The 10 Best Comic Book TV Shows Of 2017

It's that time of the year again where every publication and their moms tell you what they enjoyed over the past 12 months. Mind you, while the world goes mad around us, at least we can focus on the things that make us smile, such as comic book TV shows, right? It's been an interesting year for comic book TV, as we've seen a whole bunch of new shows launch to varying levels of success and some of the oldies reach new peaks (and lows). One thing's for sure, though: no one will mention Inhumans on any top 10 list. As per usual, The CW has been the home of (nearly all) DC shows, while Netflix has churned out the best Marvel content around. It was also good to see Syfy get on the action with the launch of Happy!, while The Walking Dead continues to keep various networks around the world alive (even if this season's ratings have plummeted to new lows). We could sit here and waffle about ratings and critical praise all day, but the big question is, which were the best comic book TV shows of 2017? Obviously, this is a matter of opinion, so we encourage you to let us know your top picks in the comments section down below. With that said, let's get to it and see what rocked our superhero-themed socks this past year. 10) Supergirl Since the move to The CW, Supergirl has been soaring high. The show has a genuine heart and innocence that most people fail to realize and acknowledge. In fact, it might be the closest thing to Richard Donner's Superman that we have on TV today. Even so, season 3 of Supergirl hasn't quite ignited the same way as season 2 did. There's promise here - that's for sure - but the show needs to kickstart and not focus so much on the slow burn storytelling. Look, its best episode was the recent "Crisis on Earth-X" crossover, so maybe that will serve as a much-needed catalyst? While The Flash and Arrow have put the pedal to the metal since they came back on TV, Supergirl has trotted along and not really delivered that banging episode we crave. There's still enough time, though, so don't write it off just yet. 9) Riverdale If we were to judge Riverdale based purely on season 1, it would've been far higher up this list. However, the quality of the show has declined in season 2, favoring more the relationship and teenage drama than a compelling narrative. Seriously, does anyone even care who the Black Hood is right now? That said, it's still an incredibly engaging series and one that's hard to turn off when it gets it right. Yes, this is a much more serious Archie and pals than what we know, but when it's on song, it's riveting to watch. Featuring a young and talented cast who are only bound to get better with time and age, Riverdale has the potential to carry on for years to come and become a cornerstone of The CW. At the same time, we hope the show rediscovers the magic that made it such an unforgettable watch back in season 1. 8) Preacher When it was first announced that Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen were developing Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's Preacher for TV, not many people thought it had a hope in hell of surviving past one season. Well, all the doubters were dead wrong, as the show not only excelled in its first season but came back for more blood in season 2. While it still deviates from the source material, it's still true to the spirit of the comic book series and delivers on the humor, darkness, and all-round craziness we expect. If anything, Preacher contains one of the best ensemble casts in a long time, and Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer was just a genius move. With the series renewed for a third season, it seems like the show is here to stay. Personally, we're delighted that we'll get more of this zany program next year. 7) Justice League Action Unlike other WB animated series, the news of Justice League Action didn't exactly excite DC Comics fans. Perhaps it was the fact that these episodes would only be 10-11 minutes long that put off viewers who wanted something more substantial. Well, boys and girls, the format proved to be a stroke of genius. These shorts are easily digestible and a great throwback to the Superman clips made by Paramount back in the 40s. The stories are lean, mean, and give you a bite-sized Justice League-flavored adventure to sink your teeth into. Plus, the likes of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are all here to lend their voice talents as always. If you think about it, this condensed style is the perfect recipe for an era that's bursting with so many superhero shows. By including Justice League Action on your watch list, it'll only take up 10 minutes of your time versus an hour. Everyone has 10 minutes to spare, right? 