The superhero genre dates back to the mid-1930s, although there wasn’t much to talk about superhero TV shows for a long time, with the exception of the 1960s Batman series and a few seasons of Smallville and Heroes. However, times have changed, and superheroes are now a common staple on television.
There has been some absolutely excellent entertainment on the tiny screen throughout the years, and comic book aficionados will be in for a treat! The superhero television market has been hot in recent years, with shows like The Arrowverse, Netflix’s MCU cooperation, and Disney+originals among the most popular.
In this video, we’ve compiled a list of underappreciated live-action superhero TV shows that are still entertaining. Some of these shows went mostly ignored, and the majority are grossly underappreciated, but trust us when we say they’re all worth your time.
NIGHT MAN – 1997
Johnny Domino is a successful jazz musician in San Francisco, but his life is turned upside down when he is struck by lightning and given unusual abilities. He has the ability to telepathically connect with all types of evil and learn their dark thoughts.
Johnny resolves to become a crime-fighting vigilante, donning a bulletproof bodysuit that offers him additional skills such as flying, superior sight, and invisibility in the style of camouflage. In addition, he has the ability to see in the dark and fire a powerful laser beam. Throughout the series, he is seen fighting various enemies, though his arch-nemesis remains the computer technologies billionaire Kieran Keyes.
This show was based on the Malibu and Marvel comic book of the same name. However, it was clearly not a story made for TV because it lacked the glamour and gimmicks to draw in the audience. The first season does explore some humbling facts about our superhero, but some changes were made so that the character looked appealing in the sci-fi action genre.
The budget is nothing humongous, and as a result, the series does have a cheesy look. The crime-fighting suit made Johnny look like a cross between Robocop and Pumaman, and director Nick Daniel did his best to make things work despite budgetary constraints.
Matt McColm is decent as the protagonist, and other members of the cast like Earl Holliman, Derek Webster, and Jayne Heitmeyer deliver promising performances.
The writers could have done a better job with the series’ continuity, which might have aided its appeal as well. Overall, it’s a guilty pleasure that you should watch because each episode is insanely entertaining.
MORTAL KOMBAT: CONQUEST – 1998
Shao Kahn wished to include Earth into the worlds he had conquered known as the Outworld. Mortal Kombat was designed to safeguard the Earth, and this tournament was supposed to decide the planet’s fate by pitting the Outworld against the Earthrealm. The renowned warrior Kung Lao lived 500 years before the events of this episode had defeated Shao Kahn’s trusted sorcerer Shang Tsung.
Kung Lao had spared his life, and Shang Tsung was imprisoned in the cobalt mines by his lord. Now, Kung Lao trains the next generation of fighters who can save the Earth while the thunder god Raiden watches over them. Elsewhere, the imprisoned Shang Tsung is also determined to get his revenge on Kung Lao, and things are about to get really tense once again!
This one-season TV show was based on the popular Mortal Kombat video game franchise. Fans of martial arts were ecstatic to see some exciting action scenes, but the first few episodes failed to deliver.
It appeared to be just another ordinary action show that would be cancelled in a few of days. The series, on the other hand, proved us wrong and quickly stepped up the pace. The roles of Taja, Siro, Quan Chi, and Shang Tsung were handled well by some great actors.
While you will enjoy some really cool fighting, there are things that happen like relationships and politics that you wouldn’t expect! If we must pick flaws in this amazing series, we have to point to the weak effects that were used. Taja was an interesting fighter, although he only appeared in a handful of contests.
The show had to make due with reused footage at times as a cost-cutting measure, but you can’t blame the producers for the budget! In short, Conquest is a must-see for any Mortal Kombat aficionados out there, with action, drama, humour, and a breathtaking finale.
THE CROW: STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN – 1998
The Crow was inspired by James O’Barr’s 1989 comic book series of the same name. The remarkable narrative of Eric Draven was the subject of this series, which was based on the film.
He and his fiancée Shelly were brutally killed by some miscreants, and he has returned to Earth a year later seeking vengeance. He is aided in this journey by a mystical Spirit Crow who lives in a place that is neither alive nor dead. Will the search for redemption be fruitful?
