As a Superman Fan, Here's How I'd Rank All 13 TV Shows in the Franchise
Although he's certainly soared on the big screen as well, there's no doubt that Superman thrives on television. Since the 1950s, the Man of Steel has been a generally consistent mainstay on the airwaves, be it in live-action or animated form. After first making waves in film serials, theatrically-released cartoons, and radio programs, DC Comics' flagship superhero found his way to TV as well — and we just can't get enough.
With plenty of stellar on-screen adventures out there, this author was tasked with ranking every Superman franchise television series — and boy was it a challenge. For my own sanity, we're leaving off Justice League-related programs (including Super Friends, Justice League Unlimited, and others) in an attempt to stick with the Man of Steel himself as much as possible. So, look up in the sky, because this ranking of Superman television is coming your way.
13 'Supergirl' (2015–2021)
Okay, Supergirl isn't technically a Superman show (and this won't be the first time that's said here), but it's Superman-adjacent enough that it can't be ignored. Originally a CBS drama before turning to The CW, the show starred Melissa Benoist as the titular Maid of Might, who vows to protect National City as she balances her secret identity as Kara Danvers. Although Superman is mentioned early on, it's not until Season 2 that Tyler Hoechlin appears as DC's greatest hero.
Supergirl officially folded into the greater Arrowverse near the end of its first season and quickly became just another cog in the CW's DC TV machine. Although it started strong, it quickly delved into the 2010s era of overt preachiness that turned off many viewers. Frankly, it doesn't quite reach the heights of some of the Man of Steel's own adventures, no matter how many of his villains or supporting cast it steals — case in point, the crossovers were generally the best part.
12 'Superboy' (1988–1992)
Before he was Superman, Clark Kent was once Superboy. Well, in some versions, like Superboy, that is. Helmed by Superman film producers Alexander Salkind and Ilya Salkind, Superboy originally starred John Haymes Newton as the title character, fighting crime while romancing Lana Lang (Stacy Haiduk). But Season 2 rebranded the show entirely, replacing Newton with Gerard Christopher, who stuck with it for three seasons.
Later called The Adventures of Superboy, the show went through plenty of cast shakeups and tonal changes over its four seasons, but it's still uniquely Superman in function. The syndicated series has since found a cult following, and while not exactly among the most popular of adaptations, it deserves it's rightful place among the rest of Superman's TV adventures. Even if he was still just a boy...
11 'Krypto the Superdog' (2005–2006)
Another series that isn't really about Superman, Krypto the Superdog was a cartoon series that sent the title canine hero (voiced by Samuel Vincent) to Metropolis. After Superman (Michael Daingerfield) allows a young boy named Kevin Whitney (Alberto Ghisi) to keep his Kryptonian puppy, the Superdog battles all the villains that the Man of Steel is too busy to take on. Believe it or not, many of the animal characters in this show actually come from Superman comics too.
While Krypto the Superdog doesn't feature Superman much, his character certainly exists in spirit through Krypto himself. The Superdog's adventures often echo many of his former owner's, and each new kid-friendly episode is as fun as the last. With two seasons in total, it's best revisited with younger (and more excitable) audiences.
10 'Superman' (1988)
Made in celebration of the character's 50th anniversary (and the 10th anniversary of Superman: The Movie), Superman was a half-hour cartoon series that aired on CBS. Produced by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, Superman contained a writers' room full of capable names who understood what made the character tick, including DC scribe Marv Wolfman. It's pretty great.
With 22-minute episodic adventures, Superman (Beau Weaver) finds himself tackling some of his greatest DC Comics foes, and even working alongside allies like Wonder Woman (B.J. Ward). Repurposing many of the popular elements from the 1978 film (including the John Williams theme), the Ruby-Spears Superman series — and the animated Superman at the forefront of it — is fondly remembered by those who grew up with that memorable intro.
9 'My Adventures with Superman' (2023–Present)
A surprising animated hit that has proven controversial among some, My Adventures with Superman is an Adult Swim take on the Man of Steel that unites Clark Kent (Jack Quaid), Lois Lane (Alice Lee), and Jimmy Olsen (Ishmel Sahid) as they search for the truth about, well, any and everything. The trio face down everything from military conspiracies to alien invasions here, all while a budding romance blossoms between Clark and Lois. After all, what would Superman be without Lois Lane?
