Superheroes aren't just for kids anymore! Join us as we explore the most mature and adult-oriented animated superhero content. From gritty noir to violent action, these cartoons push the boundaries of the genre. We'll look at shows and movies that tackle complex themes, feature graphic content, and aren't afraid to get dark. Get ready for a more grown-up take on capes and tights!
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're looking at the most adult animated shows and movies
00:11to grace the superhero genre.
00:13As thematically mature as Batman the Animated Series was, we're limiting this list to
00:18cartoons more exclusively geared towards older viewers.
00:29Number 30.
00:30Batman Caped Crusader.
00:32The latest animated Batman show combines the old with the new.
00:36This version of Gotham and the character designs harken back to Batman's early days in the
00:40comics.
00:41At the helm is Bruce Timm, one of the key creative figures of Batman the Animated Series.
00:46Even if Batman Caped Crusader doesn't reach the heights of its predecessor, the TV-14
00:51rating allows Timm to take this world to places he couldn't always before.
00:59The results are disturbing, surprising, and dripping with a retro-gothic atmosphere.
01:15The serialized story also provides compelling arcs for Barbara Gordon, Dr. Harleen Quinzel,
01:21and naturally Bruce Wayne.
01:23While the show has a higher body count than some of Timm's past work, the complex characters
01:27are what make the show adult.
01:42Number 29.
01:43Watchmen Chapter One.
01:45Seeing how Zack Snyder already gave us a faithful adaptation of the groundbreaking graphic novel,
01:50you wouldn't think another would have much to offer.
01:52Of course, the medium shift from live action to animation does provide a fresh perspective.
01:58While there was a novelty to seeing live actors play these characters, watching Dave Gibbons'
02:03illustrations come to life one frame at a time is equally thrilling.
02:21This first half of this two-part adaptation not only captures the source material's
02:25look, but also its hard-hitting tone.
02:27A murder mystery at its core, Watchmen strips away the romanticism we associate with superheroes.
02:33There are no beacons of inspiration here.
02:35It calls the very nature of masked vigilantes into question, almost making us grateful they're
02:41largely contained in fiction.
02:55Number 28.
02:56Batman Vs. Robin.
02:57Since its conception, Robin has generally been the bright spot in the Batman cave, appealing
03:02to a younger demographic.
03:04The boy wonder has gone to darker depths over the years, however.
03:07Being trained by the League of Assassins, Damian Wayne may be the anxious Robin.
03:24In this 2015 film, Damian finds himself at odds with his biological father and his moral
03:30code.
03:31On the other side of Damian's shoulder is the mysterious Talon, who feeds into his killer
03:35instincts.
03:37Whether or not Damian gives in, blood will be spilled as he fights his father, his new
03:42mentor, criminals, and the Court of Owls.
03:44The most intriguing conflict is the one inside Damian, torn between being a hero or an assassin.
03:51Either way, he's nobody's sidekick.
04:06Number 27.
04:07Harvey Birdman, Attorney-at-Law.
04:08Boomers might recognize Birdman from his short-lived stint on Saturday mornings during the 60s.
04:14This isn't your dad's Harvey Birdman, or his Fred Flintstone, or his Scooby-Doo.
04:18Although Harvey's clientele is comprised of childhood icons, they find themselves in
04:23serious legal battles concerning child custody, substance use, and organized crime.
04:34Did we mention that Harvey has left crime-fighting behind, pursuing a new career as a lawyer?
04:49Regardless, we say it counts as a superhero show, as Harvey still soars with the wings
04:54of justice, even if some of his clients aren't exactly squeaky clean.
04:58But hey, every toon is entitled to a fair trial and legal representation.
05:03Plus, aren't lawyers basically the superheroes of the courtroom?
05:06The defense rests.
05:16Number 26.
05:17Space Ghost, Coast to Coast.
05:18Space Ghost ran so Harvey Birdman could fly.
