6 Superhero Animated Shows Better Than Invincible

Prime Video's Invincible is only a little over halfway through adapting its source material, but it's already among the greatest animated superhero shows ever made. Although animated superhero projects have been around for the better part of a century, the improvements in technology and storytelling have allowed the medium to constantly evolve, hence there being so many modern hits.

As a result, it shouldn't be a major shock that an ongoing series like Invincible has such a great reputation, but it has truly earned its place in the greatest of all time conversation. In addition to being extremely faithful to the comics, Invincible's TV show is dark, violent, hilarious, and heartfelt, making it one of the boldest stories on TV.

Fans who usually love superhero content may not be able to stomach Invincible's most brutal fights, while those used to Marvel or DC's traditional narratives may be shocked by how different this series is. By the time it's all said and done, it may very well be regarded as the best animated superhero show ever, especially with several seasons still to go.

With that said, there are still a few classics that are hard to beat, many of which laid the groundwork for projects like Invincible. The likes of Batman Beyond, X-Men '97, Superman: The Animated Series, and My Hero Academia all deserve honorable mentions, but these six hits are the select few that remain above Invincible, at least for the time being.

Spider-Man: The Animated Series

Marvel

The 1990s was an extremely influential period for animated superhero shows, and Spider-Man: The Animated Series proved to be a pioneer in many ways. It wasn't the first time Spider-Man appeared on TV, but it elevated the character to new heights and cemented him as Marvel's flagship hero by giving Peter Parker countless compelling arcs.

Alongside battling his most famous rogues, characters we didn't necessarily expect to see on screen with Spider-Man, such as Morbius, the Punisher, and Nick Fury, all featured. Rather than having a limited scope, Spider-Man: The Animated Series ran for several seasons and explored large parts of the Marvel universe in depth, hence including so many iconic heroes and villains.

Each season also had its own themes, many of which were rather mature for the time, creating one of the most fleshed-out versions of Peter Parker we've ever seen. The project also gave us some of the best on-screen interpretations of Venom, Kingpin, Black Cat, and JJJ, which has also shaped the way audiences look at these characters over 30 years later.

It was such a cultural phenomenon that it heavily inspired The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride in Universal Islands of Adventure, as the character designs and animation style are almost identical. Although Spider-Man has changed a lot over the past few decades, the animated series was certainly pivotal to the hero's modern perception, making it a timeless classic.

X-Men: The Animated Series

via MovieStillsDB

Just like the 90s Spider-Man cartoon, X-Men: The Animated Series was also an incredibly influential show, that narrowly bests Invincible for many of the same reasons. Although the X-Men are becoming relevant again today, the 90s is arguably the group's most popular era, with the animated series playing a big role in making them so relevant.

Rogue, Gambit, Jubilee, and Beast are just some of the names that had arguably their best on-screen outings in this show, while Wolverine felt like one of Marvel's most recognizable heroes due to X-Men: The Animated Series. It also inspired 2023's X-Men '97, which comes close to rivaling Invincible.

However, with just two seasons to its name and X-Men '97 season 2's ending feeling a little lackluster, it hasn't quite overtaken the Prime Video series, but its success only adds to the legacy of its predecessor. Not only was X-Men: The Animated Series a great comic book adaptation, but it was full of twists and surprises that proved how unique the X-Men are.

It wasn't afraid to flag the group's moral flaws and get dark while still being a child-friendly cartoon. As a result, both X-Men and Spider-Man: The Animated Series share the crown of Marvel's best animated superhero shows ever, and while Invincible may surpass them eventually, it will never be as influential, remaining behind the pair of them for now.

Justice League Unlimited

Seeing all of DC's flagship heroes come together is always a treat, but Justice League Unlimited managed to show love to some of the franchise's more obscure characters too, while delivering consistently entertaining action. Lesser-known heroes like The Question and Vigilante were absolute highlights, who would never get this kind of spotlight anywhere else.

The show was a follow-up to 2001's Justice League, which walked so that JLU could run. Fortunately, it continued giving the likes of Batman, Green Lantern, and The Flash great stories, while also utilizing other big names such as Black Canary, Green Arrow, and Supergirl.

