10 Superhero Shows That Are Definitely Not for Kids

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Jon Bernthal dressed in The Punisher costume.

Published Jul 25, 2026, 8:34 PM EDT

Brad LaCour is a Senior List Writer for Collider. Based out of Los Angeles, California, Brad lives close enough to the stars but is too busy to find out where exactly they live. Brad is fairly certain he's seen Paul Stanley twice in a grocery store, but was too afraid to ask.

With so many superhero television shows in production, it's not surprising some of them are aimed at an older crowd. The kids who grew up on Batman: The Animated Series, or the Saturday morning cartoon adventures of Spider-Man, grew into adults able to appreciate more mature interpretations of costumed vigilantes.

Once probably too niche of an idea to succeed, violent superhero shows that explore a world of sex, drugs, and a little bit of crime-fighting have turned into hits for their respective networks. From animated mayhem to live-action limb-tearing, these are superhero shows that are definitely not meant for kids.

'Watchmen' (2019)

A seminal graphic novel gets a prestige TV treatment in the HBO series Watchmen. Picking up 34 years after the events of the graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore, Watchmen follows Angela Abar (Regina King), a detective who works for the Tulsa Police Department anonymously under the name of Sister Night. When a white supremacist group begins to attack the police, Angela begins to discover she might have a closer connection to the outlawed vigilantes from before her time.

The original source material might have been near the rest of the comic books, but it was never intended for children. Watchmen is a mature take on the reality of vigilante justice, and the assumed responsibility of the few who decide to take the law into their own hands. The HBO series only ran for one season with a self-contained story that built on the mythos of the Watchmen while constructing a world that was eerily similar to the one we know today.

'Doom Patrol' (2019–2023)

Diane Guerrero, Brendan Fraser, Jovian Wade look up at something off-screen in Doom Patrol.

An eclectic team of oddball misfits with unique powers lives together in a mansion in the quirky Doom Patrol. When individuals from different parts of the country inherit powers that leave them on the outs with society, Dr. Niles Caulder (Timothy Dalton) cares for them and teaches them how to use their new gifts safely. The misfits include Robotman (voiced by Brendan Fraser), a robot with the brain of a race car driver, and Elasti-Woman (April Bowlby), a former actress who can change her body into multiple shapes with trained concentration.

If the premise sounds similar to the X-Men, the comic book on which Doom Patrol is based actually premiered a few months before Charles Xavier sent teenagers out on attack missions. Doom Patrol is heavy on adult language and violence, separating itself from other sanitized examples of superheroes along with its own source material. While many shows focused on comic characters received cancellations that prematurely cut stories short, Doom Patrol was able to wrap up its storylines by the end of its fourth and final season.

'The Punisher' (2017–2019)

frank castle in a car in 'The Punisher' Season 2.

In The Punisher, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) is a vigilante who cares less about rehabilitating criminals and more about killing them before they can hurt innocents again. When Frank's wife and children are killed during a shootout, he vows revenge on the people responsible. Using his training as a United States Marine to kill his targets and his grief to keep him focused, Frank carves a path through the criminal underworld.

The Punisher was originally a spin-off of the Daredevil series that premiered on Netflix. There isn't a soft and gentle version of The Punisher, only episodes where he kills fewer people, firmly cementing Castle as a story to watch after the kids go to bed. The Punisher received two well-received seasons on Netflix before the streamer's partnership with Marvel ended, but Bernthal has since returned in Daredevil: Born Again and his own special, The Punisher: One Last Kill.

'Invincible' (2021–Present)

A young superhero learns to control his new powers the hard way in Prime Video's Invincible. Based on the comic book of the same name, Invincible follows Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), a 17-year-old whose dad happens to be the greatest superhero on the planet, Omni-Man (J. K. Simmons). When Mark's powers begin to develop, he'll discover a large world of other heroes, and damning secrets about his father.

Unlike other comic-book-inspired shows that make superhero battles look like a breeze, Invincible details every bone-crunching impact as the strongest mortals in the universe use one another as punching bags. Even though the series is animated, the content is not aimed at small children, with graphic depictions of violence and adult language common throughout the episodes. Catering to adults has paid off for Invincible, with its fourth and most recent season receiving a 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap

Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?

🕷️Spider-Man

😈Daredevil

🤖Iron Man

💀Punisher

⚡Thor

🛡️Cap

FIND YOUR HERO →

What drives you to do what's right? Choose the answer that feels most like you.

AWith great power comes great responsibility — I protect those who can't protect themselves. BMy faith and my conscience — I believe justice must be served, even in the dark. CLegacy and ego, honestly — but I've learned that others depend on me now. DThe system failed. Someone has to make sure the guilty actually pay. EDuty to the innocent and honour to my name — I was born to protect realms. FThe values I was raised with — freedom, decency, and never backing down from a bully.

NEXT QUESTION →

It's 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you'd think.

