10 Superheroes That Need Their Own Animated Series
advertisement
VOICE OVER: Adrian Sousa
WRITTEN BY: Jason Porter
Saturday morning would be so much cooler with these heroes in the mix! For this list we'll be looking at the Superheroes who desperately need their own cartoon series such as Moon Knight, Nightwing and the Justice League. Who would you like to see hit the air waves? Let us know in the comments!
Have an idea you want to see made into a WatchMojo video? Check out our suggest page at http://WatchMojo.comsuggest and submit your idea.
Have an idea you want to see made into a WatchMojo video? Check out our suggest page at http://WatchMojo.comsuggest and submit your idea.
Saturday morning would be so much cooler with these heroes in the mix! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 superheroes who deserve their own animated series.
For this list, we're looking at superheroes and superhero teams who – for whatever reason - have never gotten the dedicated cartoon shows they clearly deserve. Heroes and heroines who've appeared in movies, live-action shows, other cartoons, or animated specials are still eligible, just as long as they've never actually had an ongoing animated series of their own.
Although some of this wacky comic book's charm comes from the text-based jokes and notes packed into every page, a lot of the fun also comes from Squirrel Girl herself. In addition to living her day-to-day life like everybody else, Doreen Green's a mutant heroine who's all about eating nuts and kicking butts. Her unlikely meta-ability to never be defeated in a fight, ever, leads to fresh and funny stories that let normally-rigid Marvel villains like Galactus and Dr. Doom breathe and stretch a little. An animated version that keeps the family-friendly oddball humor and hare-brained squirrel dialog intact would become an instant classic.
Whether you call him Charles Victor Szasz, Vic Sage, or simply “the Question,” this top-notch investigative journalist is known for his Zen philosophy and never-say-die attitude. He uses a faceless disguise to intimidate criminals, investigate shady leads, and occasionally dispense a little vigilante justice. He's a brilliant analytic mind, but unlike his more famous counterpart Batman, this DC hero operates on a smaller and more realistic stage, with fewer resources and no gadgets to speak of. It'd be much more of a mystery show than an action extravaganza, but we think that distinction could work to its advantage by setting it apart from the pack.
This all-female mystery-solving squad may be the freshest thing to come out of DC's Gotham City since Detective Comics #27. Combining the powers of Batgirl, Black Canary, Huntress, and others, the comics explore the complex working relationships between its protagonists - who range from the heroic to the villainous - while never forgetting to keep the mysteries compelling, the action exciting, and the Batman firmly in the background. The Birds of Prey did actually have a forgettable, short-lived live-action TV series back in 2002, but we'd love to see an animated series based on the modern version of the team.
The latest and, many would say, greatest incarnation of perennial Marvel heroine Ms. Marvel, Pakistani-American teenager Kamala Khan took the mantle from Carol Danvers when Danvers became the new Captain Marvel. Khan has an open, honest, and often funny demeanor, plus shapeshifting powers (derived from Inhuman genetic material) that allow her to stand tall as her own superheroine, rather than serve as a counterpart to Captain Marvel. The comic book is known for its great writing, and we'd love to see those award-winning stories brought to life in a new animated series.
Pixar's First Family of superheroes has one of the most enthusiastic fan bases anywhere, and it's not hard to see why: the original film balances over-the-top action and adventure with some of the most relatable family dynamics ever put to film. Each character has clearly-defined powers and personality traits, and it's lots of fun to watch them interact with each other, whether they're saving the day or just trying to get through it. In other words, it's an ideal recipe for an ongoing animated series - so what are the creators waiting for?
Superman might be hard to top in a test of strength, but Kryptonite isn't his only vulnerability: he's also weak to magical attacks. That's where these guys come in. John Constantine, Zatanna, Deadman, and others combine under Batman's direction to form a special arm of the Justice League dedicated to handling bizarre and supernatural threats that Supes and the rest of the regular JL crew would have trouble handling. It's a great ensemble showcase of some of DC's darker heroes, and it just received an animated film – so why not throw in a regular animated series to go along with it?
