Superheroes are certainly not strangers to the world of television. Just as they frequently fly, run, and smash onto the silver screen, they’re often found in our binge-watch lists and on the tube itself. While there are certainly many good live-action superhero shows, I’d like to give recognition to the animated works, which I find to be the cream of the crop when it comes to superheroes on television. With that said, here are my personal top ten animated superhero TV shows!

10. “Teen Titans” (2003-2007)

You may mock the childish, anime-inspired aesthetic of “Teen Titans,” but it’s what makes the series special. Drawing many story elements from writer Marv Wolfman’s run on “The New Teen Titans,” this animated series follows the adventures of young superheroes Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy, filled with laughs, excitement, zaniness, and surprisingly gripping and emotional moments all throughout.

It’s a shame some people don’t really gravitate toward it, as it manages to differentiate itself from other DC animated shows from the first episode and onward with a variety of stories and characters. It’s a show that genuinely tries to appeal to not only a young audience, but to an older one as well--you just have to be willing to look past whatever initial judgments you make of it.

9. “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” (2008-2011)

I’m not going to lie; I didn’t have very high hopes for “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” upon starting the series many years ago in middle school. Lo and behold, I ended up watching pretty much the whole series from start to finish. “Brave and the Bold” switches up the formula of a typical Batman-centric TV series, deciding to put the Dark Knight alongside different heroes and even villains from every corner of the DC Universe and setting him on plenty of high-stakes, high-concept adventures.

The series is unique for paying homage to the Golden Age of Comics, referencing many parts of DC Universe lore, and having a welcome tongue-in-cheek tone. While we normally associate Batman with darkness, brooding, and serious stories, it is nice to see this series buck those trends, accept the insanity of its concepts, and put its heart and soul into each episode.

Oh, and by the way, this show will make you love Aquaman. Guaranteed.

8. Todd McFarlane’s "Spawn” (1997-1999)

The only entry on the list to be rated TV-MA, this obscure show--based on an equally obscure character--was one of the first superhero TV shows to be focused less on typical superhero escapades and more on gritty, realistic stories. The adult rating of the series allowed it to fully explore heavy themes, including themes related to religion and morality; this most certainly enabled it to faithfully adapt its equally mature source material.

The animation is a little strange in some places, but for the most part, it is fluid, holds up solidly to this day and is wonderful to look at. It may not have run as long as other shows on this list, but “Spawn” is definitely one of the best superhero shows you can find--its Emmy award win back in the day can attest to that.

Seriously, though, the TV-MA rating is there for a reason. Don’t watch this with the parents or the little ones.

7. “Green Lantern: The Animated Series” (2012-2013)

Though the titular Green Lantern’s popularity outside of comics has faltered due to the failure of 2011’s “Green Lantern” live-action film, this animated series gives the character the justice he deserves. In this CGI animated series, Hal Jordan--also known as the space cop Green Lantern--polices the galaxy while thwarting powerful enemies from Green Lantern lore, such as the Red Lantern Corps.

On the surface, the show doesn’t seem like much more than child-friendly fare, but from the first episode alone--wherein a character is killed on-screen--viewers will recognize that the show is anything but Saturday morning fodder. Yes, it is suitable for kids, but in the same way something like “Adventure Time” is suitable for kids; “Green Lantern” doesn’t shy away from being mature and grounded with its stories and characters. If only the show had more than one season.

6. “Young Justice” (2010-Present)

This much-beloved TV series, which focuses on famous DC hero protégés like Robin and Aqualad, is probably one of the best animated shows of the past decade. In addition to reaching far and wide across the DC Universe to showcase characters both familiar and unfamiliar, “Young Justice” creatively explores the struggles of being young in a realistic light.

Again, like other entries on this list, it is still for kids, but it doesn’t talk down to them; the story arcs are able to be taken seriously. With a third season on the way some time in the near future, “Young Justice” remains one of the strongest animated shows and a standout in DC’s long library of cartoons.

5. “X-Men: The Animated Series” (1992-1997)

The longest-running show on this list was fortunate to have come out during the height of X-Men mania, which contributed greatly to the show’s success. It also probably ran for as long as it did because of its impressive storytelling.

In addition to adapting many famous X-Men story arcs such as “The Dark Phoenix Saga,” “X-Men: The Animated Series” touches on important topics such as bigotry and racism. Although it is still at its core along the lines of a Saturday morning cartoon show, the storytelling does show complexity and depth in many places. If you’re an X-Men or Marvel fan, this is well worth your time.

4. “The Spectacular Spider-Man” (2008-2009)

While the 1990s “Spider-Man: The Animated Series” is a great animated representation of Spider-Man, “Spectacular Spider-Man” fully encapsulates why people love the wall-crawler. It cleverly draws inspiration from the best aspects of the Sam Raimi films, the classic arcs from “Amazing Spider-Man,” and the “Ultimate Spider-Man” comics to create a unique creative blend that celebrates the character’s rich history and puts a fresh, modern spin on the Spider-Man mythos. In an age where everyone is sick of seeing Spider-Man get rebooted and remade, “Spectacular” stands out by aesthetically and narratively exploring the title character in ways not done in the comics or other works.

3. “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” (2010-2013)

Few animated superhero ventures are as faithful to the comic books as “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,” and even fewer are as well-written. Packing enough Marvel lore to make Stan Lee blush, “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” is an engaging and enjoyable watch that taps fully into its ink-and-panel roots with solid stories and characters in addition to a distinct animation style.

Seeing the individual members of the team receive plenty of character development is a definite plus, as it really sells the team as a family—similar to the effects of the characterization in the “Avengers” films. Fun, intense, humorous, and true to the Marvel U, “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” is one of the best in superhero TV.

2. “Justice League”/“Justice League Unlimited” (2001-2006)

The work started by producer Bruce Timm in “Batman: The Animated Series” culminated in these unforgettable back-to-back series. Solidifying the notion of a DC Animated Universe, “Justice League” and its sequel series, “Unlimited,” carried on the mature storytelling and respect to the source material that previous Timm projects had. Each story arc feels special and distinct, and characters are developed in organic, realistic ways.

On top of that, DC fans were more than pleased to see faces obscure and popular show up in each series, reflecting Timm and his crew’s understanding and appreciation of the DC Universe. If you love DC, if you love comic books, or if you love good animation, don’t hesitate to watch this.

1. “Batman: The Animated Series” (1992-1999)

This deserves the number one spot for many reasons. For starters, it was a comic book show that didn’t stoop to sophomoric levels--at least, not for the sole purpose of attracting younger viewers--and instead opted to tell stories in a mature way. But even more than that, it was a show that took chances and made it work. It was one of those key shows in the 90s that illustrated to networks that children’s television didn’t need to talk down to its target audience.

It showed how cartoons could be more adult, that they could show things cartoons in the 80s wouldn’t show, that it could touch on topics that some other cartoons wouldn’t touch. This is why “Batman: The Animated Series” is so revered to this day, on top of making many creative decisions that were later adopted into DC Comics lore. It is equal parts love letter to the Dark Knight, adventurous action show, mature animation and unprecedented smash hit.