It cannot be denied that DC is one of the most popular comics companies and also one of the best in the industry. The DC universe features a long list of high-profile characters that we’ve seen on our screens for years now. From Superman and Batman to other stars like Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Black Lightning, the list of popular heroes goes on and on.
Just as there are blockbuster movies based on characters from DC Comics, there are TV shows that have also become popular names over time. Some of this series has been running for many years now with some just coming up the ranks. In the next subheads, I’ll be taking you through the best DC TV Shows.
25. Black Lightning (2017 – 2021)
Black Lightning stars as the first DC Black superhero and tells the story of a school principal who uses his superpowers to try to stop injustice and dangerous gangs in his community. The series was first put into development by Fox but after they eventually passed it on, The CW picked it up and ordered it into series in May 2017.
The first episode of the first season of the series aired in January 2018 with 13 episodes under the belt. It currently has four seasons to its name though the fourth season is the last and final part of the superhero series.
The series features Cress Williams taking up the role of Jefferson Pierce as Black Lightning, China Anne McClain, and Nafessa Williams star as Jeniffer Pierce and Anissa Pierce, both as Jefferson’s daughters. His wife, Lyn, is played by Christine Adam and his biggest rival, Tobias White is played by Marvin “Krondon” Jones III.
The series tells the story of Jefferson Pierce who can harness and manipulate electricity as well as having enhanced strength as he battles to stop the dangers in his city together with the help of his daughters, Thunder and Lightning, who also have superhuman abilities. Black lighting also appeared in a DC crossover event with The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, and Legend of Tomorrow.
24. Supergirl (2015 – 2021)
Supergirl is based on the DC Comics character who is a superheroine and cousin of Superman. It originally aired on CBS before The CW began airing the show. Supergirl premiered in October 2015 for the first season and finished its run in 2021. A spin-off, however, has premiered with the name, “Superman and Lois”.
The show was developed by Greg Berlanti, Ali Adler, and Andrew Kreisberg. The series follows the story of Kara Zor-El, who was sent to Earth to protect her infant cousin, Kal-El. She’s not able to do this as her spacecraft gets knocked off course and sent into the Phantom Zone. When she gets to Earth, her cousin has already grown and become Superman. Kara then stays in National City where she becomes the Superhero and Protector of the city against criminals.
The series features Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers/Supergirl, Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers, her adoptive sister, Mehcad Brooks as Jimmy Olsen/Guardian, David Harewood as J’onn J’onzz/Marian Hunter.
23. Powerless (2017)
Powerless is yet another DC Tv show and it follows the adventures of Emily Locke as Director of Research and Development at Wayne Security, which is a subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises based in Charm City. The company specializes in products for ordinary humans who are poised to be victims of the battles between Superheroes and Supervillians.
The show was developed by Ben Queen and aired its first episode in February 2017. It got only one season under its name as it was canceled for the following season. It even had its final three episodes rescheduled to be later aired on TVNZ OnDemand. The first and only season had 12 episodes.
It features Vanessa Hudgens as Emily Locke, Danny Pudi as Teddy, who works underneath Emily, Alan Tudyk as Van Wayne, cousin of Bruce Wayne, Christina Kirk as Jackie, Van’s personal assistant, and Ron Funches as Ron, who works with Teddy, among others.
22. Birds of Prey (2002 – 2003)
Birds of Prey is set years after Batman had abandoned Gotham City. In the new Gotham, Oracle and Huntress are the new heroes fighting crime in place of Batman. They are eventually joined by a telepath, Dinah Redmond, Alfred Pennyworth, and Detective Reese to battle crime in Gotham. They fight different criminals including Harley Quinn.
The show has only one season which has 13 episodes to its name as it was canceled when ratings fell sharply despite gathering a high number of viewers on the show’s debut to the screens. The show was developed by Laeta Kalogridis and is based on the DC Comic series with the same name. The show aired from October 2002 till February 2003. It stars Ashley Scott as Huntress, Dina Meyer as Oracle, Rachel Skarsten as Dinah Redmond, Shemar Moore as Detective Reese, Ian Abercrombie as Alfred Pennyworth, and Mia Sara as Harley Quinn/Dr. Harleen Quinzel.
