Surely you have heard of Eternals, the latest Marvel superhero movie that has been uploaded to its Disney + platform. Or Zack Snyder’s Justice League, with its poignant take on a two-hour movie turned four-odd miniseries, which is on HBO Max.
And this is usual, since these films spend millions of millions on marketing, so we have them advertised even in the soup. It seems that the world of the superhero ends in these productions.
lucky for us, on the most popular streaming platforms in the world we can find very valid options, very funny and very interesting that have nothing to do with the usual heroes.
That is why today we make you a selection with more than half a dozen series and movies that you have surely never seen. Although we do not assure you that they are all new to you, some options are very famous.
Without further delay we start with 8 superhero series and movies that are not Marvel or DC and that you cannot miss if you love the genre.
8 superhero series and movies that are not Marvel or DC
Watchmen
If we had to say which superhero movie is the most important of its generation without including any from Marvel or DC, it is clear that we would all say Watchmen (2009).
Although its rights belong to the DC publisher, it is not integrated into the DC universe, but it is a totally different world and characters. This work, as many of you know, is based on the comic by Alan Moore of the same name.
The comic fell in love at the time, becoming an instant masterpiece. And the film, directed by Zack Snyder, does a tremendous job of adaptation. Both works are very good without depending on each other, and the film is a must if you like action movies.
- Qualification: Watchmen
- Release date: 2009
- Duration: 2:43 hours
- Platform: Netflix
TheBoys
this series it broke the mold in 2019 when it came out on Amazon Prime in its bid to bring series based on existing works (Good Omens, American Gods, etc.) and thus gain some ground against Netflix.
To do this, he opted for The Boys, a series of comics with a lot of pull in the United States that stands out for its black humor and its adult treatment of the plot. It looks like a parody of Marvel and DC superheroes but with a lot of bad blood applied to it.
They are already two seasons and are working on the third, so we can confirm that it has been a success for Amazon. And is not for less. Very good performances, a different approach where the heroes are sociopaths and a kid who wants justice.
- Qualification: TheBoys
- Release date: 2019
- Duration: 50 minute episodes
- Platform: Prime Video
spawn
A mercenary named Al Simmons is betrayed and killed by his evil boss. When he goes down to hell, he makes a pact with the devil to return to earth under the figure of Spawn, and thus be able to see his wife again.
This movie is a cult movie for lovers of the genre, getting a lot of fame in 1997, its year of release and a time when no one was betting on this type of film.
is right now for rent on Apple TV for only 1.99 euros and it is worth it to check where we came from and where we are now, although it is true that the years go by for everyone.
- Qualification: spawn
- Release date: 1997
- Duration: 1:36 hours
- Platform: AppleTV
One Punch Man
Since not everything is going to be live action movies, here is our first recommended animated series. One Punch Man (2015) is perfect for lovers of the genre because the entire series is about them and their importance in society.
The series is about Saitama, an anonymous office worker who resides in Z City, a fictional metropolis in Japan. After being fired, he decides to face the monsters and villains that plague the world. After a hard training that ends up causing him to go completely bald, he manages to become the most powerful hero on the planet.
The manga became famous in Spain thanks to Netflix, but now it is in First Video. It has two seasons, although in our country you can only see the first season, which is 12 episodes where each and every one is worth it.
- Qualification: One Punch Man
- Release date: 2015
- Duration: 24 minute episodes
- Platform: Prime Video
Flash Gordon
It paved the way for a genre that years later would give billions of euros a year, but back then it was a niche without a hole and yet to be exploited. And Sam J. Jones broke it open in the middle of 1980.
Possibly, the most iconic film of our elders in terms of ancient superheroes, The film tells the story of Dr. Zarkov, a scientist expelled from NASA who travels in a space rocket with the young rugby player Flash Gordon and his friend Dale Arden.
During the movie, the three will try to save the planet from the threat of Ming, the emperor of the distant kingdom Mongo, who has launched one of his moons to collide with Earth. It’s pure nostalgia, but it’s worth every minute.
- Qualification: Flash Gordon
- Release date: 1980
- Duration: 1:54 hours
- Platform: filmin
Hancock
Will Smith was the fashionable actor and everything he did turned into gold, until Hancock (2008) arrived, where for the first time he did not play a hero but an antihero.
The movie It received many sticks in its launch despite the fact that time put it in its place. The story is about a hero who has lost the affection of the people and who, instead of worrying him, ignores the subject… until something happens.
Right now you can enjoy or Movistar + or in the streaming services Prime Video, Apple TV or Rakuten for just two euros.
- Qualification: Hancock
- Release date: 2008
- Duration: 1:32 hours
- Platform: Prime Video
hell boy
Guillermo del Toro adapted Mike Mignola’s cult comic of the same name in 2004. Hellboy, an unconventional superhero, managed to attract a lot of people to this genre thanks to unbridled charisma and a Ron Perlman who plays a huge role.
End of World War II, black magic, the Nazis conjure up the demon Hellboy… tell me it doesn’t look good, but now is when I tell you that this demon grows among the allies until it becomes an adult, acting as an agent of the office of defense and paranormal investigation.
This movie is for watch for free on Rakuten TV and StarZ, and if not, it can be rented on different services such as Apple TV or Prime Video.
- Qualification: hell boy
- Release date: 2004
- Duration: 2:02 hours
- Platform: Rakuten-TV
Invincible
17-year-old Mark Grayson is just like any other boy his age, except his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, Omni-Man. Mark discovers that his father’s legacy may not be as heroic as it seems.
This series was one of Prime Video’s surprises of 2021. Serious, funny and full of action, Invincible has an 8.7 on IMDB which shows how much the press and the public liked it.
Right now there is no confirmation of a second season, although everything indicates that Amazon is interested in bringing it to the small screen. So for now we leave you with the first 8 episodes, which are the best that has been released in animation of the genre in years.
- Qualification: Invincible
- Release date: 2021
- Duration: 45 minute episodes
- Platform: Prime Video
As you can see, there is a lot of life beyond Marvel and DC, and these eight movies and series are proof that, to do a good superhero job, you don’t have to be called Steve Rogers.
Add the titles you like the most to your favorites lists. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them.