Matt Murdock: righteous lawyer by day and two-fisted city defender by night, is basically a literal depiction of "blind justice," but there's more to him than a round-the-clock crime-fighting schedule. Daredevil's darker side is what keeps fans coming back. His internal struggles over love, faith, the limits of the law, and the complex, imperfect nature of the world make “the Man Without Fear” much more than just a lawyer variant of DC's Batman. A memorable rogues gallery that includes the likes of Elektra, Bullseye, and the Kingpin has helped the comic to thrive for decades. Our perfect animated Daredevil series would be moody, action-packed, and aimed at older audiences.
The original Robin is all grown up, and still fighting crime. DC originally had some trouble coming up with a distinct personality for this young, intelligent, and driven member of the Titans, but these days he's a nice balance between the stern seriousness of Batman and the flexible, quick-witted antics of Robin. He's a fan favorite who works just as well as a support character as he does in the lead role. That makes the idea of an animated series even more exciting – he's a capable solo hero who can also join up with just about any DC team without getting lost in the shuffle.
The living avatar of the Egyptian moon god Khonshu, this violent, rough-and-tumble ex-mercenary has various alter egos that spill over into multiple personalities. He's aloof, driven, and savage in his execution of justice; because of this, he finds himself on the wrong side of his fellow heroes as often as he finds himself in league with them. He's kind of like a more mystical, less stable combination of Batman and the Punisher and a long-time favorite of serious comic book fans. It would be challenging to handle Moon Knight's mental illness, as well as the comics, usually do, but we think the right team could make an animated series that did it justice.
Before we reveal our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
Invincible
Blue Beetle
Blade
The 2017 blockbuster movie starring Gal Gadot proved that there's still an enormous appetite for the comic world’s favorite superheroine, provided she's handled with care and given an interesting story. Wonder Woman is a hero everybody likes, strong and righteous, with an honest demeanor and a down-to-earth attitude. She's kind, just, fair, and keenly concerned with the plight of ordinary people. Besides, her character always stole the show in the Justice League cartoons from the mid-2000s. If ever there was a time to invest in an animated series dedicated solely to Wonder Woman's adventures, it's now, while public interest in her is at an all-time high.
For this list, we're looking at superheroes and superhero teams who – for whatever reason - have never gotten the dedicated cartoon shows they clearly deserve. Heroes and heroines who've appeared in movies, live-action shows, other cartoons, or animated specials are still eligible, just as long as they've never actually had an ongoing animated series of their own.
#10: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl
Although some of this wacky comic book's charm comes from the text-based jokes and notes packed into every page, a lot of the fun also comes from Squirrel Girl herself. In addition to living her day-to-day life like everybody else, Doreen Green's a mutant heroine who's all about eating nuts and kicking butts. Her unlikely meta-ability to never be defeated in a fight, ever, leads to fresh and funny stories that let normally-rigid Marvel villains like Galactus and Dr. Doom breathe and stretch a little. An animated version that keeps the family-friendly oddball humor and hare-brained squirrel dialog intact would become an instant classic.
#9: The Question
Whether you call him Charles Victor Szasz, Vic Sage, or simply “the Question,” this top-notch investigative journalist is known for his Zen philosophy and never-say-die attitude. He uses a faceless disguise to intimidate criminals, investigate shady leads, and occasionally dispense a little vigilante justice. He's a brilliant analytic mind, but unlike his more famous counterpart Batman, this DC hero operates on a smaller and more realistic stage, with fewer resources and no gadgets to speak of. It'd be much more of a mystery show than an action extravaganza, but we think that distinction could work to its advantage by setting it apart from the pack.
#8: Birds of Prey
This all-female mystery-solving squad may be the freshest thing to come out of DC's Gotham City since Detective Comics #27. Combining the powers of Batgirl, Black Canary, Huntress, and others, the comics explore the complex working relationships between its protagonists - who range from the heroic to the villainous - while never forgetting to keep the mysteries compelling, the action exciting, and the Batman firmly in the background. The Birds of Prey did actually have a forgettable, short-lived live-action TV series back in 2002, but we'd love to see an animated series based on the modern version of the team.