Although My Adventures with Superman has made some changes to the Superman mythos that are, well, reminiscent of what James Gunn has recently done, there's something about it that draws us back for more. Be it the stunning animation or the relatable characters (Quaid is a surprisingly solid choice for Superman, by the way), this is one animated DC series that stands out for its impressive ability to pull in an audience. As one writer put it, it's the "anti-grimdark" Superman story of our time.
8 'The New Adventures of Superman' (1966–1970)
Another CBS cartoon series that elevated the Man of Steel as a Saturday Morning Cartoon staple, The New Adventures of Superman was a Filmation production that was more Silver Age in style than previous cartoon attempts (the Fleischer cartoons were strictly Golden Age material). Bud Collyer reprises his role from previous cartoon stints for these animated adventures that commit to the flashy nature of the Superman comic books. It certainly helped that DC editor Mort Weisinger was heavily involved.
The New Adventures of Superman (we're folding in The Adventures of Superboy shorts that aired during its run here) was later rebranded as The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure in its second season and as The Batman/Superman Hour in its third and final. Despite the programming block titles, there was no real crossover between cartoons. In some ways, that was for the best.
7 'Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman' (1993–1997)
Another series with the same "new" billing, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman is far too often overlooked by fans. It reinvented the on-screen Daily Planet dynamic between Clark Kent (Dean Cain) and Lois Lane (Teri Hatcher) forever (and in a way truly befitting of the '90s). Despite being somewhat dated, the series remains a true joy worth revisiting for its striking balance between romance and superheroic action.
The chemistry between Cain and Hatcher is the reason why this series is so memorable today, and the former in particular offers a compelling take on the Man of Steel. It's no wonder that DC Comics had to force Lois & Clark not to wed its leading characters (who fans were desperate to see finally exchange vows), making them wait until the comics could catch up. Oh, and Lane Smith is just the perfect Perry White.
6 'Legion of Super Heroes' (2006–2008)
Although "Superman" isn't in the name, Legion of Super Heroes is undoubtedly a Superman series. When a young Superman (Yuri Lowenthal) is recruited to a team of superheroes who existed in the far future of the 31st century, the novice Man of Steel battles some new threats previously unexplored on the screen. Season 2 dives even deeper into the future by aging up its heroes.
One of the most underrated superhero shows out there, Legion of Super Heroes thrived by first exploring how a young, inexperienced Superman might react to the news of his destiny. Then, the second season flipped this on its head with a dark Superman clone (the immensely cool Superman X, also voiced by Lowenthal) who has to learn what it means to be a hero for himself. Although forgotten by many, die-hard Superman fans will likely rate it fairly high for its unique worldbuilding and love of the source material.
5 'Krypton' (2018–2019)
This is the last time that a "non-Superman" Superman show will appear on the list, but there's no way Krypton could've been left off this list. Featuring the definitive on-screen versions of some of the Last Son of Krypton's greatest foes, including Doomsday, Brainiac (Blake Ritson), and even General Zod (Colin Salmon), this two-season SyFy series deserved far more episodes than it got. The Man of Steel may not have appeared, but his presence is felt throughout.
Although it followed Kal-El's grandfather, Seg-El (Cameron Cuffe), Krypton felt like something right out of a Superman comic book. The show explored the class divides, political and military conflicts, and the overall alien nature of Krypton, all while threatening to erase Superman from existence. It's a shame it ends on a cliffhanger, but the remainder of the series more than speaks for itself.
4 'Superman: The Animated Series' (1996–2000)
The definitive take of Superman in animation, Superman: The Animated Series took everything that made Batman: The Animated Series great and applied it to the Man of Steel. Bruce Timm and Paul Dini really put their creative minds together for this stellar animated series that introduced an entire generation to the character in smooth, '90s style. Tim Daly is an inspired cast as the title hero, who looks and sounds exactly as he should.
Some of the show's best episodes remind us that Superman: TAS was always full of beautifully animated action, complicated supporting characters, and a hero who knew clearly right from wrong. For three seasons, audiences were sucked into the powerful animated drama that expanded the DC Animated Universe. If you love this one, continue on with Justice League and Justice League Unlimited.
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