10 Superhero Shows That Are Definitely Not for Kids
With so many superhero television shows in production, it’s not surprising some of them are aimed at an older crowd. The kids who grew up on Batman: The Animated Series, or the Saturday morning cartoon adventures of Spider-Man, grew into adults able to appreciate more mature interpretations of costumed vigilantes.
Once probably too niche of an idea to succeed, violent superhero shows that explore a world of sex, drugs, and a little bit of crime-fighting have turned into hits for their respective networks. From animated mayhem to live-action limb-tearing, these are superhero shows that are definitely not meant for kids.
10
‘Watchmen’ (2019)
Created by Damon Lindelof
A seminal graphic novel gets a prestige TV treatment in the HBO series Watchmen. Picking up 34 years after the events of the graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore, Watchmen follows Angela Abar (Regina King), a detective who works for the Tulsa Police Department anonymously under the name of Sister Night. When a white supremacist group begins to attack the police, Angela begins to discover she might have a closer connection to the outlawed vigilantes from before her time.
The original source material might have been near the rest of the comic books, but it was never intended for children. Watchmen is a mature take on the reality of vigilante justice, and the assumed responsibility of the few who decide to take the law into their own hands. The HBO series only ran for one season with a self-contained story that built on the mythos of The Watchmen while constructing a world that was eerily similar to the one we know today.
9
‘Doom Patrol’ (2019 – 2023)
Created by Jeremy Carver
An eclectic team of oddball misfits with unique powers lives together in a mansion in the quirky Doom Patrol. When individuals from different parts of the country inherit powers that leave them on the outs with society, Dr. Niles Caulder (Timothy Dalton) cares for them and teaches them how to use their new gifts safely. The misfits include Robotman (voiced by Brendan Fraser), a robot with the brain of a race car driver, and Elasti-Woman (April Bowlby), a former actress who can change her body into multiple shapes with trained concentration.
If the premise sounds similar to the X-Men, the comic book on which Doom Patrol is based actually premiered a few months before Charles Xavier sent teenagers out on attack missions. Doom Patrol is heavy on adult language and violence, separating itself from other sanitized examples of superheroes along with its own source material. While many shows focused on comic characters received cancellations that prematurely cut stories short, Doom Patrol was able to wrap up its storylines by the end of its fourth and final season.
8
‘The Punisher’ (2017–2019)
In The Punisher, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) is a vigilante who cares less about rehabilitating criminals and more about killing them before they can hurt innocents again. When Frank’s wife and children are killed during a shootout, he vows revenge on the people responsible. Using his training as a United States Marine to kill his targets and his grief to keep him focused, Frank carves a path through the criminal underworld.
The Punisher was originally a spin-off of the Daredevil series that premiered on Netflix. There isn’t a soft and gentle version of The Punisher, only episodes where he kills fewer people, firmly cementing Castle as a story to watch after the kids go to bed. The Punisher received two well-received seasons on Netflix before the streamer’s partnership with Marvel ended, but Bernthal is set to return with a new adventure on Disney+.
7
‘Invincible’ (2021 – Current )
Created by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley & Cory Walker
A young superhero learns to control his new powers the hard way in Amazon’s Invincible. Based on the comic book of the same name, Invincible follows Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), a 17-year-old whose dad happens to be the greatest superhero on the planet, Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons). When Mark’s powers begin to develop, he’ll discover a large world of other heroes, and damning secrets about his father.
Unlike other comic-book-inspired shows that make superhero battles look like a breeze, Invincible details every bone-crunching impact as the strongest mortals in the universe use one another as punching bags. Even though the series is animated, the content is not aimed at small children, with graphic depictions of violence and adult language common throughout the episodes. Catering to adults has paid off for Invincible, with its third and most recent season receiving a 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
6
‘Gen V’ (2023 – Current)
Created by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg & Eric Kripke
The violent and irreverent world of The Boys goes back to school in the spinoff, Gen V. The series follows Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair), a superpowered teen with the ability to manipulate blood. While attempting to recover from a traumatic discovery of her powers, Marie focuses on her studies at the Godolkin University School of Crimefighting, where she hopes to one day become a superhero skilled enough to join the elite super team The Seven.
For anyone who is familiar with the anything-goes mentality of The Boys, Gen V introduces new characters and stories not directly related to the original hit Amazon series. A compelling mystery that strikes the expected themes of corporate exploitation pairs well with a fresh cast of newcomers who have excellent chemistry. Gen V’s first episodes work well using The Boys as a springboard, but before long, viewers will be completely invested in the superpowered students.
