So you have a Netflix account and you love comic books. Netflix has built up a pretty respectable amount of comic book movies and animated superhero shows, but it’s not always super easy to answer the all-consuming question: Where do I start?
Last Update: 4.13.17
When I first created this Netflix guide in the summer of 2013, I spent a good deal of time covering the impending removal of The Incredible Hulk (1996-1997, 2 seasons), X-Men (1992-1996, 5 seasons), & Spider-Man (1994-1998, 5 Seasons) from Netflix Instant.
As you’ll notice, all those shows are now gone, and this highlights an important part of Netflix Instant – Netflix can cycle out entire TV series during your subscription, with minimal warning. I’ve seen this happen twice with the Robert Downey Jr. led Iron Man movies, and that’s far from the first and only instance.
So with that in mind, here are the Netflix comic book movies and tv shows that are currently available for instant streaming. Keep an eye on your instant queue for any changes in availability.
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Here’s the current Netflix streaming list:
DC TV Series
Arrow
The Flash
Supergirl
Legends of Tomorrow
Animated Comic Book TV Series
The Batman
Justice League
Young Justice
Transformers: Robots in Disguise
Batman: Be-Leaguered
Iron Man / Hulk: Heroes United
Iron Man / Captain America: Heroes United
Marvel TV Series
Agents of SHIELD
Daredevil (Netflix Original)
Jessica Jones (Netflix Original)
Luke Cage (Netflix Original)
Iron Fist (Netflix Original)
Marvel Movies
Captain America 3: Civil War
Fantastic Four (2005)
The Punisher
Star Wars TV Shows
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Comic Book Movies
V for Vendetta
Judge Dredd
Super
Hellboy
Sky High
TMNT
Comic Book TV
One Punch Man
Technically Not Comic Books, But Holy Jamoly You Have to Watch
Into the Badlands
*The below content is from the original post – likely removed, but worth a look!*
Marvel TV Series
The Incredible Hulk
Seasons: 5
Years: 1978-1983
Odds & Sods: In the 2008, Edward Norton led Hulk film, Lou Ferrigno makes a cameo as a security guard and Norton sends a letter at the end of the film signed “David Banner,” in homage to this series.
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Seasons: 3
Years: 1981 – 1983
Important Comic Connections: Firestar was originally created for this animated series, primarily due to licensing issues with the Human Torch. She has since appeared in Marvel Comics, at one point as an Avenger. Her official debut is Uncanny X-Men #193, as a member of the Hellions..
Odds & Sods: The series originally aired during NBC’s Saturday morning cartoons, and was lumped together as The Incredible Hulk and The Amazing Spider-Man.
X-Men: Evolution
Seasons: 1 (only first season now available)
Years: 2000
Important Comic Connections: X-23, the current femme-Wolverine in the Marvel Universe, actually originated in this animated series and was then introduced in the comics.
Iron Man: Armored Adventures
Seasons: 2
Years: 2009-2011
Odds & Sods: Recasts Tony Stark as a teenager. I know. No, really, I hear you, I know. It’s an interesting What If? though.
Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
Season: 2
Years: 2010-2012
Important Comic Connections: Storylines in this series connect heavily to comic events like Civil War & Secret Invasion.
Ultimate Spider-Man
Seasons: 2
Years: 2012 – 2013
Important Comic Connections: Jeph Loeb (executive producer), Brian Michael Bendis (consulting producer), Paul Dini (consulting producer), many others.
Odds & Sods: Drake Bell, of Drake & Josh fame, is the voice of Ultimate Spider-Man. Stan Lee is a recurring character on the show, playing the custodian of Midtown High.
Ultimate Spider-Man is Marvel’s “we are now owned by Disney!” follow-up to the (spectacular) Spectacular Spider-Man.
It scales quite a bit younger (think Spider-Man inhabiting Spongebob’s world), but there are still a lot of the elements that made Bendis’s Ultimate Spider-Man so thrilling. With of course, lots of liberties – this is a new Spidey-verse, where Harry Osborne becomes a different bad guy, SHIELD has Spidey as an agent, he goes to school with Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Nova, and White Tiger… it’s not your Ditko’s spidey.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
Seasons: 2 (thus far)
Years: 2013-
Based in the MCU, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents such as Phil Coulson (Yes he’s alive) and Melinda May take on various cases, it’s pretty interesting that the series follows the effects of the MCU itself (See: Captain America:Winter Solider) If you can get through the first season, you’re in for a treat.
Marvel’s Avengers Assemble
Seasons: 1 (2 seasons in actuality)
Years: 2013-
Following the events of 2012’s Avengers, this cartoon is stuffed with more avengers, like Falcon, and Ant-Man. It also sorta-kinda follows the happenings of the MCU.
Hulk & The Agents of S.M.A.S.H
Seasons: 1 (Season 2 available July 28th)
Years: 2013
Not one, not two, not three, not four, but five, five hulks. I’m not sure what threat out there needs five Hulks to stop them, but hey, who knows.
Daredevil
Seasons: 1
Years: 2015
The first Netflix exclusive Marvel series is a must watch. It’s dark, epic, and gruesome all at the same time. It’s only a matter of time before Netflix takes over the world.
Also, Netflix is currently making Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist TV series’ as well. They will also develop The Defenders spin-off. (See:above, TAKING OVER THE WORLD!)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Seasons: 6
Years: 2008-2014
This show used to be on Cartoon Network a long, long time ago (See what I did there?) It got revived for its sixth season on Netflix, and it’s not bad.
Marvel Movies
Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers
Type: Motion Comic
Rating: TV-MA
Year: 2011
A slightly modified take on motion comics. Honestly it’s one of the best renderings of Loki out there, much more faithful to what makes the character so compelling than The Avengers film.
Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United
Type: Animated
Rating: PG
Year: 2013
Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United
Type: Animated
Rating: PG
Year: 2014
Lego Marvel: Maximum Overlode
Type: Animated Legoes (see also: the coolest)
Rating: TV-Y7
Year: 2013
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (not to be confused with the series)
Type: Animated
Rating: PG
Year: 2008
DC TV Shows
Justice League & Justice League: Unlimited
Seasons: 4
Years: 2001 – 2005
Important Comic Connections:Justice League Unlimited marks the conclusion to the DC Animated Universe, a generally connected set of continuity started by Bruce Timm & Paul Dini with 1992’s Batman: The Animated Series.
Odds & Sods: Batman is left-handed in this series.
Young Justice
Seasons: 1
Years: 2010
Arrow
Seasons: 2
Years: 2012-
I LOVE this CW series, and season 2 is now on Netflix, with season 3 finished up on TV, it should head to Netflix sometime this fall. and can’t wait for season 2 to find its way onto Netflix. In my opinion, it’s the best live action comic book TV show we’ve ever had. Yes, there’s some CW romance you may find cheesy, but there’s also a ton of easter eggs for fans of DC’s Oliver Queen.
DC Movies
Batman
Type: Live Action
Rating: PG-13
Year: 1989
I’m glad I found this. I’ve been watching every single movie Marvel has made (on the 2008 Incredible Hulk movie now) and about to start DC movies in order of release date (what I did with Marvel starting with Howars The Duck since I couldn’t find the others). After that, I’m going to start watching the Marvel and DC shows so hopefully, I’ll be caught up on every show and movie in the Marvel and DC universe. I’ve always loved every movie Marvel put out when I was a kid (19 now) as well as DC so mostly I’m watching these for nostalgia, but also to know how all these universes intertwine.
Actually the first Batman movie is avalible in the US.
Is there a site where all this info is up to date half this stuff was taken off 🙁
There’s some other comics-related documentaries on there as well, like Comic Book Men, Comic Store Heroes, With Great Power (Stan Lee story), and another 3-part history of comics documentary that I can’t recall the title at the moment.
Agents of SHIELD seasons 1 and 2 should be up on Netflix in June.
Also, ‘Dredd’ has been added. It’s not Marvel or DC, but it’s still a comic book superhero movie.
June 2014
UPDATE
Movies:
Added:
-Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United
-Iron Man: Rise of Technovore
-LEGO Marvel: Maximum Overlode (22 minute featurette)
Removed:
-Astonishing X-Men: Dangerous
-Thor
-Captain America: The First Avenger
-Batman: The Movie
-Batman: Under the Red Hood
-Batman: Year One
-Superman/Shazam: Return of Black Adam
-Superman vs. The Elite
-All-Star Superman
-Justice League: Doom
*Maximum Overload, not Maximum Overlode.
June 2014
UPDATE:
TV shows:
Added:
-Green Lantern: The Animated Series
-Arrow
-The Incredible Hulk (1996)
-Astonishing X-Men (2011)
Removed:
-Spider-Man (1981)
-Super Hero Squad Show
-Superman Cartoons
Changes:
-X-Men Evolution: only 1 season remains
-Spider-Man Unlimited: There are now 2 seasons
Oh, and season 1 of ‘Young Justice ‘ was added.
Awesome feedback, thanks for the help! The guide is now updated for Summer 2014!
Very Nice list! One quick correction, Batman Under the Red Hood comic book storyline (and movie) were written by Judd Winick, not Jeph Loeb.
Ah, yep, you’re totally right. Made the change and glad you liked the list!
This post is exactly what I’ve been needing! One of the only things Amazon Prime’s Instant View has going for it over Netflix is a whole category unto animated features and series (rather than splitting them between “children’s” and “action/adventure.”
I don’t need any more reasons to sit on my computer extensively, but this list will help me prioritize my streaming queue rather than just re-watching Avengers: EMH. I keep finding that animated features are much better written than their live action counterparts, so I hope they continue in the trend of putting good voice acting, motion, and music to already-good comic books rather than dumbing everything down to sell more merch.
Glad it’s helpful! Definitely agree, there are some great animated features on here. DC in particular has had a lot more success on the animated side of the ball.
Thanks for writing this up. Good read. As a kid (39 yrs old) I used to be fascinated by animated comic book heroes. These movies (animated and live action) have me interested in comic books now. I appreciate your site; especially the Marvel Reading Order. Found you through Comic Rack site. Thanks again. : )
BTW, since Netflix is in with Disney, we’ll probably get a lot more content.
Thanks! Really glad you dig the site.
Agree, there should be a pretty good influx of Disney/Marvel content moving forward. If I can get Batman: The Animated Series on top of that, I’ll be a pretty happy dude. Also, a pretty stationary dude, but hey, win some lose some.
Batman: The Animated Series is my favorite. My wife even likes that one. : ) I would say The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is also very good. More adult oriented.
Cheers.
Woah, if even the wife approves, I’m gonna have to get moving on that (The show… not your wife… Oh jeez).
I watched most of the first season of Avengers: EMH and really enjoyed it. Thought they did a nice faithful adaptation of a lot of the comics, and it really hit that all ages level fairly well. I’ve been saving season 2 for some time, need to make room in the rotation for sure.
Yeah, I am surprised she watches Justice League: Unlimited sometimes as well.
Yeah, they were spot on with Avengers: EMH as far as adaptation of comics, etc. I just started season two and it’s pretty good. Can’t wait to see what other releases will come out.
As of last week, Spiderman ’67 Collection is no longer streaming on Netflix!
Ah bummer! Good call, though – they must have snuck that one out in the recent wave of Marvel removals.