The show, as mentioned before, had a high number of viewers on the debut with 7.6 million viewers though subsequent weeks witnessed a sharp fall in those numbers. The series has just one season with 13 episodes under its belt.
21. The Swamp Thing (1990 – 1993)
The TV series is based on the DC Comics character, The Swamp Thing, and started airing in July 1990. It was developed by Joseph Stefano and was one of the top-rated shows on the USA Network despite mixed reviews.
The series features Dick Durock as the Swamp Thing/Professor Alec Holland, a professor who was burned by chemicals that turns him into a creature who wants to protect his new home. Mark Lindsay Chapman plays the role of Dr. Anton Arcane, a villain and nemesis of Professor Holland. Kevin Quigley plays Graham, Arcane’s devoted assistant, among others.
The series has three seasons with a total of 72 episodes.
20. Human Target (1992)
Human Target is yet another DC TV series that premiered in 1992. It is based on the DC Character created by Len Wein and Carmie Infantino. The series was developed for television by Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo. It aired in 1992, the year it was also last released. It has only one season under its name. The show was later revived by Fox in 2010 and was also based on the Human Target Character.
The series follows the story of Christopher Chance, a Vietnam war vet who is now a bodyguard and private investigator who makes use of advanced technology and makeup to assume the identity of his clients, hence becoming a human target. He is assisted by Philo Marsden, a computer expert, Jeff Carlyle, the pilot to the Blackwing (an aircraft Chance uses to fly from job to job), and Libby Page, a former CIA operative. The show stars Rick Springfield as Christopher Chance, Kirk Baltz as Philo Marsden, Sami Chester as Jeff Carlyle, and Signy Coleman as Libby Page.
The series has only one season with seven episodes under its name. As it didn’t have good ratings and also with poor reception, it was not renewed for the next season.
19. Shazam (1974 – 1976)
Shazam is another series based on the Superhero, Captain Marvel also known as Shazam. The show was produced for Saturday Mornings by Filmation. The series stars Michael Gray as Shazam, Les Tremayne as Mentor as well as some others such as Jackson Bostwick, John Davey, among others.
The show follows the story of Billy Batson, played by Micheal Gray, who is a teenage boy who can transform into the superhero Captain Marvel just by speaking the magic word “Shazam”. Together with his guardian, Mentor, Billy looks for injustices to solve in a 1973 Dodge Open Road motorhome. The show ran from 1974 to 1976.
The series has three seasons and a total of 28 episodes, with the highest coming for the first season with 15 episodes.
18. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993 – 1997)
The series is based on the DC Comic character, Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was developed for television by Deborah Joy Levine and aired from September 1993 to June 1997. The series follows the origin of Superman, and also importantly the relationship and romance between Clark and Lois. Currently, there is another series with the same name that is a spin-off from DC’s Supergirl series.
The series starts twenty-seven years after Jonathan and Marth Kent find Kal El in a field outside Smallville, Kansas. Clark moves to Metropolis and is looking to take up a job at Daily Planet after quitting his role as editor for the Smallville Press. He gets hired and meets Lois Lane and falls in love at first sight. When Clark’s alter ego saves Lois from a space shuttle disaster, she gets infatuated and names him Superman.
Later on, Superman meets arch-enemy, Lex Luthor, who is involved in illegal dealings. Lex discovers Superman’s weakness is Kryptonite and also does all he can to make the hero’s life difficult.
The series has four seasons, each with 22 episodes, making a total of 88 episodes for the Lois & Clark series. The show stars Dean Cain as Clark Kent/Superman, Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane, Lane Smith as Perry White, Tracy Scoggins as Catherine “Cat” Grant, and John Shea as Lex Luthor. Jimmy Olsen is played by Micheal Landes in Season one while Justin Whales plays the role in the subsequent seasons. Eddie Jones also plays Jonathan Kent while K Callan plays Martha Kent.
The series was widely popular at the time and was nominated for several awards including a win at the Saturn Award for Best Genre Television Series.
