Superherocinema is ailing at the moment. Many films are performing poorly, raising suggestions that there is some form of fatigue among the fanbase, or that the golden age has come to an end. It could also be argued that these stories are not being presented through the right medium. Perhaps now would be a better time for both Marvel and DC to only focus on the television landscape. After all, this arena has never been disappointing for the genre in the past.
Superhero shows have always been received well, even before Marvel Studios caused the genre to blow up. This proves that the market will never disappear. In line with that, there are a few occasions when popular comic book characters were handled much better on the small screen than on the big screen. Working under less pressure (and with more time), the showrunners of these particular shows managed to dig deeper into the source material while still making the superheroes relatable.
Here are 10 comic characters that were portrayed better on TV than in movies.
Despite being Batman’s greatest sidekick,Robinhas largely been ignored in cinema. The only time he made an appearance on the big screen was in Joel Shumacher’sBatman & Robin, a film that even the director himself hated. On TV, Robin has excelled beyond expectations. Whether it’s theBatman ’66show orTitans, the character has been put to great use and granted some of the best arcs.
Why Robin Is Better on Television
InBatman ’66, Robin is both the dialogue and the comedy king. He is known for his hilarious series-exclusive “holy” catchphrases, which are all cleverly crafted. For example, when Batman revives a lifeless android, Robin shouts, “Holy Frankenstein!”, alluding to the legendary fictional scientist. And when Robin learns that a criminal has taken insurance against Gotham, he shouts, “Holy underwritten Metropolis.”
Additionally, Robin has plenty of memorable scenes, such as him taking a bus while chasing after the Joker, or him crying after a heartbreak. InTitans, Robin is even better because he isn’t under Batman’s shadow. He is a leader and, through his superintendence, the group manages to deal with dozens of threats.
9Daredevil
Daredevilwas first portrayed by Ben Affleck in a 2004 film that had critics fuming. The box office figures were good, but many felt that the actor and the plot failed to capture everything great about the character. More than a decade later, the Charlie Cox series premiered on Netflix to critical acclaim. So good was the show that it is now being revived byDisney+ asDaredevil: Born Again.
Why Daredevil Is Better on Television
Matt Murdock has a reputation for being a great fighter, and the show does well by leaning towards this skill. The hero obliterates opponents much more effectively on the small screen, leaving fans awed in just about every episode. The hallway fight in Season 2’s “New York’s Finest,” is especially iconic, trumping many other similar confrontations that fans have witnessed in the superhero landscape.
Even so, Matt isn’t just a fighter. His law career is explored in detail, making him both an entertaining character and an inspirational one to those seeking to make great strides in their professions. Not to forget that his archenemy, Kingpin, is fleshed out better and portrayed by a more skilled actor (Vincent D’Onfonrio), hence he keeps bringing out the best of the Hell’s Kitchen hero.
Supermanand Batman are the two characters DC can always rely on to bring in the big bucks, so there are dozens of projects featuring them, but among the numerousactors who have played Superman, the most celebrated ones have come from television. So far, there have been three good Superman live-action shows, namely,Smallville, Superman & Lois,andLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,whereas the only good Superman movie is the first installment of the Christopher Reeves tetralogy.
Why the Superman Shows Are Better
The TV shows rely on a few formulas that movies always seem to ignore. These include making Lois as important as Superman and making Smallville the setting rather than Metropolis. Whenever Lois is more involved in Clark Kent’s life, he shines more. This has been proven in all three shows. The small-town setting also worked extremely well forSmallvilleandSuperman & Lois.
Additionally, the shows dig deeper into Superman’s background, helping fans understand some of his mannerisms better. Most importantly, the shows relied on lesser-known actors who had less pressure to deliver, hence they gave more natural performances.
7The Flash
The Flash’s problems on the big screen have many causes, ranging from actor Ezra Miller’s misdemeanors to the character’s inclusion in weak movies such as the originalJustice LeagueandThe Flash. On the small screen, the speedster (portrayed by Grant Gustin) has had a healthier run, with the show lasting a whopping nine seasons before concluding.
Why The Flash Is Better on Television
The Flash has mainly been his own man in the series, while in the movies, he has constantly used his fellow superheroes as a crutch. Even in the recently released solo movie, he couldn’t do much on his own. To get the job done, he teamed up with a variant of himself from another Earth as well as Supergirl and Michael Keaton’s Batman. In the show, the speedster showcased his abilities well because he has always solved problems on his own, and only during the rare crossover events has he had to lean on others.
6The Punisher
A total of threePunishermovies have been made, with the ‘80s version starring Dolph Lundgren making the most headlines. All these versions were critically panned. The same cannot be said of the Netflix series starring Jon Bernthal. Even though it was canceled because of the streaming service’s Marvel purge, it mostly received decent reviews from critics. Fans rated it even higher.
