While Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Runaways, and DC's Doom Patrol continue to make waves in the mainstream for good reason, a plethora of equally compelling and fantastical superhero series are waiting in the wings. These under-the-radar episodic adventurous dramas are, like their more popular counterparts, streaming on all the major services.
From darkly comedic to deeply psychological to wholly heartwarming, these under-watched and critically hailed titles span the spectrum when it comes to exploring superhero themes. Horror, sci-fi, and action merge to tell out-of-this-world stories of both success and failure. Sometimes, the villain even becomes the hero — or vise versa.
Future Man (2017 - 2020): Hulu
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg are executive producers of Future Man, a comedic reimagining of superhero narratives that stars Josh Hutcherson. Hutcherson plays Josh Futturman, a janitor whose favorite game Biotic Wars comes to life after he's the first person to complete it.
Eliza Coupe and Derek Wilson co-star as Tiger and Wolf, respectively, characters from Biotic Wars who recruit Josh to help them save the world. Any fans of video game culture, low-brow laughs, and underdog heroes should tune into this surprisingly well-developed series that lasted three seasons.
Black Lightning (2017 - Present): Netflix
Part of DC's Arrowverse, the titular superhero in Black Lightning returns to his vigilantism after a nine-year hiatus, compelled to fight crime after a notorious gang attempts to take over his town. Cress Williams gives a compelling performance as high school principal Jefferson Pierce, who transforms into Black Lightning when the dismissal bell rings.
While it started off with a bang, viewership for Black Lightning has gone down with each subsequent season, even though its story arcs are some of the most progressive for a show of its kind. The fourth and final season will air in 2021.
American Gods (2017 - Present): Amazon Prime
American Gods is the series based on Neil Gaiman's extremely popular 2001 novel of the same name. It centers around an epic battle between Old Gods and New Gods, and it stars a talented ensemble cast including Ian McShane, Ricky Whittle, Crispin Glover, Gillian Anderson, and Orlando Jones.
Bryan Fuller of Hannibal fame served as one of the first season's showrunners, setting a dark, fantastical tone for the series. The third season is currently airing on Starz, but season 1 is streaming on Amazon Prime.
Stan Lee's Lucky Man (2016 - 2018): Shudder
One of Stan Lee's lesser-known efforts, Lucky Man was born out of Lee's realization that of all the superpowers, he'd like to possess luck the most. A British series heavy on crime and drama, Lucky Man is far from a typical superhero film.
James Nesbitt plays Harry Clayton, a middle-aged murder detective and gambling addict who inherits a magical bracelet that bestows him with endless good luck. Instead of using the power for good, Clayton uses it for his own ends.
Marvel's Cloak & Dagger (2018 - 2019): Hulu
Canceled after two seasons, Cloak & Dagger is an MCU series full of potential to take the genre into new directions. It stars Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph as Dagger and Cloak, respectively, two New Orleans teens who form a partnership after realizing their superpowers work better when they are together.
Without an established comics mythology, Cloak & Dagger presents a refreshing new fantastical vision that was unfortunately cut short. That being said, Holt and Joseph reprised their roles for season 3 of Marvel's Runaways.
Raising Dion (2019 - Present): Netflix
Raising Dion is a Netflix original series based on Dennis Liu's 2015 comic. Dion is a seven-year-old whose widowed mother Nicole realizes her son is developing superpowers, which makes parenting all the more challenging for her.
Ja'Siah Young is mesmerizing as Dion, and Alisha Wainwright matches his talent as Nicole; Michael B. Jordan guest-stars as Dion's deceased father Mark. Off to a strong start with its first season, Raising Dion will return to Netflix at some point in the future with a new batch of episodes.
Legion (2017 - 2019): Hulu
Love it or hate it, Legion is perhaps the most transgressive and experimental superhero venture on the small screen. Dan Stevens plays the titular character, a mutant who is part of the X-Men universe, in Noah Hawley's stunning, stylized dissection of mental health issues.
Before he becomes Legion, Stevens' character is David Haller, a schizophrenic man rescued by a team of rogue mutants who hope to help him harness his temperamental yet potent superpowers. By Legion's third and final season, David's journey takes a very dark turn.
The Neighbor (2019 - Present): Netflix
The Neighbor is an acerbic Spanish-language superhero comedy about a dimwitted, oafish man named Javier who mysteriously develops superhero powers. With the help of his neighbor, Javier transforms into a crime-fighting watchdog who dons a red suit.
El Vecino, as it's known in Spanish, is more of a character study than a traditional action-packed superhero show. Its second season is currently in development.
Cleverman (2016 - 2017): Netflix
With its refreshingly relevant themes and plot lines, Cleverman is a special series that remains under the radar. The Australian show, which ran for two seasons, makes a superhero out of the Aboriginal figure known as the Cleverman.
Hunter Page-Lochard stars as Koen West, bestowed with the powers of the Cleverman, an amalgam of several Aboriginal mythological traditions updated for contemporary times. While humanity wages war against creatures known as Hairies in the show, West mobilizes his special abilities in order to help the subjugated group.
The Gifted (2017 - 2019): Hulu
Another companion series set in the X-Men universe, The Gifted takes place in an alternate world where the X-Men have disappeared from public life. When a couple discovers their children have mutant abilities, they seek shelter in an underground community where all living mutants have fled.
The Gifted only lasted two seasons despite its popularity. With its rich storylines, The Gifted could have achieved a lot more in the genre if Fox hadn't canceled it.