While this series has essentially the same storyline and characters as the movie, it does make subtle changes here and there. For example, it does a better job than the film when it comes to explaining the origin and motives of Draven, and Mark Dacascos proved to the world that he was much more than just an action star. The Draven in the TV show was much more human than the distant, ghost-like one played by Brandon Lee in the movie.
The story flowed well, and we liked how the show switched back and forth between Eric and Shelly’s past and the present. The special effects aren’t great, but the plot more than makes up for it.
Stairway to Heaven was unexpectedly discontinued after only one season, with the main reason being that Universal had purchased PolyGram Productions and did not want to continue with the project. It could possibly be due to MarkDacascos’ aversion to being tethered to the television.
If you want an interesting blend of action and the supernatural, this might be the perfect TV series to opt for!
SWAMP THING: THE SERIES – 1990
Those of us who grew up in the 1990s will recall the adventures of the man-turned-muck monster. The Swamp Thing was actually a human named Alec Holland. Dr. Anton Arcane plotted his assassination and disposed of his remains in the Louisiana marshes.
However, he was able to survive due to some strange reactions. His body was then made up of the swamp’s flora and sludge. The Swamp Thing has a special power of making these plants do his bidding, and though he looks scary, he is out there fighting the baddies to get his revenge.
The Swamp Thing is a fascinating series with all the qualities of a popular TV show. It is unfortunate that it was a victim of the unfulfilled expectations of the viewers, who were used to watching some unrelenting force destroying evil with action-packed episodes. This series is more character-driven, and the suspense is simply breathtaking.
It might have started off slow, but the pacing soon picked up along with the excitement. We really liked how they handled Holland, who was depicted to have a complicated moral code. While most superheroes are known for intervening in a forceful and demanding manner, the Swamp Thing prefers to work quietly in the background.
The original stories for each episode were a breath of fresh air, and our favourite was the one in which Ray Wise guest-starred as some alien opponent and nearly murdered Swamp Thing.
The sets looked quite real because some of the shooting was done in actual swamps in Florida. However, the producers soon had to abandon this practice to save money and deal with the problem of lighting. Since then, a set was made in Universal Studios, and things continued filming there.
We have some fond memories of Swamp Thing, and some good acting by Dick Durock, Mark Lindsay Chapman, and the others enhanced the experience for us.
ROBOCOP: THE SERIES – 1994
Those who have watched RoboCop will be familiar with the notion. The tale revolves around Alex Murphy, a cybernetic cop. The story is set in a near-future Detroit, where Murphy must deal with the city’s growing crime and corporate intrigues. Instead of slaughtering the criminals, RoboCop has several non-lethal options accessible to him this time.
This cyberpunk TV series was based on the RoboCop franchise, and it was targeted to entertain children and young teenagers. Naturally, the violence of the original movie is absent here, and things are toned down quite a bit to suit the new target audience.
It hardly adheres to the continuity in the sequels or the characters introduced in the films. Fans who enjoyed the blood and violence in the first two movies might be a tad disappointed with the somewhat campy nature of the narrative.
However, it is an acquired taste, and the series’ entertainment value is undeniable. The writing was inconsistent, but the cast and guest stars more than compensated for the episodes that were weak.
Richard Eden is an intriguing pick for Robocop, and his mechanical performance is quite fitting. Although there are only 23 episodes, they do an excellent job of explaining Murphy’s former life and provide a lot more explanation.
We were a fan of the satirical elements of the show as well. Of course, the magical touch of Paul Verhoeven is missing, but the series still preserves the vibe of the original in most ways. The production value is surprisingly high, and that makes the action beats look pretty cool.
The purists might be irritated by this show, but we felt that it was a decent enough attempt to recreate the classic. Unfortunately, the series was a disaster in terms of TV ratings and was more like a RoboCop version for the kids who weren’t allowed to watch the movie.
THE FLASH (1990)
Barry Allen works for the Central City Police Department as a forensic scientist. While working in his lab one day, he is struck by lightning, which grants him superspeed, which he utilises to battle crime. Dr. Tina McGee worked at STAR Labs as a research scientist, and she strives to learn more about his abilities while assisting him in his crime-fighting quest.
