10 Underrated Marvel TV Shows That Are Still Worth Watching

For one reason or another, there’s a collection of underrated Marvel shows that are still worth watching, both in the MCU and those that stand on their own. From more psychedelic stories, teen dramas, and dynamic animated series, there’s a wide range of content inspired by Marvel Comics. Furthermore, some shows have been off the air for years that still hold up quite well.

In the current era, the majority of Marvel shows are coming from Disney and Marvel Studios. This includes MCU series such as the very popular WandaVision, Loki, Moon Knight, and more. However, there are other Marvel shows, MCU and otherwise, that are worth looking back on as well. Here are just 10 Marvel shows that are very underrated and are definitely worth the watch.

10 Legion

FX’s Legion is a Marvel show that exists in its own universe. Starring Dan Stevens as David Haller aka Legion, Haller is the son of Charles Xavier in an alternate X-Men timeline, diagnosed with schizophrenia at a young age and is now trying to control his incredible mutant powers while being on the run from a government agency. Having gained a very positive critical response despite its smaller audience, the three-season show from showrunner Noah Hawley is one of the most unique Marvel shows that has ever been created, featuring incredible character arcs and surprising musical numbers as David Haller explores his powerfully unique mind.

9 The Gifted

Another isolated series based on the X-Men, The Gifted was a dynamic series featuring opposing forces of mutants while humanity was trying to defend its own existence with the government’s Sentinel Services. Notably, both the X-Men and Brotherhood of Mutants had disappeared, allowing for new mutant groups to take their place. Keeping its focus on two parents whose kids had newly activated mutant genes, the series featured notable mutants from the comics such as Polaris, Blink, Thunderbird, Ecplise, and the Frost Sisters.

8 Cloak and Dagger

Technically connected to the MCU, ABC Freeform’s Cloak and Dagger debuted the hero duo of the same name from Marvel Comics. Having received connected powers from the same Roxxon accident when they were kids, Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson’s fates became intertwined years later. A teen drama without the initial (and perhaps expected) romance clichés, Cloak and Dagger made great use of its unique New Orleans setting. It also featured several meaningful ties to the greater MCU while not overshadowing its own narrative. Balancing real-world issues with the superhero genre, Cloak and Dagger is a very solid show worth watching.

7 Runaways

Hulu’s Runaways was another Marvel teen drama with loose connections to the MCU. Starring a group of teenagers who came together following the discovery that all their parents were secretly supervillains, the premise follows the team of teens from the original comics. Going on the run and taking care of each other, the Runaways eventually gained powers and abilities of their own to fight back against their pursuing parents and more connected threats. They also had a notable crossover episode with Cloak and Dagger.

6 Agent Carter

In the aftermath of losing Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) received her own ABC show in 2015, detailing her ongoing work with the SSR while fighting to have her voice be heard in a field still dominated by men ahead of SHIELD’s creation alongside Howard Stark. Despite its critical acclaim, a series of promotional and scheduling mistakes did little to help the show’s ratings, leading to the show being canceled ahead of its planned third season. Regardless, Agent Carter was an action-packed series further exploring the woman who loved Steve Rogers, seeing his heroism long before he ever took the Super Soldier Serum.

5 The Incredible Hulk (1978)

1978’s The Incredible Hulk is a Marvel show that holds up quite well. Starring Bill Bixby as Dr. David Banner with Lou Ferrigno as the more monstrous and green-skinned Hulk, the show saw Banner traveling the country under assumed names, helping those in need while also searching for a cure for his condition. As such, the core concept of the Hulk from the original comics was captured quite well over the whole of the series.

Although it’s worth noting not every individual episode holds the same level of gravitas, the series is quite entertaining overall. The Incredible Hulk is a very fun watch in the current era. Likewise, its iconic theme was recently parodied by the MCU’s She-Hulk: Attorneyat Law starring Tatiana Maslany in the titular role.

4 I Am Groot

Marvel’s I Am Groot is easily the MCU’s most low-stakes show of all time, but that’s what makes it so much fun. With five shorts for each of its 2 seasons, I Am Groot follows the various misadventures of Vin Diesel’s Baby Groot. As such, it’s incredibly cute and often quite hilarious. Likewise, the show is full of very fun Easter eggs to the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe and even some cameos from Bradley Cooper’s Rocket Raccoon as well.

3 What If…?

Starring Jeffrey Wright’s The Watcher as its cosmic narrator, Marvel’s What If…? is an animated series showcasing various alternate timelines and realities in the greater Marvel multiverse. With episodes such as “What If T’Challa Became Star-Lord?”, “What If The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?”, and more intense ideas such as the emergence of zombies in the MCU, What If…? features many of the same MCU actors voicing their characters through this very exciting exploration.

There’s also an overarching narrative tying all the episodes together, making the first season less of a typical anthology series and more of an exciting adventure overall. Even the Watcher himself eventually gets involved despite his oath to only observe. As such, it will be interesting to see what’s in store for What If…? season 2.

2 Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes premiered on DisneyXD in 2010. Largely inspired by the original comics from Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, this version of the Avengers originated with the same initial roster on the page before adding Captain America, Hawkeye, and the Black Panther later in the first season. Facing threats such as the Masters of Evil, Ultron, and Kang, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes took its main inspiration from the original comics while also taking some inspiration from the MCU.

Earth’s Mightiest Heroes dominated when it came to crossovers and adapting major events from the comics such as Secret Invasion and the Kree-Skrull War. The show also featured notable hero appearances from the likes of Spider-Man, Wolverine, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Heroes for Hire, and more. However, the show only received 2 seasons as it was ultimately replaced by the more MCU-inspired Avengers Assemble series in 2012.

1 MODOK

Having premiered for one season in 2021, Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K was a unique stop-motion adult comedy series starring Patton Oswalt as the titular big-headed Marvel villain. The leader of the scientist terror organization known as AIM, MODOK loses his job as he struggles to balance work and family during his own personal midlife crisis. It’s the type of problem no one would expect from one of Marvel Comics’ strangest-looking villains, and it’s the biggest reason why the series works so well, blending such mundane normal-life problems in the hilarious context of being one of the least-liked Marvel villains.