The recently released trailer for Sony’s upcoming superhero series Spider-Noir has left fans counting the days until its release. Come to think of it, superhero TV shows are actually far more interesting than superhero cinema and have been for years now.
True to the “noir” in its title, the Nicolas Cage-starrer series features black-and-white visuals (colored version released simultaneously as well) and hard-boiled detective energy. The good news is that TV has been preparing for this moment for years.
If you, like us, are waiting eagerly for Spider-Noir and, in the meantime, want to watch something equally wacky, weird, or genre-bending, here are 10 excellent shows to keep you busy. They provide the same quirky charm, stylized worlds, morally ambiguous heroes and heroines, and stories that do not conform to genre stereotypes.
TitleCreatorCastRelease DateStreaming PlatformSpider-NoirOren UzielNicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Abraham Popoola, Jack Huston, and Brendan GleesonMay 25, 2026 (MGM+) | May 27, 2026 (Prime Video)MGM+ and Prime Video
1. Doom Patrol — A Tender Superhero Show About Broken People
Perhaps the gold standard of weird superhero TV, Doom Patrol is about a group of troubled misfits who come together under the leadership of Chief (Timothy Dalton). These include Robotman or Cliff Steele (Brendan Fraser), once a race car driver but now living in a metal suit with only his consciousness being alive; Jane (Diane Guerrero), a young woman with 64(!) personalities, each one possessing unique powers; and many more.
The reason why it is unique and would be perfect for fans of Spider-Noir lies in the fact that it considers emotional trauma just as dangerous as the actions of any supervillain. The episodes begin with sessions of emotional vulnerability and proceed with an array of surreal elements such as talking cockroaches, sentient streets, time-traveling, and reality-breaking villains. Its visuals are gloriously insane.
Where to watch (USA): Prime Video
2. Invincible — A Superhero Coming-of-Age Story That Turns Brutal
Omni-Man in Invincible | Credits: Amazon MGM Studios
At first, Invincible, an animated superhero TV show, seems to be a bright and feel-good coming-of-age Saturday morning cartoon. The protagonist Mark Grayson (Invincible), voiced by Steven Yeun, is a teenage boy who finally gets superpowers that were passed down to him from his dad Nolan Grayson (Omni-Man), played by J.K. Simmons, the greatest hero of the planet. His mom, Debbie, voiced by Sandra Oh, acts as the stabilizing force for the family.
The truth, however, slowly starts to unfold soon. The vibrant animation hides a brutally realistic look at heroism, familial dedication, and generational violence. Mark’s training and friendships turn into betrayal and large-scale destruction, making Invincible one of the most intelligent superhero shows today. Like Spider-Noir, this series also handles darker truths and moral ambiguity.
Where to watch (USA): Prime Video
3. Watchmen — Masks, Power, History, And Consequences
Sister Night (Regina King) stands watch in Watchmen | Credits: HBO
More sequel than adaptation to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’s landmark graphic novel of the same name (as well as Zack Snyder’s 2009 film adaptation), HBO’s Watchmen series follows Angela Abar/Sister Night (Regina King), a masked Tulsa police detective investigating a white supremacist conspiracy tied to old secrets.
Like Spider-Noir, it has a moody atmosphere and a compelling underlying mystery. It is Damon Lindelof’s brainchild, who is also famous for creating ABC’s Lost and HBO’s own The Leftovers. This superhero TV show uses superhero mythos to investigate issues of race, trauma, American history, and the nature of state power in America. The show is ambitious yet entertaining.
Where to watch (USA): HBO Max
4. Dead Boy Detectives — Two Dead Boys Refuse To Move On
Edwin, Charles, and their allies head into another eerie mystery in Dead Boy Detectives | Credits: Warner Bros. Television
A spinoff of Netflix’s adaptation of DC Comics’ The Sandman series, Dead Boy Detectives follows detectives Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri) and Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew), who are actually teenage ghosts who decided to stay on earth and solve crimes rather than enter the afterlife.
Like Spider-Noir, this series has elements of detective work and a slightly eerie world. Together with psychic runaway Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson) and her witty sidekick Niko Sasaki (Yuyu Kitamura), the duo solves supernatural cases involving haunts, curses, demons, and other paranormal cases that would kill any living detective who tries to tackle them.
Where to watch (USA): Netflix
5. The Tick — A Lovably Ridiculous Take On Caped Heroes
The Tick and Arthur in the superhero satire The Tick | Credits: Sony Pictures Television
Fancy a superhero sitcom? For that is what The Tick essentially is. A parody of mainstream Marvel and DC superheroes, The Tick is also very much its own thing (unlike other parody shows and movies we could name). The series follows The Tick (Peter Serafinowicz), an invulnerable superhero wearing a blue tick-themed costume who has unlimited confidence and very limited self-awareness.
This would be a perfect alternative for Spider-Noir fans as it has the same love for unique comic-book storytelling and world-building. This series is extremely funny in a deadpan way. But it also has a sincere friendship dynamic between Arthur and the Tick, which belies its goofy premise.
Where to watch (USA): Prime Video
6. Extraordinary — Everyone Has Powers Except The Main Character
Máiréad Tyers as Jen in Extraordinary | Credits: Sid Gentle Films
Extraordinary is set in a world where everyone gets superpowers when they turn 18. However, the series is really about Jen (Máiréad Tyers), a 25-year-old woman who is waiting for her superpowers and surrounded by powered friends. Apart from the lack of powers, she also has to deal with the usual life struggles like jobs, relationships, and self-worth, particularly when she is feeling left behind by society itself.