ASwinging between skyscrapers, keeping an eye on the neighbourhood. BRunning rooftops in Hell's Kitchen, listening for trouble. CIn my lab, upgrading my suit with a cold cup of coffee nearby. DStaking out a target I've been tracking for three weeks. ESomewhere between the stars, or at a feast that got out of hand. FOn a morning run — I was up at 4, actually. Couldn't sleep.

NEXT QUESTION →

How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What's yours?

AWeb them up and leave them for the police — again. BBuild an airtight case and dismantle their entire operation from the inside. CDeploy a containment system I designed specifically for them. Tech wins. DMake sure they don't escape a third time. Permanently. EChallenge them to single combat. Honour demands a decisive end. FRally allies, adapt the plan, and bring them in — by the book, even if it's hard.

NEXT QUESTION →

How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.

AEssential — my loved ones would be in danger if anyone found out who I am. BCritical — the mask protects my mission as much as my face. COverrated — I announced myself to the world and I'd do it again. DI'm a ghost. The less people know about me, the better. EMy name is known across the Nine Realms. There's no hiding it. FI don't hide — but I understand why some need to. Transparency builds trust.

NEXT QUESTION →

You've lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.

AWith guilt that never fully goes away — it pushes me to do better, every single day. BI channel it into purpose — their memory is the reason I keep fighting. CI buried myself in work for years. I'm only recently learning to face it. DIt transformed me completely. I'm not the same person I was before. EWith warrior's grief — I honour them by fighting with everything I have. FI keep moving forward. Stopping means letting the loss win.

NEXT QUESTION →

What's your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.

AThe enthusiastic wildcard who somehow makes it work — and keeps the mood up. BThe strategist who works best alone but shows up when it matters most. CThe one who funds it, equips it, and occasionally takes over the whole operation. DI don't do teams. I'm more effective operating solo, on my terms. EThe heavy hitter — I crash in, draw fire, and turn the tide of battle. FThe leader — I earn trust, build the plan, and make sure no one gets left behind.

NEXT QUESTION →

Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.

AClearly — I don't kill, and I wrestle with that line constantly. BI try to hold the line, but I've come terrifyingly close to crossing it. CPractically — I do what's necessary to protect people, including hard calls. DI crossed that line long ago. What I do is justice — the system just won't admit it. EIn battle, victory is justice. Mercy is earned — not automatic. FFirmly. The moment we abandon our principles, we become what we fight against.

NEXT QUESTION →

When you're not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.

ATrying to juggle school, a part-time job, and not failing my friends. BWorking as a lawyer by day, fighting for justice in court and on the streets. CRunning a global company, attending galas, and pretending I'm sleeping enough. DQuiet. Isolated. Surviving with a clear mission and no distractions. ENavigating a bizarre and fascinating mortal world — coffee is extraordinary. FAdapting to a world decades ahead of everything I knew. Quietly, stubbornly.

NEXT QUESTION →

What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of.

AThe people I couldn't save — and the ones I might not reach in time tomorrow. BWhether the monster I fight every night is starting to live inside me too. CThe threats I can see coming and whether my tech is actually good enough. DNothing. Silence is the only peace I get. I've made my choices. EWhether I'm truly worthy — of the hammer, of the throne, of the people I protect. FA world where no one stands up anymore. Where good people do nothing.

NEXT QUESTION →

The battle is lost. You're outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.

ACrack a joke to buy a second, then find the one web shot that changes everything. BBlock out everything except the sound of the next threat — and keep going. CActivate the emergency protocol I built for exactly this scenario. Always have a plan. DI don't accept that it's lost. I keep fighting until I physically cannot anymore. ECall the lightning. All of it. The storm answers to me. FPick up the shield. Stand up. Because as long as I can stand, it's not over.

REVEAL MY HERO →

Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…

Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.

🕷️ Spider-Man

You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.

You do the right thing not because it's easy, but because no one else will.
You understand that responsibility isn't a burden you choose — it's one that finds you.
Whether it's a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
Peter Parker's lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn't a slogan to you. It's the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.

😈 Daredevil

You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.

You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
You've looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
Matt Murdock's duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.

🤖 Iron Man

Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.

You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
Tony Stark's arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you're willing to give everything. Because in the end, you're Iron Man.

💀 The Punisher

You've been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What's left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.

You don't ask for forgiveness, and you don't expect gratitude.
You see a corrupt, broken world and you've decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
Frank Castle's war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.

⚡ Thor

Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.

You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
You're larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
Thor's story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
You bring the storm when it's needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.

🛡️ Captain America

You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.

You don't bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
Steve Rogers didn't become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
Your strength isn't in your fists; it's in your refusal to compromise what's right, no matter the cost.
In a world full of people taking the easy road, you're the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

'Gen V' (2023–2025)

Jaz Sinclair as Marie standing with London Thor as Jordan in the background in Gen V Season 2

The violent and irreverent world of The Boys goes back to school in the spin-off, Gen V. The series follows Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair), a superpowered teen with the ability to manipulate blood. While attempting to recover from a traumatic discovery of her powers, Marie focuses on her studies at the Godolkin University School of Crimefighting, where she hopes to one day become a superhero skilled enough to join the elite super team The Seven.