05:21Well, technically Space Ghost spent most of his talk show sitting behind a desk.
05:25The point is the adult animation landscape would likely look different if not for Space
05:30Ghost's Zorak Motar and a revolving door of special guests.
05:49Originally produced for Cartoon Network, Space Ghost, Coast to Coast later became a flagship
05:54program for Adult Swim.
05:56It set a tone for many Adult Swim shows that followed, with its surreal nature and irreverent
06:00humor.
06:01While there isn't much crime-fighting, being a superhero is still a big part of Space Ghost's
06:06identity.
06:07It shows that superheroes can not only have lives beyond crime-fighting, but careers as
06:11well.
06:12In Space Ghost's case, he's the host with the most.
06:27Number 25.
06:28Batman Beyond, Return of the Joker.
06:45Batman the animated series in Batman Beyond struck a balance that appealed to kids and
06:50older viewers alike.
06:51With Return of the Joker, this continuity grew up with its younger audience, leaving
06:55childhood behind.
06:57Nowhere is this more apparent than in the horrors that Joker inflicts upon a young Tim
07:01Drake.
07:02The Joker's fate is just as twisted, so much so that Warner Bros. initially refused
07:06to release the film in its original form.
07:22In time though, the uncut version would see the light of day with a warranted PG-13 rating.
07:27Whichever version you watch, this is easily one of the darkest Batman films in depictions
07:32of the Joker, animated or live action.
07:34Number 24.
07:35Super Mansion.
07:36If you think this series looks like Robot Chicken, that's because it was created by
07:40Matthew Senreich and Zeb Wells.
07:42In addition to stop-motion artistry, Super Mansion carries a similar comedic blend of
07:47casual dialogue, absurd situations, and bad taste that doesn't taste half bad.
08:01The series is adult in more ways than one as team leader Titanium Rex faces his two
08:06greatest foes, old age and an evolving world.
08:10Along with his band of misfits, Titanium Rex strives to prove that there's still a place
08:14for the League of Freedom.
08:15The series may not break new ground, but like Robot Chicken, the clever writing, sharp animation,
08:21and first-rate voice acting capture the essence of adults at play, putting their old toys
08:26in more mature circumstances.
08:38Number 23.
08:39Batman The Long Halloween Parts 1 and 2.
08:41Ever since DC started adapting graphic novels and comic-limited series into animated features,
08:47fans were eager to see The Long Halloween done justice.
09:02Written by Jeff Loeb with artwork from Tim Sell, The Long Halloween is one of the most
09:06involving Batman mysteries and arguably the definitive Two-Face story.
09:11While the source material would inspire a few live-action Batman movies, this two-part
09:15film is the retelling we waited years to see.
09:18This adaptation doesn't disappoint as Batman sets out on a months-long endeavor to uncover
09:23the elusive Holiday Killer.
09:25Batman combats other familiar foes along the way, seeing Gotham evolve from another crime-ridden
09:30city to a supervillain hub.
09:32Although the story spans several holidays, its overarching haunting tone is in the spirit
09:37of Halloween.
09:51Number 22.
09:52Kite Man Hell Yeah Although we're totally on board the Harley
09:56and Ivy ship, we admittedly felt a little bad for Kite Man.
10:00The good news is that Kite Man is doing just fine with the spinoff.
10:03He's also found his true better half in Golden Glider.
10:16While their romance is surprisingly sweet, everything else concerning this show is depraved,
10:21ludicrous, and violent as hell.
10:24What's not to love?
10:25The series essentially starts as a sitcom with superheroes, as Kite Man balances his
10:29work and personal life.
10:31His desire to run a bar slowly snowballs into something more cataclysmic, with world-ending
10:37stakes.
10:38As immature as the show is, there's an emotional maturity to Kite Man and Glider's relationship
10:43that gives it a beating heart.
10:52Number 21.
10:53X-Men 97 A sequel series that matured with its audience,
10:57X-Men 97 picks up where its predecessor left off.
