Entertainment site TVLine has published a ranking of the top 10 Marvel animated series, highlighting classics and modern entries from the superhero universe. The list spans decades of animation, from 1990s staples to recent Disney+ releases, emphasizing Marvel's diverse animated legacy. At the top, X-Men: The Animated Series and its revival X-Men '97 earn the highest praise for their storytelling and impact.
Marvel's animated offerings have often flown under the radar compared to DC's acclaimed series like Batman: The Animated Series, but TVLine argues they deserve more recognition. Published on December 18, 2025, the ranking starts with No. 10, Iron Man: Armored Adventures, a 2009 Nickelodeon series that reimagines Tony Stark as a teenager voiced by Adrian Petriw, dealing with loss and secret heroism alongside friends like Rhodey and Pepper Potts. It was included in TV Guide's Top 60 cartoons in 2013.
No. 9 is the 1998 Fox Kids series Silver Surfer, a 13-episode cosmic adventure following Norrin Radd, voiced by Paul Essiembre, as he serves Galactus before seeking his lost home, featuring Thanos and praised for its visuals. The list climbs to No. 8 with Disney+'s What If...?, created by A.C. Bradley, an anthology exploring multiverse scenarios with MCU voices, including Chadwick Boseman's final T'Challa role, which won a posthumous Emmy.
At No. 7, Hulu's M.O.D.O.K. uses stop-motion animation, with Patton Oswalt voicing the supervillain in a family dramedy co-created with Jordan Blum, battling heroes like Iron Man voiced by Jon Hamm. No. 6 spot goes to the January 2025 Disney+ debut Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, where Hudson Thames voices Peter Parker mentored by Colman Domingo's Norman Osborn amid symbiote threats.
Hulu's Hit-Monkey ranks at No. 5, a 2021 series with Fred Tatasciore as the assassin monkey guided by Jason Sudeikis's ghost, part of the now-defunct Marvel Television's Offenders initiative. No. 4 is The Spectacular Spider-Man from the late 2000s, voiced by Josh Keaton, noted for character development but canceled after two seasons.
X-Men: Evolution takes No. 3, an early 2000s Kids' WB show focusing on teen mutants like Rogue and Cyclops balancing school and battles. Spider-Man: The Animated Series from 1994-1998, with Christopher Daniel Barnes as Peter Parker, claims No. 2 for its faithful comic adaptation, especially the Venom arc.
Topping the list at No. 1 are X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97, lauded as among the best animated series ever for arcs like Dark Phoenix Saga, with the revival seen as a seamless continuation using modern resources.