6) Arrow Bravo! The showrunners listened to our pleas and went back to what made Arrow such a popular show in its earlier years. While Olicity is unfortunately still a thing, we're being treated to some of the best action sequences and storylines in a very long time. Undoubtedly, season 5 was incredibly strong with its Prometheus arc, but this current season has had some true standout episodes, such as "Deathstroke Returns" and "Promises Kept." In other words, anything featuring Manu Bennett's Slade Wilson has been a highlight. While Arrow does have the tendency to slip back into regurgitated narratives and its old ways, it manages to pull itself together before it completely derails. Also, it's nice to see that the flashbacks aren't as much a key focus as they were before. 5) The Defenders The culmination of Netflix's Marvel series arrived in the shape and form of The Defenders. It's what we'd been waiting for since Daredevil first hit the streaming service in 2015 and this team-up extravaganza didn't disappoint. The shorter eight-episode structure worked in its favor, forcing the narrative to be tighter and removing the possibility of filler episodes. While most of the criticism revolved around Finn Jones' Danny Rand/Iron Fist's whininess, he actually showed some character growth and adeptness in martial arts skills since his solo series. Yes, he's annoying, but that's part of his character's charm in the series. As the various stars head back to their own shows, we can smile and know we were satisfied by their first venture as a team. Hopefully, it won't be their last, either. 4) The Flash Season 3 of The Flash was scary. After the Savitar and Bad Barry storyline, it looked like the show had lost its plot and gone down the rabbit hole all the way down to the sewer. Fortunately, the showrunners came to their senses and brought back the levity and good times in season 4. For one, the main villain, Clifford DeVoe/The Thinker, isn't a speedster and actually poses a different kind of threat to Barry and friends. Two, the new characters introduced have been great additions to the show (like Ralph Dibny/Elongated Man). And finally, it doesn't pretend to be something it's not, refusing to take itself too serious or become bleak. After season 4's midseason finale, it looks as if the second half of the season will be just as good if not better than the first. Let's be thankful that The Flash didn't lose its way in the Speed Force. 3) The Gifted You might be wondering why The Gifted is ranked so highly here. The truth is, it caught us off guard. No one expected a series about the X-Men (without the X-Men) to be any good. Yet, here we are, talking about a show that's felt like the earlier X-Men films from the man whom we shall not name. Look, the series has lost a little bit of steam as it approaches the end of the first season, but it's displayed more than enough promise to merit a second one. The characters have made us care about their woes and there are some intriguing subplots to be explored in the future. For longtime X-Men fans, The Gifted is a dream as it pulls from the almanacs of the legend, introducing obscure characters and unexpected references. If you're a fan of Marvel's mutants, you should be watching this show. 2) Legion Legion had absolutely no right to work. It was avant-garde, ballsy, and featured an unreliable narrator. How in the world could you sell this schizophrenic show as a comic book series about an X-Men character? To the creators, we tip our imaginary hats (not fedoras; we're not douchebags). Not only was Legion one of the most unique comic book series ever created, but it was also one of the best all-round shows on television. It simply blew our minds with its deep, kaleidoscopic storytelling and defiance to what a comic book series should be. While it might not be the easiest thing to binge, it's still a riveting show that you must watch. A second season has already been ordered, so if you haven't seen it yet, get on it now. 1) The Punisher Now, here's the cold, hard truth: The Punisher works because it plays out like a crime drama and not a comic book or straight-up action series. Much like Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy explored the damaged psyche of the characters, so does this show. This isn't only about Frank Castle's one-man war on crime and revenge, but it's a frightening tale about PTSD and the betrayal of one's country. Jon Bernthal brings the perfect balance between aggression and damaged, delivering a powerful portrayal of a man who's trying to find purpose after loss and grief. However, it's Ben Barnes' Billy Russo who steals the show with his metamorphosis throughout the season. He's a bad guy and an opportunist, but damn, you can't help but like him. At the end of the day, no other show addressed the important societal issues that The Punisher did. It had the balls to tackle the hard stuff and not shy away from it. Tell us, which were your favorite comic book TV shows of 2017? Let us know in the comments section below.