Top 10 Superhero Shows That Deserve a Second Chance
#10: “Wolverine and the X-Men” (2008-09)
Marvel's mutants are no strangers to animated series, but 2009's brilliant cartoon failed to replicate the commercial success of "X-Men: The Animated Series." Pushing the perpetually angry Logan to the forefront, "Wolverine and the X-Men" was one of the more ambitious adaptations and launched with the X-Men disbanding. While there is more than enough action to entertain fans, Marvel's cartoon stands out due to a heavier focus on character development and a perfectly paced overarching story-line. Released around the time Disney purchased Marvel, the fact "X-Men" was owned by Fox put the brakes on a potential second season.
#9: “Justice League: Unlimited” (2004-06)
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Launched in 1992 with "Batman: The Animated Series," the DCAU consists of eight series split across a period lasting more than a decade. Revisiting this sequel to "Justice League," a convincing argument could be made for "Unlimited" being the best of the bunch, but the Universe's final cartoon lasted only 39 episodes. Incorporating a wide range of properties and home to some of DC's smartest writing, "Justice League Unlimited" could have comfortably continued for a couple more seasons. As a consolation prize, "Unlimited" comes with a solid ending and even provided "Batman Beyond" fans with closure. But there is still so much more it could do.
#8: “Green Lantern: The Animated Series” (2012-13)
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Overshadowed by "Young Justice," which Cartoon Network canceled around the same time, "Green Lantern: The Animated Series" followed Hal Jordan as a member of the Lantern Corps, but survived for only a single season before being shown the ax. Sadly, merchandise can play a crucial role in determining a cartoon's longevity, and this "Green Lantern" had a very limited run on shelves due to the stink left over by 2011's live-action flop. DC's first animated series dedicated to the superhero, Jordan's CGI adventures seemed doomed for failure despite the show's relatively high quality.
#7: “Gargoyles” (1994-97)
Dark, reflective, and Shakespearean; this classic '90s cartoon was a stark departure from Disney's typical animated TV productions. Opening with a glorious Medieval battle in Scotland, the series sees our titular creatures betrayed and turned to stone, only to awaken a thousand years later in Manhattan. Aesthetically and tonally similar to "Batman: The Animated Series," "Gargoyles" explored genuinely somber themes and weaved elaborate story arcs that challenged both characters and viewers alike. Simply put, "Gargoyles" was too mature for Disney, and the cartoon struggled to amass a large enough fan-base because of it. But just imagine what a network like Netflix could do with Demona!
#6: “The Tick” (2016-19)
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One of the more recent shows on this list, this Amazon Video web series was created by the man behind the comic book character, Ben Edlund. Unfortunately, much like the short-lived mid-90s animated TV series and the early noughties live-action sitcom before it, this mid-2010s reboot was short lived. Following the titular superhero and his sidekick Arthur as they discover who (or what) is behind the underworld in the city where they live, “The Tick” was full of humor, action and heart. Despite this and a Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score for both of its seasons, Amazon pulled the plug on the series before we could get a season 3.
#5: “The Spectacular Spider-Man” (2008-09)
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Caught between a rock and a hard place, the wall crawler's wonderful cartoon was a casualty of Disney's acquisition of Marvel. Originally intended to last 65 episodes, "The Spectacular Spider-Man" shot its final web after only 26, the cartoon's dismissal resulting from the legal trouble between Disney and Sony. Set in high school and based on "The Amazing Spider-Man" comics, the series actually took inspiration from various eras, and came across as a celebration of Spidey's entire mythos rather than a streamlined adaptation of one particular version. By 2012, Peter Parker was back on the air, but there was no replacing "The Spectacular Spider-Man."
#4: “Teen Titans” (2003-06)
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Five seasons is a more than decent run for any series, but going out on a cliffhanger is never okay. Initially designed to be a superhero show for younger viewers, "Teen Titans" blended gut-busting comedy with exhilarating action, and the season-long story-lines proved engrossing enough to attract a wider audience. Various reasons have been given for the series' cancellation, but "Teen Titans" was popular enough to – at the very least – warrant a final season that ties up any loose ends. While a decent enough send-off in its own right, "Teen Titans" deserves a better ending than "Trouble in Tokyo."
#3: “Agent Carter” (2015-16)
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It’s not a superhero show per se, but “Agent Carter” does share continuity with and takes place in the MCU - both of which make it superhero adjacent - so that’s good enough for us! A period piece set after World War II starring Hayley Atwell, “Agent Carter” garnered almost nothing but glowing reviews. Unfortunately, "Agent Carter"'s ratings did not reflect the show's quality - though, as many have pointed out, most of the blame can be attributed to ABC's erratic scheduling and ineffective advertisement campaign. Rather than focusing on supermen, "Agent Carter" presents a character-driven drama about a normal human being who inspires as she goes above and beyond to better the world. Aided by strong writing and a capable cast, "Agent Carter" bowed out with a cliffhanger and a movie cameo, but the premise could technically be revisited at any time.
#2: “Constantine” (2014-15)
For the most part, the "Arrowverse" has been a resounding success; however, DC fell just shy of batting a perfect game. Distributed by NBC and following a chain-smoking demon hunter's various dealings with the occult, "Constantine" was comfortably the darkest live-action DC series out of the bunch, which made the show a poor fit for the network. Reviews were not overly positive, but Matt Ryan lives and breathes John Constantine - so much so that the actor has reprised the role numerous times on DC's other shows, including "Legends of Tomorrow"'s cast. Clearly, Constantine is worth not only keeping around, but perhaps even bringing back from the dead.
#1: “Daredevil” (2015-18)
The first to be canceled was “Luke Cage,” followed by “Daredevil,” and then a double-whammy: “Jessica Jones” and “The Punisher.” Despite mostly positive reviews, these created-for-Netflix series based on Marvel characters of the same name found themselves on the chopping block after only two or three seasons. “Daredevil” hit the streaming service first and almost immediately captured the attention of subscribers for being a thoughtfully produced origin story, thanks to its attention to the source material, thrilling action, and high production values. With multiple award nominations and a Fresh Tomatometer score for all 3 seasons, its cancelation was a huge shock; however, it’s being rumored that Disney+ could revive the series (and possibly other canceled Marvel properties) - so here’s hoping!