The Umbrella Academy offered a very unusual take on the X-Men formula, which is no easy feat. That originality was even more surprising given where it came from: Dark Horse Comics, a publisher better known for offbeat genre stories and licensed properties than for building a major superhero universe.
Catering to both kids and adults, the company has produced some iconic shows from its published material, with several projects receiving both critical and commercial acclaim. And with several more critically acclaimed adaptations in development, here are 10 you can watch right now, ranked.
10. Timecop (1997-1998)
Timecop was one of the most beloved pieces in the Dark Horse Comic Library || Credit: ABC
Mainstream audiences might associate Timecop with the much more famous 1994 film of the same name. That film, on which the show was based, was itself adapted from a comic book of the same name.
Timecop (1997-98) followed Officer Jack Logan, played by Ted King. Brilliant in concept and supported by a niche cult following, the show failed to complete its first season, as it was canceled after only nine of its thirteen episodes had aired.
9. The Umbrella Academy (2019-2024)
Perhaps the most high-profile entry on the list, The Umbrella Academy would have received a higher ranking if not for its ending. While the show was streaming on Netflix, it shared critical acclaim with other similar takes on the superhero genre, such as The Boys and Invincible.
However, the show’s tragic ending left a bad taste in fans’ mouths, as many believed the final season butchered numerous characters and their arcs. Regardless, the show’s first season remains one of the best superhero television seasons ever put on screen.
8. Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot (1999-2001)
Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot took clear inspiration from Japanese Media || Credit: Fox Kids
The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot was a 1995 comic published by Dark Horse Comics and written by Frank Miller. The series later received a short-lived animated adaptation in 1999, which earned moderate acclaim from critics.
Across its 26 episodes, it follows two robots: one built to be the most advanced defender the world has ever seen, and the other an aging war robot tasked with teaching him the ropes. Both the comic and the short-lived show drew inspiration from Japan’s iconic Astro Boy as well as kaiju cinema.
7. Iyanu (2025-Present)
Iyanu has been receiving rave reviews for its style and action || Credit: HBO Max
The most recent entry on the list, Iyanu has earned its place. The animated series debuted on Max and is based on work published by Dark Horse Comics. It has been described as a cross between Avatar: The Last Airbender and Black Panther.
The show received strong reviews, and HBO has already ordered a second season. The story follows Iyanu, a young girl in a world inspired by Yoruba history and culture, as she discovers powers that have not been seen in generations.
6. Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles (2022)
Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles is based on Usagi Yojimbo, but it is not a direct adaptation || Credit: Netflix
Despite being based on Usagi Yojimbo, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles focuses on a different character altogether. While the Dark Horse Comics source material is set in the past, the show jumps to the future and centers on Yuichi Usagi, a completely original character created for the series.
By contrast, the version of Miyamoto Usagi who appeared in the 2012 iteration of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was the original character from the comics, voiced by Yuki Matsuzaki, who returns here for a cameo as an ancestor. The series received a largely lukewarm response, but it remains a fun and entertaining watch for fans.
5. The Mask: Animated Series (1995-1997)
The Mask was one of the more wacky characters of the 90s superhero scene || Credit: Film Roman
The Mask: Animated Series continued the canon established by the Jim Carrey film. It ran for three seasons, becoming a staple among the many superhero shows airing at the time. Perhaps one of the most recognizable characters in Dark Horse’s library, The Mask remains one of the more outlandish figures in the superhero genre. The show received considerable praise, but like the film before it, it failed to draw many viewers to the comic.
4. Dark Matter (2015-2017)
Dark Matter was simply not making enough money for SyFy || Credit: Blue Penguin
A Syfy series that managed to keep audiences hooked for three seasons, Dark Matter is part of the acclaimed Stargate series. Dark Matter follows a crew who emerge from stasis with no memory of who they are.
While the first season received a fair amount of criticism, the following seasons were much better received. However, the show was canceled after three seasons. Its demise came despite strong ratings, largely because the channel struggled to monetize it as an acquired property.
3. Axe Cop (2013-2015)
Axe Cop was a very popular web comic before it was published with Dark Horse Comics || Credit: ADHD Studios
Originally a webcomic, the story became popular enough to earn a publishing deal with Dark Horse Comics. The animated series it inspired went on to become a mainstay of Fox’s Animation Domination block. Running from 2013 to 2015, the show received strong reviews from critics and was also well liked by fans.
Its high placement on the list reflects how effectively it, like the comic, drew audiences in with an unusual premise that struck just the right level of absurdity to spark interest and attract viewers.
2. Duckman (1994-1997)
Duckman was one of the edgiest animated shows in the 90s || Credit: Paramount Television
Duckman was adapted as an adult animated sitcom in the same vein as BoJack Horseman, The Simpsons, and Family Guy. With four seasons and 70 episodes, Duckman remains one of the most successful properties adapted from the Dark Horse Comics library. It frequently appears on extensive lists of animated shows that have impressed audiences. The series also had multiple episodes nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards.
1. Resident Alien (2021-2025)
Adapting the critically acclaimed comic, which has spawned multiple miniseries at Dark Horse Comics, Resident Alien is currently the most mainstream Dark Horse property to be adapted by a major studio. Backed by a hilarious premise and elevated by Alan Tudyk’s brilliant performance, the show earns the top spot on the list thanks to the acclaim it has received from both fans and critics alike.
RankShowAdapted From #1Resident AlienResident Alien by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse#2DuckmanDuckmanby Everett Peck#3Axe CopAxe Cop by Malachai Nicolle and Ethan Nicolle#4Dark MatterDark Matter by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie#5The Mask: Animated Series The Mask by Mike Richardson #6Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi ChroniclesUsagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai#7IyanuIyanu: Child of Wonder by Roye Okupe and Godwin Akpan#8Big Guy and Rusty the Boy RobotThe Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot by Frank Miller and Geof Darrow#9The Umbrella AcademyThe Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way#10TimecopTimecop by Mike Richardson, Mark Verheiden, and Ron Randall
Which of these shows did you find the most enjoyable? Let us know in the comments!
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