Movie adaptations of comic books are the biggest trend hitting Hollywood at the moment, but comic book TV series, especially of the animated kind, have been around for decades. By being able to actually replicate the artwork shown in comic books, superhero and super villain cartoons have brought to life some of the most memorable comic book stories ever.
Over the years, comic books have evolved and developed, and naturally there’s been an animated series to accompany most of them, often overshadowing the comic that they were originally based on. If you’re looking to set up satellite TV so you can watch all your favorite comic book TV shows, check out Dish Network to get started, then keep reading for a list of the best.
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (NBC, 1981-1983)
If you grew up in the 80’s, you’ll probably remember the adventures of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, which was often goofy in nature, and unashamedly 80’s. The animation is nothing special, but this show is a memorable part of many of our childhoods.
Fantastic Four (ABC, 1967-1968)
Fantastic Four wasn’t the longest running comic book TV show with only twenty episodes, but it was one of the most famous and full of skillful storytelling that had a massive impact on kids and comic book fans everywhere. Having been released only six years after the comic book was created, Fantastic Four had the advantage of being new and original for most of its audience, as many people who watched the show weren’t avid comic book readers, and hadn’t heard of the characters before.
Batman: The Animated Series (Fox, 1992-1997)
Seen as many avid comic TV series fans as their all-time favorite animated comic book show, Batman: The Animated Series revolutionized the way many of us look at superhero cartoons, and also changed the Dark Knight as a character, defining an interpretation of Batman that’s still seen as the definitive version of the character today.
Superman (Theatrical, 1941-1942)
Fleisher Studios’ Superman shorts from the 1940’s would be aired before a feature-length movie, and many viewers would state that they actually enjoyed the shorts more than the actual film they’d gone to the pictures to watch. In fact, they were received so well that they were nominated for the Academy Award, an achievement that no other comic book series would be able to claim for decades.
Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (Disney XD, 2010- Present)
With its debut only a few years ago, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes has already proven itself to be one of the best superhero adaptions ever. With spectacular animation and the classic Avengers characters included (Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, and Hawkeye are all there) the show includes aspects from both the Silver Age comics from the 60’s as well as from more modern books, whilst managing to be completely fresh and original in the process.
That’s all for now folks! If you think we’re missing some shows off the list, we’d love to hear about your all-time favorite comic book TV shows in the comments.