11:00Not just continuity-wise, but thematically.
11:02X-Men was never afraid to tackle serious issues like prejudice.
11:06X-Men 97 is the next step in the story's evolution.
11:15It's harsher, heavier, and more morally challenging.
11:30As much as we want to follow Charles Xavier's unifying example, Erik Lindstrom's extreme
11:36approach has rarely felt more justified.
11:38Maybe peace is beyond reach, and the only way to ensure mutant survival is to speed
11:43up humanity's extinction.
11:44X-Men 97 is never black and white, though, often leaving viewers torn on who to side
12:06with.
12:08the theme song still slaps no matter how old you are.
12:20Number 20.
12:21Batman Gotham by Gaslight Although the Caped Crusader has dealt with
12:24gruesome criminals before, he's never done it quite like this.
12:28For one, this is a Victorian-era Gotham.
12:31There is also the fact that Batman isn't chasing any of his infamous rogues.
12:35This time, he's after Jack the Ripper himself.
12:46The memorable setup turns this gritty thriller into more of a twisted whodunit, and as with
12:52any murder mystery, the path to the culprit is littered with some very gruesome character
12:57deaths.
12:58Gotham by Gaslight is a coarse and violent affair that dives into the dark realities
13:02of grim detective work.
13:04While a good chunk of its cast ends up in body bags, it's still a bloody good time.
13:17Number 19.
13:18Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.
13:19A show centered on a supervillain in suburbia practically writes itself.
13:23When that villain is also an incompetent, oversized head, you get Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.
13:35This family comedy sticks out because its mature jokes and most brutal scenes are brought
13:40to life with stop-motion animation.
13:42Oh, and did we mention that M.O.D.O.K. just happens to feature a few superheroes?
13:47The show revels in making fun of Marvel icons with great cameos and sharp humor.
13:52They're put into a number of situations that might even be too violent for the MCU.
14:07Despite getting cancelled way too soon, the short-lived M.O.D.O.K. is a good way to see
14:11Marvel heroes in an adult life.
14:13Number 18.
14:14The Awesomes
14:15These B-list heroes aren't famous for their powers or reputations.
14:19Truthfully, they'll always be remembered for pushing the envelope, not just with sex,
14:24substances, and rock and roll.
14:26Though there's still plenty of that.
14:28The Awesomes goes the extra mile by proving that social commentary is best delivered through
14:33gut-busting humor.
14:41While some might call it rude, that's part of the charm.
14:44If anything, the mismatch of tones is the reason the explicit humor lands so well.
14:49The show definitely pushes the boundaries of good taste, but once you get to know the
14:53characters, you might just be convinced that they're all awesome.
15:02Number 17.
15:03The Death of Superman
15:10In recent years, the DC Universe animated original movie series has adapted iconic moments
15:15in comic book history.
15:17The Death of Superman stands out as one of its most faithful and brutal.
15:21After an out-of-control doomsday lands on Earth, he carves a path of destruction and
15:26death through the world.
15:27Both civilians and heroes receive harsh and fatal injuries.
15:31At one point, Cyborg is nearly completely ripped apart.
15:44The film also beautifully fleshes out Superman's life before he races into his rough battle
15:49with Doomsday.
15:50Epic in scale, emotionally driven, and tackling mature themes, The Death of Superman is everything
15:56a longtime fan needs.
16:05Number 16.
16:06Injustice
16:07Near the beginning of a movie, a grief-stricken Superman kills the Joker, and the events only
16:12get darker from there.
16:13It's not just the sheer brutality of these characters that makes Injustice hard to stomach.
16:21What makes this movie so hard to endure is that Clark's actions cause a civil war between
16:26once-friendly heroes.
16:27Their ideological arguments eventually turn into shouting matches, fistfights, and even
16:32deaths.
16:33None of them are merciful either.
16:35No, they're the, let me know when I can look again type of death scenes.
