Whether it's from having tough competition, unfair expectations, or impossible budgets, these superhero television series now remain a distant memory. Over the past 10 years, fans have been treated to some of the best live-action superhero shows of all time. After the success of Smallville, the CW created Arrow, which spawned its own "Arrowverse" of shows like The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. The success of the
Marvel Cinematic Universe encouraged creators to tackle other Marvel characters, leading to shows like Daredevil and The Defenders.
Today, audiences enjoy series like Moon Knight, Loki, and Titans. Because there's no shortage of great, modern superhero TV, it's no surprise that some shows have fallen out of audiences' minds. Several past superhero shows, whether successful at the time or not, seem to have been forgotten by many fans.
1. Shazam! (1974) Was Surpassed By Other Shows
Source: Marvel
Shazam! was based on the Golden Age Captain Marvel Fawcett Comics and would later enter the regular DC Comics universe. The TV series, like its source material, featured the exploits of Billy Batson, a young child who could transform into the heroic Captain Marvel. Unlike in the comics, Billy and the Mentor rode about in an RV, with famous characters like Mary Marvel and Freddy missing.
2. The Amazing Spider-Man (1977) Wasn't As Vivid As Its Japanese One
Source: Marvel
The Amazing Spider-Man was one of the lowest-rated superhero shows on television at the time, and it only lasted 13 episodes in 1977-79 before being canceled. The Incredible Hulk and Wonder Woman were among the shows that the series had to compete with.
3. Superboy (1988) Was Swiftly Followed By More Prevalent Superman Shows
Source: Marvel
Superboy was a somewhat successful film that was influenced in part by Richard Donner's Superman picture. Lois & Clark and Superman: The Animated Series, two shows that came shortly after and were more successful, have completely overshadowed the show. For anyone interested in reliving this relatively overlooked gem, the four seasons of Superboy are currently available on DC's streaming service.
4. Swamp Thing (1990) Was Accidentally Campy
Source: Marvel
Swamp Thing was based on the DC Comics character of the same name, but it deviated from the original mythos by incorporating new characters such as the Kipp family and using Alec Holland's origin. Dark and gloomy, with numerous unnerving scenes, the 1982 Swamp Thing picture was dark and eerie. The television series didn't exactly match that tone due to a smaller budget.
5. The Tick (2001) Was Pretty Enjoyable
Source: Marvel
Despite its limited nine-episode run, comedic actor Patrick Warburton featured as the crazy superhero in a series that was beloved by fans and critics alike. With the tremendous success of the previous animated series and the debut of another live-action adaption in 2017, the 2001 series was largely forgotten. Fans who haven't seen this series yet should do so only for the weird yet well-crafted humor.
6. Birds Of Prey (2002) Featured A Gotham In The Absence Of Batman
Source: Marvel
Lady Shiva, Clayface, and
Harley Quinn, the first season's overarching adversary, were among the series' popular DC villains from the comics. Despite a strong start with 7.6 million viewers, Birds of Prey's popularity and ratings quickly declined, causing Warner Bros. to discontinue the series after only 13 episodes.
7. Blade (2006) Couldn't Live Up To The Films
Source: Marvel
After the events of Blade: Trinity, Kirk Jones takes over as Blade himself in Blade: The Series. The show garnered mixed reviews, with most agreeing that it was more about style than substance, with dazzling action scenes and underdeveloped characters and plots.
8. The Cape (2011) Wasn't Based On An Existing Parcels
Source: Marvel
Unlike other superhero TV shows, The Cape was created from scratch and was not based on any existing comic books. Before he was framed for many killings, Vince Faraday was a good cop in Palm City. Faraday is presumed dead, so he becomes The Cape, a vigilante who seeks to clear his reputation and locate those responsible.
9. Powerless (2017) Placed Superheroes In The Background
Source: Marvel
Powerless had an intriguing notion. Wayne Security employees were in charge of developing products for victims of superhero/villain battles all throughout the DC world. The connection to DC Comics was intriguing, and the ensemble, which included Vanessa Hudgens, Danny Pudi, and Alan Tudyk, was fantastic.
10. Inhumans (2017) Didn't Come Up To Expectations
Source: Marvel
The Inhumans play an important role in Marvel Comics. They've appeared in comic book plots like Inhumanity and Civil War II, so fans were ecstatic when a new series was revealed. The show's relationship to the MCU was left unclear. It was related to Agents of Shield, according to the creators, albeit no overt crossover occurred.