Movies

2006 Superhero Show Surpassed Marvel & DC by a Decade

BBG News

As a movie enthusiast, I must admit that Marvel and DC have dominated the superhero genre for years, setting new benchmarks in storytelling and visual effects. However, it was a TV series from 2006 that managed to outshine both giants when it came to a specific niche of superhuman productions.

Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films redefined what a superhero movie should be on the silver screen, building upon the foundation laid by the franchise’s earlier projects before the 2008 release of “Iron Man”, there was this TV series that paved the way.

Though DC movies haven’t been as consistently successful or cohesive in their narrative, they’ve still made quite an impact, with many high-profile releases under their belt.

To put it simply, neither franchise was particularly skilled at producing live-action TV series. In fact, many of the early successful Marvel and DC series were animated rather than live-action and didn’t garner the same popularity as their feature-length counterparts. However, in recent times, the quality of Marvel TV shows has significantly improved and they are now rivaling the popularity of the movies. Similarly, live-action DC shows have also seen an improvement, but another project not associated with either franchise paved the way for its competitors to thrive.

Heroes Season 1 Was An Incredible Take On Superheroes For Television

Marvel & DC had yet to make the jump into live-action TV success

The show created quite a sensation when it first aired in 2006, even though it wasn’t based on a comic book. It borrowed heavily from the world of comics to narrate its story. Unlike some of its contemporaries, this live-action production had a more mature tone and was not primarily targeted at young audiences who typically enjoy Marvel and DC comics and their animated adaptations. This broader appeal helped it gain a wider audience, making its success even more remarkable given that it didn’t have a pre-existing fan base.

Back then, live-action superhero TV shows were not as prevalent as they are today. People were accustomed to seeing such projects only in cinemas as part of a major summer blockbuster lineup. However, Heroes was groundbreaking when it first aired because it offered an engaging and innovative format that could be enjoyed at home. The storyline was exceptionally well-crafted, providing viewers with a nearly flawless viewing experience. To this day, the first season of Heroes maintains an impressive 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and fan approval is even higher at 93%.

It Took Marvel And DC A Long Time To Figure Out Live-Action Television

Heroes was way ahead of its time

A decade after the groundbreaking debut of “Heroes,” it stood tall as the benchmark for live-action superhero TV shows, inspiring Marvel and DC to follow suit. Fast forward to 2012, and “Arrow” was in the midst of an adored eight-season run, spawning several spinoffs like “The Flash.” In the rival corner, Marvel’s collaboration with Netflix saw the premiere of Daredevil season 1 in 2015. Meanwhile, the MCU also had its first then-canon show, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D,” on air.

The surge of live-action superhero television series hasn’t waned over time. Among DC’s recent victories are “Peacemaker,” “The Penguin,” and “Superman & Lois.” Marvel has been churning out a plethora of live-action content for Disney+, with many of their earlier Netflix productions getting revived on this new platform. Although Marvel has lately reduced its TV output and is focusing more on movies, there are still numerous projects in development that can be attributed to the influence and success of superheroes.

Heroes Sadly Went Downhill Pretty Fast After An Amazing First Season

Marvel & DC have since become the best in the business again

Despite the fact that Heroes season 1 was an unprecedented hit and revolutionized television, subsequent seasons failed to maintain the exceptional quality of the first. The series faced criticism for numerous reasons, but one plausible explanation is that the 2007 writer’s strike significantly affected many shows, including Heroes, disrupting its creative flow and momentum, which it never fully recovered. Following Heroes season 4, considered the show’s weakest performance, it was unfortunately canceled without a satisfactory conclusion.

Emerging unexpectedly in 2006 and garnering a tremendous amount of positive acclaim ever since is something that season 1 of “Heroes” can rightfully take great pride in, even years later. Admittedly, it didn’t maintain its initial brilliance after the debut run, but it’s not unique among shows to face such challenges. Furthermore, it’s challenging to envision the current television landscape teeming with successful live-action superhero series without the groundwork laid by “Heroes.” Without this show, “DC” and “Marvel” might still be primarily confined to the big screen.

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2025-04-22 12:38

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