16:45The Injustice movie amps up the ruthlessness of its source material to give us a shocking
16:49superhero civil war.
16:51Number 15.
16:52Hitmonkey
16:53In this case, the title pretty much tells you all you need to know.
16:56It follows a monkey who's also a hitman.
16:59Oh, and he's mentored by the ghost of a dead assassin.
17:03Bloodshed, mania, and crassness ensue.
17:07Hitmonkey is definitely a lot to take in, and yet there's just something undeniably
17:12thrilling about it too.
17:13Maybe it's the thoroughly unique premise, or perhaps we like the way Hitmonkey gets
17:17his paws bloody in just about every episode.
17:28Either way, this is totally a show worth going bananas over.
17:31Just brace yourself for the messy side of Hitmonkey's day job.
17:35Number 14.
17:36Batman Year One
17:37Based on the critically acclaimed run of Batman 404-407, this film explores Batman's
17:57early crime-fighting career and the foundation of his unique relationship with James Gordon.
18:01As with most of Frank Miller's comic book work, Year One was notably dark and mature
18:06in its themes.
18:07The film definitely respects the source material in this regard.
18:10In addition to showing the more mature side of Gotham, the realistic injuries will make
18:14you wince.
18:15There's also coarse language, adult professions, and scenes that are definitely not appropriate
18:20for kids.
18:21Batman's first year out is undoubtedly a grown-up affair.
18:34Number 13.
18:35Hellboy
18:37Released between Hellboy and Hellboy 2 The Golden Army, Blood and Iron featured voice
18:47work by the live-action film cast.
18:49Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, and John Hurt all return for this grim story.
18:54In this follow-up, the storytelling is tighter, the tone darker, the threats all the more
19:00frightening.
19:01It doesn't shy away from the horrifying world established through the Hellboy mythos.
19:05There are legitimately scary scenes that would frighten people of any age.
19:09At the same time, the movie never loses sight of its complex plot or intriguing character
19:14relationships.
19:15This mature animated film definitely lives up to its source material.
19:24Number 12.
19:25Suicide Squad – Hell to Pay
19:36Hell to Pay doesn't spend a lot of time convincing you that the villains sent on a
19:39deadly mission are secretly good or had redeeming qualities.
19:43That's mainly because its characters are far too busy assassinating rivals, avoiding
19:48death, and using their skills in fatal ways.
19:51Every person in this motley crew of villains is capable of excessive violence, and true
19:56to the title, a good number of the squad members are killed off before the credits roll.
20:01Since this movie is every bit as dark as it is funny, it's a joy to watch.
20:05It's a great companion piece to other adult Suicide Squad tales like Batman Assault on
20:09Arkham.
20:10Number 11.
20:11Justice League – The Flashpoint Paradox
20:12In this alternate timeline, Wonder Woman and Aquaman are at war, Bruce Wayne isn't Batman,
20:26and Superman is a hollow shell of his former self.
20:29And yet, even against all of that, the most harrowing part of The Flashpoint Paradox is
20:34Barry Allen's story.
20:40His desire to save his mom's life created a reality where people are trapped in a hell
20:44on earth.
20:45Thankfully, the grim tone never distracts from the film's empowering message of acceptance.
20:51It doesn't let Barry outrun his grief.
20:53Instead, The Flashpoint Paradox tackles it with respect and sophistication.
20:57The movie's strong morals turn an already great and mature film into an absolute must
21:02watch.
21:08Number 10.
21:09Justice League Dark – Apocalypse War
21:11Did you ever wonder what would happen if the Justice League couldn't stop a major villain?
21:15Well, Apocalypse War has got you covered.
21:24This movie boasts one of the highest body counts of any DC movie to date.
21:28Most of the Justice League is either killed, captured, or twisted beyond recognition.
21:32The Green Lantern Corps?
21:33Doused in madness?
21:35But surely the Teen Titans make it, right?
