Top 10 Old Superhero Shows That Should Be Brought Back
#10: “Batman Beyond” (1999-2001)
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In a not too distant future, an elderly Bruce Wayne quarterbacks from the Bat Cave as the young Terry McGinnis confronts criminals as the new Dark Knight. The youthful hero had a colorful rogues gallery that kept him on his toes. And we never got tired of seeing Terry glide through the Neo Gotham setting. Although the third season wasn’t as strong as the previous installments, the show still didn’t deserve to end there. A “Batman Beyond” revival could introduce new threats and explain what happened to old allies like Dick Grayson and Superman. Terry could also have team ups with other heroes and get a neo-Robin of his own. If this batman soared again, we’re confident fans would embrace his future legacy.
#9: “Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes” (2006-10)
Marvel’s first family returned to the screen for a well-animated and thrilling adaptation at the turn of the century. The series did a great job at capturing the titular team’s personalities and using their powers in creative ways. Unfortunately, a random airing schedule and network jump made it very difficult for anyone to follow the Fantastic Four’s adventures. Since a live-action movie is scheduled to be released in 2025, now’s the perfect time to revive the troubled animated show. Not only could the program familiarize audiences with the team, but it could incorporate villains like Galactus long before he’s adapted to the screen again. A revival that incorporated what worked while taking big risks would make the Fantastic Four feel like the World’s Greatest Heroes.
#8: “Danny Phantom” (2004-07)
After getting into an accident in his parents’ lab, Danny Fenton gained ghostly abilities. Over the course of three seasons, we watched as he matured as a hero and became more powerful. The series ultimately ended with him saving the world and revealing his identity. Although it was a feel-good conclusion, the creators can scare up new stories based on our lingering questions. Did everyone around the world accept Danny after he revealed his secret identity? Will another villain try to take advantage of the ghost zone? And after a few years of ghost busting, does Danny want to hang up the jumpsuit? These questions and more are just begging to be answered in a continuation.
#7: “Gargoyles” (1994-97)
This beloved Disney series was once praised for its fantastic characters and unique premise. During the show, we followed gargoyles who were stone by day and lively crime fighters by night. After two strong seasons, executive meddling led to a lackluster third and final installment. But neither fans nor creator Greg Weisman seem to be content with how the series ended. While viewers kept searching for answers about what happens next, the architect of the show has continually contributed to comics and outlined new arcs. There is more than enough material out there to free the animated “Gargoyles” from their stone prison again. While the news of a live-action series is great, the original show still needs time to shine.
#6: “The Spectacular Spider-Man” (2008-09)
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The 2008 webhead series blew fans and critics away with its nuanced storytelling, complex characters, and amazing action scenes. After two superb seasons, the show creators planned on at least 3 more seasons and a couple of movies. But the Spectacular Spider-Man’s web ended up being cut far too soon. After the rights to the series were essentially split between Sony and Disney, neither company was legally able to continue the story. Since the short-lived series ended, fans have had to settle for a Spectacular cameo in “Across the Spider-Verse”. We know Disney has plans for other Spidey shows. However, we think there’s enough room for another webhead to swing back onto our screens.
#5: “Justice League Unlimited” (2004-06)
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While we loved seeing early career heroes work together on “Young Justice”, we’d love to focus on the veterans for a revival. “Justice League Unlimited” brought popular and obscure characters together to fight classic rogues and completely new antagonists. This formula led to plenty of unique team-ups. Additionally, the show excelled at setting up epic narratives that also had lots of humor. Since the series alternated between self-contained stories and multi-episode plots, a revival could easily start us off on a clean slate or kick off a winding tale. The possibilities are practically unlimited for this superhero show. Hopefully, the league will get a chance to save the day again.
#4: “Green Lantern: The Animated Series” (2011-13)
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Hal Jordan and many other members of the Lantern corps impressed audiences when they appeared in this intergalactic series. The characters and their various powers were brought to life with stunning CGI animation. Underneath the crisp visuals, viewers were treated to deep cosmic plots that set themselves apart from other superhero fare. The groundbreaking series was cut short due to factors such as lackluster merchandise sales and the failure of the 2011 film. Fans have been deprived of a focused Green Lantern show since the former series was abruptly canceled. Instead of starting from scratch, DC could continue right where the short lived show left off. The network just has to be willing to embrace the might of this epic series.
#3: “The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes” (2010-12)
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A few of the planet’s fiercest fighters initially came together to stop dangerous escaped criminals. But the team eventually stayed together to deal with world breaking threats. During this Avengers series, viewers got to see a great roster of heroes star in tight and action-packed stories. The series also brought in plenty of iconic Marvel villains that pushed the protagonists to their limits. After a strong two seasons, the writers planned to expand the team, introduce X-men and kick off a Ragnarok event. But the show was disassembled in favor of a new Avengers show in 2013. While the second program was great on its own, “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” still had a lot more to offer.
#2: “Teen Titans” (2003-06)
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An anime inspired art style and focus on a teenage team immediately set this beloved series apart from everything else in the genre. But what really kept fans engaged was the fact that the series balanced everything perfectly. The show wonderfully blended dramatic tales and comedic stories. Additionally, each member of the team was fully fleshed out and given the opportunity to take the lead. While there were a variety of reasons given for the show’s cancellation after season 5, diehard fans don’t care about any of them. Viewers and critics celebrated the brief return of the original titans in a 2019 movie. The warm reception there should be a big sign that if a Titans revival is built, fans will come. Before we revive our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Beware the Batman” (2013-14) Budget Issues Allegedly Prevented This Unique Dark Knight From Staying on Our Screens “Iron Man” (1994-96) Fans Would Love to Suit Up Beside Tony Stark for More Armored Adventures “Freakazoid!” (1995-97) This Short Lived Superhero Parody Would Have Plenty of Material To Work With Today “Todd McFarlane's Spawn” (1997-99) This Dark & Brooding Series Could Shine If Given Another Chance
#1: “Spider-Man The Animated Series” (1994-98)
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For a generation of fans, the first wallcrawler that they saw on tv came from the 1994 series. The five season show incorporated great comic book storylines while creating original tales that continue to stand the test of time. Every victory, defeat, and lesson led up to a multiverse finale that ended on a massive cliffhanger. But the time may have finally come to continue the story. The Spidey show notably crossed over with “X-Men: The Animated Series”. Since the latter show enjoyed a successful revival in 2024, it’s likely the 1994 webhead could succeed today too. The 20th century Spider-Man brought a lot of people into the Spider-verse. It’s only right that he gets to return and see how far the genre has come. What superhero show would you revive if you had the chance? Let us know in the comments below!
