The Best Superhero Shows Of The '90s

For a lot of people today, their fascination with superheroes didn't begin in the pages of a comic book. It began on their televisions, back in the '90s, when they had a big bowl of cereal in front of them. After all, superhero shows were huge in the '90s, and for many future fans, these TV characters would become the definitive versions of their favorite crime-fighters. 

But hey, even though most of these series were geared towards children, plenty of them can be enjoyed by fans of all ages. And looking back today, it's easy to see why so many people remember these programs with such fondness. The best superhero shows of the '90s all have one thing in common. They'll make you feel nostalgic for the good old days when superhero stories were simpler, more straightforward, and way more fun. And today, we're shining on a light on the best of the best, from landmark series to some pretty obscure shows.

Superman on the big screen fizzled out in the late '80s. While 1978's Superman is rightfully a classic that introduced the character to a new generation of moviegoers, 1987's Superman IV: The Quest for Peace was widely panned by critics. The character was in need of a reboot, and he found one on television in the form of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. 

The TV series was a hit thanks to its soap opera approach of focusing on the relationship between Clark Kent and Lois Lane. The show is also responsible for one of the biggest comic book stories of the '90s, "The Death of Superman." The comic book writers wanted to marry Clark and Lois, but they knew the TV series wanted to do the same. To promote corporate synergy, they had to find a way to delay that particular story arc, so they came up with the idea of killing Superman. 

But apart from its influence on the world of comic books, Lois & Clark can stand on its own merits, especially if you're looking for a show that puts just as much emphasis on relationships as it does adventures. While it's pretty different from the Man of Steel we all know today, it's that soap opera element that really makes the series stand apart from its super peers.

The theme song for X-Men: The Animated Series is just as beloved as the series itself. However, this wasn't the first time Marvel tried to get the X-Men on the small screen. A pilot called Pryde of the X-Men was made but ultimately passed over. Fortunately, the chance for another X-Men show came when Margaret Loesch was tapped to be head of the Fox Children's Network. The result was one of the most fun and colorful superhero adaptations of the decade. 

The show may have had plenty of action, but it also dealt with a lot of issues you wouldn't normally expect out of a children's cartoon. The "Time Fugitives" arc in season two can be seen as an allegory to the AIDS epidemic, which was extremely timely in the early '90s. On top of all that, complex storylines and artwork that looked like it came from Jim Lee defined the series. The best part is you can take a trip down memory lane any time you want now that the series is available on Disney+. 

Superheroes in the '90s didn't have to debut in the pages of a comic book. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers instead drew inspiration from Toei's Super Sentai franchise, using footage from that old Japanese program to deliver a new and unique show for kids in the United States. In the series, five teenagers with attitude are selected to defend the planet from Rita Repulsa and her army of monsters as they attack Angel Grove. 

The original iteration of the characters lasted for three seasons, but you just can't kill a concept this good. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was followed by Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers and then Power Rangers Zeo. Every fan has their own personal favorite version of the Power Rangers, and there are no wrong answers. Interest in the franchise is still high with a live-action movie having come out in 2017. As long as there are kids (and adults) who want to defend others from the forces of evil, there will always be a place for the Power Rangers in pop culture. 

The Phantom is one of the oldest superheroes, having made his debut in 1936 in a daily newspaper strip. He's a highly influential character, often being credited as the first superhero to wear a skintight costume, which would go on to become the standard for practically all superheroes in the decades since. He also popularized the idea of a mask with no pupils, which you've seen dozens of other heroes copy. However, unlike other superheroes, he doesn't have any special powers or abilities. He just uses his hyper intellect and strength to fight bad guys. 

For 35 episodes between 1994 and 1996, he had his own series in the form of Phantom 2040. The series provided major updates for the character, taking place in the far-off future where the world has been ravaged by environmental degradation and only the wealthiest of the elite thrive. It's a timely show that's worth a rewatch if you can track it down. And while the series delivered some important themes, it never lost focus of its core, namely Kit Walker Jr. following in his ancestors' footsteps to become the 24th iteration of the Phantom. It's a wholly human show with an art style that rivals that of Batman: The Animated Series. 

Batman Beyond debuted in 1999, solidifying its status as a '90s classic that put a unique spin on the Caped Crusader. The show takes place in the year 2039, when an elderly Bruce Wayne mentors a new Batman, Terry McGinnis, to fight a new league of evil in Gotham. He takes up the mantle of Batman and fights crime in the night while juggling the responsibilities of high school.

The show truly excelled in making this Batman all his own. He's not fighting new versions of Batman's classic villains. Instead, the creators wisely decided to give him his own unique rogue gallery to fight. Inque and Blight, in particular, are standouts with superb character designs that really make them feel part of this futuristic world.

And when the show does bring in older villains, it does so in interesting ways. For example, we see an elderly Bane ravaged by the effects of Venom (the addictive compound that gave him his strength) after taking it for so many years. It's haunting to see a normally strong villain weakened to such a state, but Batman Beyond wasn't afraid to pull any punches. 

It seems like a common question surrounding Superman these days involves figuring out how to make him relatable to modern audiences. While this often includes bringing a darker take on the character, the animated series from the '90s proved you can have entertaining, enjoyable Superman stories without having to sacrifice what makes Superman, well, Superman. 

Spanning three seasons, Superman: The Animated Series had complex storylines, faithful adaptations of comic book plots, and superb voice acting. The series eventually crossed over with Batman: The Animated Series and delivered World's Finest, which portrayed Superman and Batman meeting for the first time. They don't get along initially, as to be expected, but they eventually team up to take down Lex Luthor and Joker. 

Both series would eventually be spun off into Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. Combined, the four series deliver some of the greatest superhero stories you'll ever see, regardless of the medium.

It's hard to imagine any group of heroes having any greater success in the '90s than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While the cartoon debuted in 1987, it lasted all the way to 1996. The show's popularity was further intensified thanks to the release of the 1990 film based on the titular heroes in a half shell. 

There really was no escaping turtle mania in the '90s as you would find their faces on pretty much everything under the sun. They had plush toys, breakfast cereals, and even a rock show based on their escapades. They also had some of the best action figures you could buy at the time. The world was obsessed with these heroes.

There have been plenty of other shows centered around the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles over the years, but none have quite reached the heights as this one. With nearly 200 episodes, there are plenty of adventures for '90s kids to look back on.