#7: Ms. Marvel/ Kamala Khan
The latest and, many would say, greatest incarnation of perennial Marvel heroine Ms. Marvel, Pakistani-American teenager Kamala Khan took the mantle from Carol Danvers when Danvers became the new Captain Marvel. Khan has an open, honest, and often funny demeanor, plus shapeshifting powers (derived from Inhuman genetic material) that allow her to stand tall as her own superheroine, rather than serve as a counterpart to Captain Marvel. The comic book is known for its great writing, and we'd love to see those award-winning stories brought to life in a new animated series.
#6: The Incredibles
Pixar's First Family of superheroes has one of the most enthusiastic fan bases anywhere, and it's not hard to see why: the original film balances over-the-top action and adventure with some of the most relatable family dynamics ever put to film. Each character has clearly-defined powers and personality traits, and it's lots of fun to watch them interact with each other, whether they're saving the day or just trying to get through it. In other words, it's an ideal recipe for an ongoing animated series - so what are the creators waiting for?
#5: Justice League Dark
Superman might be hard to top in a test of strength, but Kryptonite isn't his only vulnerability: he's also weak to magical attacks. That's where these guys come in. John Constantine, Zatanna, Deadman, and others combine under Batman's direction to form a special arm of the Justice League dedicated to handling bizarre and supernatural threats that Supes and the rest of the regular JL crew would have trouble handling. It's a great ensemble showcase of some of DC's darker heroes, and it just received an animated film – so why not throw in a regular animated series to go along with it?
#4: Daredevil
Matt Murdock: righteous lawyer by day and two-fisted city defender by night, is basically a literal depiction of "blind justice," but there's more to him than a round-the-clock crime-fighting schedule. Daredevil's darker side is what keeps fans coming back. His internal struggles over love, faith, the limits of the law, and the complex, imperfect nature of the world make “the Man Without Fear” much more than just a lawyer variant of DC's Batman. A memorable rogues gallery that includes the likes of Elektra, Bullseye, and the Kingpin has helped the comic to thrive for decades. Our perfect animated Daredevil series would be moody, action-packed, and aimed at older audiences.
#3: Nightwing
The original Robin is all grown up, and still fighting crime. DC originally had some trouble coming up with a distinct personality for this young, intelligent, and driven member of the Titans, but these days he's a nice balance between the stern seriousness of Batman and the flexible, quick-witted antics of Robin. He's a fan favorite who works just as well as a support character as he does in the lead role. That makes the idea of an animated series even more exciting – he's a capable solo hero who can also join up with just about any DC team without getting lost in the shuffle.
#2: Moon Knight
The living avatar of the Egyptian moon god Khonshu, this violent, rough-and-tumble ex-mercenary has various alter egos that spill over into multiple personalities. He's aloof, driven, and savage in his execution of justice; because of this, he finds himself on the wrong side of his fellow heroes as often as he finds himself in league with them. He's kind of like a more mystical, less stable combination of Batman and the Punisher and a long-time favorite of serious comic book fans. It would be challenging to handle Moon Knight's mental illness, as well as the comics, usually do, but we think the right team could make an animated series that did it justice.
Before we reveal our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
Invincible
Blue Beetle
Blade
#1: Wonder Woman
The 2017 blockbuster movie starring Gal Gadot proved that there's still an enormous appetite for the comic world’s favorite superheroine, provided she's handled with care and given an interesting story. Wonder Woman is a hero everybody likes, strong and righteous, with an honest demeanor and a down-to-earth attitude. She's kind, just, fair, and keenly concerned with the plight of ordinary people. Besides, her character always stole the show in the Justice League cartoons from the mid-2000s. If ever there was a time to invest in an animated series dedicated solely to Wonder Woman's adventures, it's now, while public interest in her is at an all-time high.
