Comic book crime-fighters are all the rage these days. Audiences can't go five minutes without DC or Marvel putting out a movie, TV show, or video game about these costumed exploits. Some people talk about superhero fatigue, wondering when consumers will tire of these colorful adventures, but that doesn't seem to have set in yet.

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For some TV shows, however, superhero fatigue was there from the start. Even if they managed to stay on the air, these series faced an uphill battle in the public consciousness. For whatever reason, they faded from memory more rapidly than their peers, which is never healthy in a crowded market. So many successful superhero products are out there, but this makes it that much harder for failures to stand out.

Updated on June 12, 2022, by Michael Llewellyn: With all the TV networks, streaming services, and movies trying to capitalize on superheroes and comic book adaptations, it is surprising how many great shows from that past have gone forgotten and underappreciated. Over the years even once-iconic prime time TV shows have become underrated gems in the way they brought something different to the usual content that aired on TV. many shows were canceled before their time and as a result, many fans didn't get the resolution they wanted. Whether it was a premature network cancelation, corporation takeovers, or a series simply coming to a natural conclusion, this list has been updated to include more forgotten, underrated, and underappreciated superhero shows.

13 The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

Wasp, Hawkeye, Capt America, Hulk, Iron Man and Black Panther
  • Seasons: 2
  • Production/Distributor: Film Roman, Ingenious Media, Disney XD
  • Years Ran: 2010-2012

Before Disney purchased Marvel Studios and all its properties, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes was Marvel's main animated show. It was almost immediately replaced by the inferior Avenger's Assemble, a series aimed at a younger audience with a more simplistic art style. Despite running for 52 episodes it was canceled after two seasons and is often considered a forgotten superhero show as it was so quickly replaced.

Earth's Mightiest Heroes had great writing with mature characters that were in line with the successful animated Marvel films like Thor: Sword of Asgard and Hulk vs Wolverine. It had a great running story arc that wasn't afraid to kill off major characters but unfortunately for fans, it was never finished as it ended on a cliffhanger.

12 G-Force Guardians Of Space

Hooty, Aggie, Ace, Dirk, and Pee Wee
  • Seasons: 1, 85 Episodes
  • Production/Distributor: Sandy Frank Entertainment, King Features Entertainment, Turner Program Services, TBS, and ADV Films
  • Years Ran: 1986-1987

After Battle of the Planets ended its run on TBS the production studio Sandy Frank Entertainment still wanted to make use of the Japanese Gatchaman license. So in 1986, Sandy Frank and TBS decided to reboot the franchise and air the English dubbed version, and call it G-Force Guardians of Space.

This version was much darker and more violent than the Battle of the Planets and was more superhero-based instead of using Star Wars as an inspiration. The series only lasted 85 episodes but it wasn't until 2005 that fans got the unedited and complete 105-episode English dub distributed by ADV Films.

11 The Defenders Of The Earth

Lothar, Mandrake the Magician, Flash Gordon, and The Phantom
  • Seasons: 1, 65 Episodes
  • Production/Distributor: Marvel Productions, King Features Entertainment, Orbis
  • Years Ran: 1986-1987

Before The Avengers and the Justice League made superhero team-ups cool in quality movies and cartoon shows, Defenders of the Earth was considered one of the best. It was a surprisingly dark and mature team up consisting of Flash Gordon, The Phantom, and Mandrake the Magician as they team up to stop Ming The Merciless and prevent his invasion of Earth.

Despite the characters coming from King Features comic strip line, the company teamed up with Marvel to produce the show. The production values still hold up well and the narrative was geared toward mature long-form storytelling. Despite being a Marvel production and featuring iconic characters like Flash Gordon it's very much a forgotten and underappreciated superhero series. Rewatching this series it's even more apparent that Flash Gordon and The Phantom require a comeback.

