6 Best Marvel TV Shows That You Probably Missed

Marvel is famous for its colorful comic books and blockbuster movies, especially the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But they’ve also created some fantastic TV shows, particularly recently, that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve – you might not even know they exist!

Marvel is constantly growing its cinematic universe, and many popular characters have actually debuted in TV shows, especially on Disney+. But it’s not just recent series that have been successful – older animated shows like X-Men: The Animated Series and The Spectacular Spider-Man, along with the 2015 Daredevil series, are also considered major hits.

As a lifelong movie and TV buff, I’ve always appreciated Marvel’s consistent output, but it’s easy for some of their shows to slip under the radar with such a massive universe. Honestly, a lot of these superhero series don’t get the attention they deserve. They weren’t always flawless, but they all had something special, and I think a lot of fans simply missed out on them.

Blade: The Series

For years, fans have been hoping for a new Blade movie, especially with Mahershala Ali set to take on the role after the original films ended over twenty years ago. What many people don’t realize is that a Blade TV series actually aired in 2006. While it wasn’t perfect, the show had a unique style that made it enjoyable for some.

Sticky Fingaz delivered a surprisingly strong performance as Blade, considering how memorable Wesley Snipes was in the role, and the series introduced some interesting new ideas over its 12 episodes. However, the writing hasn’t aged well, and this different approach to the Blade story will likely split longtime fans.

Despite being largely forgotten, this show has more good qualities than bad, and it’s surprising how few people know about it. With the Blade movie from the MCU constantly being pushed back, the 2006 show is definitely worth a watch if you haven’t seen it. It might just hold you over until we finally get some news about Blade 4 and satisfy your craving for vampire action.

The Avengers: United They Stand

As a huge fan of the Avengers, I’ve always been fascinated by how the team has evolved! While we’re all familiar with the Avengers from the Marvel Cinematic Universe now, it’s amazing to look back at earlier versions. I recently checked out the 1999 animated series, The Avengers: United They Stand, and it’s so different! It really struck me that out of all the heroes in that show, only Hawkeye made it into the original MCU line-up. It’s wild to see how much things have changed!

This version of the Avengers features Ant-Man, Wasp, Wonder Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Falcon, and Tigra, and they work really well together as a team. The story also focuses on villains who don’t usually get much attention, and it manages to tell a good story despite having a short running time – it’s a shame so many people didn’t see it.

While it’s definitely not a classic, and it hasn’t aged perfectly, The Avengers: United They Stand was still better than many other animated shows of its era. It feels a little old-fashioned compared to today’s Avengers cartoons, but back then, it was a good series that doesn’t get enough credit.

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends

Spider-Man is Marvel’s most recognizable hero, and he’s starred in a lot of well-loved TV shows. Fans still often discuss the series from the ‘90s, as well as more recent hits like The Spectacular Spider-Man and Ultimate Spider-Man. The popularity continues with Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, which has been renewed for a second season, proving just how much great Spider-Man content there is on television.

It’s a shame that Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends often gets forgotten. This ’80s cartoon was groundbreaking for bringing Spider-Man to television, being one of the first adaptations of the comics. And it’s definitely different from most Spider-Man shows you see now.

Firestar and Iceman were once major characters in the project, but they’ve become relatively unknown in recent Marvel movies and shows. Similarly, while popular Spider-Man villains like Green Goblin and Sandman were featured with Loki, the series also included antagonists that most fans have completely forgotten.

While Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends was a distinctive chapter in Spider-Man’s history, its creative approach may have been crucial in shaping the beloved hero we know today. Without this original series, Spider-Man might have evolved into a very different character.

Guardians of the Galaxy

James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy launched a group of relatively unknown comic book characters to stardom in 2014, and the franchise has been a hit ever since. While the 2017 sequel was well-received and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is considered a sci-fi triumph, many people don’t realize there was also an animated series released alongside the popular movies.

The animated series for Guardians of the Galaxy came out only a year after the first movie and lasted for two seasons. It delivered fantastic takes on these popular characters, keeping the team’s signature wit and heartwarming stories. With exciting conflicts and a lot of fun, it’s surprising more people haven’t discovered this hidden gem.

The 2015 Guardians of the Galaxy animated series brought back all the beloved characters, plus a fantastic voice cast including Troy Baker, Tara Strong, and John DiMaggio. Lee Pace and Seth Green even returned to voice their Marvel Cinematic Universe roles! If you’re a fan of Guardians of the Galaxy, you definitely need to check this show out, and many of us are still hoping it will return someday.

Hit-Monkey

Image via Hulu

When Hit-Monkey first came out in 2021, it seemed like it had the potential to become really popular, and it did gain some traction. Hulu renewed it for a second season and critics generally liked it, but surprisingly, many people didn’t realize it was part of the Marvel universe.

Even though Hit-Monkey debuted on Hulu, it didn’t receive as much promotion as other Marvel shows released around the same time. This was likely because most of those other shows were closely connected to the main Marvel Cinematic Universe. Because of this, Hit-Monkey stood out as a distinct animated series that critics enjoyed, but it didn’t quite become a popular hit with a wider audience.

Despite generally positive reviews, Hit-Monkey hasn’t been picked up for a third season. While Marvel hasn’t explained why, low ratings are probably the reason. It’s a shame, because the show is seriously underrated and deserves more attention.

Legion

Despite critical acclaim and a talented cast including Aubrey Plaza, John Hamm, and Hamish Linklater, the FX series Legion – a three-season show – seems to have flown under the radar. With a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s surprising that many Marvel fans haven’t experienced this exceptional series.

I was completely hooked by this show, Legion. It’s a really intense psychological drama about a guy who thinks he’s mentally ill, and it follows him as he works with doctors to figure out what’s really going on – whether it’s illness or something to do with his powers and the battles inside his head. It was such a brilliant idea, and I honestly thought it would be a huge hit. But sadly, even though the show was genuinely good, fewer and fewer people tuned in over its three seasons, which was a real shame.

It’s understandable why this show might have flown under the radar, especially with huge hits like The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones dominating the airwaves. But if you enjoy Marvel stories that aren’t the typical superhero fare, it’s definitely worth a watch – you likely won’t be disappointed by this hidden gem.

2025-11-09 02:10