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Top 10 Comic Book TV Shows

By: Scott Johnson on December 4, 2011

In : Comic Books, Highighted Posts, TV
- 4 Comments

What are the Top 10 greatest comic book TV shows ever aired? There have been quite a few comic books to leap onto the small screen over the years, so Comicbook.com compiled a list of our ten favorites. We only included TV shows that were actually based on comic books, not original shows about new superheroes, so no Heroes, Greatest American Hero, or Manimal on this list. We also stuck with just live action TV shows, so no animated series, even thought there have been quite a few animated series worthy of making a top ten list.

1. The Walking Dead – Yes, it’s the highest rated series on cable, and our pick for the best comic book TV show ever. AMC TV has really done it right with The Walking Dead, focusing on great storytelling and strong character development.

2. Wonder Woman – Even though Wonder Woman has yet to make it to the big screen, she ruled the small screen in the seventies. Just like Christopher Reeve defined Superman in the movies, Lynda Carter defined Wonder Woman on TV.

3. Smallville – There was a reason that Smallville lasted for ten seasons and became the longest running comic book based TV show of all time. Tom Welling made for a great Clark Kent, and guest appearances by other DC Comics characters kept comic book fanboys happy.

4. The Incredible Hulk – “You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry,” said David Banner in one of the most memorable TV quotes of all time. Sure, every episode of The Incredible Hulk seemed to have the same plot line of Banner wandering into a new town, but Bixby and Ferrigno created television magic.

5. Batman – Ok, this one might be a little controversial. While most Batman fans seem to prefer their Batman a little darker, take the Batman TV show for what it was: campy fun. One of the best remembered and most popular comic book TV shows of all time.

6. The Flash – The Flash TV series came and went in…well…a flash, but it gave us some memorable episodes. Plus, it was one of the few big budget attempts to bring a comic book superhero to life on the small screen.

7. Shazam – A mainstay of Saturday morning television, Shazam was surprisingly entertaining given its relatively small budget. Jackson Bostwick originally played Captain Marvel, but he was later replaced by John Davey. There were also some memorable crossover episodes with Isis.

8. Adventures of Superman – What list would be complete without paying respect to a classic? While the low budget might stand out to modern viewers, for kids growing up in the fifties, it was must-see TV.

9. Birds of Prey – Like The Flash, it didn’t last very long. Some people loved it, while others hated it, but it has to get points for being one of the better attempts at bringing comic book action to the small screen.

10. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman – And Superman makes the list for a third time. One of those shows hated by some and absolutely loved by others, but it succeeded by focusing on the relationship between Lois and Clark, rather than trying to be a special effects wonder.

Do you agree or disagree with our Top 10 Comic Book TV Shows list? Who should we have not included on the list? Who did we leave off the list that should have been on it? Post your favorite comic book TV shows in the comment section below.

Comments

Rob_ruthven

Where’s Batman the Animated Series?
http://twitter.com/Wicked_Juli Juli Mayers

WHERE- for the LOVE OF GOD is ANYTHING dealing with Bruce Timm and Paul Dini!?!?!?!? in the 1990′s Timm and Dini were the kings of Comic on Small Screen. “Oh all they had was Batman, and the Future show” no- no sir they had Batman, Superman, Static Shock, Batman Beyond, Justice League, The Zeta Project but I digress, we don’t need to look further than just what they did with Batman… Because frankly, Superman gets too much attention for being sort of a nothing fluff character (Smallville & Lois and Clark were the most tolerable versions of Superman… but not by much.)

Dini and Timm introduced characters that became SO popular not only did they end up in the comics- they got their own series. Two spring to mind off the top of my head- Harley Quinn and Terry McGinnis. Sure the DCAU is on Earth 12 but their work, ability to tell a story and market to both male AND female audiences are something that should be credited. ALSO- out of everything else on the list how many of those shows ever got a film based from that show to be in a national theatrical release?

BTAS is under-rated by so many “pure”snobs about being a medium for comics and yes, the Brave and the Bold is for kids and Static Shock was so… “urban hip” it made me vomit in my mouth a little and JLU had it’s ups and downs but ask someone at a con who the best Batman EVER was? You are gonna find more people tell you “Kevin Conroy” than you’d think. Conroy and Hamill perfected Batman and The Joker to the point of… Christian Bale’s “I’m Batman now so I’m gonna lower my voice” was something Conroy did first… in 1991. So when Freidel was hired to be Batman’s protoge naturally he had Terry do the same thing. and BAM- Bale goes and tries, but ends up sounding like my Great Aunt.

Not disagreeing with any of your choices but seriously, respect should be paid where it’s due- not to mention… Dini/Timm’s Batman and the DCAU as it was from 1991-2005 (BTAS- JLU) lasted more than just a wee bit longer than even Smallville. Also- it didn’t make women want to tare their hair out at the dribble we were spoon fed about women in comics. (IT’S A FREAKIN’ PAIR OF GLASSES LOIS C’MON!)
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Russell-Burlingame/28406407 Russell Burlingame

Timm has left his position overseeing DC’s animation, reportedly to put together a new Justice League series for Cartoon Network and focus all of his time on that. We covered it back when it happened, if you’d like a link.
Rachel Smith

I love that they kept the detail of the jacket; it makes me even more excited for this movie! To try to prepare, I’ve been refreshing on X-Men movies with Blockbuster @Home from DISH. It’s nice that with my busy work shift at DISH, I have different options of getting my movies. But my favorite option is the in store exchanges, because I’m always forgetting to send back movies after I watch them.