7 Marvel Shows That Rival Batman: The Animated Series in Quality

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Batman: The Animated Series is still considered the gold standard for superhero TV shows. Many people agree it’s one of the best, not just within the superhero genre, but as an animated series overall. While DC Comics has had some misses over the years, this show consistently stands out as a success.

While not everything Marvel makes is a hit, some of their TV shows are just as good as, and sometimes even better than, Batman: The Animated Series. These shows aren’t meant to replace Batman, but if you loved discovering Batman: The Animated Series for the first time, they’re great options to recapture that feeling.

Spider-Man: The Animated Show (1994–1998)

5 Seasons, 65 Episodes

While Batman: The Animated Series excelled at telling complete stories in single episodes, Spider-Man: The Animated Show was a pioneer in creating ongoing, connected storylines specifically for a younger audience. It moved away from the typical feel of Saturday morning cartoons and felt more like a dramatic TV show made for adults.

Season 2 of Batman: The Animated Series featured a continuous storyline called “Neogenic Nightmare,” a first for the show. While the animation hasn’t held up as well over time, these multi-episode arcs were compelling and made viewers eager to tune in each week to see what would happen next.

Christopher Daniel Barnes perfectly captured the stress and anxiety of Peter Parker’s double life with his voice acting – arguably better than anyone else. The show focused on Peter’s emotional struggles and relationships, demonstrating that exploring a hero’s personal life can be just as engaging as watching them fight villains.

X-Men ’97 (2024–Present)

1 Season, 10 Episodes (Renewed)

Most revivals feel like attempts to quickly make money by exploiting familiar memories, but X-Men ’97 was so well done it felt like a continuation of the original show. While X-Men ’97 certainly evolves from X-Men: The Animated Series, it seamlessly picks up the story and avoids simply replaying old ideas. The updated animation is particularly impressive, making the action scenes look fantastic.

While Batman: The Animated Series was known for respecting its young audience, Harley Quinn takes a different approach, expecting viewers to be prepared for more complex and difficult themes. The first season boldly addressed serious issues like genocide, extremism, and loss, creating some of the most insightful and emotionally powerful episodes Marvel has ever made – episodes that truly pack a punch.

Wolverine and the X-Men (2009)

1 Season, 26 Episodes

Disney

A real standout is Wolverine and the X-Men, which has a dark and gritty feel reminiscent of Gotham City. The story begins after the X-Mansion is destroyed and Professor X disappears, leaving a troubled and hesitant Wolverine to take charge of a divided team.

Unlike the bright and lively style of X-Men: The Animated Series, Wolverine and the X-Men took a much grittier and more isolated approach. Though it only lasted one season, the show explored the idea of mutants as outsiders in a way that fans of darker stories, like those featuring Batman, would appreciate. The focus wasn’t on grand, world-saving adventures, but on the struggles of a fractured family trying to hold itself together.

The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008–2009)

2 Seasons, 26 Episodes

Just as Batman: The Animated Series is considered the best Batman cartoon, The Spectacular Spider-Man is widely seen as the best Spider-Man TV series. It uniquely portrays Peter Parker as a high school student, successfully combining the feel of the original Stan Lee stories with ideas from the more recent Ultimate Marvel comics.

Similar to the classic Batman episode “Heart of Ice,” Spectacular Spider-Man portrays villains like Electro and Doc Ock as sympathetic characters with sad backstories, instead of just enemies to defeat. The show realizes that for Spider-Man’s stories to be compelling, the villains he faces need to be as nuanced and emotionally resonant as his loved ones. It’s a shame the series ended before we could see more.

Daredevil (2015–2018)

3 Seasons, 39 Episodes

Disney

Though not a cartoon itself, Daredevil feels remarkably similar in tone to Batman: The Animated Series, perhaps even more so than other animated shows. The gritty, shadowy, and neon-lit depiction of Hell’s Kitchen strongly recalls the atmosphere of Batman: TAS. The show is also known for its realistic and intense fight scenes, like the famous hallway fight in Daredevil.

Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk have a relationship that strongly resembles the one between Batman and the Joker. Both pairs are locked in a deep conflict—not just a physical fight, but a battle over the very heart of their city. If you enjoyed the realistic, detective work in Batman: The Animated Series, you’ll definitely want to check out Daredevil.

X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–1997)

5 Seasons, 76 Episodes

Disney

Both X-Men: The Animated Series and Batman were popular at the same time, and fans were lucky to have two such great ’90s cartoons. X-Men: TAS was bolder and more dramatic than Batman: TAS, and it brilliantly brought complex comic book stories like “The Phoenix Saga” to life. Even now, it’s known for its excellent portrayal of the characters.

Just as Kevin Conroy became the voice of Batman for many, Cal Dodd’s portrayal of Wolverine is equally iconic. While the animation might not look as polished as today’s shows, the strong writing and clever, refreshed character designs in X-Men ’97 more than make up for it.

Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (2010–2012)

2 Seasons, 52 Episodes

Even before the famous team-up in the 2012 Avengers movie, the Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes cartoon was successfully showing the huge scope of the Marvel Universe, similar to what the Justice League cartoon had done. What made it stand out was its ability to feature a large number of heroes and villains without feeling overcrowded, especially considering each episode was only about 23 minutes long.

Look, Batman: The Animated Series really nails the character study of Batman himself, but when it comes to how a team works, Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is just in a league of its own. Honestly, watching it feels like you’re flipping through the pages of a classic Marvel comic. They didn’t shy away from the wilder storylines, and they treated the audience like we could keep up – which I really appreciated. It all just felt incredibly cohesive and respectful of the original comics.

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2025-11-22 04:11