Explore the definitive guide to the top Marvel and DC television shows that have captured global attention. Find out which superhero TV programs are the best that you must not miss, with captivating plots and memorable characters. Whether you’ve always loved superhero comics or are just getting started, our in-depth analyses and insights will help you discover the most critically praised titles from these legendary comic book titans. Come along as we unpack the hidden jewels and must-see episodes that epitomize Marvel and DC television.

1. Gotham (2014 – 2019)

Based on characters from DC Comics’ Batman mythos, Gotham is an American superhero crime drama television series created by Bruno Heller and produced by Warner Bros. Television. After five seasons totaling one hundred episodes, the show concluded on April 25, 2019, following its September 22, 2014, Fox debut. Ben McKenzie as James “Jim” Gordon, Donal Logue as Harvey Bullock, and David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne are among the ensemble cast members. Following the assassination of Bruce’s parents, the episode focuses on Gordon’s early years at the Gotham City Police Department and the backstories of Batman’s notorious rogues gallery.

In September of 2013, Fox hired Bruno Heller as an executive producer and writer for a Batman prequel series, and development got underway. Fox initially scheduled 16 episodes for its inaugural season in March 2014, but then increased that number to 22. Most of the filming was done in and around New York City. Fox announced in May 2018 that the show will return for a fifth and final season. The season would consist of twelve episodes and run from January 3, 2019, to April 25, 2019. Pennyworth was a prequel television series that aired from July 2019 to October 2022. It starred Jack Bannon as a younger version of the Alfred Pennyworth character portrayed by Sean Pertwee in Gotham.

2. Legion (2017 – 2019)

Based on the Marvel Comics character David Haller / Legion, Noah Hawley developed the American superhero television series Legion for FX. It was created by FX Productions in collaboration with Marvel Television and aired for three seasons from 2017 to 2019, with Hawley in the role of showrunner. It was set in an alternate timeline of the X-Men film series.

David Haller, played by Dan Stevens, was a “mutant” who was given a schizophrenia diagnosis at an early age. The show centers on Haller as he seeks to avoid a government agency while attempting to manage his mutant powers and the evil forces attempting to do the same. In the first season, Katie Aselton co-starred with Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza, Bill Irwin, Jeremie Harris, Amber Midthunder, and Jean Smart. For the second season, Jemaine Clement and Hamish Linklater were elevated to main characters after having recurring parts while Navid Negahban joined the cast. During the third season, Lauren Tsai joined.

The first season of Legion, consisting of eight episodes, ran from February to March of 2017. A second season consisting of eleven episodes ran from April to June of 2018. On June 24, 2019, the third and final season, consisting of eight episodes, debuted. Over three seasons, a total of 27 episodes were broadcast. The three seasons were highly praised by critics for their original take on the superhero genre, as well as their distinctive narrative and visual styles.

3. Arrow (2012 – 2020)

Based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow, a costumed crime-fighter created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, Arrow is an American superhero television series developed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg. It is the first series of the Arrowverse and shares continuity with other related television series. October 10, 2012, saw the US premiere of the series on The CW. It continued for eight seasons until January 28, 2020. The majority of Arrow’s filming took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Arrow is the story of billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), the eldest son of Robert and Moira Queen. Oliver claimed to have been shipwrecked on Lian Yu, an enigmatic island in the North China Sea, for five years before returning to his hometown of Starling City (later renamed “Star City”) to fight corruption and crime as a covert vigilante using a bow and arrow. Oliver is joined throughout the series by a number of people, including his sister Thea (Willa Holland), former soldier John Diggle (David Ramsey), IT specialist and proficient hacker Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), former assassin Sara Lance (Caity Lotz), and lawyer-turned-vigilante Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy).

Based on Oliver’s memories, figures from his past emerge in distinct plot arcs over the course of the first five seasons of the program. Beginning with season seven, a sequence of flashforwards explore how current events will impact William (Ben Lewis) and Mia (Katherine McNamara), Oliver’s children, and the legacy of Green Arrow.

4. Marvel’s Jessica Jones (2015 – 2019)

Based on the same-titled Marvel Comics heroine, Melissa Rosenberg produced the American television series Marvel’s Jessica Jones for the streaming service Netflix. It was the second Marvel Netflix series preceding the crossover miniseries The Defenders, and it is based in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the franchise’s motion pictures. Rosenberg served as showrunner for the Marvel Television series, which was developed in collaboration with Tall Girls Productions, ABC Studios, and Marvel Television. For the third season, Scott Reynolds shared showrunner duties.

Complete seasons of the first and second seasons were made available on Netflix on November 20, 2015, March 8, 2018, and June 14, 2019, respectively. Positive reviews greeted them, and they won several awards, such as the Hugo, Peabody, and Primetime Creative Arts Emmy. Jessica Jones was canceled by Netflix on February 18, 2019. On March 1, 2022, all Marvel Netflix programs were taken from the platform as Disney was granted permission to reclaim the license for them. Disney+ started to broadcast them on March 16, 2022.

5. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (2016 – 2022)

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, or just Legends of Tomorrow, is an American television series about superheroes that travel back in time. It was created by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg, and Phil Klemmer, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Chris Fedak and Sarah Schechter. Fedak and Klemmer were the showrunners at first, but beginning with the fourth season, Keto Shimizu took over as co-showrunner alongside Klemmer. The CW hosted the DC Comics-based series, which debuted on January 21, 2016, and continued for seven seasons until March 2, 2022, when it was canceled on April 29. Characters from Arrow and The Flash as well as new ones are featured in this Arrowverse spin-off series.

