Charlie Cox in Daredevil
Ever since Disney+ launched in 2019, the landscape for Marvel television has completely changed. No longer are other studios and networks like Cartoon Network, Disney XD, or Fox Kids making the television content for the company, they're doing it on Disney+ on their own.
Most Disney+ Marvel shows now are all connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in some way, but it didn't always use to be like that. There once was an age where the realm of Marvel television stood on its own with either solo series or connected universes of their own. If audiences have grown tired of everything becoming an MCU-related project, or have simply watched all of the Marvel Disney+ content that they have to offer, there are plenty of shows that are available to watch that stand on their own, made before the new era of Marvel television. 10 'Wolverine and the X-Men' It's no secret that the three-clawed X-Man has always been the fan favorite, so it only made sense when a series came along that featured him leading his own team of X-Men, appropriately titled, Wolverine and the X-Men. This 2009 animated series is considered one of the most underrated Marvel shows produced, as it sadly only got one season, when it was written incredibly well, confusing audiences. It had some real mature storytelling, great animation, featured characters that didn't typically get the spotlight in other X-Men material, and some wonderful character development for everyone. Not only that, but seeing Wolverine lead a team of his own—when he typically isn't much of a team leader—is quite a treat and a big advancement for his character. It also brings Steve Blum into the recording studio to voice the titular character, which is great, as he is the fan favorite voice actor for the hero. 9 'Jessica Jones' The Netflix era of Marvel television was an incredible one. It had some of the best Marvel storytelling in quite some time and a prime example of this lies in Jessica Jones. Running for a solid three seasons, this show was much more of a drama/mystery story than anything else, which helped it stand out among the rest of the Marvel Netfilx stories being told at the time. It's also to be mentioned that the actor portraying the titular hero, Krysten Ritter, does a phenomenal job bringing this hero to life—most notably in the first season, when she's facing off with Zebediah Killgrave . There's a reason why they're bringing her back for Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again, and it's the quality found in Jessica Jones, which drew so many people to love it. 8 'Iron Man: Armored Adventures' If there's any Marvel hero that works excellently in 3D animation, it's Iron Man. In 2009, Marvel Animation brought the underrated Iron Man: Armored Adventures to life, presenting an iteration of the character that was all-new—all different. Bringing a teenage Tony Stark to life, it tells a story that isn't like anything fans of the Iron Man character had experienced before, especially given the fact that the MCU's own Iron Man came out a year prior. One would initially think that Marvel would want to primarily capitalize on the Iron Man success and make a show that's more akin to the story found there, but, no, they decided to take a risk and do something that would instead provide something new and refreshing. It's so interesting seeing Tony Stark exist in a high school environment, without the endless assets he typically has at his disposal, as he is fighting to get Stark Industries back from his father's old business partner, Obadiah Stane . It's always cool to see when companies decide to risk doing something new and it turning out well. 7 'Luke Cage' Another success from the Netflix Marvel television era is that of the one and only Power Man, or, better known as the title of his series, Luke Cage. If Jessica Jones was the mystery drama for this universe, then Luke Cage is the underground crime thriller, in which Luke Cage has to put a stop to the various criminals rising up from his city of Harlem's underbelly. After fans finished their celebration that Jessica Jones would be coming back in Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again, they immediately began asking where on Earth Luke Cage was. Mike Colter is extremely beloved as the character, thanks to the wonderful performance he gives in this show. Not only that, but the series as a whole is simply written smartly. It doesn't pull punches or hold the audience's hand, it knows exactly what it is and needs to be and that makes it one of Marvel's best TV ventures to date. 6 'Spider-Man: The Animated Series' The 90s era of Marvel Animation was truly a golden one. With shows that are some of Marvel's best and most recognizable, it delivered the Marvel universe to a whole generation of children that absolutely loved them. One of the best is, easily, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, which people note as a total fan favorite when it comes to adaptations of the Spider-Man character. Whether it's the iconic rock theme song, Christopher Daniel Barnes as Spider-Man, or the way it adapts some of the best Spidey comic book stories, this show goes down in history as absolutely iconic. Spider-Man: The Animated Series is well-loved for a number of reasons, but its comic accuracy is what's caused it to be remembered so fondly by fans everywhere. Spider-Man fans