The 1990s are fondly remembered by those who grew up in the decade. The time saw the rise of many pop culture phenomena, including a notable boom in comic book sales and interest in adaptations of popular comic stories. An increased focus on delivering family-friendly entertainment, particularly in an animated format, dominated television screens throughout the ’90s. One of the richest veins to tap was comic books, as many of the characters involved already had an established fan base. While over the years, there have been many great TV shows based on comic books, it’s easy to forget just how many excellent examples the ’90s gave us.
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Though the majority of comic book TV shows in the ’90s were animated, there were a few notable examples of live-action comic book adaptations. Likewise, where most were superhero stories, not every comic book TV show made in the decade was, with a handful of genres being explored. What each of the following shows have in common is simple: they’re all based on comic books, and they’re all likely to make ’90s kids feel nostalgic for their childhoods.
7) X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997)
One of the most iconic superhero shows of the 1990s was X-Men: The Animated Series, a child-friendly adaptation of the Marvel comic book heroes of the same name. Across its run, it adapted several beloved story arcs from the comics and helped to make many of Marvel’s mutants household names. Additionally, X-Men: The Animated Series improved some X-Men characters in ways that have continued to influence their stories ever since. It’s perhaps a little tame by today’s standards, but X-Men: The Animated Series is still certain to give most ’90s kids a pang of nostalgia.
6) The Adventures of Tintin (1991-1992)
Though it only aired for a short time, the animated adaptation of Hergé’s Belgian comic book The Adventures of Tintin left a lasting impression on many ’90s kids. With each instalment adapting a chapter of Tintin’s story, the show followed the titular reporter and his pet dog, Snowy, as they embarked on incredible globe-trotting adventures and uncovered numerous mysteries. In many ways, the success of the show outweighed that of its source material, helping Tintin reach global audiences and become a well-known character throughout the ’90s.
5) Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994-1998)
There have been countless adaptations of Spider-Man over the years, with many of them coming in the form of animated TV shows. However, one in particular remains a stand-out for children of the ’90s, and that is the show now known as Spider-Man: The Animated Series. The stories and characters of Spider-Man: The Animated Series introduced many young fans to the hero and the wider world of Marvel, and are fondly looked back on by some as an entry point to the superhero genre that epitomises the ’90s.
4) Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997)
Not all comic book adaptations made in the 1990s were aimed purely at a younger audience. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman starred Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain respectively in the title roles, and adapted the stories of the DC hero with a unique twist. Focusing predominantly on the relationship between Lois and Clark, the show’s blend of romance and drama with superhero action was an interesting take on the popular DC characters. Although Dean Cain is not often considered the best live-action version of Superman, many ’90s kids still look back fondly on the show.
3) The Mask: Animated Series (1995-1997)
There are few characters that evoke the decade of the ’90s as completely as the Mask. The character was catapulted into the spotlight in the 1994 movie The Mask, starring Jim Carrey, and subsequently earned an animated TV show off the back of the movie’s success. While the comic book source material is lesser-known, many children of the ’90s will remember The Mask: Animated Series as a cartoonish fever-dream of wacky superhero action and comedy.
2) Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003)
As ’90s kids got older, they started to take less of an interest in the latest animated comic book TV show. Enter Sabrina the Teenage Witch, a live-action adaptation of the Archie Comics series of the same name. Starring Melissa Joan Hart as the eponymous witch, the show was billed as a fantasy sitcom involving the adolescent Sabrina learning of her magical abilities while also navigating the trials and tribulations of teenage life. The show, being aimed at an adolescent audience, helped it bridge the gap from the ’90s into the ’00s, and it became a staple of many viewers’ youths as a result.
1) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996)
Like many other popular superheroes, there have been many TV and movie adaptations of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Few among them can boast the consistent popularity and inherent longevity of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV show; however, with ’90s kids in particular likely to be especially nostalgic over the show. Running from 1987 through to 1996, the show served as many fans’ introduction to the characters and explored many aspects of their world. It’s a show that remains beloved even decades later, with many ’90s kids remembering it especially fondly.
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