Comic Book TV Show Fall 2015 Power Rankings: Pre-Season

The Fall TV season is about to kick off in earnest, and there will be more than ten shows based on comic books on television in the next four months.

And that's where we come in. As experts in comic books and television, this is our wheelhouse. We live and breathe this stuff, after all, with daily looks at the subjects from both within via interviews and set visits and from without, looking at ratings, fan feedback, and critical response.

Focusing on these criteria, plus a bit of our own expert knowledge of intangibles, we present to you the inaugural ComicBook.com Comic Book TV Power Rankings. We'll be updating these throughout the season. Bear in mind a couple of caveats: 1, we're only including shows on the air in Fall 2015 in this initial set. That means that while there are some really incredible comic book shows coming back this spring, they're not on this list. This isn't the NFL, and not all the teams start (or play) at the same time. The good news is, once this gets working, it'll eventually add on those spring returning and new series, and be a year-round ranking of all things comic book TV. Check back each Saturday for a new edition.

1 The Walking Dead - This is the show to beat, and not just for comic book shows, but for TV in general, as the ratings behemoth just keeps on winning. It takes a page (see what I did there?) from the comic book it comes from, which actually built an audience over the course of a few years. Now, you can't find a graphic novel sales chart that doesn't have at least two or three volumes of The Walking Dead on the top ten. Can any superhero stop this zombie apocalypse?

2 Arrow - Look, Arrow didn't have its best season in critical response in season 3, but there's no denying its strength, especially at the start of a whole new story. Ultimately, you have to acknowledge that from Arrow's success came WBTV and DC Entertainment's boom that include three of the next four shows on this list. The initial trailer has a lot of action, and Damien Dahrk is a character even the hardcore fans don't have a lot of expectations for, which hopefully means we'll get a matchup more like season 2 and less like season 3 when it comes to the big bad.

3 The Flash - If it wasn't for Arrow's legacy and the fact that this is only the second season, The Flash could make a case for #2 or even #1 in the inaugural power rankings. A stellar first season saw The Flash running away with fans' hearts and minds. Star Grant Gustin portrays a Barry Allen that's quick to act and give a smile, but also more than willing to sacrifice anything to save the day. Season 2 will add in parallel worlds, more heroes, and of course, more villains onto what's probably the most fun show on this whole list.

4 Gotham - Some fans may be surprised to see this show so high on the list, but here's the thing: while it was a bit weak out of the gate, spending too much time on the "freak of the week" and the puntacular villain jokes, those last four episodes that built a single story and really played with fan expectations were spectacular. Having seen the first few episodes of the season, the show takes that next step by going faster and farther than they ever have before. Gotham is on the rise, and one to watch.

5 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Marvel has far fewer shows out this fall, and thus less on the list – it's simple math. While S.H.I.E.L.D. originally promised to link directly into the MCU, it, well, took awhile. Once it did, though, things got – and stayed – awfully exciting. With a now fully-powered Daisy Johnson embracing her destiny and the promise of more Inhumans, this season could be where the Agents step out of their big screen brethren's shadows.

6 Supergirl - It's a bird! It's a plane! It's the only time I'll ever write this awful clichéd line! It's a superhero series starring a female character, from the folks behind Arrow and Flash, and it looks like a show that wants to have fun, lightheartedness, and hope, all things that DC adaptations tend to put a bit on the backburner. Can't wait.

7 Heroes Reborn - While not a comic book show in the most technical sense, it's closely associated enough to make our list. America loves a comeback, but will they love the comeback of a show with one great season and a handful of good moments from the other two? It's a tough stretch to make, but with a two-hour pilot that sets the pace and tone within the first four minutes, and a sense of urgency missing in the show since they "saved the cheerleader," Heroes Reborn seems to be looking at middling memories as an opportunity, not a detriment. It may not have a catchy one-liner, but it does have the "limited series" status that means fan buy-in is relatively low. New powers, new characters, new situation, same world, same Horned Rim Glasses.

8 Fear the Walking Dead - The spin-off from the #1 show on this list hasn't quite been the lightning that struck twice that many thought it would be. Instead, it has had up and down viewership, and while it's still winning the demo, it isn't the dominant force of its big sister. Still, there's hope in this zombie origin story; winning is still winning, even if it's not a blowout every night.

9 Jessica Jones - The second of the Netflix-Marvel TV joint productions, there's just not nearly as much out there about Jessica Jones compared to what we knew about Daredevil going in. Still, even with a few more clips and stills, and a couple more interviews and featurettes, Daredevil's fun was in the surprises that made binge-watching it almost necessary. Can Jones follow suit? Fingers crossed.

10 iZombie - The dark horse candidate (as in the term, not the publisher), iZombie finished the year as The CW's third highest rated show, behind fellow DC Comics adaptations The Flash and Arrow. Why is it so low on this list, then? Because it just needs more public consciousness presence before it can contend with the supers. It also looks like the zombie craze is on the wane, at least compared to when The Walking Dead started shambling along, so the title of this one may hinder it more than help it in the long run.

UPDATE: We accidentally had Lucifer on this list, but realized the show does not premiere until the Spring. So keep an eye out on an upcoming Power Ranking to see where it falls.

Spring Shows to keep an eye on: Lucifer, Marvel's Agent Carter, Legends of Tomorrow, Daredevil, Luke Cage, Powers, Other notable future shows (no timeline): Outcast, Preacher, many more.