17. Legends of Tomorrow (2016 – Present)
Legends of Tomorrow is one of the popular series in the DC Universe. It started in 2016 and has featured in crossover episodes with other series such as The Flash, Supergirl, and Arrow. The show was developed for television by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg, and Phil Klemmer. The series is based on the characters in DC Comics and is aired on The CW. It actually starts as a spin-off that features characters already introduced in The Flash and Arrow. Legends of Tomorrow is the fourth series in the Arrowverse, following after The Flash and Arrow.
The series premiered in January 2016 and has gone forward with six seasons now, with the seventh due for airing in October 2021. Initially, the series was subject to criticism but after some changes in the subsequent seasons, Legends of Tomorrow has been praised for the acting, comedy, and action amidst other positive reviews.
The series pilot starts with the story of Rip Hunter and how he recruits the services of a team of superheroes and villains in an attempt to avenge the murder of his wife and son. The team includes Ray Palmer/ The Atom, Sara Lance/ White Canary, Martin Stein, and Jefferson “Jax” Jackson/ Firestorm, Kendra Saunders/ Hawkgirl, Carter Hall/ Hawkman, Leonard Snart/ Captain Cold, and Mick Rory/ Heat Wave.
The series has six seasons so far, with the seventh on the way, and a total of 96 episodes overall; 16 in season one, 17 in season two, 18 in season three, 16 in season four, 15 in season five, and 15 in season six.
The movie stars Victor Garber as Martin Stein, Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer, Arthur Darvill as Rip Hunter, Caity Lotz as Sara Lance, Franz Drameh as Jefferson “Jax” Jackson, Ciara Renee as Hawkgirl, Falk Hentschel as Hawkman, Amy Pemberton as the voice of Gideon, Dominic Purcell as Mick Rory, Wentworth Miller as Leonard Snart, Matt Ryan as John Constantine, Nick Zano as Nate Heywood, Tala Ashe as Zari Tomaz, and Jes Macallan as Ava Sharpe, among others.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow has been renewed for a seventh season which will air from October 13, 2021.
16. Krypton (2018 – 2019)
Krypton is another DC TV series that premiered and focuses centrally on Seg-El, the grandfather of Kal-El/ Superman. The series is set 200 years before the birth of Kal-El and Seg-El, whose family has been shamed, must fight to redeem his family’s honor as well as protect the Earth from chaos. The series shows the time before Superman ever came to be and even gives a kind of first look at how life used to be on Krypton as well as how Superman’s grandfather also fought against the dangers in Krypton at the time.
The series pilot is focused on time before Superman. In the city of Kandor, Val-El, Seg-El’s grandfather, is executed by the corrupt regime in the city for Treason. Seg’s parents are then stripped of their privileges and banished to the lower class. Years later, Daron Vex, the man who orchestrated Val-El’s execution and the banishment of Seg-El’s family, arranges a marriage between Seg and Nyssa, his youngest daughter, a move that would allow Seg to be able to move to the upper class again.
Later on, a man from the future, Adam Strange, brings a sunstone to Seg with the El symbol on it and tells him to find the “fortress”. Seg is taken to the Fortress of Solitude by his mother, Charys, who is later killed together with his father by Jayna Zod. At the Fortress, Seg finds his grandfather’s research and how he found an alien threat but was silenced for it. Adam then tells Seg he must work to defeat the evil seeking to erase Superman.
The series has only two seasons, each with ten episodes. The series was canceled by Syfy in August 2019 leaving us with just those two seasons. It features Cameron Cuffe ad Seg-El, Georgina Campbell as Lyta Zod, Shaun Sipos as Adam Strange, Elliot Cowan as Daron Vex, Ann Ogbomo as Jayna Zod, Aaron Pierre as Dev-Em, Blake Ritson as Brainiac, Wallis Day as Nyssa Vex, and Ian McElhinney as Val-El, among others.
