DC Comics has inspired a number of successful TV series. From The CW’s interconnected “Arrowverse” shows like Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl, to HBO’s The Penguin and Peacemaker, and even the recently concluded Doom Patrol, fans have had plenty of options. Many of these series have been so popular and well-regarded that people are still discussing them years later – and sometimes even more than they talk about DC’s films.
It’s easy to think of popular DC TV shows, but many others have aired and quickly faded from memory. These shows either didn’t gain much traction or simply didn’t get enough attention, and it’s a shame because some were actually quite good. Here are five DC TV shows that most people have forgotten.
5) Naomi
Created by Ava DuVernay and Jill Blankenship, the CW series Naomi ran for one season and was inspired by the comic book of the same name by Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker. The show centered on Naomi McDuffie (Kaci Walfall), a teenager who loves comic books and runs a fan site dedicated to Superman. When a strange event happens in her town, Port Oswego, Naomi begins to investigate, uncovering secrets about both the event and herself.
Critics generally loved the show Naomi, highlighting its intriguing mystery, good pacing, and Kaci Walfall’s excellent performance. Unfortunately, viewers didn’t connect with it as strongly. The show’s cancellation was also due to changes happening at The CW; in 2022, the network was sold to Nexstar, and as a result, ten series – including Naomi – were cancelled before the sale was complete.
4) Birds of Prey
The 2002 TV show Birds of Prey, based on the DC Comics series, was innovative for its time. Set in a Gotham City without Batman, the show followed Barbara Gordon (Oracle), Helena Kyle (Huntress), and Dinah Redmond (Black Canary) as they continued the fight against crime. The series starred Ashley Scott, Dina Meyer, and Rachel Skarsten, who later appeared in Batwoman.
Critics didn’t love the show, but it had some unique ideas, like portraying Huntress as the child of Batman and Catwoman. It started with very high ratings for The WB, but those numbers quickly dropped, and the series was cancelled. Later, it was connected to the larger Arrowverse through the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ storyline.
3) Krypton
The cancellation of Syfy’s Krypton remains a frustrating loss for fans. The show, which aired from 2018 to 2019, offered a fresh take on the DC universe by focusing on Superman’s grandfather, Seg-El (Cameron Cuffe), and the history of the El family. The series explored how Seg-El tried to restore his family’s reputation and save his planet after they had fallen from grace.
Created by David S. Goyer, Krypton stood out from other DC television shows. It presented a fresh look at the history of the House of El and the planet Krypton, weaving in elements from the broader DC universe. While the first season took a bit to get going, the second season was critically acclaimed and the show seemed poised for greatness. Sadly, it was cancelled after only two seasons.
2) Bodies
You might not be familiar with Bodies, but it’s a TV show from DC. Based on a graphic novel by Si Spencer, Bodies is a sci-fi thriller miniseries that premiered on Netflix in 2023—and both the original graphic novel and the show itself are really well done.
The series Bodies begins with the discovery of a single body in London’s Whitechapel, but with a strange catch: the same body appears in the exact same spot in 1980, 1941, 2023, and 2053. This leads to four separate investigations, each led by a different detective from a different time period. As the detectives work their cases, their investigations start to connect, and the consequences become significant. Originally designed as a complete, standalone story, Bodies offers a satisfying conclusion and stands out as a compelling addition to DC’s television lineup.
1) Powerless
NBC’s Powerless stood out from other DC TV shows because it wasn’t based on a specific comic book or character. Instead, it was set within the broader DC Universe and followed Emily Locke (Vanessa Hudgens), who worked at Wayne Security – a division of Wayne Enterprises dedicated to protecting ordinary people from the fallout of superhero and supervillain fights. The show also featured Danny Pudi, Christina Kirk, Ron Funches, and Alan Tudyk.
I really enjoyed Powerless – it was such a unique show! Instead of focusing on the superheroes themselves, it showed us what life was like for the everyday people just trying to navigate a world with superheroes, and all the craziness that came with it. It was definitely different, and while critics were split, I thought it was charming. Sadly, it never really caught on with a wide audience. NBC actually pulled the last three episodes off the air and officially cancelled it in May 2017, which was a real shame.
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2026-01-17 04:12