Not everyone will want to look back at 2017. It's been a tumultuous one for many; things are tense, and people are worrying about the future. But television is there for us, along with the superheroes that inspire, teaching us to keep going no matter what, or just keep us laughing. Comic book shows have certainly grown more and more popular over the last few years and 2017 has given us some of the best.

RELATED: The End of the Cinematic Universe Began in 2017

We're going to explore the best, right here. Honestly, if we could, some shows would be sharing these top five spots -- but we can only pick one for each. These five series distinguished themselves from the rest by offering more than just generic superhero action. They kept us guessing, pulled the rug out from under us, and sometimes took risks that paid off better than anyone thought they would.

5: THE FLASH

Neil Sandilands as The Flash's Thinker

If the last few seasons turned you off to The Flash, now is a great time to get back into it. Season 4 has proven to be a breath of fresh air, thanks in large part to the decision to take the show back to its more lighthearted roots. The cheesy jokes, the energetic cast and awesome adventures -- everything that drew fans to the show in the beginning -- are all back, giving The Flash a much needed sense of renewed vitality. But if you're afraid the show will still just offer more of the same, think again. It's clear that the showrunners are trying something different, as best evidenced by one of this season's new major villains: The Thinker.

RELATED: Trial of The Flash Begins in Midseason Premiere Synopsis

The Thinker, AKA Clifford DeVoe, is a former professor with a love of knowledge. You'll notice that he's not in competition to be the fastest man alive like almost every other enemy of the Flash. No, DeVoe is instead the fastest mind alive. He's complex, he's psychotic and he's a bit of a romantic, which makes for one heck of a captivating villain. Because of him and the series' overall change in tone, this season of The Flash is easily one of the best on television.

4: LUCIFER

lucifer-season-3

Lucifer is a guilty pleasure for many, albeit one that has gotten better over time. The third season has shifted from the formulaic cop drama of the past to focusing on building the overarching plot involving the mysterious Sinnerman, whom Lucifer believes has stolen in Devil face and given him his divine wings. Up until the big reveal in the thrilling mid-season finale, we were given hints pertaining to the Sinnerman's identity, though sometimes we didn't even know it.

RELATED: Smallville’s Tom Welling Makes His Lucifer Debut in New Photo

The show has done a fantastic job at further developing characters like Linda, Charlotte and, of course, Lucifer himself. While this might have been done at the expense of the noticeably absent Maze and Amenadiel, we have to believe that that's purely due to the fact that those characters simply can't really develop as much. For example, Maze doesn't change. She's undeniably awesome, and we love seeing her, but we don't want her appearances to feel pointless. The show seems to get that, and only gives us stories involving her that are worth telling. Of course, that's not the only thing the show has done right. Each twist and turn has been tastefully doled out, so we're given just enough time to want more while mulling over what we've been given. It all adds to the show's devilish charm.

Page 2: [valnet-url-page page=2 paginated=0 text='2017%27s%20Three%20Best%20Comic%20Book-Based%20TV%20Series%20Are...']



3: THE GIFTED

The-Gifted-Poster

No one really saw this show coming. That is to say, no one really expected this show to be this good, but Fox's The Gifted gets almost everything right. In fact, by looking at these mutants on a more human level, the show is able to convey the message of equality and acceptance far more elegantly and clearly than the X-Men films ever could. These characters may not be as familiar to everyone as classic X-characters, but they are quickly proving to be more compelling, in no small part due to the acting talents of the show's main cast.

RELATED: Fox’s X-Men Drama, The Gifted, Deserves a Larger Audience

The show is also noticeably conservative with its action sequences, which is clearly due to its relatively small budget. That said, when there is action on screen, it's always memorable and meaningful. There are consequences to each fight, and none of it is done gratuitously. The stakes are so high and the characters so compelling that we're often torn between who we want to see make it out alive. We love the mutant underground, but we're also sympathetic toward Agent Turner and his quest for vengeance. If you're a fan of mutants and you haven't already, then start watching The Gifted right now.

2: THE PUNISHER

The Punisher's bullet

Punisher fans expected much more violence from Frank Castle's solo outing than any of Netflix's other Marvel series, and they were not disappointed. The Punisher offered brutal action and blood that captured the spirit of the comics. But while the action was great, it wasn't what the show was about. You'll read critics express disappointment in the fact that the show didn't seem to say much about gun violence, but that's mainly because it had so much more to say about other topics, including trauma, depression, PTSD and the overall treatment bt America to its veterans.

RELATED: Marvel’s The Punisher Is a PSA for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

It's fitting that the show distanced itself from the other Marvel Netflix shows, opting to remain grounded and respectful of its subject matter. It's not like any other superhero show you've ever seen before, in large part because its not about a superhero. The Punisher is an anti-hero, and Jon Bernthal's compelling portrayal of Frank Castle conveys that perfectly. The show explores that in-depth, discontent with giving us characters simply driven by vengeance and anger. There's a whole range of complex emotion here that we rarely see in comic book-based television shows. in the end, The Punisher was able to exceed our expectations and raise the bar considerably for future Marvel Netflix shows.

1: LEGION

Legion-FX

The great thing about FX's Legion is that it's just so different from everything else. No just superhero shows, but television shows in general. It's got something for everyone in its story: romance, comedy, drama, action and tragedy and its all given to us from the perspective of the show's haunted and confused protagonist, David Haller. But what really distinguishes the show from the rest is its ability to connect the audience to the protagonist through an unreliable narrator. It allowed us to understand just how unclear reality was to Haller, and it kept the show from becoming in any way predictable.

RELATED: FX’s Legion ‘Can’t Ever’ Cross Over With X-Men Films

Another of the show's best points was its villain. The Shadow King is a psychic parasite and an antagonist that affected its foe in the most surreal way. Showrunner Noah Hawley's decision to embrace the abstract, like the show's depiction of the astral plane, was a risky one, but it worked. Instead of alienating the audience, we were presented with new ways of exploring the mind and powers of the protagonist. Both of these would have come off as unclear or, worse, uninteresting, were it done through a more linear method of storytelling and relied on less visual representations of Haller's powers.These unique qualities set Legion apart and made it 2017's most memorable comic book television show. We're eagerly awaiting the next season.

Which shows did you enjoy the most this year and what are you looking forward to in the next? Let us know in the comments!