15. The Flash (1990 – 1991)
This is only one of The Flash series in both the DC Universe and also this list too. It is the first show that looks at DC Comics character, Barry Allen, who is the Flash, a costumed superhero who fights crime with his power to move at superhuman speeds. The Flash aired from September 1990 to May 1991. It was developed by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo, who are also executive producers for the show.
It follows the story of a forensic scientist, Barry Allen, who works with the Central City Police. He gets struck by lightning and soon develops super speed which he uses to fight crime with the name, The Flash. Barry gets help from Research scientist Dr. Tina McGree, who works at S.T.A.R Labs. He has to fight crime as a superhero and also keep his identity hidden from his colleagues and his best friend, Julio Mendez.
The series features John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen/ The Flash, Amanda Pays as Christina “Tina” McGree, Alex Desert as Julio Mendez, M. Emmet Walsh as Henry Allen, Barry’s father, and Priscilla Ponter as Nora Allen, Barry’s mother, among others. In the other Flash series aired in 2014, Wesley Shipp still reprises his role as Earth-3’s Flash and also Barry’s father while Amanda Pays takes up a role as a Dr. Tina McGree. The new one takes some of the references from this particular first version of The Flash.
14. Wonder Woman (1975 – 1979)
While many of us are more familiar with the recent movies involving Wonder Woman, a TV series of the same name has previously appeared on our screens. The Wonder Woman series is based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name. The series aired between 1975 and 1979. The first season was named Wonder Woman while the other two seasons were named The New Adventures of Wonder Woman. It was developed for television by Stanley Ralph Ross.
The series is set in 1942 during the second world war. An American pilot, Major Steve Trevor, bails out during an air battle over the Bermuda Triangle, the location of Paradise Island which is the home of Amazons; women with great strength, agility, and intelligence. Trevor is rescued by Amazon Princess Diana who helps nurse him.
To select an Amazon who will return Trevor to America, The Amazon Queen organizes an event of games but forbids her daughter from participating. Diana then resolves to stay on the other side of the island since she is not allowed to participate. During the games, Blonde Amazon stands out and eventually emerges the winner.
Since all Amazon participants are using masks, the blonde Amazon removes her mask and wig and it turns out to be Diana. Her mother, hesitant at first, allows her to take Steve to America where she will have to battle against Trevor’s secretary, Marcia, who is a double agent for the Nazi Fifth Columnists.
The series features Lynda Carter as Princess Diana/ Wonder Woman, Lyle Waggoner as Steve Trevor, and Steve Trevor Jr. The series has three seasons with over fifty episodes in total. The Executive Producers were Douglas S. Cramer and Wilford Lloyd Baumes.
13. Constantine (2014 – 2015)
Constantine is a DC TV series that premiered in 2014 and is based on the DC Comics character with the same name. It follows the story of John Constantine, an English exorcist and occult detective who hunts supernatural entities. Despite the cancellation of the series, Constantine would still feature in the Arrowverse franchise and the character can be seen in some episodes of Legends of Tomorrow.
It is based on John Constantine by Alan Moore, Stephen R. Bissette, Rick Veitch, and John Totleben. It was developed for Television by Daniel Cerone and David S. Goyer.
The series follows the story of John Constantine, a demon hunter, and master of the occult, who is struggling with his past sins as he protects the innocent from supernatural threats that constantly break through into the world. Constantine uses his skills to journey across the country to send these supernatural terrors back to their world, in a bid to redeem his soul from eternal torment.
The show stars Matt Ryan as John Constantine, Lucy Griffiths as Liv Aberdine, Angelica Celaya as Mary “Zed” Martin, a psychic artist who follows Constantine on his exorcisms, Charles Halford as Francis “Chas” Chandler, Constantine’s old friend, and Harold Perrineau as Manny, an authoritative angel assigned to watch over Constantine, among others.
The series has only one season which has 13 episodes to its name.
12. Batman (1966 – 1968)
Batman is one of DC’s popular superheroes, together with Superman. The series is based on a DC Comics character with the same name. The series features Batman and Robin, two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City from villains. The series premiered in January 1966 and ended in March 1968. It was created by William Dozier and developed for television by Lorenzo Semple Jr. During the first two seasons, two episodes were released per week while the third season saw a change to one episode per week.
