The recent success of Gerard Way's The Umbrella Academy, about a ragtag group of orphans trained from birth to use their superpowers to save the world, has gotten fans of the superhero genre comparing it to another similar series; Misfits. Misfits was released in 2009, just a year after Way had finished writing The Umbrella Academy graphic novel, and follows a group of "misfit" juvenile delinquents who, after being caught in an electrical storm, discover they have a variety of bizarre abilities.
Each series has become well known for its eccentric characters, zany plotlines, and Robert Sheehan, whose bright debut in Misfits as Nathan introduced fans to a character who would later become the perfect archetype for Klaus Hargreeve in The Umbrella Academy. For all their similarities, each series has its own strengths and determining which is better means analyzing things like stakes, character development, and authenticity.
UMBRELLA ACADEMY: HIGHER STAKES
The apocalypse looms large over both seasons of The Umbrella Academy. It seems like none of the Hargreeves siblings can have a "normal" life before they're getting pulled back into a scenario where the world will end if they don't do something.
Unlike in Misfits, where the narrative drama is localized, the crew in The Umbrella Academy always have to worry about how their actions will affect the planet, and which time-traveling antagonists are going to speed up the process of global domination. This makes for more tension and more compelling drama.
MISFITS: BETTER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Misfits is a much more intimate series, where characters spend their time contending with super-powered activities as well as performing menial tasks. Because the core group spends time at a juvenile rehabilitation center, they get to know one another in between stolen sips of alcohol and ironically trying to do good deeds for the elderly in their neighborhood.
Since the plotlines aren't all focused on intense action, the characters have time to reflect on what happens around them, without the next onslaught of activity robbing them of the chance to exhibit growth and change.
UMBRELLA ACADEMY: BETTER INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
The interpersonal relationships between the various members of The Umbrella Academy form the heart of the series. From Season 1, it was clear that audiences should find value in the ways the Hargreeves interact with one another, for better or for worse.
The relationship with Luther and Alyson, Klaus and Ben, Diego and his mother, and even Hazel and Cha-Cha are why fans tune in, not just because they want to see time-traveling action and superhero fights.
MISFITS: MORE REALISTIC
The series begins with a group of "misfits" being given a wide array of superpowers, and viewers follow along with them as they navigate the world around them as superhumans. They have growing pains and difficulties that make sense and give a realistic edge to the whole concept of acquiring superpowers.
Superpowers aren't considered "normal" in the world of Misfits, at least not right away, so they don't necessarily decide to instantly put on capes and try to save the world. Their first priority is staying grounded, developing their powers, and then dealing with how the world perceives them.
UMBRELLA ACADEMY: MORE WORLD-BUILDING
The world of The Umbrella Academy is rich and intriguing, full of components that are just outside the realm of reality. Everything from Reginald Hargreeve's secret society membership to Pogo, to the manor house he uses to train his children is shrouded in mystery.
Even Number Five's work for the temporal agency gets more and more broadened with each passing season, providing more depth to a world that is similar to our own but also very alien.
MISFITS: MORE RELATABLE
The characters in Misfits are all comprised of mostly working-class individuals who live in tenements, who come from environments that range from stable to broken homes. They're fairly normal people under extraordinary circumstances, which makes them a little more relatable to viewers.
It's difficult for some viewers to relate to the basic premise of The Umbrella Academy because, like many other superhero series, all of the Hargreeves family have access to incredible advantages and look like movie stars. UK-produced series have a tendency to feature casts of characters who don't look as polished or overly-produced but like people that viewers could meet in the street.
UMBRELLA ACADEMY: BIGGER BUDGET
For those that enjoy a large scope with their superhero series, fans need to look no further than The Umbrella Academy. It incorporates several inter-connected plotlines with an ever-expanding budget and slick special effects that don't completely pull viewers out of the experience.
Whether Vanya's floating above a metropolis decimate by her rage or the moon is crashing into Earth, the visual effects in the series are some of the best being offered today. They wouldn't look out of place in some of the biggest blockbusters in the MCU or DCEU.
MISFITS: BETTER SUPERPOWERS
One of the most unique aspects of Misfits is that not only do the misfits get a variety of intriguing superpowers, but over time more bizarre electric storms start granting other random people powers. Every episode new and unexpected powers appear for everyone to understand (or avoid).
While some of the superpowers are ordinary (like turning invisible), others are completely ridiculous (like changing into a gorilla, or involving cheese). One particularly intriguing superpower involves the ability to absorb other people's superpowers, which makes the person who possesses it able to start a lucrative business being a "conduit" for powers by buying and selling them.
UMBRELLA ACADEMY: MEMORABLE CHARACTERS LIKE KLAUS
One of the breakout stars of the series is undoubtedly Klaus Hargreeves, played by Robert Sheehan with total reckless abandon. Unapologetically, Klaus struts around in black leather pants, eyeliner, and a pink boa to steal every scene he's in. Right behind him is Aidan Gallagher as Number Five, who plays a middle-aged man in a boy's body like he was born that way.
Klaus is in a way the hypertrophied version of Robert Sheehan's role as Nathan in Misfits, taken to the next level. It's not difficult to see why with his charm, wit, and fantastic fashion sense he's become such a big hit with fans.
MISFITS: ACTING
Robert Sheehan played Nathan in Misfits when he was 21, and like Aidan Gallagher in Umbrella Academy, blew viewers away with his well-rounded performance at such a young age. He was joined by an equally inspiring cast of young people, particularly Iwan Rheon who would later go on to play the terrifying Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones.
The small scale and small budget of the series meant the cast had to do a lot of the heavy lifting to keep viewers engaged, and they were more than up to the challenge. Their dramatic moments weren't interrupted by huge explosions, time-traveling, or fist-fights, letting them resonate. The in-between quiet moments, as well as humorous times, were incredibly authentic because every actor was strong.