Let’s face facts:superheroesare down-trending. With no new shows lining the Hollywood horizon, it’s worth revisiting successful superhero franchises as fanatics await the bevy of Marvel, DC, and independent properties lined up for production. From the snarky, adolescent antics ofShazamto Netflix’s horrendously hyper-violentPunisher, enthusiasts across the board are traversing the vast desert of superhero action.
During an ongoing entertainment-industry-wide strike with no end in sight, it’s the perfect opportunity for comic aficionados to lose themselves in a universe of superheroes that has been expanding for years!
Titans (2018-2023)
With an incredible execution,Titansdelved deepinto both the mythos of DC’s intricate past as well as questioning the roles of superheroes as icons similar to Alan Moore’sWatchmen.
Titanswas an incredible portrait of misfit, misbegotten, superpowered outsiders banding together against overwhelming odds. It seems a trope at first. However,Titansoffered a much darker and more paranoid view, incorporating current sociopolitical topics and tackling heavier themes in a way that contemporarySupergirl,Stargirl, and theFlashsuperhero television series simply wouldn’t.
Another treat awaiting long-time DC fanatics was the occasionally swept-aside minor-league sidekicks like Wonder Girl and Aqualad, the latter of whose death in season one kicked off the events of theAquaman(2018) film. Despite the surprise death of Wondergirl and the even more surprising arrival of Superboy and Krypto, salivating enthusiasts couldn’t wait for more easter eggs and dark DC from this beloved series.
Unfortunately, the currently available oeuvre ofTitansshows is limited to WB’s first season, as a search and land on Netflix’s site warn that “Oh no! This title currently isn’t available to watch in your country” because of the fact that the show is “Unavailable on an ad-supported plan due to licensing restrictions.”
Daredevil (2015-2018)
Marvel’sDaredevil, availablestreaming from either Disney+or Netflix, truly cemented the darker side of Marvel. This year-one approach to Daredevil – tracing his early origins to his black-spandex first outing mistakes to his eventual donning of the bulletproof crimson horns –Daredevilwas a treat.
Sweeping aside obvious superpowers (and 2002’s Ben Affleck debacle),Daredevilpresented a man pushed into a corner who came out swinging. Alluding to the events of theAvengersfilms,Daredeviltook a more wide-sweeping, outside view of Hell’s Kitchen and its part in the smaller superhero role in the Marvel cinematic universe in contrast to other spinoffs such asAgents of SHIELD.
Thisunique superhero takealso shied away from flashy, acrobatic martial arts gymnastics so prevalent in action films and instead focused on his lightning-fast boxing. Not since theCreedandRockyseries has orthodox greco-roman boxing been portrayed as so dangerous and potentially lethal. A master boxer,Daredeviltakes on an entire crime ring in one episode, fighting as if possessed by the devil (get it?) as he single-handedly punches one gang member after another until he knocks out a dozen men by himself!
Aside from a game-changing final showdown for Daredevil against Vincent D’Onofrio’s award-winning portrayal of Kingpin, an interesting post-script to theDaredevilshow was, of course, Matt Murdock’s appearance inSpider-Man: No Way Home(2021). Hard-core fans of his standalone series rejoiced to see Charlie Cox’sDaredevilon the big screen, knowing he was still out there fighting the good fight, streaming series or not!
Related:Netflix’s Daredevil Director Explains Why Charlie Cox Is So Perfect for the Role
The Flash (2014-2023)
Although the big-screen debut ofThe Flash(2023) contained mind-blowing visual representations of time travel and several intriguing cameo characters,the television CW adaptation ofThe Flashremains the gold standard of superhero series – one of the best and most faithful to its decades of comic history.
During this continuing Hollywood strike with the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and the WGA (Writers' Guild of America), many properties are frozen, but superhero enthusiasts can stream or view on-demand every outing of the fastest man alive. Perhaps a bit of escapism could behoove fans' mental states. During an ongoing entertainment-industry-wide strike with no end in sight, a superhero can help restore a sense of optimism.
Related:The Flash: Who Actually Killed Barry’s Mom, Explained
While Ezra Miller won’t be reprising his role as DC’s titular scarlet speedster, many speculate that the character won’t simply sit in DC’s property vault, gathering dust. Already, speculation is underway as towho could replace the Flash, either on television or on the silver screen, and the possibility of a continuing new series or film lay somewhere on the horizon!
While the likelihood of aFlashreboot is intriguing considering the character’s various iterations – Jay Garrick, Wally West, Barry Allen, Bart Allen, et al – now is the absolute perfect time to catch Grant Gustin and his slim, trim and sleek, speedy antics onThe Flash!
