Biggest Superhero TV Moments of 2018

When it comes comic book adaptations, the television landscape is more crowded than ever. In 2018 alone, over 20 comics-based series debuted or launched new content. Ranging from Arrow to the Marvel Netflix shows to The Walking Dead and Happy!, they varied widely in tone, audience and mileage. Nevertheless, they have one thing in common: their source material.

Now that 2018 has officially come to a close, CBR has reflected on all the major TV moments of the year. Considering the astounding volume of comics-inspired shows, though, we've narrowed our list down to include only superhero series. Below, you'll find a few of our favorite superhero TV moments of 2018, listed in no particular order.

Coulson Bids Agents of SHIELD Goodbye

Let's start at the end. When Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5 premiered in December 2017, it wasn't clear if the show would get another season. As such, the writers sought to bring the story to a satisfying close, which meant giving Agent Phil Coulson his final bow. Making good on a dangling Season 4 storyline, Coulson spent the bulk of Season 5 preparing to die. When the moment finally came for him to leave, it hit all the right notes. After an action-packed final battle with Graviton, the fan-favorite character got a peaceful goodbye from the team who had become his family. As painful as it was, he got the sincere sendoff he deserved -- so much so that it would be a shame if he ended up coming back for Season 6 and 7.

Agents of SHIELD Pulls Off a Storyline Five Years in the Making

Speaking of Graviton, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. also managed to capitalize on a storyline introduced in Season 1: Dr. Franklin Hall and the gravitonium. While this plot thread was more or less dropped until Season 5, it came back with a real vengeance. The Graviton storyline upped the stakes in a way unlike any other that had come before it on the series. What's more, it used longtime characters in new ways that would surprise both fans of the comics and the show alone. The slow build and powerful payoff made Graviton worth the wait.

Come Sail Away With Cloak & Dagger

Cloak & Dagger may have veered from the source material in its freshman season, but it managed to capture the same tone and atmosphere of the original comics in the way it tackled real-world issues. The series also made music a key element of Season 1 -- a feat nigh impossible in a static medium like comics. Cloak & Dagger used music in a way unlike every other comic book adaptation by weaving it into the plot and theme. This climaxed in a musical montage set to Styx's "Come Sail Away," as covered by series star Olivia Holt. After a season full of "Come Sail Away" motifs, the final sequence -- the same one where Tandy and Ty finally come together against the odds -- carried all that much more power. By using "Come Sail Away" like this, Cloak & Dagger separated itself from a crowded landscape and pulled off an extremely effective, memorable resolution.

Next Page: Marvel Netflix vs. the Arrowverse

Iron Fist Redeemed With Jaw-Dropping Season Finale

In terms of quality, Iron Fist Season 2 made leaps and bounds over its debut season. With a shorter episode count and more focus on supporting characters like Colleen Wing, the series began to show real promise -- especially at its bitter end, which was packed with potential. Colleen is New York City's new Iron Fist! Danny Rand channeled his Iron Fist energy into his twin pistols! Ward is traveling the world at Danny's side! The possibilities seemed endless. Unfortunately, due to the series' cancellation, we may never see that realized. Nevertheless, that cliffhanger ending got skeptics and fans alike buzzing, bringing the show into a positive light unlike never before.

Daredevil Ends on a High Note

Like Iron Fist, Daredevil ended up on the chopping block, but you'd never know it wasn't planned. Season 3 wrapped the series up in a neat little bow, with Matt Murdock bringing his conflict with Kingpin to an end once and for all. What's more, supporting characters like Foggy Nelson and Karen Page got their happy endings as well. While the story was left open enough for another season, Daredevil Season 3 brought home the conflict that began in Season 1. What's more, the season as a whole seemed to finally get the Marvel Netflix formula just right; by developing subplots with Foggy and Karen, Season 3 largely resolved the pacing issues that plagued all of Daredevil's sister series. While it's sad to see the series go, it's fortune that it got a real sense of closure, unlike Iron Fist and Luke Cage.

Black Lightning's Back -- And He's Brought a Friend

When it comes to superhero series, The CW may be the most crowded network of all. As such, the fact that Black Lightning managed to stand out from the pack is all the more impressive. Unlike the Arrowverse shows, Black Lightning is a family show first and a superhero series second. So, with its January series premiere, Black Lightning helped reinvigorate the genre and gave us a few memorable heroes along the way. In Season 1, Jefferson Pierce had to learn to be a hero again, even as his daughter Anissa stepped into her own as the fledgling superhero Thunder. Watching The CW's first father-daughter super-team develop was a delight.