Having a great roster is one thing, but the series was also willing to take major risks, with its multiversal episodes paying off despite how easily they could've gone wrong. Likewise, there is a healthy balance between character-driven episodes and big team-ups against a common foe, all of which are consistently thrilling.

Seeing unlikely pairings made this series a truly one-of-a-kind event, and it acted as the greatest possible finale to the DCAU by ending on a high. Three seasons proved the perfect length to give most of the cast at least a few memorable moments while maintaining a high quality, and there hasn't been a better Justice League project since.

While Invincible thrives due to it being a continuous story directly taken from the comic books, Justice League Unlimited feels even more ambitious since it features many of the most iconic superheroes and villains of all time in one place, making the fact that it stuck the landing all the more impressive.

Teen Titans

Despite the bad early reception to Teen Titans, the series has aged gracefully, making it an absolute all-timer when it comes to animated superhero shows. While the DCAU had popularized a certain style of storytelling for the studio's animated projects, Teen Titans broke the mold by being an anime-inspired visual masterpiece that resonated with its target audience.

It embraced the sillier traits of these heroes, with Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Starfire all providing comic relief, proving it was kid-friendly. That said, it also got incredibly deep, as Robin's feud with Slade proved traumatic for the young hero, while "How Long is Forever?" brought a much more sorrowful tone, showing what a sad yet realistic future could look like for the team.

Even the divisive finale leaned into themes like growing up and moving on, which felt particularly appropriate for young viewers. Twenty years after its conclusion, Teen Titans still holds up, as its animation feels extremely impressive for its era, while it did an impeccable job of giving all its main heroes a reasonable amount of screen time and focus.

Elevating existing characters while introducing new ones is a testament to Teen Titans' masterful innovation, and with a killer theme song to go with it, there's no doubt it's one of the best in the genre. The fact that it told a complete story with few low points means it currently stands above Invincible, with nostalgia only helping its cause.

Young Justice (Seasons 1–2)

While seasons 3 and 4 certainly have their merits, Young Justice's first two installments were lightning in a bottle and rival any superhero show out there, animated or live-action. Watching a group of young proteges organically band together, defy their mentors, and prove their value was fascinating, and the team dynamic only improved throughout season 1 as more members joined.

The chemistry between these crime fighters was exceptional, and unlike Teen Titans, it didn't forget to include older heroes, despite focusing on the youth. Season 2 went through an ambitious time jump that frustratingly denied us more time with the core group, yet it was pivotal in advancing the plot and showing just how much the OG members had matured.

They'd built something far bigger than themselves and made ambitious heroes welcome in a world where they might otherwise be brushed off by the older generation. Season 2 also continued expanding the Light, gave us the Injustice League, and introduced the Reach, providing plenty of sinister foes to topple.

Across both seasons, Young Justice easily has some of the best superhero character development I've ever seen. It wasn't afraid to get emotional, as evidenced by Wally's sacrifice, and it has some truly outstanding episodes. As if that wasn't enough, Young Justice was even more consistent than Invincible during its early days, and it's a show that simply doesn't get enough praise.

Batman: The Animated Series

Via MovieStillsDB

No matter how many years pass, Batman: The Animated Series will always be considered among the greatest superhero shows of all time, and for good reason. It is one of the best depictions of the Dark Knight and his various adversaries, giving both popular and obscure foes plenty of opportunities to shine.

Almost every episode acted as a one-off story, yet they still impacted characters later on, allowing the cast to develop without putting too much emphasis on an overarching narrative. Visually, it was impressive, but it thrives even more stylistically, having an unmistakable atmosphere filled with intrigue.

The series is both dark yet hopeful, gritty yet family-friendly, highlighting why people of all ages love this hit. Batman: The Animated Series even created popular characters like Renee Montoya, Nora Fries, and, of course, Harley Quinn, who has since become one of the biggest characters DC has at its disposal.

It is clearly the inspiration for so many projects that came afterward and can be rewatched any time, be it binging the whole series or selecting favorite episodes. While it's not without its flaws, Batman: The Animated Series is the king of animated superhero shows, and as good as Invincible is, it may never beat this all-time great.