7 Most Rewatchable Marvel and DC Cartoons Ever Made

by

I’ll always remember those Saturday mornings growing up! There were so many superhero cartoons, but a few from Marvel and DC really stood out. Nothing beat relaxing on the couch with a bowl of sugary cereal and getting lost in those shows. And honestly, even now, I still have that same love for them – they just hold a special place in my heart.

We’re seeing a resurgence of superhero cartoons, with shows like Batman: Caped Crusader, X-Men ’97, and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man becoming popular on streaming services. While new ones are always appearing—including some major releases next year—certain classics continue to draw fans back for repeat viewings.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular and rewatchable animated series based on Marvel and DC comics, going back through the history of comic book adaptations.

The Most Rewatchable Marvel and DC Cartoons

Batman: The Animated Series

For a lot of fans, Batman: The Animated Series was their first introduction to the world of Batman and created a lasting appreciation for the character. It was so influential that it inspired a new series, Batman: Caped Crusader, which carries on its legacy.

Created by Eric Radomski and Bruce W. Timm, this innovative animated series aired from 1992 to 1995 and stood out from other shows of the era. Instead of the usual white backgrounds, the series was uniquely drawn on black paper, which gave Gotham City and the Batman story a dark and atmospheric feel.

With its distinctive atmosphere, memorable portrayals of Batman and his allies, and a vibrant gallery of villains – including the first appearance of Harley Quinn in animation – Batman: The Animated Series continues to be one of the most enjoyable superhero cartoons from that time.

X-Men: The Animated Series

Just as Batman: The Animated Series brought many people into the world of Batman comics, X-Men: The Animated Series introduced a whole generation of fans to Marvel’s X-Men.

X-Men: The Animated Series (which lives on in X-Men ’97) was a villain-of-the-week 1990s cartoon that explored every corner of the X-Men comic lore. The series aired on terrestrial TV for five seasons, from 1992 to 1997, covering major X-Men comic stories, including “The Phoenix Saga” and “Age of Apocalypse.”

The show’s strong visual style, inspired by comic books, served as a fantastic introduction to the X-Men for many viewers. With the recent revival of X-Men ’97, fans old and new can now easily enjoy this beloved animated series again.

Batman Beyond

Before and after Batman Beyond, no other show quite matched its unique style. As a direct continuation of Batman: The Animated Series, this show (which ran on The WB from 1999 to 2001) followed a new generation of the Batman hero.

The story began just as Kevin Conroy was finishing his run as Batman. Instead of the usual Batman tale, the show followed Bruce Wayne’s young apprentice, Terry McGinnis, who became the new Batman in a Gotham City set in the near future.

Set in the future, Batman Beyond cleverly reimagines classic characters from Batman: The Animated Series and the wider Batman comics. It places them in a new, sci-fi world, offering a fresh take on familiar faces. Even if you haven’t seen the original series, Beyond is still incredibly enjoyable, providing a surprising and engaging twist on the Batman universe.

Justice League: The Animated Series

Following the success of Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League continued that same style. But Justice League didn’t just follow Batman; it was a direct continuation of many of the heroes’ stories from their individual animated series. Much like Marvel’s The Avengers, it brought those heroes – including Batman and Superman – together and built upon their existing adventures, all before the Marvel Cinematic Universe began.

The popular Cartoon Network show aired from 2001 to 2004 and featured DC Comics’ most famous heroes teaming up to fight a variety of villains. It was a first introduction to many DC characters for a lot of viewers, popularizing heroes like Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl.

The show’s success paved the way for actors like Isabela Merced to join the DC Universe, as she’s been cast as Hawkgirl in the upcoming Superman movie in 2025. It seems the series will be important for James Gunn as he develops his new DCU, so viewers interested in the future of the franchise should definitely pay attention.

Teen Titans

Around the same time Justice League was on TV, the animated series Teen Titans gave viewers a fresh, more teen-focused version of the DC superhero team.

The Cartoon Network show featured a team of young heroes led by Robin (Dick Grayson), and it was the first time they’d had their own dedicated series. The team also included Starfire, Beast Boy, Raven, and Cyborg.

This cartoon, with its style drawing from anime, stood out from other superhero shows when it first aired. It became incredibly popular, largely due to its distinctive visuals and endearing characters, and went on to run for five seasons, plus a TV movie and several spin-off series.

The Spectacular Spider-Man

When it comes to Spider-Man animated series, only one truly stands out: The Spectacular Spider-Man. While many great Spider-Man shows have been made – the 1990s Spider-Man: The Animated Series was a close contender – The Spectacular Spider-Man on Disney XD is consistently praised as the very best.

Though the animation style might appear simple, this Spider-Man series tells surprisingly complex stories. It expertly explores the connection between Spider-Man and Peter Parker, the teenager behind the mask. The show focuses on Peter (voiced by Josh Keaton) as he juggles the typical challenges of high school with his responsibilities as New York City’s hero.

As a huge Spider-Man fan, it’s still a shame that Spectacular Spider-Man only lasted two seasons. That means there are just 26 episodes total, which honestly makes it perfect for a rewatch. You can easily binge the whole thing and get a really solid Spider-Man story – it packs a surprising amount of character history into just under 30 episodes!

X-Men ’97 Season 1

Even though it only premiered recently in 2024, X-Men ’97 Season 1 has become one of the most enjoyable and rewatchable superhero cartoons ever made, just like the original X-Men: The Animated Series. This Disney+ show picks up where that classic series left off and is already planned to return for a second season in 2026.

Unlike many kids’ cartoons, X-Men ’97 catered to the original series’ grown-up fans. The result was a surprisingly sophisticated animated show, reminiscent of the quality you’d expect from HBO’s productions within the X-Men universe.

From thrilling action to shocking character deaths and a cliffhanger ending that still has fans talking, there’s a lot to love about revisiting X-Men ’97. Now, all eyes are on Season 2 to see if it can live up to the excitement (you can find more details about X-Men ’97 Season 2 here).

Read More

2025-12-31 01:37