The series follows the story of millionaire Bruce Wayne and his ward, Dick Grayson as they defend Gotham from threats as Batman and Robin respectively. The series has three seasons with a total of 120 episodes.
It features Adam West as Bruce Wayne/ Batman, Burt Ward as Dick Grayson/ Robin, Alan Napier as Alfred, Batman’s loyal butler, Neil Hamilton as Commissioner Gordon, Stafford Repp as Chief O’Hara, Madge Blake as Harriet Cooper, Robins maternal aunt, Yvonne Craig as Barbara Gordon/ Batgirl, Commissioner Gordon’s daughter and crime-fighting partner for Batman and Robin, and Cesar Romero as The Joker, among others.
11. Smallville (2001 – 2011)
Smallville is another Clark Kent/ Superman story and adds to a list of Superman series we’ve seen so far. It is a series developed by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar and is based on the DC Comics character, Superman. It follows Clark Kent in a town called Smallville before he becomes the Man of Steel.
The first four seasons focus on Clark’s high school journey and his love story with Lana Lang. Season five and above take a look at Clark’s adult life including his career and his relationship with Lois Lane. The series was widely accepted and averaged about 4.34 million viewers per episode. It also passed Stargate SG-1 as the longest-running North American science fiction series by episode count.
The series aired between October 2001 to May 2011. The executive producers were Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Michael Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola, Ken Horton, Greg Beeman, James Marshall, Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer, Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson, and Tom Welling. The Opening theme song was “Save Me” by Remy Zero. The series has 10 seasons and a total of 217 episodes; 21 in season one, 23 in season two, 22 from season three to six, 20 in season seven, 22 in season eight, 21 in season 9, and lastly, 22 in season ten.
The series features Tom Welling as Clark Kent, Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang, Micheal Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor, Eric Johnson as Whitney Fordman, Lana’s boyfriend in season one, Sam Jones III as Pete Ross, one of Clark’s best friends, Alisson Mack as Chloe Sullivan, another of Clark’s best friends, Annette O’Toole as Martha Kent, John Schneider as Jonathan Kent, John Glover as Lex’s father, Erica Durance as Lois Lane, Laura Vandervoort as Kara Zor-El, Justin Hartley as Oliver Queen/ Green Arrow, and Callum Blue as Zod, among others.
The series received several awards and is regarded as one of the best portrayals of Clark Kent/ Superman.
10. Arrow (2012 – 2020)
Arrow is a TV series based on the DC Comics character, Green Arrow, created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp. It was developed for television by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg. The series premiered in 2012 and is set in the Arrowverse which features other series such as The Flash, Supergirl, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. The series’ executive producers are David Nutter (pilot), Sarah Schechter, Wendy Mericle, Andrew Kreisberg, Marc Guggenheim, Greg Berlanti, Beth Schwartz, and Jill Blankenship.
The series follows the story of Oliver Queen, a billionaire playboy, who has spent five years shipwrecked on the mysterious island of Lian Yu before returning home to Star City to fight crime and corruption as a vigilante whose weapon is the bow and arrow. Oliver teams up with a couple of people throughout the series in a bid to fight crime and stop the bad guys in the city. Some of these people include John Diggle, Felicity Smoak, Sara Lance, Roy Harper, Thea, and Laurel Lance.
The pilot of the series involves the return of Oliver to Star City to be reunited with family and friends. He becomes a vigilante who goes by the name, The Hood, as he hunts down the people on a list in his father’s notebook. He teams up with John Diggle and Felicity Smoak to get the bad guys. During the first season, Oliver gets flashbacks to his first year on the island and how he struggled to survive. The series has eight seasons and a total of 170 episodes.
The series features Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/ Arrow, Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance/ Black Canary, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Colin Donnell as Tommy Merlyn, Willa Holland as Thea Queen, Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak, and Colin Haynes as Roy Harper, among others. The series gained huge reception and is one of the most popular series in the Arrowverse.
