We are swimming neck-deep in superheroes, supervillains, and everything in between on television today, spurned on by the success of their brethren on the silver screen. From the origins of the Dark Knight to a hard drinking, frequently cursing private detective, it seems like there’s something for everyone in the fandom of Marvel, DC, and comic books in general. Now, after all of the broadcast shows have wrapped up their seasons, we're breaking down, from worst to best, the superhero TV shows of the last year (starting at this point last summer) to look at the highs and lows. Keep in mind, for this list, we’ll stick with characters who put an emphasis on, or deal with, super aspects of the comic world so entries like The Walking Dead, Preacher, and iZombie for example will be held off until another day.

12. Heroes Reborn

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Image via NBC

Network: NBC

Status: Cancelled

YIKES! I can remember one really cool scene that this revival of the NBC series had at the beginning of its pilot episode, wherein a solitary figure bursts into the sky in a snowy tundra, but that’s about it. Heroes always had difficulty finding a path for itself following the solid first season, so when Reborn was announced, folks were hoping for the best and praying that it harkened back to that initial offering, rather than the disastrous following seasons. Unfortunately, the plot was tired, the characters were two dimensional, and the effects were...hardly worth mentioning. Seriously, just watch the scenes that involved the girl who had the ability to “jump” into video games and be amazed that it was able to make network television. Disappointingly, the show sometimes had glimpses of a better show underneath its flaws, but those were routinely shoved to the side to focus on its ever-growing list of flaws. Luckily, Heroes Reborn only made it one season before getting the axe, saving audiences from future disappointments.

11. Powers

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Image via Sony Pictures Television

Network: PlayStation Network

Status: Active

More tragic than anything, Powers is an example of a concept that was bounced from network to network, and at one time even pitched as a film, only to land a a premium feature of the PlayStation Network. You can almost look at this series as the “Bizarro” version of Marvel’s Netflix shows, taking itself so deathly serious among almost non-stop cursing that you’d think a 12 year old had duct taped the script together. Characters from the original source material are woefully miscast here, with the prime example being Sharlto Copley’s Walker who is so unlikable that the series becomes a chore to slog through. Luckily, the series was able to course correct itself somewhat, making Season 2 a little better than the first (which is why it's above Heroes Reborn on the list), but it’s many flaws are still too apparent along the way.

 

10. Legends of Tomorrow

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Image via The CW

Network: The CW

Status: Renewed

This one hurts as it originally showed such promise. Despite being riddled with a weak villain, a bonkers story structure, and boneheaded calls made by characters with rapid fire rivaling a machine gun, Legends of Tomorrow could have stood shoulder to shoulder with Arrow and The Flash. Unfortunately, it buckled under the weight of its own premise and grew progressively worse as the season moved on. Love triangles were shoehorned in for dramatic effect that didn’t hold much water, exciting aspects of the DC Universe like Jonah Hex were thrown in as dull additions when they could have been great, and it just overall didn’t pack the punch it could have. Season 2 promises some new cast members and a new mission statement for the team moving forward, so I hope it can learn from the mistakes of the past and make for a stronger show.

9. Gotham

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Image via Fox

Network: Fox

Status: Renewed

Much like Powers, Gotham managed to course correct itself from its first season to its second, but it's really too little too late. Gotham follows the adventures of Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne long before the Batman hits the scene, but someone forgot to tell the villains this as they’re constantly colliding into both Jim and Bruce on a regular basis. This isn’t necessarily to say that’s a bad thing, as the show manages to go the route of "complete insanity” to somehow make the moving pieces work. Gotham is the McDonalds of the superhero television landscape, a show to visit when you want a heaping helping of junk food rather than a well-prepared steak. As mentioned previously, a positive of the series is how it unapologetically delves into the batshit (pardon the pun) insanity of concepts like “the Court of Owls” and “Azrael,” throwing seriousness to the wind. I won't condemn Gotham for thatbut I also won't rank it any higher.

8. Supergirl

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Image via CBS

Network: CBS, moving to the CW

Status: Renewed 

Supergirl really surprised me this season, that’s for sure. Aside from presenting the best Supergirl we’ve seen in live action with Melissa Benoist (which truly isn’t that difficult considering what we’ve had to work with in the past), it managed to capture a sense of fun among the cast that was infectious. Throwing in great swerves such as the big Martian Manhunter reveal also showed the series wasn’t afraid to dig deep into the comic lore and really surprise people. Ultimately though, like Gotham, there wasn’t a ton of substance, keeping it an enjoyable, albeit light, ride. With Supergirl transitioning from CBS to the CW and entering the “Arrow-verse” proper, we’ll have to see if Kara’s crossovers with those folks manages to harken back to the magic of The Flash crossover from its first season.

7. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

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Image via ABC

Network: ABC

Status: Renewed

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is the very definition of a series that doesn’t quite know how to balance the ups and downs. Practically handcuffed to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the cast do their best with what they're given, but it will sometimes end up short. Surprisingly though, the series does manage to offer some good output on a regular basis, yet each season feels like a crapshoot of what you’re going to get. The sheer enormity of the cast can sometimes cause problems in trying to make sure each of these characters gets enough screen time to really make you care. Clark Gregg has done an admirable job of captaining the ship along the way, but the series never manages to excel at its modus operandi, landing it right in the middle of the list. It's not one to get overly excited about, but when it comes to standard superhero fare, it manages to do the job.