Why The Punisher Is Better on Television
LikeDaredevil,The Punisherexcels because of the fight sequences. Like many of thegreatest one-man-army heroes in cinema, the titular character obliterates many opponents by himself, leaving audiences awed by his expertise and brutality. Additionally, the character isn’t just a fighting machine but a tool that the show uses to explore several social-political issues. Trauma, the plight of veterans, and corruption, are all examined through the hero’s experiences.
5Ghost Rider
Causal fans are probably more familiar with Nicolas Cage’s version ofGhost Rider, but his isn’t exactly the best. A much better Ghost Rider can be seen in the MCU series,Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.He is a supporting character, but he is multidimensional, with more fascinating arcs than his film counterpart.
Why Ghost Rider Is Better on Television
First of all, there is the issue of performance. Despite being one of thestandout actors of the ‘90s, Cage did a very poor job as the Marvel character, so much so that a Razzie award was thrown at him. Gabriel Luna, on the other hand, never faced any criticism for his performance. InAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D, the writers are economical with the superhero, but such an approach makes his presence more meaningful. Whenever the Spirit of Vengeance takes over his body, he impresses more than many of the show’s main characters.
4Supergirl
There has only been oneSupergirlsolo movie, and it’s the kind of project that even members of the production team would prefer not to be reminded of. Apart from the Razzies that several actors got, the film performed so poorly that producers Ilya Salkind and Alexander were forced to sell the entire Superman-related film rights to The Cannon Group, Inc. TheSupergirlTV show, on the other hand, had a healthy six-season run.
Why Supergirl Is Better on Television
For Supergirl to be better, she has to be different from Superman. On television, Kara isn’t just about saving the city. She is a feminist icon. The Kryptonian is keen on career growth, and the fair treatment of women in the workplace. She isn’t oversexualized either, and midway through the show, her attire is altered to include pants.
Besides that, Supergirl has captivating crossover arcs with DC heroes such as The Flash and Green Arrow. At the moment, it could be argued that the version of the character recently seen inThe Flashmovie is also good. Sadly, the film itself is weak.
3Constantine
Before Keanu Reeves had a career resurgence with theJohn Wickfranchise, he took up several roles that didn’t quite work out well for him. One of the unimpressive characters he played was the DC exorcistConstantinein the 2005 movie of the same name. Critics were brutal, so plans for a sequel were temporarily shelved. Years later, Matt Ryan was cast as the character in an NBC series, before going on to appear in various Arrowverse shows in a supporting capacity.
Why Constantine Is Better on Television
TheConstantinefilm dives too deep into horror, hence it’s only tolerable for adults and less suited to superhero fans. On television, Constantine is only as dark as the average witch in a teen drama, which is good. On top of that, Constantine isn’t the kind of character that has a strong pull on audiences. He works better as a bit-part player, hence he shines even more in the Arrowverse. Whether he is bantering with Lucifer, or simply coming up with a unique way to solve a problem that the heroes can’t, he keeps impressing whenever he is called upon to help.
2Deathstroke
TV lovesDeathstroke. The character appears inLois & Clark: The New Adventuresof Superman, as well asSmallville.Various versions of the assassin also appear inArrow,the most notable one being the one played by Manu Bennet. The character is used even better inTitans, where he clashes frequently with the superhero group. On the big screen, Deathstroke only appears in theJustice Leaguepost-credits scene.
Why Deathstroke Is Better on Television
Deathstroke isn’t necessarily bad in the movies — he just hasn’t been allowed to prove himself. The big players at the DCEU had plans for him to be a major figure in the continuity, and that could have happened, had Justice Leaguenot flopped. Hopefully, fans will get to see a version of him in James Gunn’s DCU, but in the meantime, fans can enjoy watching him on television where there is no scarcity. He is arguably more formidable inTitans, thanks to neatly choreographed fight sequences and a magnificent performance from Esai Morales.
1The Falcon
Anthony Mackie appeared in several MCU films asThe Falconbefore getting his show,The Falcon & the Winter Soldier.While the movies he was a part of weren’t bad, his responsibilities were limited. All that changed in the Disney+ series, where The Falcon not only had a wonderful friendship arc with the Winter Soldier, but also grew to become thenew Captain America.
Why The Falcon Is Better on Television
Good character development is the main reason the Falcon stands tall on television. In the movies, he just kept popping in and out of events, but on the show, fans get to learn about his family, his financial struggles, and his principles. His journey to becoming Captain America is analyzed in detail, showing him as hesitant at first before embracing the new role. Besides that, the MCU series uses the superhero to explore burning issues like racial discrimination and the military-industrial complex.
