Five of the best and worst superhero shows on TV ever

Television has always had mixed fortunes with superheroes. Below are some past examples of when it’s got it right, and when it’s got it really, really wrong.

Five of the best

Watchmen (2019)

Technically, this superb 10-part miniseries is a sequel to the divisive 2009 film of the revered comic book series, set 34 years after the original in the same alternate universe.

But it features a raft of original costumed heroes, led by Angela Abar (Regina King), a Black detective whose alter ego is called Sister Night. The Watchmen face white supremacy group the Seventh Kavalry, whose origins lie in the infamous 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

The Greatest American Hero (1981-83)

This engaging blend of comedy-drama starred William Katt as substitute teacher Ralph Hinckley, who receives a suit from aliens that endows him with Superman-like powers.

Unfortunately, Ralph loses the instruction booklet before he has a chance to master them and spends a lot of time crashing into things.

​Batman: The Animated Series (1992-95)

As much as everyone loves the campy 1960s series, this landmark animated series is the definitive television incarnation of the Caped Crusader. The beautiful, Art Deco-influenced animation, the sophisticated scripts and the commanding voice acting by the late Kevin Conroy as Batman made it a crossover hit with all generations.

Misfits (2009-13)

E4’s comedy-drama about five delinquents doing community service who acquire superpowers after being zapped in an electrical storm was bold, clever and very funny.

It managed to hold onto its audience through five seasons, despite the original stars, including Robert Sheehan, gradually moving on.

Daredevil (2015-19)

After the middling 2004 film starring Ben Affleck as the blind crimefighter whose other senses are hyper-developed, Marvel comics’ most down-to-earth character got the faithful adaptation he deserved in this gritty, punchy series.

Kin star Charlie Cox, who played Daredevil/Matt Murdock, returns next year in the Disney+ miniseries Daredevil: Born Again.

Five of the worst

The Amazing Spider-Man (1977-79)

A dire, cheap-as-chips travesty. Nicholas Hammond played Peter Parker, but the feeble in-costume action scenes were handled by a silent stuntman who had a completely different build to the chunky actor.

The low budget meant Spidey spent his time jumping, instead of swinging, around the city, foiling bog standard bad guys rather than the familiar supervillains.​

The Incredible Hulk (1977-82)

Let’s be honest: The Incredible Hulk, starring Bill Bixby as scientist David Banner, who turns big, green and mean when’s he’s angry, really wasn’t very good.

The Hulk of the comics and the recent movies is gigantic, can leap great distances and crush a tank like it was a child’s toy. Thanks to a 70 TV-sized budget, this gave us tall bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno in green body paint and a fright wig, lobbing polystyrene rocks around.

My Hero (2000-06)

Ardal O’Hanlon starred in this dreadful BBC sitcom as alien superhero Thermoman. We can only assume the money was good, because the scripts were awful.

Somebody must have liked it, though; it lasted six seasons (the final one, after O’Hanlon left, with James Dreyfus). Then again, some people like broccoli.

Manimal (1983)

One of the worst TV series ever made. Simon MacCorkindale plays a suave doctor who can transform into any animal.

The special effects budget only stretched to showing him turning into a hawk and a black panther, so the other transformations all took place off-screen.

Flash Gordon (2007)

Alex Raymond’s comic-strip hero inspired 1930s serials, the gloriously camp 1980 film and various cartoon series. “Inspired” is not the word for this dreary, short-lived series that sucked all the fun out of a great character.