9. The Flash (2014 – Present)
The Flash is another series in the Arrowverse and is also one of the most popular series in the world. It is based on the DC Comics Superhero with the same name. It is the second Flash series to make the list after the 1990 version. It features some references from the first one including the presence of John Wesley Shipp being a part of the show, both as Barry’s father, Henry, and also the Flash from Earth-3, Jay Garrick.
This Flash series premiered in 2014 and became the second most-watched premiere in the history of The CW. It was developed for television by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, and Geoff Johns and has proceeded further with seven seasons to its name, with the eighth installment also on its way in November 2021.
The series follows Forensic Scientist and crime scene investigator, Barry Allen, who gets struck by lightning and lands in a coma only to wake up with the ability to move at superhuman speed. The pilot of the series follows Barry who develops power after the explosion of the particle accelerator at Star Labs. He however uses his newfound ability to fight crime and stop criminals or metahumans. In the first season, Barry is after his mother’s killer, Eobard Thawne, who is eventually revealed to be his mentor, Harrison Wells. In the end, Eobard’s ancestor, Eddie, sacrifices himself to erase Eobard from existence.
Each season features The Flash fighting super metahumans in Central City together with the help of his team. The series has seven seasons and a total of 151 episodes. The show features Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/ The Flash, Candice Patton as Iris West-Allen, Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow/ Killer Frost, Carlos Valdes as Cisco Ramon/ Vibe, Tom Cavanagh as Harrison Wells, and Jesse L. Martin as Joe West, among others.
The show was fully developed as a result of the positive reception Flash star, Grant Gustin, received following his appearances on Arrow. The show has since become quite the catch over the years with Gustin constantly impressing in his role as Barry Allen.
8. Titans (2018 – Present)
The show is based on the DC Comics team, Teen Titans, a group of young heroes who join forces to fight evil. It was developed for television by Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns, and Greg Berlanti, all of who are also executive producers for the show including Sarah Schechter, Greg Walker, John Fawcett, and Richard Hatem. The series has three seasons and a total of 32 episodes.
The series follows the story of young superheroes as they team up to battle against evil. The team features Dick Grayson, Kory Anders, Rachel Roth, and Gar Logan. In the first season, Rachel meets up with Dick for protection against her father who has plans to enslave the world. In the season, Dick tries to distance himself from his mentor and Robin persona.
The series stars Brenton Thwaites as Dick Grayson/ Nightwing, Mame-Anna Diop as Kori Anders/ Starfire, Teegan Croft as Rachel Roth/ Raven, Ryan Potter as Gar Logan/ Beast Boy, Curran Walters as Jason Todd/ Robin, and Conor Leslie as Donna Troy/ Wonder Girl, among others. The series premiered in 2018, with the third season coming in 2021.
7. Human Target (2010 – 2011)
This is the second Human Target series on the list and it is also loosely based on the DC Comics character. The series was developed by Jonathan E. Steinberg and it premiered in January 2010. The executive producers for the series include Jonathan E. Steinberg, Brad Kern, Kevin Hooks, McG, Peter Johnson, and Matt Miller. The series has two seasons and a total of 25 episodes.
It tells the story of Christopher Chance, who is a private contractor, bodyguard, and security expert, hired to protect his clients. Unlike in the comic book where Chance takes up the identity of his clients, he instead integrates himself into their lives hence becoming a Human Target. He teams up his business partner, Winston, hired gun, Guerrero, Former client, Ilsa Pucci, and thief, Ames.
The show stars Mark Valley as Christopher Chance, Chi McBride as Detective Laverne Winston, Jackie Earle Haley as Guerrero, Indira Varma as Ilsa Pucci, and Janet Montgomery as Ames, among others. The show has been canceled after two seasons.
6. The Adventures of Superman (1952 – 1958)
Just like the other Superman series on the list, it follows the story of Clark Kent/ Superman based on the DC Comics Character. It aired between September 1952 and April 1958. It is the first television series to feature Superman. The series stars George Reeves as Superman, Noel Neil as Lois Lane, Jack Larson as Jimmy Olsen, a photographer for Daily Planet, John Hamilton as Perry White, an impatient editor, and publisher for Daily Planet.