21:38Nope.
21:39Not even they are spared from the war.
21:42Yeah, grim doesn't even begin to cover it.
21:45Apocalypse War is the bleakest of the bleak and easily one of the most grueling films
21:49in DC's catalog.
21:51After all, it's saying something when the so-called happy ending consists of resetting
21:56the entire timeline.
22:05Number 9.
22:06My baby, Stripperella!
22:07Please save my baby!
22:08Jesus, my baby!
22:09Lady, Jesus, my ears, you're screaming right in my ears!
22:15The late, great Stan Lee made innumerable contributions to the world of comic books.
22:20This creation, however, was his gift to his adult fans.
22:24Rated TVMA, Stripperella was an overtly adult series following a superhero-slash-stripper
22:29by the name of Erotica Jones.
22:31She was voiced by none other than Pamela Anderson.
22:34The series only lasted one season and turned away many potential viewers based on its very
22:39racy premise alone.
22:41However, it was more than a gimmick.
22:43Stripperella offered genuine laughs, clever moments, and yes, plenty of adult appeal.
22:49It truly is an animated superhero offering that you'll have to get an eyeful of to
22:54believe.
23:02Number 8.
23:03Batman Under The Red Hood
23:04Within the first few minutes of this movie, Robin is physically tormented by the Joker.
23:09A building explodes and Batman holds the body of his deceased sidekick.
23:14This opening sequence sets the tone for one of the darkest Caped Crusader stories ever.
23:18Batman's failure to save his last Robin comes back to haunt him when the Red Hood
23:22goes on a violent tear through Gotham.
23:25Blood is shed, villains are savagely beaten, and heads literally roar.
23:29Those are the heads of all your lieutenants.
23:32That took me two hours.
23:34You wanna see what I can get done in a whole evening?
23:36The film expertly uses its violent scenes to make a commentary on the audience's tolerance
23:41for brutality.
23:42Through the tragedy of Robin and the Red Hood, we're forced to question if Gotham can only
23:46be safe if villains die.
23:48I'm not talking about killing Penguin or Scarecrow or Dent, I'm talking about him.
23:54Just him.
23:55And doing it because... because he took me away from you.
24:00Number 7.
24:01Sometimes, it's me.
24:04Yes, and sometimes it's us.
24:06Alright everybody, freeze!
24:08Damn, I was talking out loud again.
24:11Before The Max came along, people had never really seen a superhero cartoon like it.
24:15Come to think of it, even two decades after its release, most people still haven't seen
24:19anything like it.
24:21This one-of-a-kind series remains a gruesome and underappreciated cult classic of the MTV
24:26generation.
24:27The Max follows a homeless man who is also a mighty warrior in the surreal landscape
24:31known as the Outback.
24:33The animation is ever-changing, the tone absurdly dark, and the subject matter is heavy.
24:38One villain commits such despicable acts that we can't even say them here.
24:42While the series may be too dark and heavy for some, it's undeniably brilliant.
24:47It wasn't all a dream, unless I'm dreaming now.
24:52Too bad.
24:53Number 6.
24:54Constantine, City of Demons.
24:56Given the name, it shouldn't come as a shock that this is less of a superhero flick and
25:00more of a full-blown horror film.
25:08While Constantine has always concerned himself with the occult, his stories haven't always
25:13given us this much gory insight into his life.
25:16The movie is really not for kids, or honestly, anyone with weak stomachs either.
25:21From the demon executions to a particularly steamy scene in a bar bathroom, the movie
25:26doesn't hold back.
25:27Long-time Constantine fans will gravitate to the story because he and his dark world
25:32aren't watered down a bit.
25:33The devilishly entertaining and grim narrative truly reflects the dark nature of his stories.
25:42Number 5.
25:43The Boys Presents Diabolical.
25:45Thanks to the power of animation, this bloody spinoff actually manages to be more violent
25:50and gruesome than the live-action series.