6. Constantine

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Image via The CW

Network: NBC

Status: Cancelled

A series that was taken from us too soon, Constantine on NBC managed to give us an extremely likable protagonist in Matt Ryan as the titular John Constantine. While not necessarily as dark as the original comic series “Hellblazer,” it did manage to offer a fun look into the world of the supernatural, while offering some fantastic Easter eggs along the way. Constantine was always on the brink of cancellation, but this didn’t stop it from creating some great episodes as well as mixing up stories along the way. It also felt in many ways like the network’s attempt to create their own Doctor Who but it managed to become a solid supernatural yarn in spite of, or because of, this fact. Constantine has managed to even be brought into the CW through the most recent season of Arrow, and this, like the series’ quality, is all on the shoulders of Ryan himself.

5. Agent Carter

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Image via ABC

Network: ABC

Status: Cancelled

Agent Carter manages to do a lot of what Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn’t mostly because of its smaller cast and willingness to delve into an exciting background with its World War 2-era setting. Hayley Atwell and James D’Arcy manage to create one of the most likable pairings on television with Carter and Jarvis, while occasionally running into the charisma exuding Howard Stark (played by Dominic Cooper). All the characters manage to fire on all cylinders, which easily wraps you in the series. Where S.H.I.E.L.D. seems almost bogged down by its link to the Marvel Universe, Carter manages to thrive because of it, and offers us an exciting look into the world of the MCU’s past. Unfortunately, Agent Carter seems completely dead to both television and films thanks to ABC cancelling it and the events of Captain America: Civil War, but who knows? Perhaps with S.H.I.E.L.D. still on the air, going back to the world of Agent Carter is still in the cards.

4. Arrow

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Image via The CW

Network: The CW

Status: Renewed

I almost wanted to put this one lower because of its less-than-stellar fourth season, but looking back on its first and second seasons still manage to place this series high on the list as a cumulative effect. The journey of Oliver Queen from his adventures on the island to acting as the “Emerald Knight” of Star City has been a fun and interesting one. When the series is good, it's great, and it makes you feel something for every member of the cast. Stephen Amell has truly defined the role, and you really can’t imagine anyone else as Queen at this point. His dealings with foes like Malcolm Merlyn and Deathstroke have ratcheted up the energy to 11 during the series’ history. While Seasons 3 and 4 have been less than fantastic, you can’t disavow the strength of its earlier run, and how it was able to shape the CW's superhero universe into the landscape that it is today.

3. Jessica Jones

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Image via Netflix

Network: Netflix

Status: After Luke Cage and The Defenders, then possibly Season 2

Jessica Jones managed to surprise everyone by offering a terrifyingly grim side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe through it’s Netflix platform. Krysten Ritter also brought the extremely flawed Jessica to the screen in excellent fashion, battling both external and internal demons along the way. Jessica Jones, as a follow up to the smash hit Daredevil, worked on several levels, showing us the horrible underbelly of the world of Iron Men and Thunder Gods. I would be remiss to not mention the shining star of the series in David Tennant’s Kilgrave. Arguably the greatest villain the Marvel Cinematic Universe has produced to this day, Kilgrave’s power and personality made it impossible to turn away from the screen whenever he arrived. While the series felt like it may have been an episode or two longer than it needed to be, it still managed to create one of the greatest Marvel series to date.

2. The Flash

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Image via The CW

Network: The CW

Status: Renewed

I think if we were to look at the first season alone, this would have taken the top slot, but while the second season was still good, it did stumble a little bit. Grant Gustin and company managed to create a series that blew away expectations and easily reels in viewers each week. I can still recall the effectiveness, and downright shock, of the end of the pilot episode, as Eobard Thawne stared at the newspaper from the future. The show doesn’t pull any punches and sometimes even manages to one up its source material with new takes on characters and events. The Flash also takes light-hearted scenes in stride, while not being afraid to delve into the darkness when it comes to events such as Barry’s mother’s death and the wickedness of Harrison Wells, a.k.a .Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash, or even Zoom. Littered with Easter eggs and promises of ever-escalating scenarios, The Flash is far and away the best series that the CW has created.

1. Daredevil

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Image via Marvel

Network: Netflix

Status: After the Punisher spin-off and The Defenders, then maybe Season 3

You’ll be hard pressed to find more amazing, noteworthy moments from any show on this list than with Netflix’s Daredevil. Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, and recent addition Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle supplied some of the best television moments of any superhero series, and perhaps of any series running today. Viewers are still marveling at the fight scenes and character beats given to us by Hell’s Kitchen’s masked avengers, from the now legendary hallway fight from Season 1 to the Frank Castle monologue in the cemetery from Season 2. No show is flawless, however, and the series may have spent a bit too much time delving into the world of undead ninjas with “The Hand” in the recent season, but the great moments far outweigh the average. Daredevil’s take-no-prisoners attitude and eclectic cast set it atop the superhero television list, and I can’t wait to see what else we see from the world of Netflix’s Hell’s Kitchen moving forward.