives its main characters the easy way out, especially after they receive their powers, and it’s all the better for it.

4. Todd McFarlane’s Spawn

One of the marquee titles for Image Comics when the creator-owned comic book publisher launched in 1992 was “Spawn.” Created by Todd McFarlane, the comic’s titular superhero is a former assassin who is revived as a demonic avenger. A smash hit with readers, Spawn starred in his own HBO original animated series “Todd McFarlane’s Spawn,” which premiered in 1997. Running for three seasons, the show took advantage of its premium cable platform to include more mature content in line with its comic book source material.

With a level of animation on par with contemporaries like “X-Men: The Animated Series,” “Todd McFarlane’s Spawn” was the most intense animated superhero show of its time. McFarlane himself hosts the episodes, setting the stage for the story to come, many straight from the pages of the comics. Elevating the whole production is Keith David lending his commanding voice to bring the character to animated life with a real sense of gravitas. With the long-gestating Blumhouse Spawn movie featuring a particularly cursed production history, “Todd McFarlane’s Spawn” remains the best adaptation of the hellish superhero.

3. My Hero Academia

One last anime series to include on this list is “My Hero Academia,” poised to become your next superhero obsession. Based on the manga by Kōhei Horikoshi, the anime adaptation takes place in a world where gifted individuals are born with powers, known in-universe as Quirks. Protagonist Izuku Midoriya is seemingly born without a Quirk but is allowed to enroll in a private high school for superheroes in training. As Izuku develops friendships and rivalries among his classmates, he becomes a pivotal figure in a shadowy plot involving the world’s most nefarious supervillains.

If “One-Punch Man” examines superhero tropes under the lens of power-scaling parody, “My Hero Academia” does so as a coming-of-age drama. The costumed action is definitely in abundant supply but the high school premise really does drive the emotional stakes. Canonical to the events of the main series, there were also four theatrically released anime movies set between various seasons. An anime superhero epic that ran for eight seasons, “My Hero Academia” celebrates the genre while introducing the ultimate super-powered teenage feud.

2. The Boys

Comic book creators Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson teamed up to launch their pitch-black parody of superheroes with their comic series “The Boys” in 2006. This was adapted into a Prime Video series in 2019, retaining the source material’s penchant for crude gags and over-the-top violence. The story features a group of misfits led by the unhinged Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) who keep super-powered individuals in line. The ensemble’s primary conflict is with the Seven, a corporate-backed superhero team led by the psychotic ubermensch Homelander (Antony Starr).

“The Boys” sands off the rougher, more misanthropic elements from the comic book, without compromising its brutal nature and dark humor. The Prime Video series leans more into a commentary on corporate and celebrity-run culture, which fuels much of its laughs, while keeping its antagonistic focus on Butcher and Homelander. A popular draw throughout its run, “The Boys” Season 5’s viewership numbers stayed strong as a testament to its continued appeal. “The Boys” revels in the gory possibilities of the superhero genre but not without embracing some of its tropes along the way.

1. Invincible

To Prime Video’s credit, the streaming service boasts being the home of the two best superhero shows on this particular list. “Invincible” is based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, faithfully recounting the long-running tale. The story centers on Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), whose father Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons) is the world’s greatest superhero, with Mark developing powers of his own. However, as Mark becomes increasingly involved in the superhero community, he learns how dangerously unpredictable it can be, especially when it comes to the true nature of Omni-Man’s extraterrestrial heritage.

More than just topping this list, “Invincible” is one of the best Prime Video shows of all time, whether superheroes are involved or not. This comes from the show, like its source material, visibly celebrating the possibilities of the genre while offering its own postmodern approach. The animation is richly rendered while the all-star voice cast really gets us invested in this colorful ensemble of heroes and villains. And though a largely faithful retelling, “Invincible” makes major and welcome changes from the comics to tell the ultimate superhero coming-of-age story with an ambitiously cosmic scope.