25:52Each episode of Diabolical has more expletives, more gore, and more insane twists than the
25:57last.
25:58An early-career Homelander-centered story especially pushes the limits of gore.
26:10Since it's an anthology series, Diabolical has license to blow up its premise after each
26:15episode, sometimes literally.
26:18Once the credits roll, it all resets for yet another round of unhinged bloodshed.
26:23But it isn't all just blood and guts.
26:25The show is full of tons of topical commentary about society and the superhero genre.
26:30As a result, Diabolical is the red-soaked gift that keeps on giving.
26:40Number 4.
26:41Batman The Dark Knight Returns Parts 1 and 2.
26:48Based in two parts, the first in 2012 and the second the following year, The Dark Knight
26:52Returns is an adaptation of one of the most famous Batman stories ever published.
26:57A mini-series written by Frank Miller in 1986, The Dark Knight Returns explores an alternate
27:01future in which an aging Batman comes out of retirement and ultimately faces off against
27:06Superman.
27:07This story is about flawed heroes existing in a world made up entirely of moral gray
27:11areas.
27:12The violence on display is extreme.
27:14The language is strong and vices are around every corner.
27:18It's one of the best animated Batman films ever made.
27:21But wait until the young Bat-fans are older teens to share it with them.
27:25You have to remember, this man isn't responsible for those killings.
27:28He's merely a victim of the Batman's psychotic obsession.
27:31Number 3.
27:32Harley Quinn Harley Quinn took her signature bat and smashed
27:35everyone's expectations into smithereens with this series.
27:40That's right.
27:41So either forgive my dad's debt or I'll kill all of you.
27:44That ain't how our business works.
27:46Yeah.
27:47It's based on love.
27:48Following Harley Quinn's life after she steps out of the Joker's shadow, this show
27:52is one of the most vulgar animated programs out there.
27:55Civilians die by the truckloads throughout the series.
27:58Since characters have no filters, expect lots of strong language and adult jokes.
28:03Fans will also get an eyeful because the show does not shy away from adult activities.
28:07Amidst all of the chaos, the show also manages to be surprisingly heartwarming.
28:12It's all pulled together by the fantastic Kaley Cuoco, who spouts off Harley's lines
28:17with incomparable comedic timing.
28:19Oh, hey, I...
28:23This funny, crude, and honest show never once apologizes for what it is.
28:28Number 2.
28:29Invincible.
28:30The thing is, you're different.
28:33You actually are Invincible.
28:38A teenager learning to balance heroics and everyday life sounds like fun for the whole
28:43family.
28:44Right?
28:45Wrong.
28:46By the end of the very first episode, Invincible lays its cards on the table, and it's 100%
28:52not PG.
28:53As it turns out, Mark's growth into the titular hero is also peppered with bursts
28:58of gratuitous red-stained combat.
29:00The series isn't shy about showing it off either.
29:03Still, it's not quite right to call Invincible gritty.
29:06It's more akin to a fantastically realized coming-of-age tale, just one that has more
29:11than its fair share of bloody deathmatches.
29:13Invincible isn't always an easy watch, but trust us, it's definitely worth it.
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29:45From the same mind that gave us the iconic Spider-Man villain Venom, the Image Comics
29:49character Spawn isn't fit for young fans of any age.
29:53Be it in comics, films, or this animated series.
29:56Airing on HBO, Todd McFarlane's Spawn debuted in 1997 and ran for three short seasons.
30:02Today, it is remembered as one of the greatest superhero shows ever produced, and in 1999,
30:08it even won an Emmy.
30:09The series follows a man betrayed and killed by a friend, only to return to Earth as an
30:14agent of hell.
30:16His gruesome adventures were explicitly adult-only and featured everything from sex to severed
30:21limbs.
30:22The series was often grotesque, but was also excellent.
30:34Which superhero cartoon would you keep far away from the kiddies?
30:37Let us know in the comments down below.
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