She provides him the costume since he would tear his regular clothes apart if he ran so fast. While doing heroic things to preserve the city, Barry makes every effort to keep his true identity hidden from his coworkers and friends so that he can have a private life.
The series is based on one of the very popular DC comic characters, Barry Allen or Flash, the superhero who can move at superhuman speeds. The series picks up steam right from the pilot episode, and we loved the way Allen came to terms with his newly acquired superpowers.
The recent Tim Burton Batman movies clearly had an impact on this show, and it was 22 episodes of stylish and exciting drama. The fans were awed by the celebs who made appearances as the villains, including David Cassidy as the Mirror Master and Mark Hamill as the Trickster.
Even if some of the episodes were a little cheesy, the series was still a lot of fun to watch. The creators had the audacity and confidence to have Flash accomplish things that you’d see in comic pages, and the plot worked beautifully. The special effects were adequate for the time, and the situations in which Flash would run at super-speed were expertly shown.
However, one of the reasons it was discontinued after only one season was the hefty production costs. Because of the irregular schedule, it was never given the opportunity to reach its full potential. There were instances when the show jumped around and the viewer didn’t know when an episode will air.
Our verdict is that this Flash series was too good to be gone so soon, and we would have loved a few more seasons. That being said, the character did make a reappearance in the TV crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Automan (1983)
A police officer and computer programmer, Walter Nebicher, came up with a remarkable form of artificial intelligence. He created a crime-fighting programme that would allow him to generate a hologram that could leave the computer at night to target criminals.
Automan was a federal agent in the real world, and his identity was a well guarded secret known only to Walter and his aide Roxanne. Walter could even merge with Automan if the situation demanded it; in this state, their consciousnesses would be fused, but Walter’s invincibility would be preserved. Cursor, Automan’s sidekick, was capable of drawing and generating any physical thing that was required.
The storyline surely is improbable, but that wouldn’t stop you from having all the fun.This series had something that many American TV shows lacked: good humor that binds the narrative together. In many ways, this can be seen as a spoof that makes fun of the primitive nature of video games and 1980s computers.
It is amusing to watch Automan played by Chuck Wagner, struggle with everyday human problems.The special effects don’t look too dated, and for its times, they were quite trendy. This made the show visually appealing, and the action scenes stood out for the fans.
One of the series’ major flaws was the low calibre of the villains. A prominent character as a villain may have made a difference in the plot. The high costs of spectacular effects combined with low ratings did not make for a happy marriage, and the show was unceremoniously cancelled. There were many of flaws in this story, but the narrative’s appeal was undeniable. Automan only lasted 13 episodes, which is a shame because it deserved so much more.
HIGHLANDER: THE SERIES (1992)
Duncan MacLeod and his girlfriend Tessa Noel were leading a quiet life as the owners of an antique shop. When a thief broke into the store one day, he saw Duncan, his clansman Connor MacLeod, and the terrible immortal Slan Quince in a weird confrontation. Duncan has been alive for more than 400 years, and he was one of the immortals who could only be slain by beheading.
Even though Duncan had pulled himself from the game where the immortals try to hunt down one another, Connor urges Duncan to continue fighting evil. Duncan MacLeod was the focus of several plots in the series, as well as his interactions with mortals and other immortals.
Highlander fans were disappointed after a couple of abysmal sequels to the original Highlander movie. They viewed this series with suspicion, but the news that Christopher Lambert would be reprising his role in the pilot episode was enough of an invitation to start watching.
It started off slow, but after some tedious episodes, things became interesting. By the time we had finished the second season, the storylines were incredible, and the guest stars were more selected! Some significant changes were made from the movie versions, and we didn’t seem to mind. In fact, it was intriguing to learn more about the life of immortals.
The series often posed some deep questions like how it might feel like to live forever and bear the stamps of the civilization that you carry forward!
The plots that connect Duncan Mcleod’s history and present are well done, and Adrian Paul, who played Duncan Mcleod in the show, was fantastic. If you enjoy action thrillers, you will enjoy this one because of the well-choreographed combat scenes.
As time went on, the sword duels improved, and we were awestruck by Duncan’s ability to defeat every immortal he faced! Unlike many of the other shows on our list, this was a smash hit that lasted six seasons and 119 episodes.