It has six seasons and a total of 107 episodes. The series was developed for Television by Whitney Ellsworth and Robert J. Maxwell.
5. iZombie (2015 – 2019)
The series is a loose adaptation of the DC Comics books series with the same name created by Chris Roberson and Micheal Alfred. It was developed for television by Rob Thomas and Dianne Ruggiero-Wright for The CW. The series premiered in March 2015 and has five seasons and a total of 71 episodes under its name.
The story follows Olivia “Liv” Moore, a Seattle medical resident, who gets turned into a zombie while attending a boat party. To satisfy her thirst for brains, Liv starts working at a morgue and eats the brains of the corpses she autopsies. Her boss, Dr. Ravi, soon finds out and begins to try to develop a cure for her. As Liv can temporarily inherit the personality traits, skills, and even experience flashbacks in the person’s life, she teams up with a detective to uncover some crimes.
The show stars Rose Mclver as Olivia “Liv” Moore, Malcolm Goodwin as Detective Clive Babineaux, Rahul Kohli as Ravi Chakrabarti, and Ali Michalka as Peyton Charles, Liv’s roommate and best friend, among others.
4. Peacemaker (2022-)
Peacemaker is a DC TV show created by James Gunn for the streaming service HBO Max. It is the first DC Extended Universe (DCEU) TV show and a spin-off from the 2021 film The Suicide Squad.
Set after the events of the film, the show further explores the adventures of Christopher Smith/Peacemaker. It is produced by The Safran Company and Troll Court Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television, with Gunn serving as showrunner.
After recovering from the injuries he suffered during the events of The Suicide Squad (2021), Christopher Smith/Peacemaker is forced to join the mysterious A.R.G.U.S. black ops squad “Project Butterfly”. They are on a mission to identify and eliminate parasitic butterfly-like creatures who have taken over human bodies around the world.
3. Gotham (2014 – 2019)
The series is based on the DC Comics characters in the Batman Franchise. Gotham takes a look at the period before Bruce Wayne became Batman and the early days of James Gordon in the Gotham City Police Department. It was developed for Television by Bruno Heller. It aired between March 2014 and April 2019 and delivered us with 5 seasons and a total of 100 episodes.
In the series pilot, it follows Gordon and his partner, Harvey Bullock, who are both tasked with solving the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents. The show follows the early days of Gordon as well as the rogues’ gallery of villains in Gotham. The show features Ben McKenzie as James Gordon, Donal Logue as Harvey Bullock, David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne, and Sean Pertwee as Alfred Pennyworth, among others.
2. Preacher (2015 – 2019)
Preacher is a series based on the DC Comics book with the same name. The show premiered in September 2015 and was later concluded in September 2019. It has four seasons and a total of 43 episodes to its name. It was developed by Sam Catlin, Evan Goldberg, and Seth Rogen. It follows the story of Jesse Custer, a preacher who gets infused with supernatural power. This prompts him to go on a quest to better understand his newly found powers and find God. He goes on this quest with his ex-girlfriend, Tulip, and his new vampire friend, Cassidy.
The series stars Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer, Joseph Gilgun as Proinsias Cassidy, and Ruth Negga as Tulip O’Hare, among others.
1. Lucifer (2016 – 2021)
Top of the list and number one on the countdown is Lucifer. The series is based on a DC Comics character that is taken from the comic book series, The Sandman. The show was developed for television by Tom Kapinos. The show premiered in January 2016 and has its latest season released on September 10, 2021, on Netflix. The series has six seasons and a total of 93 episodes in total.
The series follows the story of Lucifer Morningstar who gets tired and bored as Lord of Hell and moves to Los Angeles, where he opens a club named Lux. He then works as a consultant to the Los Angeles Police Department after being able to help with a murder investigation using his powers. The series stars Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar, Lauren German as Detective Chloe Decker, Kevin Alejandro as Detective Daniel “Dan” Espinoza, Lesley-Ann Brandt as Mazikeen, a devoted ally of Lucifer, and Rachel Harris as Dr. Linda Martin, Lucifer’s psychotherapist.
