Holding out for a hero? Turns out a global pandemic succeeded where countless supervillains have failed, and knocked out the good guys for almost a year and a half on the big screen.
While they’re finally back in cinemas with the likes of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Eternals, the truth is they were always fighting the good fight on Netflix. Stephen A Russell takes a look at 15 of the streamer’s top contenders.
Batman Ninja (2018)
Watch on NetflixIf you want an alternate take on the big Bat himself, and we mean really, ‘mind-altering substances’ alternate, then try out this wildly off-the-wall Elseworlds-style anime adventure with a time-travelling spin. Talking monkey villain Gorilla Grodd whisks Batman back to 16th century Japan, and a near-incomprehensible plot is nevertheless made wondrous by the combo of director Junpei Mizusaki (Star Wars: Visions) and Kamen Rider screenwriter Kazuki Nakashima. Loony ‘toons it is.
Black Lightning (2017-2021)
Watch on NetflixAfter first bringing the Wakandan king to life in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, the late, great Chadwick Boseman graduated to his own solo superhero movie in 2018. But as one of rival DC’s greatest Black heroes, Cress Williams was already holding down his own Netflix show. He plays the lightning-charged, middle-aged hero who has walked away from the superhero game to become a school principal, only for fate to bring him back into the fold alongside his kick-ass daughters. The family vibe makes this show really sing.
Daredevil (2015-2018)
Watch on NetflixPoor Ben Affleck. First folks thought his take on Marvel’s blind avenger was not much cop, then they trashed his surly Batman too. Unleash the sad memes. Still, Boardwalk Empire’s Charlie Cox fared much better in this three-season (plus The Defenders) run as lawyer Matt Murdock, who realises he can be far more effective in taking down NYC’s underbelly of crime from the dark(er) side. Reasonably free from the MCU’s machinations, it’s a law unto itself in the best way.
Gotham (2014-2019)
Watch on NetflixEver since Adam West pulled on his suspiciously lavender-hued Batsuit, a truly ridiculous number of Gotham-set adventures have played out on screens big and small. But this show had the good sense to come at the mythos from a slightly different perspective, focusing instead on the early years of rookie cop and not-yet Commissioner Gordon.
As played by The O.C. star Ben McKenzie, Gordon faces off against Bats’ rogues gallery before they were fully formed, including Robin Lord Taylor’s Oswald Cobblepot, Cory Michael Smith’s Edward Nygma and Camren Bicondova’s kitten-aged Selina Kyle. It made for a refreshing new angle.
Jessica Jones (2015)
Watch on NetflixArguably the best of the Netflix Marvel Universe, that’s mostly because of Krysten Ritter’s remarkable turn as a superpowered hero who is trying very hard to get the hell away from her past life fighting crime, including by drowning her sorrows when everything turns sour. Now working as a private investigator, she specialises in cases involving folks like her. Deploying some enjoyable noir touches, former Doctor Who star David Tennant brings a disturbing level of creepiness to his season one villain Kilgrave.
Jumper (2008)
Watch on NetflixWhile the inadvertently hilarious title makes it sound like something you’d pick up at Cotton On, this movie from The Bourne Identity director Doug Liman and Man of Steel scribe David S. Goyer is actually a reasonably fun spin on superpowers. Not that most reviews would convince you, and the involvement of cranky Vader Hayden Christensen may dissuade too, but Jamie Bell and Kristen Stewart more than make up for the plot holes. Jumper is a YA tale of teleporting teens dragged into an ancient war, with Samuel L. Jackson bringing the bad ass.
Luke Cage (2016-2018)
Watch on NetflixMike Colter first stepped into the shoes of the unbreakable hero in Jessica Jones, but their failed relationship is ancient history by the time we rejoin him in Harlem. A man in hiding, he picks up a gig working in the club owned by crook Cottonmouth—an impeccable casting choice in soon-to-be-Blade Mahershala Ali. Also featuring Alfre Woodard, it’s an impressive line-up in a show that feels particularly powerful for depicting an African-American man who cannot be felled by bullets.