Witchblade (2001)
Witchblade is based on a comic of the same name, and this series follows the remarkable adventures of NYPD detective Sara Pezzini. The aforementioned Witchblade is a formidable weapon with its own consciousness. It’s been around since the dawn of time, and it’s still looking for the ideal individual to combine with.
She gains increased strength, agility, and even the ability to deflect bullets thanks to this mysterious device. The detective can equip himself with full armour and a formidable sword if necessary.
The Witchblade has its own plans and schemes, and several others, like the millionaire Kenneth Irons, want to gain possession of it. However, Sara is the chosen one from this generation, and she must use it wisely in her fight against the evil forces.
The sci-fi action TV industry has far too few strong female leads, and soYancy Butler stood out as Sara. Besides the fact that she was extremely appealing, she also delivered a stunning performance throughout this series.
The narrative did move away from the storyline of the comics, but it was still very interesting. The combination of fantasy with cop-drama proved to be an effective package. We loved how this show raised a few issues that went beyond the plot.
The settings were dependably stunning, and it appeared like a talented crew experimented with a variety of camera angles and lighting. The editing was sharp, which resulted in a fast-paced, engaging story. The first season’s climax was just amazing, and the show was ended just when we were expecting so much more.
The cancellation was devastating because everything seemed to be working in favour of this beloved show. In fact, it was one of the most popular TV shows that was cancelled. One of the key reasons, according to reports, was that Yancy Butler had to go to rehab for alcoholism.
Blade: The Series (2006)
The plot is set following the events of Blade: Trinity. Krista returns home from Iraq to discover that her brother Zack has been murdered. She looks into the topic further and realises that her brother was a vampire’s indentured servant. In the expectation of eternal life, he had consented to do their bidding.
Her mission leads her to Blade and the dangerous vampire Marcus Van Sciver as she searches for her brother’s killer. Marcus is a powerful member of the House of Chthon, and he is also the one who killed Zack.
Krista appeals to him, and he intends to turn her into a vampiress by injecting her with his blood. However, Blade injects her with the serum that helps him to control his predatory instincts. She looks to bring down the House of Chthon, but she must keep her identity a secret despite her growing voracious nature.
Many fans were skeptical about a Blade series, but the imaginative storyline soon dispersed their uncertainty. The innovative and imaginative plot was intelligently written, and Sticky Fingaz, the guy replacing Wesley Snipes, does a remarkable job as Blade.
Not many are aware that Wesley Snipes was initially offered the chance to reprise his role, but he refused. Jill Wagner as Krista is another gem of a find, and she makes her persona very believable.
The character sketches are beautiful, and you don’t really dislike Marcus, the bad guy. On the contrary, you develop sympathy for his plight. The action-packed content will keep you on the edge of your seat, with lots of blood and skin on display.
In short, the Blade series surpassed many people’s expectations, and it had the potential to be even more popular than it was! If you enjoyed the Blade films, you will enjoy this one as well.
Painkiller Jane (2007)
Jane Vasco is a DEA agent who meets the leader of a squad of undercover agents working for an unnamed federal agency. She enquires a little too deeply into their affairs and is compelled to join them.
This crew is tasked with tracking out human mutants with extraordinary abilities and is based in an abandoned subway station. Jane discovers that she possesses magical abilities such as regenerative ability. As the novel progresses, she begins to look into the origins of her abilities.
Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada had created this fictional character for event comics, though this adaptation isn’t something you’ll fanboy about. At the same time, there is nothing to hate about it either. It is simply one of those shows that you watch to have some fun, and then forget!
The protagonist, Jane, has a unique ability that allows her to recovers from any kind of damage. Unfortunately, the meager budget of this show did not allow the extravaganza that you saw in NBC’s Heroes, involving a character with similar powers.
KristannaLoken’s portrayal as Jane is underwhelming, and numerous scenes make us feel as though she is emotionally dead. One of the series’ flaws is its lack of emphasis on mutants and its attempt to cram everything conceivable into a sci-fi narrative.
Painkiller Jane became preoccupied with several plots to explore after an interesting pilot episode. It ended on a cliffhanger, and there could have been a third season to complete the story! Unfortunately, there was never a second outing, and we were left with no real conclusion.