5
‘Harley Quinn’ (2019 – Current)
Created by Dean Lorey, Justin Halpern & Patrick Schumacker
Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco) sets out to separate herself from The Joker (Alan Tudyk) in the animated HBO Max series, Harley Quinn. After what is probably the 100th breakup with the Joker, Harley has finally figured out he might not be the best person to keep in her life. Teaming up with her trusted friend Poison Ivy (Lake Bell), Harley sets out to form a new crew and take over Gotham and prove she’s one of the best criminals in town.
Harley Quinn might be one of the most surprisingly enjoyable series set in the DC universe. Harley Quinn is perfect for adults, with R-rated language, violence that’s frequent and gory, and jokes that land more than they miss. Batman purists might have a hard time adjusting to the changes made to the world of Gotham, but if taken as a loving satire of the Bat-related characters, there is endless fun to be had with Harley’s journey to criminal superstardom.
4
‘Spawn’ (1997–1999)
Created by Todd McFarlane & Alan B McElroy
HBO provided an unfiltered look at an edgy comic book anti-hero when the animated series Spawn debuted on the premium channel. Spawn followed Al Simmons (Keith David), an elite government assassin who was betrayed and murdered by his own associates. Upon entering Hell, Al agrees to become a soldier for hell in return for seeing his wife, Wanda (Dominque Jennings), once again on Earth. Now bestowed with supernatural powers as a Hellspawn, Al is returned to a world he doesn’t recognize with enemies of all varieties waiting for him.
Adult animation had previously existed in movies such as Heavy Metal, but HBO’s adaptation of Spawn was something that felt new and exciting in the late 90s. Although the writing and animation brought Spawn to life, it was the perfect casting of David to give Spawn the powerful voice of a man heartbroken and filled with rage. The series didn’t shy away from the incredibly dark and morbid storylines from the comics, creating a faithful experience for fans who weren’t blown away by the 1997 live-action film.
3
‘Peacemaker’ (2022 – Current)
Created by James Gunn
From the mind of DCU co-head James Gunn comes the story of the most unlikely superhero, Christopher Smith (John Cena), otherwise known as Peacemaker. Peacemaker picks up after the events of Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, with Peacemaker recovering in a hospital after injuries sustained in the film. Although he tries to escape detection, Chris is quickly detained and ordered to work on a black ops team to prevent an alien invasion from taking over Earth.
Cena enjoyed a long career as a kid-friendly wrestler, but Peacemaker is one made specifically for adults, with the hero saying any number of profanities in a sometimes borderline nonsensical arrangement. Cena was a scene-stealer in The Suicide Squad, but it was still surprising when it was announced that an entire series would be based around the presumably dead character. However, once the opening credits began and featured the cast dancing to the song “Do Ya Wanna Taste It,” by Wig Wam, it was clear that something wholly unique had been made.
2
‘Creature Commandos’ (2024 – Current)
Created by James Gunn
A motley team of inhuman prisoners is tasked with saving the world in the HBO Max animated series Creature Commandos. After the events in The Suicide Squad, Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) is under strict orders not to use human prisoners in her clandestine operations, so she opts for a less human approach. Assembling a team that includes the cunning Bride of Frankenstein (Indira Varma) and the radioactive Dr. Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk), Waller resumes her black ops missions.
As the first official installment in the soft reboot of the DC media franchise, or the DCU, Creature Commandos immediately differentiates itself from the tone of the MCU. Creature Commandos is explicitly for adults, with action scenes to go in close for all the skin-tearing carnage inflicted by and on the monster starring team. With the first season critically praised and a second on the way, Creature Commandos could be unlikely new stars for the DC brand.
1
‘The Boys’ (2019 – Current)
Created by Eric Kripke
Unchecked power leads to the ultimate corruption for superpowered celebrities in Amazon’s The Boys. In a world where corporations sponsor superhero teams for financial gain, mega-conglomerate Vought Industries reigns above all others with their illustrious team, The Seven. However, abuse of power behind the scenes creates the need for The Boys, a team hell bent on stopping the “heroes” from harming anyone else.
Based on the comic book of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, The Boys is one of the rare adaptations to improve upon its source material. Between shocking displays of superpowered slaughter, The Boys serves up satire of the obsession with celebrity culture and corporate branding to create a series that is both funny and compelling drama. The final season is on its way, but most are ready to say goodbye to one of TV’s best villains, the Superman-inspired Homelander (Antony Starr).