Man of Steel (2013)
Watch on NetflixZack Snyder sure gets a lot of stick for his dark, gritty, and occasionally very silly redo on the Justice League’s finest, but the first outing for Henry Cavill’s square-jawed saviour Superman was genuinely epic. It looked magnificent, and had an aching heart that’s hard to resist. Okay, we could do without the neck snap, but the much-maligned Metropolis showdown between him and Michael Shannon’s monstrous General Zod looks exactly as gods at war should.
The New Legends of Monkey (2018–)
Watch on NetflixGrown-up kids of a certain vintage will remember fondly the madcap antics of the original Japanese run, hokily dubbed for local audiences. This new iteration is a co-pro between the ABC, New Zealand’s TVNZ, and Netflix, and is largely filmed across the ditch. Based on the 16th century Chinese fable Journey to the West The New Legends of Monkey has a really good time harnessing mythology in endlessly inventive ways, and Thai-Australian actor Chai Hansen is fab in the lead role.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Watch on NetflixWhen Marvel and Sony assembled Peter Parker with the Avengers, there was a fair amount of groaning at the thought of rebooting the franchise for a third time in rapid succession. A few key changes make the webslinger soar once more: Tom Holland is a believably wide-eyed teenage geek, he pairs well with Robert Downey Jr. as exasperated babysitter Tony Stark, and the interminable Green Goblin saga is gone, replaced by former Batman Michael Keaton’s breath of fresh air as bad dad Vulture.
Strong Girl Bong-soon (2017)
Watch on NetflixIf your tastes run more K-pop than the foul language of Kick-Ass, you can opt for this sugary sweet South Korean series that’s infused with rom-com tropes. Park Bo-young stars as the super-cute and superpowered lead who saves the day over and over again, while also finding time to work out which of two suitors are best suited to be showered in her love hearts. It’s a nice change of pace from most of the prolific genre’s offerings.
Suicide Squad (2016)
Watch on NetflixControversial opinion incoming. While it’s true many fans of the John Ostrander comics were spitting furious at Fury director David Ayer’s stab at the supervillains press-ganged into saving the world via sub-dermal bombs, it’s actually kinda fun in an 80s B-movie way. Will Smith is charismatic as ever as sniper-happy Deadshot, you would not mess with Viola Davis’ real bad boss Amanda Waller, and Margot Robbie lights up the screen as everyone’s favourite ex of the Joker, Harley Quinn. James Gunn liked what he saw enough to keep the latter two for the re-do.
Super Hero Girls (2019–)
Watch on NetflixIf sweary violence is a bit much for the little ones in your life, then this animated take on DC’s bravest and boldest women is likely to be your cup of tea. It teams a teenage version of Wonder Woman with Gotham’s finest Barbara Gordon a.k.a. Batgirl, and a roster including Kryptonian survivor Supergirl and backwards-magic sorceress Zatanna. It’s a sweet coming-of-age show with gorgeous comic chops.
Titans (2018–)
Watch on NetflixAussie Brenton Thwaites plays the original Robin Dick Grayson in this fun take on DC’s gang of graduated teen sidekicks who are looking for a new identity of their own, beyond the shadow of the senior Justice League. Taking on the mantle of Nightwing, he also has to contend with his recently un-deceased replacement in the form of Curran Walters’ bad boy Jason Todd. The idea of legacies and how young guns take on the mantle and handle their predecessor’s baggage makes Titans compelling.
The Umbrella Academy (2019–)
Watch on NetflixIf you like your heroes with a slice of quirky kook, why not ditch Supes, Stark and co. for something a little bit different? Elliott Page plays the only depowered member of an estranged family of folks with unique powers, drawn together by their late adoptive father to stave off the apocalypse that is now at their door. Created by My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way, it’s more about the awks family drama than the impending disaster.
