With dozens of comic book shows on TV, it seems like the right time to examine which of the medium's titans of publishing — Marvel or DC — has the upper hand.
As of August 2018 — which means upcoming adaptations such as HBO's Watchmen; DC Universe's Titans; and FX's Y: The Last Man are not included — here are the top-rated DC and Marvel comic book series according to TV Time users.
Note: non-DC/Marvel publishers were excluded from this list.
20: MARVEL: Runaways (Hulu)
A group of teens hits the road after discovering their parents are part of a supervillain collective known as The Pride.
19. MARVEL: Agent Carter (ABC)
This spinoff of the first Captain America movie takes place in the 1940s and follows young Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) employee Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) as she helps clear Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) after he was accused of selling weapons to U.S. enemies.
18. MARVEL: The Gifted (Fox)
This X-Men series takes place in a world where the X-Men have disappeared, and mutants are living undercover and hiding their powers. When the Struckers discover their two teenage children are mutants, they seek refuge with a group of fellow undercover mutants on the run.
17. MARVEL: Legion (FX)
Another X-Men adjacent series, this one follows David Haller, a man diagnosed with schizophrenia who realizes he might not be mentally ill, he just has mutant powers.
16. DC: Preacher (AMC)
Jesse Custer is a vice-ridden preacher who goes on a quest to find god alongside his ex-girlfriend, Tulip, and a vampire, Cassidy.
15. MARVEL: The Defenders (Netflix)
When New York City superheroes Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Daredevil, and Iron Fist team up, bad guys don't stand a chance.
14. DC: Smallville (The CW)
This early CW superhero series follows thee adventures of a young Clark Kent as he embraces his Kryptonian powers and (spoiler) eventually becomes Superman.
13. MARVEL: The Punisher (Netflix)
Frank Castle is a vigilante seeking revenge for the murder of his family.
12. MARVEL: Iron Fist (Netflix)
Danny Rand is a martial arts expert who can also harness the power of the Iron Fist.
11. MARVEL: Luke Cage (Netflix)
This ex-con has super-strength and unbreakable skin, and spends his time fighting corruption in New York City.
10. MARVEL: Jessica Jones (Netflix)
This hard-drinking New Yorker is a private detective with super-strength.
9. DC: iZombie (The CW)
Liv Moore is a medical examiner — and also a zombie who helps solve murders by eating the brains of her charges and figuring out how they died.
8. MARVEL: Daredevil (Netflix)
Matt Murdock is a blind lawyer who moonlights as a masked vigilante named Daredevil.
7. DC: Legends of Tomorrow (The CW)
DC's superhero team-up series follows fan-favorite characters from the Arrowverse as they travel through time and fight bad guys.
6. DC: Supergirl (The CW)
Superman's cousin fights bad guys and protects National City.
5. MARVEL: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC)
This spinoff from the MCU follows the people of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division), led by previously thought dead fan-favorite character Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg).
4. DC: Lucifer (Fox)
Lucifer Morningstar moves to Los Angeles, runs a nightclub, and becomes a consultant to the LAPD.
3. DC: Gotham (Fox)
Batman's origin story is explored in this Fox series.
2. DC: The Flash (The CW)
The fastest man in the world is actually a nerdy crime scene investigator who, along with his super-smart, tech-savvy friends, fights bad guys in Central City.
1. DC: Arrow (The CW)
The show that started The CW's comic book empire follows the vigilante known as the Green Arrow and his group of friends who help protect Star City.
WINNER: While Marvel has more series on the list overall (11 to DC's 9), DC's shows are higher-rated overall (including the top four). It might be a draw!
