In this world of large, expansive comic book movie universes, competing live-action films can wear a viewer out on the medium, which unfortunately can have the side effect of wearing them out of comic book media as a whole. So instead of worrying about seeing all the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies in the theaters because you need to stay up to date, or trying to decipher whatever Warner Bros. is doing, you can check out some comic book media independent from these monopolized universes. 

Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

If you’re a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, specifically its headliner team The Avengers, you should check out Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. This series follows the adventures of heroes like Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk and many more as they fight against evil. 

The Avengers’ main roster is a bit different here as it includes Hank Pym, aka Ant-Man, Janet Van-Dyne, aka The Wasp, King T’Challa, aka Black Panther and Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, but does not include Black Widow as a part of the main lineup like the MCU does, but she is still part of the show. Some of the show’s version of its characters are a bit different from their MCU portrayals as well. 

Iron Man, Captain America and Thor are largely the same in the animated series, but here Hulk is the most different. Instead of being Bruce Banner most of the time, in this show he is Hulk almost always, and this Hulk can talk in full sentences and has his own personality and intelligence. Ant-Man is also different; as Hank Pym in this universe he is a pacifist first and foremost, and wishes to rehabilitate criminals rather than beat them up and lock them away like his fellow heroes. This show has the Avengers face off against many of their most dangerous foes, The Red Skull and Hydra, Loki, Kang the Conqueror, Ultron and many more.

Beneath all the comic book action is some great character work for these heroes that feels unique to this show. Each Avenger gets some strong themes attached to their characters and the development they go through. Whether that be Captain America adapting to the new era he wakes in, which challenge his more old school views on the government and public opinion, or Ant-Man struggling with balancing his role as scientist, avenger and pacifist in a world of crime fighting. This series is great to watch if you want a more complete look at how these characters grow and change than you would normally get in not-as-consistent a delivery as the movies give you.

Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes has two 25 episode seasons available to watch on Disney+. 

Green Lantern: The Animated Series

A unique entry among animated comic book shows, Green Lantern: The Animated Series is a CGI animated show and while that can be a bit off-putting at first, it’s definitely worth the watch. Green Lantern is a character, or rather a series of characters and a whole mythos that is incredibly under-explored outside of comics, so this show is probably the best look into the stories of Green Lantern we’ll get for a long time. 

The series stars Hal Jordan, aka Green Lantern, a hero who works for the Green Lantern Corps, a group of aliens from all across the universe that protect it from evil. The Green Lanterns use their Green Lantern Rings to channel their will power into energy, creating hard-light constructs that can be manipulated into anything the user want. They can make weapons, shields, vehicles etc., – the only limit is their imagination. 

The series does not start as an origin, though it mentions how Hal Jordan came to be a Green Lantern after he obtains the ring of a fallen Green Lantern, Abin Sur, after it chooses him as its new wielder. When the show begins, the leaders of the Corps, the Guardians, are sending Hal and fellow Green Lantern Kilowag on a mission to the far reaches of space to investigate attacks by the Red Lantern Corps. Within the universe are not only the Green Lantern Corps, but a whole spectrum of Corps, with each one representating a different emotion. So unlike Green Lanterns being powered by willpower, Red Lanterns are fueled by rage. 

Hal and Kilowag travel alongside Aya, a sentient computer that previously was just created as part of an experimental vessel, but her willpower was strong enough to become her own person and a Green Lantern instead of just a machine. She grows both as an emotional person and a Green Lantern alongside her crew, slowly learning what it means to be alive and to be a member of the Corps. 

They also meet Razr, a Red Lantern that begrudgingly travels alongside them after some conflict. Razr is definitely the best part of this show, which is interesting as he is an original creation for it and not based on an existing comic book character. He goes through some incredible moments and has great emotional scenes aided by a great voice actor. Green Lantern: The Animated Series is an unfortunately short lived show with only one season with 26 episodes, available to watch on HBO Max.