Though the first season drew mixed reviews, later seasons witnessed an improvement in ratings due to a change in tone and regular adjustments to the show’s setting, topics, and cast of characters. Critics generally agreed that the show found its footing as a lighter DC series linked to meta-humor, social commentary, and the greater creative freedom afforded to its cast of mostly lesser-known or entirely original characters. The show began as a self-serious superhero drama where heroes battle high stakes throughout time.

6. The Flash (2014 – 2023)

The CW hosts the American superhero television series The Flash, which was created by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, and Geoff Johns. It is based on the DC Comics character The Flash, played by Barry Allen, who is a costumed superhero crime-fighter with incredible speed. It is an Arrow spin-off that takes place in the same fictitious world as Arrowverse. October 7, 2014, saw the US premiere of the series on The CW. It continued for nine seasons until May 24, 2023. The show centers on Grant Gustin’s character, crime scene investigator Barry Allen, who has extraordinary speed and utilizes it to battle criminals and other people who have also acquired superhuman powers.

With the October 7, 2014, launch of The Flash, The CW’s most-watched pilot ever was The Vampire Diaries in 2009. It was praised by both reviewers and viewers, and in 2014 it was named the People’s Choice Award winner for “Favorite New TV Drama”. Characters from both the series and Arrow have been split off to their own program, Legends of Tomorrow, which debuted on January 21, 2016.

7. Legion of Super Heroes (2006 – 2008)

Based on the DC Comics series of the same name, Legion of Super Heroes is an American animated television series created by Warner Bros. Animation. The story, which made its premiere on September 23, 2006, follows a teenage Superman as he battles with the titular gang of superheroes during his exploits in the 31st century. James Tucker, a co-producer of the Justice League Unlimited series, produced one of the show’s key character designs for the Kids’ WB line-up on The CW network.

Drawing from stories spanning across the almost 50-year history of the squad in comic books, the series explored the rich history of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Additionally, it included a 20-issue tie-in spin-off comic book series called Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century.

The second season of the show was canceled.

8. Black Lightning (2018 – 2021)

Salim Akil is the creator of the American superhero drama television series Black Lightning, which debuted on The CW on January 16, 2018, and ran until May 24, 2021. It is based on the same-named character that Trevor Von Eeden and Tony Isabella invented and that appears in DC Comics books. Alongside China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin “Krondon” Jones III, Damon Gupton, James Remar, Jordan Calloway, and Chantal Thuy, Cress Williams plays the title role. In the show, the retired superhero Black Lightning resurrects his heroic career and explores the impact of his vigilante actions on his personal and professional relationships.

The project, which was once under development at Fox, received a commitment for pilot production in September 2016. The CW took up the project with an order for a fresh pilot screenplay after Fox passed on it in February 2017. In May 2017, The CW formally ordered Black Lightning to series. With 13 episodes, the first season debuted on January 16, 2018. The second season of the show, which debuted on October 9, 2018, and consisted of 16 episodes, was renewed by The CW in April 2018.

After the network’s other DC Comics television series, collectively referred to as the Arrowverse, were first teased in the third season of the show, which debuted on October 7, 2019, Williams’ appearance as Black Lightning in their “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event marked the beginning of the series’ merging of its setting with that of the other Arrowverse shows. Beginning on February 8, 2021, and running through May 24, 2021, is the fourth and final season.

9. Marvel’s Luke Cage (2016 – 2018)

Based on the same-titled Marvel Comics superhero, Marvel’s Luke Cage is an American television series developed by Cheo Hodari Coker for the streaming service Netflix. It was the third Marvel Netflix series preceding the crossover miniseries The Defenders, and it is based in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the franchise’s motion pictures. Coker served as the showrunner for the Marvel Television-ABC Studios partnership that created the series.

On September 30, 2016, the full first season of Netflix became available, and on June 22, 2018, the second season did the same. Positive reviews greeted them, and they won many awards, including a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy. Netflix canceled Luke Cage on October 19, 2018, due to creative issues during the creation of a third season. On March 1, 2022, all Marvel Netflix programs were taken from Netflix when Disney recovered the rights for them. Disney+ started offering them for streaming on March 16.

10. Peacemaker (2022 – Present)

Based on the DC Comics character of the same name, Peacemaker is an American superhero television series developed by James Gunn for the streaming service HBO Max (later called Max). The first season is a spin-off from the 2021 movie The Suicide Squad and the only television series set in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). It takes place after the movie’s events and delves more into the jingoistic mercenary Christopher Smith/Peacemaker. With Gunn serving as showrunner, it was produced by Troll Court Entertainment and the Safran Company in collaboration with Warner Bros. Television. Produced by DC Studios, the second season takes place in the “soft reboot” of the DCEU known as the DC Universe (DCU).

First three episodes of Peacemaker debuted on HBO Max on January 13, 2022. Up to February 17, the remaining five episodes from the first season were published every week. Every episode saw a rise in viewership, and the season earned favorable reviews. Max will release the second season. Numerous honors, including a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award, have been nominated for the series. Waller, a spin-off series inside the DCU, is currently under production.