For those of us waiting for Spider-Noir, this show would be a clever detour as it also rethinks superhero mythology and eschews standard heroics.
Where to watch (USA): Hulu
7. The Umbrella Academy — Superpowered Siblings Reunite, Apocalypse Follows
The Hargreeves siblings in The Umbrella Academy | Credits: Netflix
What if a superhero team was really a dysfunctional family? That is the central premise of The Umbrella Academy, an absurdist superhero series. The story follows adopted siblings raised by an eccentric billionaire, Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore). He trained gifted children and made his own private superhero team. The siblings include Luther (Tom Hopper), Diego (David Castañeda), Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman), Klaus (Robert Sheehan), Five (Aidan Gallagher), Viktor (Elliot Page), and Ben (Justin H. Min).
The series is genre-bending and mixes elements of time travel, romance, sibling resentment, assassins, and whatnot. The result is an entertainment package with lots of heart. If the stylized black-and-white visuals of Spider-Noir caught your eye, this series will also impress you with its spectacle.
Where to watch (USA): Netflix
8. Legion — You’re Never Sure What’s Real
Dan Stevens in Legion | Credits: Marvel Television
One of the weirdest Marvel television series ever produced, Legion tells the story of David Haller (Dan Stevens), a mental health patient who could either have some mental disorder or possess the most potent mutant powers. As David realizes his powers, he finds himself entangled in a secret battle among telepaths, the authorities, and entities residing in his subconsciousness.
This would be perfect for those awaiting Spider-Noir, for it has the same bold visual style and psychological (and literal) darkness. Also, it has a superhero story told entirely through mood and little plot.
Where to watch (USA): Hulu
9. Legends of Tomorrow — The Show That Got Better By Getting Weirder
The time-traveling heroes of Legends of Tomorrow | Credits: Warner Bros. Television
While it began as a standard ensemble DC Arrowverse spin-off, Legends of Tomorrow quickly evolved into one of the funniest superhero series ever created. The time-travel ship Waverider team travels through time to save history from falling apart. Characters such as Sara Lance/White Canary (Caity Lotz), Ray Palmer/Atom (Brandon Routh), Mick Rory/Heat Wave (Dominic Purcell), Nate Heywood/Steel (Nick Zano), and Ava Sharpe (Jes Macallan) are involved. As the series progressed, it became apparent that the series had no intention of taking itself seriously.
It is a fun choice to keep you occupied until Spider-Noir, as it proves superhero stories are at their best when they embrace their inherent weirdness and try to do something that is more than shooting laser beams at each other.
Where to watch (USA): Netflix
10. Peacemaker — Loud, Funny, Violent, And Weirdly Emotional
John Cena as the anti-hero Christopher Smith/Peacemaker in Peacemaker | Credits: Warner Bros. Television
James Gunn took a joke character from his 2021 DC movie, The Suicide Squad, and turned him into one of TV’s most entertaining and compelling antiheroes in Peacemaker. Christopher Smith/Peacemaker (John Cena) is a violent and jingoistic superhero. He wants peace at any cost, and he would not hesitate to kill any number of men, women, and children to achieve it. No, he does not realise how monstrous that sounds.
Similar to Spider-Noir, this show, too, focuses on a flawed, morally ambiguous superhero. It has over-the-top violence, yes, but also surprising emotional depth.
Where to watch (USA): HBO Max
Here are a few important details of the 10 TV shows:
No.TitleCreator(s)CastIMDb (as of April 29, 2026)Rotten Tomatoes (as of April 29, 2026)1.Doom PatrolJeremy CarverBrendan Fraser, Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, Matt Bomer, Joivan Wade7.7/1098% | 77%2.InvincibleRobert KirkmanSteven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, Gillian Jacobs8.7/1099% | 90%3.WatchmenDamon LindelofRegina King, Jeremy Irons, Jean Smart, Tim Blake Nelson8.2/1096% | 57%4.Dead Boy DetectivesSteve YockeyGeorge Rexstrew, Jayden Revri, Kassius Nelson7.5/1092% | 92%5.The TickBen EdlundPeter Serafinowicz, Griffin Newman, Valorie Curry7.4/1095% | 93%6.ExtraordinaryEmma MoranMáiréad Tyers, Sofia Oxenham, Bilal Hasna7.7/10100% | 92%7.The Umbrella AcademySteve BlackmanElliot Page, Tom Hopper, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher7.8/1078% | 61%8.LegionNoah HawleyDan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza8.1/1091% | 85%9.Legends of TomorrowGreg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg, Phil KlemmerCaity Lotz, Brandon Routh, Dominic Purcell6.7/1089% | 56%10.PeacemakerJames GunnJohn Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma8.2/1093% | 83%
Let’s explore the answers to a few questions you might have about these shows:
What kind of shows are on this list?
These are superhero series that go beyond the usual cape-and-cowl formula. They are quite different from each other, but all of them offer something fresher than standard franchise storytelling.
Are these shows dark or comedic?
A mix of both. Watchmen and Legion lean darker and more psychological, while Peacemaker and The Tick are more comedic. Doom Patrol has a little bit of everything.
Which show should I watch first while waiting for Spider-Noir?
Our recommendation would be Doom Patrol. It has the same kind of offbeat energy that makes Spider-Noir so intriguing.
Which of these wonderfully wacky superhero shows will you binge first while waiting for Spider-Noir?
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