10 Shazam!

Captain Marvel in Shazam!
  • Seasons: 3
  • Production/Distributor: Filmation and Warner Bros
  • Years Ran: 1974-1976

Even after the surprisingly successful film, Shazam (formerly Captain Marvel) is considered something of a forgotten superhero compared to mainstream DC heroes like Superman and Batman. This makes it all the more shocking that 1974's Shazam! was a hit for CBS. It went on for three seasons and birthed another show about an Egyptian-themed heroine named Isis. So, why isn't it remembered?

Well, despite its admirable production values, it's one of those series that's insanely corny, complete with episodic lessons for kids. Sadly, though, it never attained the staying power of similarly cheesy works like the 1960s Batman show. In addition, the studio's classless treatment of the lead actor (and the ensuing lawsuit) caused a few financial struggles that might have motivated its cancellation. If it had gone on longer, then it could have stayed in the cultural zeitgeist.

9 The Incredible Hulk

Bruce Banner and the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk
  • Seasons: 5, plus 5 TV Movies
  • Production/Distributor: Universal and Marvel
  • Years Ran: 1977-1982

Many modern audiences know the Hulk as the musclebound goof with a temper in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He's also one of the only Avengers to not get a slew of solo sequels. Despite that, he was among the first of these heroes to get his live-action TV show. Despite being a somewhat underappreciated superhero show by today's standards was also the most culturally significant and successful Marvel live-action project for many years to come. It set a dramatic and dark tone that separated it from shows like Wonder Woman and Batman.

It's funny to think that this 1977 series went on for five seasons, infinitely more successful than similar attempts with Thor and Spider-Man at the time. This led bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno to become synonymous with the character for decades; he even voiced the green rage monster in several animated projects afterward and made cameo appearances in the Hulk movies.

8 The Zeta Project

Zeta and Ro in The Zeta Project
  • Seasons: 2
  • Production/Distributor: Warner Bros Animation
  • Years Ran: 1

This spinoff of a spinoff was so insignificant in the greater DC Animated Universe that even hardcore fans may not know it exists. Originating in Batman Beyond, Zeta was a government robot who went against his infiltration and assassination programming. He eventually left Gotham and pursued heroics in another city with the help of a street-smart sidekick.

Considering that cliched setup, it's not surprising that the interest simply wasn't there for The Zeta Project. The creators tried to salvage it with another Batman Beyond crossover, but it did little good. The higher-ups whacked this bot after one season.

7 Avengers: United They Stand

The titular team in Avengers: United They Stand
  • Seasons: 1, canceled after 13 episodes
  • Production/Distributor: Fox Family Worldwide, Marvel, and Saban International
  • Years Ran: 1

Before they were the biggest money-makers in the superhero business, the Avengers were the poor man's Justice League. Characters like Falcon and Vision aren't A-tier superheroes even now. Try making a show about these C-listers back in 1999.

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This makes it all the more ironic that the creators' main goal was to sell toys. Yes, these Avengers have high-tech power armor to promote a line of action figures, making them look more designed than the Injustice characters. Tragically, their costumes are the most interesting thing about them, as these Avengers' personalities are five flavors of bland. If kids didn't care before, this didn't change their minds. In the end, they neither watched the show nor bought the toys.

6 Spider-Man: The New Animated Series

Spider-Man in Spider-Man: The New Animated Series
  • Seasons: 1, canceled after 13 episodes
  • Production/Distributor: Marvel, Mainframe Entertainment, Sony Pictures, and Adelaide
  • Years Ran: 1

Shaky foundations rarely bode well. Though the creators initially conceived this MTV effort as an Ultimate Spider-Man show, the studio ordered them to retrofit it into a sequel to the recent Sam Raimi film. The result was a series that, while accomplished in its own right, didn't meet either goal.

This presents a darker vision for the Spider-Man mythos, almost neo-noir in its atmosphere. Unfortunately, that means it wasn't as marketable to kids. On the other hand, it still adhered to the quirky everyman charm of the characters, so it didn't have the weird, cynical appeal of other MTV shows at the time, leading to its inevitable cancellation after one season. Look at the long history of Spider-Man movies and TV shows, and it's easy to forget such a short-lived attempt.