All Hail the Blue God: Legends of Tomorrow Introduces Beebo

This wouldn't be a "Best of 2018" list without Beebo. Introduced as a Tickle-Me-Elmo derivative in the Legends of Tomorrow episode "Beebo the God of War," the lovable blue fuzzball would take on a much more significant meaning as Season 3 charged on. Without Beebo, the Legends never would have been able to defeat Mallus, a demon seeking to destroy the timeline. He was the cherry on top of a completely bonkers season, which capped off with a climactic battle between Helen of Troy, Julius Caesar, Jonah Hex and more in the Wild West. Honestly, what's not to love?

Constantine Joins Legends of Tomorrow

Beebo wasn't the only addition to Legends of Tomorrow in 2018. Season 3 also reintroduced John Constantine to the Arrowverse in an all-new capacity. Since he stole the show in "Daddy Darhkest," he has become a full time member of the team. While Legends has always been a fun show, Constantine breathes new life into the series with sarcasm, magical know-how and a unhealthy sense of nihilism. He has thrown the Legends' comfortable dynamic into disarray and he may be more trouble than he's worth, but all that has only injected a new dose of fun into the series.

Elseworlds Rocks the Arrowverse

When it comes to its annual crossover, the Arrowverse never messes around. This was certainly true of "Elseworlds," 2018's crossover, but Supergirl, Green Arrow and the Flash sure did have a lot of fun along the way. After 2017's massive "Crisis on Earth-X," which involved more than 30 characters, "Elseworlds" took a much more intimate approach. This time, Oliver Queen and Barry Allen switched lives when an reality-altering book fell into the wrong hands, and only Supergirl knew their true identities. This year's crossover felt earned in a way the crossovers have never felt before; it wasn't the kind of crossover that could have taken place in the years prior, if only because it took this long for the characters to feel so wholly comfortable around and with each other. Their rapport came easily, as did the laughs. Plus, by capping "Elseworlds" off with the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" reveal, the Arrowverse has upped the stakes like never before.

The Batwoman Rises & Superman's Major Moments

Even as "Elseworlds" scaled back the focus to center on Flash, Green Arrow and Supergirl, it didn't hesitate to use major characters like Batwoman, Superman and Lois Lane. For Batwoman and Lois Lane, "Elseworlds" served as an introduction; for Superman, it served as a vehicle through which he crossed some pretty major milestones. All these were designed to delight DC fans, but never felt cheesy or forced; they just served up a heaping helping of heart. If Arrowverse fans weren't clamoring for Superman and Batwoman shows before "Elseworlds," they will be now, and that's thanks to the writing, the actors' skill and their chemistry.

Next Page: DC's Other TV Series & Some Merry Mutants

Kneel Before Zod: Krypton Pulls Off Major Surprise

When Krypton launched, it promised to be a Superman show without the Man of Steel. In that, it made good on its promise and more. A genuinely shocking mid-season reveal reintroduced General Zod as we've never seen him before: on his own, without Superman as a foil. This allowed the SyFy series to really dig in and explore Zod as a character, from his motivations to his world and upbringing. From that game-changing moment on, Krypton managed to set itself apart from the plethora of other DCTV shows, right up to that time-altering cliffhanger.

Titans' Post-Credits Sequence Makes a Super Introduction

A series as dark as Titans could use a little hope, but the character introduced in the Season 1 finale may not be the Superman they're looking for. Fans who stayed tuned after the credits rolled were delighted to see the introduction of not one, but two Super-characters: Kon-El, aka Superboy, and Krypto the Superdog. These characters may have come as something of a surprise, but they mean big things are on the horizon for Season 2. Titans' future looks bright as it expands its cast to include fan-favorite characters like these, even as risky as the execution could be.

Gotham Enters No Man's Land

As a series, Gotham has made a lot of bold choices, but none quite so ballsy as its Season 4 finale. Last season concluded just as Jeremiah's dastardly plan come to fruition. As such, all of Gotham has been cut off from the rest of the world, launching the "No Man's Land" story that will adapt the seminal comic book series of the same name and give rise to Batman. "No Man's Land" is a daring note to go out on, but the season-ending cliffhanger that brought Gotham there was critical to establishing the tone and atmosphere of the series' final season.

The Stepford Cuckcoos Get (The) Gifted

This The Gifted moment may be more of an honorable mention, but to be fair, the Season 1 finale aired on New Year's Day 2018. "X-roads," the Season 1 finale, unleashed the full power of the Frost sisters on The Gifted. The three characters -- each played by Skyler Samuels -- have managed to steal the show ever since. Aside from Polaris' unmentionable birth father and Thunderbird, the Frost sisters are perhaps the series' closest connection to X-Men lore, which makes their inclusion worth mentioning on its own. However, thanks to Samuels' charisma and charm, the Frost sisters remain one of the most memorable parts of the series, so their introduction and subsequent rise to power merits a spot on this list.