can be picky, so the fact that they love this show so much is a testament all in its own to the quality of this 1994 show. 5 'X-Men: Evolution' Something that X-Men media has never really captured in major Hollywood projects is when the team were actual students at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters The X-Men project most noted for doing this is none other than the likes of X-Men: Evolution, which depicts the iconic main team as teenagers, trying to be young and save mutant kind at the exact same time. No pressure, right? Released in 2000, this was a lot of the current young adults' introduction to the legendary mutant Marvel team. X-Men: Evolution, brought to life by John Bush, John W. Hyde, and Jon Vein, checks all the marks when it comes to crafting a refreshing adaptation of Marvel superheroes. The animation style is also unique, giving the show a distinct look compared to other series coming out around the same time—even today, honestly. 4 'X-Men: The Animated Series' The best show of the Marvel Animated Universe era is, without a doubt, X-Men: The Animated Series—in fact, it's probably one of the best Marvel shows, period. This show is not only animated well, has excellent voice acting, and has a great theme, but X-Men: The Animated Series has some of the best Marvel television writing out there. There's a reason that it was popular enough to get brought back in the Disney+ revival series, X-Men '97. This iteration of the X-Men is incredibly good at some true mature storytelling, while keeping it a show primarily aimed at younger children, which is what helps keep it so rewatchable 34 years later. It remains the premier adaptation of the X-Men, and is still referenced in comic books and Hollywood media in the modern day . 3 'Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes' Anyone growing up or watching Marvel media in the early 2010s, at some point, had the"Fight As One" theme by Bad City for the iconic Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes series. Many claim this show to be one of the best adaptations of the overall Marvel universe, next to the MCU, put on screen. This series takes some of the best Marvel Comics stories, crafts more original stories, and even takes some inspiration from the films, at times, to craft a ride that is such an entertaining watch. Unlock curated Marvel TV picks — subscribe to the newsletter Subscribing to the newsletter gives curated coverage, recommendations, and deep dives into classic and underrated Marvel TV shows. Get clear context on what makes each series worth watching and discover standout gems beyond the modern Disney+ era to expand your watchlist. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is a show that, much like another series airing around the same time , was canceled far too early and was so good that the series to come after, Avengers Assemble, didn't get a ton of great reception because of how large the quality gap felt. This show really takes time to develop these characters into layered and complex ones that don't just get the job done to tell stories to younger audiences, but actually live and breathe on screen, getting people invested in them. 2 'Daredevil' Netflix's Daredevil is commonly noted to be a genuine work of art. Many consider it to be one of the best superhero television series ever made. Charlie Cox is a Marvel icon, and many theaters erupted in joy when he appeared on screen in a cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home, showing how much his work in this show is a showcase of how great it is . It's also so popular that it, like X-Men: The Animated Series, spawned a Disney+ show in Daredevil: Born Again. Daredevil shook Marvel's television ratings, being one of the highest-rated shows they've ever produced, thanks to the excellent work from creator Drew Goddard and showrunners Steven S. DeKnight, Doug Petrie, Marco Ramirez, and Erik Oleson, and how committed they clearly were to providing an excellent story. It's mature without being too dark, and has just enough hope without squandering the more serious themes it's trying to convey, as well. 1 'The Spectacular Spider-Man' #savethespectacularspiderman is a hashtag that has swept the online pop culture superhero space, and that's thanks to how abundantly well-made the series is, leading to a massive following for it, even almost ten years after it originally aired. The creative masterminds behind the series, Greg Weisman and Victor Cook, both put so much effort into making sure that this series would not just be aimed at young audiences but would tell a story that everyone could enjoy and be compelled by. The actor behind the mask of Spider-Man, Josh Keaton, is also known as one of the best there is and a fan favorite for many. That can really be said about a lot of the voice cast in The Spectacular Spider-Man, making the characters within the plot truly come to life and have a plethora of depth to them that keeps people invested, no matter what is happening to them. Like The Spectacular Spider-Man TV-Y7 Action Animation Superhero Release Date 2008 - 2009-00-00 Directors Victor Cook, Jennifer Coyle, Dave Bullock, Troy Adomitis, Dan Fausett, Kevin Altieri, Michael Goguen Writers Greg Weisman, Kevin Hopps, Matt Wayne, Andrew Robinson, Randy Jandt, Nicole Dubuc Franchise Marvel Cast See All
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