For anyone who is familiar with the anything-goes mentality of The Boys, Gen V introduces new characters and stories not directly related to the original hit series. A compelling mystery that strikes the expected themes of corporate exploitation pairs well with a fresh cast of newcomers who have excellent chemistry. Gen V's first episodes work well using The Boys as a springboard, but before long, viewers will be completely invested in the superpowered students.

'Harley Quinn' (2019–Present)

Harley Quinn and Superman sitting down and talking in Harley Quinn Season 5.

Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco) sets out to separate herself from The Joker (Alan Tudyk) in the animated HBO Max series, Harley Quinn. After what is probably the 100th breakup with the Joker, Harley has finally figured out he might not be the best person to keep in her life. Teaming up with her trusted friend Poison Ivy (Lake Bell), Harley sets out to form a new crew and take over Gotham and prove she's one of the best criminals in town.

Harley Quinn might be one of the most surprisingly enjoyable series set in the DC universe. Harley Quinn is perfect for adults, with R-rated language, violence that's frequent and gory, and jokes that land more than they miss. Batman purists might have a hard time adjusting to the changes made to the world of Gotham, but if taken as a loving satire of the Bat-related characters, there is endless fun to be had with Harley's journey to criminal superstardom.

'Todd McFarlane's Spawn' (1997–1999)

Spawn with his long cape blowing in the wind in 'Todd McFarlane's Spawn' animated series.

HBO provided an unfiltered look at an edgy comic book anti-hero when the animated series Spawn debuted on the premium channel. Spawn followed Al Simmons (Keith David), an elite government assassin who was betrayed and murdered by his own associates. Upon entering hell, Al agrees to become a soldier in return for seeing his wife, Wanda (Dominque Jennings), once again on Earth. Now bestowed with supernatural powers as a Hellspawn, Al is returned to a world he doesn't recognize with enemies of all varieties waiting for him.

Adult animation had previously existed in movies such as Heavy Metal, but HBO's adaptation of Spawn was something that felt new and exciting in the late '90s. Although the writing and animation brought Spawn to life, it was the perfect casting of David to give Spawn the powerful voice of a man heartbroken and filled with rage. The series didn't shy away from the incredibly dark and morbid storylines from the comics, creating a faithful experience for fans who weren't blown away by the 1997 live-action film.

'Peacemaker' (2022–2025)

John Cena as Peacemaker dancing to "Oh Lord" by Foxy Shazam during the Peacemaker Season 2 title sequence.

From the mind of DCU co-head James Gunn comes the story of the most unlikely superhero, Christopher Smith (John Cena), otherwise known as Peacemaker. Peacemaker picks up after the events of Gunn's The Suicide Squad, with Peacemaker recovering in a hospital after injuries sustained in the film. Although he tries to escape detection, Chris is quickly detained and ordered to work on a black ops team to prevent an alien invasion from taking over Earth.

Cena enjoyed a long career as a kid-friendly wrestler, but Peacemaker is one made specifically for adults, with the hero saying any number of profanities in a sometimes borderline nonsensical arrangement. Cena was a scene-stealer in The Suicide Squad, but it was still surprising when it was announced that an entire series would be based around the presumably dead character. However, once the opening credits began and featured the cast dancing to the song "Do Ya Wanna Taste It," by Wig Wam, it was clear that something wholly unique had been made.

'Creature Commandos' (2024–Present)

Dr. Phosphorus, Nina Mazursky, The Bride and Weasel look out at something in a forest in Creature Commandos

A motley team of inhuman prisoners is tasked with saving the world in the HBO Max animated series Creature Commandos. After the events in The Suicide Squad, Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) is under strict orders not to use human prisoners in her clandestine operations, so she opts for a less human approach. Assembling a team that includes the cunning Bride of Frankenstein (Indira Varma) and the radioactive Dr. Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk), Waller resumes her black ops missions.

As the first official installment in the soft reboot of the DC media franchise, or the DCU, Creature Commandos immediately differentiates itself from the tone of the MCU. Creature Commandos is explicitly for adults, with action scenes to go in close for all the skin-tearing carnage inflicted by and on the monster starring team. With the first season critically praised and a second on the way, Creature Commandos could be unlikely new stars for the DC brand.

'The Boys' (2019–2026)

Homelander (Antony Starr), smirking and covered in blood, in an elevator in The Boys Season 4, Episode 4.

Unchecked power leads to the ultimate corruption for superpowered celebrities in Prime Video's The Boys. In a world where corporations sponsor superhero teams for financial gain, mega-conglomerate Vought Industries reigns above all others with their illustrious team, The Seven. However, abuse of power behind the scenes creates the need for The Boys, a team hell-bent on stopping the "heroes" from harming anyone else.

Based on the comic book of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, The Boys is one of the rare adaptations to improve upon its source material. Between shocking displays of superpowered slaughter, The Boys serves up satire of the obsession with celebrity culture and corporate branding to create a series that is both funny and compelling drama. The final season is on its way, but most are ready to say goodbye to one of TV's best villains, the Superman-inspired Homelander (Antony Starr).