The rise of streaming services has created more opportunities for shows, especially those based on comic books, to find an audience. Unlike traditional TV, which relies heavily on immediate ratings and advertising, streaming platforms often give shows more time to build an audience, as people can watch them anytime, even weeks or months after they first appear. While Netflix, for example, will still cancel shows that don’t quickly become popular, at least the entire season is usually released, unlike shows canceled mid-season on network television. This flexibility has allowed some comic book adaptations that might not have been made otherwise to thrive on streaming.
Here’s a ranking of seven top-notch comic book series available on streaming services. To provide a good mix, we’ve limited the selection to just one show from both the Marvel and DC universes.
7) Peacemaker
Both the current DC Universe (DCU) and its predecessor, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), have produced some great streaming series, like The Penguin, Creature Commandos, and Peacemaker. Surprisingly, Peacemaker stands out as the strongest of these shows, especially considering it features a relatively unknown DC character. A lot of the show’s success is due to John Cena’s performance in the main role.
Peacemaker originally appeared in the movie The Suicide Squad as a somewhat untrustworthy team member who worked closely with Amanda Waller. But the HBO Max series, created by James Gunn, really delved into his backstory and transformed him into a surprisingly deep and complex character. With two seasons that both feel very distinct, Peacemaker demonstrates that DC can create successful shows for streaming, alongside Gunn’s work on DC films.
6) The Sandman
Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comics are still a prime example of how comic books can achieve literary status. After decades of waiting, a successful adaptation finally arrived in the form of a stunning fantasy television series. Thanks to showrunner Allan Heinberg and a perfect performance by Tom Sturridge as Morpheus, Sandman is a remarkable adaptation that delighted fans of the original comics.
Despite its popularity, the Netflix series was unfortunately cancelled after only two seasons due to various challenges. Fortunately, the show’s creator was aware of the cancellation and had the opportunity to wrap up the story with the planned “The Wake” arc, providing a satisfying conclusion for fans – something many streaming shows don’t get when they’re cut short.
5) The Umbrella Academy
Gerard Way, best known as the singer of My Chemical Romance, started his career in comics with The Umbrella Academy, illustrated by Gabriel Ba. Originally published by Dark Horse Comics, the series became very popular, lasting 21 issues and winning an Eisner Award. In 2019, Netflix adapted the comic into a streaming television series.
The show centers around the Umbrella Academy, a group of adopted siblings who were trained as heroes from a young age but drifted apart. When their father is murdered, they reunite to prevent a global catastrophe, though they struggle to succeed. The first three seasons were well-received by critics, and while the fourth season was still enjoyable, many viewers were disappointed with the ending.
4) Locke & Key
Joe Hill, son of Stephen King, has become a successful horror writer in his own right. Over the last ten years, he’s written highly acclaimed novels and short stories, and several of his works have been adapted into successful shows and movies. Notably, his comic book series, created with Gabriel Rodriguez, was recently adapted into a critically praised Netflix series that lived up to the quality of the original comics.
After their father is murdered, the Locke family moves back to their childhood home, Key House. There, the three Locke children discover a collection of magical keys that unlock incredible possibilities – and dangerous secrets. A sinister demon is also trapped beneath the house, waiting for one of the children to unwittingly set it free. The series, which spans three seasons, adapts the complete comic book story, giving viewers a full and satisfying conclusion.
3) WandaVision
Disney+ has launched a number of shows based on Marvel comics, but many fans agree that WandaVision is the strongest. The story picks up after the events of Avengers: Endgame, focusing on Wanda Maximoff as she grieves the loss of Vision. However, the series begins with a surprising twist: Vision is alive and well, and the two are living a seemingly perfect life as a couple in a 1950s-style sitcom setting in the town of Westview.
The show jumps through different decades, recreating the style of popular sitcoms from each era. As the series unfolds, it’s revealed that Wanda is responsible for this entire reality and is compelling the town’s residents to live in it with her, even though they don’t want to. At its heart, the story examines the impact of trauma and its effects on mental health. Each episode was a delightful experience for sitcom fans, and the compelling plot kept viewers engaged throughout.
2) The Boys
The show The Boys demonstrated that a streaming series with mature themes and strong language could be successful. Inspired by the comic books of Garth Ennis (Preacher) and Darick Robertson (Transmetropolitan), the Prime Video series depicts a world where the popular superheroes known as The Six are mostly selfish and focused on their own fame, all while generating huge profits for a large corporation. They behave more like villains than heroes.
Originally put together by the government, ‘The Boys’ are now working on their own to take down a group of super-powered individuals called ‘The Seven.’ Karl Urban delivers a fantastic performance as Billy Butcher, who is determined to eliminate the seemingly invincible hero, Homelander, and Jack Quaid plays the relatable character audiences experience the story through. The series concluded after five seasons, but its world has continued to expand with several spin-off shows on streaming platforms.
1) Invincible
Building on the popularity of The Boys, Invincible brought mature, graphic-novel style stories to animated television. The series, created by Robert Kirkman (known for The Walking Dead), centers around Mark Grayson, a teenager who develops superpowers like his father. He begins a journey to defend Earth from various dangers, but faces a shocking challenge when he discovers his father is actually an alien who came to Earth long ago to prepare it for invasion.
The show currently has three seasons, with a fourth planned for 2026 and a fifth already confirmed. What makes it stand out is its mature and violent animation style, which surprisingly has boosted its popularity with viewers. Many fans consider it the best animated comic book series currently available.
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2026-02-25 00:13