5 Dial M For Monkey & The Justice Friends

Krunk and Monkey in Dexter's Laboratory
  • Seasons: 6 Episodes in Season one were replaced by Justice Friends for the remainder of the season
  • Production/Distributor: Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros, and Cartoon Network Studios
  • Years Ran: 1

These segments were originally part of Dexter's Laboratory. The show would cut away from its titular boy genius and focus on either his experimental monkey or a pack of Avengers-Esque roommates. These were satirical, poking fun at superhero teams and spoofing spy flicks.

Sadly, the later seasons axed these segments. In addition, said seasons were more commercialized than previous ones. Anyone who tuned into Dexter's Lab would likely see its central characters and no one else. These extra adventures — once central to the show's identity —were effectively excised from its legacy.

4 Birds Of Prey

Huntress, Oracle, and Black Canary in Birds of Prey
  • Seasons: 13 Episodes
  • Production/Distributor: Warner Bros, Flash Film Works, Tollin/Robbins
  • Years Ran: 1

These antiheroines can't catch a break. Not only did their movie flop, but their TV series only lasted for thirteen episodes. It's easy to see why, though. Everything about 2002's Birds of Prey reeks of that early-2000s "edginess" that permeated entertainment back then. It even has the black leather trench coats, Matrix-style fight scenes, and a mopey rock song as its theme.

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The series comes off as a relic. It's consumed by these trite elements, and neither the story nor the characters are engaging enough to rise above these clichés. The show never gives audiences a reason to look back, so why should they?

3 X-Men: Evolution

The X-Men and the Brotherhood in X-Men: Evolution
  • Seasons: 4
  • Production/Distributor: Film Roman, Marvel Studio, and Warner Bros
  • Years Ran: 2000-2003

This show has always lived in the shadow of its predecessor. Sure, it got four seasons, but what do many people picture when they think of X-Men TV shows? That's right, the 90s animated series. After all, it brings the tone, aesthetic, and characterization of the classic comics to life.

X-Men: Evolution updates the formula, making many of its characters into high-schoolers and tying mutation and prejudice into puberty and other youth problems. This rubbed some fans the wrong way. Of course, serialized storytelling in a kid's show also didn't help. With these elements working against it, this evolution seemed doomed from the start.

2 Krypto The Superdog

Krypto and friends in Krypto the Superdog
  • Seasons: 2
  • Production/Distributor: Cartoon Network, Kids WB
  • Years Ran: 2005-2007

It was a bizarre move by Paul Dini and Alan Burnett to follow their work on the DCAU with this: a show about DC superheroes' pets. With those names comes the same high-flying adventure that fans had come to expect, albeit more lighthearted with a sprinkle of self-awareness. Despite these strengths, Krypto failed to achieve the all-ages popularity of other superhero series.

To outsiders, it just looked like a cutesy preschool show about a bunch of costumed pets. Why would anyone watch it, let alone let it live beyond two seasons? However, who knows? Maybe Dwayne Johnson is currently watching it religiously for research.

1 Green Lantern: The Animated Series

Hal Jordan and Kilowog in Green Lantern: The Animated Series
  • Seasons: 1
  • Production/Distributor: DC Entertainment and Warner Bros
  • Years Ran: 2011-2013

Released back in 2011, this show was meant to capitalize on the Green Lantern movie that same year. That's a problem when the film in question turned into a critical and commercial flop.

Sure, the show's plot and characters were entirely disconnected, and it received praise from those select few fans who watched it. Unfortunately, the damage was done. The series came and went after one season. Now, the most that anyone remembers about the Green Lantern during that time are the countless jokes in Deadpool. Talk about adding insult to injury. Hopefully, the upcoming HBO Max series will fare better.

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