For much of their tenure in entertainment, superheroes have been considered as fare primarily for younger audiences. The typical associations for superhero films, comic books, and TV shows included simple storylines, lots of action, and nothing too sophisticated, in the eyes of many.

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However, largely due to the influence of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, superhero media has developed into something more in the eyes of many in recent years. With more and more people coming to appreciate the range and the diversity of the stories it can tell, the audiences have shifted as well. As a result, there are some superhero series that are decidedly not for younger audiences, but that can delight adults.

10 Jessica Jones Deals With Heavy Topics

Kilgrave looms over Jessica Jones

Jessica Jones is not a light series, with the very first season covering the story of the titular heroine as she attempts to overcome the trauma inflicted on her in the past by the villainous Kilgrave. It won acclaim from many for its sensitive but realistic depictions of sexuality and the struggle with trauma, and for its deep character exploration.

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However, even setting aside that many of the show's topics are likely to be unsuitable for many children, the show lacks much to keep them entertained. The action is sparse in comparison to Netflix's other MCU shows, not overly stylised, and children are unlikely to enjoy the character work the show does.

9 Superman And Lois Is Meant For Parents

Clark Kent and Lois Lane in their civilian guides in Superman and Lois

Although it has ties to the more general Arrowverse, and specifically the reasonably family-friendly SupergirlSuperman and Lois takes a step back from appealing to all audiences, instead aiming itself at parents with a story about that very demographic.

Despite also having a running, more conventional superhero storyline throughout, Superman and Lois has Clark Kent as a parent first and a superhero second. There is violence, and action, and drama that children can follow, but the main thrust of the storyline follows Clark and Lois attempting to help their neurodivergent son grow into his powers, and is likely to leave younger audiences bored.

8 Legion Is Beloved...By Adults

legion noah hawley fx aubrey plaza dan stevens header

FX's Legion is acclaimed and beloved by fans and critics alike for its unique approach to the superhero genre. Although it does tell tales of good vs evil, heroes fighting villains, and the protagonists rushing to save the world, they all tend to take a back seat to the show's own stylistic techniques.

Children are likely to be bored and confused by the show's more experimental nature, including an unreliable narrator in the form of David Haller, and its acclaimed exploration of mental illness and its treatment is likely to be lost on them.

7 The Umbrella Academy Is Gripping And Moving, But Subdued

The Umbrella Academy Season 2

The Umbrella Academy may appeal more to children than many entries on this list. It has stylized action, humor, and a fast-paced and engaging storyline about the Hargreeves family attempting to avert apocalypse after apocalypse.

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However, the main focus of the show, regardless of what is happening, is on the dysfunctional relationships between the members of the family, and on the events in their past that led them to be so fractured. This takes priority over nearly every other part of the show and is likely to leave younger audiences wondering when the next action scene will happen.

6 Misfits Should Go Over Children's Heads

The unconvetional superheroes who make up the cast of Misfits

A very unconventional TV show, Misfits follows five delinquents given superhuman powers after a lightning strike hits them. Rather than being at the forefront of the narrative, however, the show is more like a traditional drama, with superpowers. The thrust of the first season is the cast trying to cover up an accidental killing, while also dealing with a cult.

A huge amount of Misfits is adult humor, adult situations, and the interactions between characters. The action scenes are short and much like those seen in any other drama, and interspersed with lengths of jokes and character discussions. What children do get, they shouldn't find too enjoyable, and the enjoyable bits they probably shouldn't understand.

5 The Tick Is Dark Comedy Turned Darker

Peter Serafinowicz as the Tick, standing with his partner Arthur

The Tick does spend a lot of its time on humor, and on some brutal action sequences that nearly anybody should be able to enjoy. But this series did average over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes throughout its two-season run.

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Nonetheless, a lot of it, despite appealing thoroughly to many adults, is likely to be lost on younger audiences. Much of the show's run focuses on the protagonist Arthur, his traumas, and his struggles with his family and mental health, leading many children to wonder when the Tick is going to do something funny again.

4 Invincible Is Not A Saturday Morning Cartoon

The cast of Invincible, including Mark Grayson and Atom Eve

Superhero shows and cartoons are both things that are often mistaken as being automatically 'child-friendly' just because of their formats, and Invincible fits the bill as both, being presented initially as like a Saturday morning cartoon, before brutally subverting the entire genre.

Despite its animation and its frequent and spectacular fight scenes, Invincible nonetheless features a wide range of content that is neither suitable for nor interesting to children, such as struggles with infidelity, parental abuse, and the relationship struggles of a teenager.

3 Loki Is High-Concept But Grounded Within It

Loki and Mobius talking in Loki (2021)

It may sound strange that a TV series with the core concept of 'The MCU's most recognizable villain helps the Time Police' is considered one of the more mature outings of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Loki, despite universal critical acclaim, is clearly aiming for an adult audience.

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The series is relatively sedate and small-scale, despite its grand setting and premise, focusing more on Loki's development up to and beyond what his original incarnation reached in Avengers: Infinity War, with a heavy emphasis on his relationships with the characters who change him, and him coming to accept his altruism and responsibilities. Even the fights tend to serve as character pieces, more than excuses for stunts.

2 Watchmen's Focus Is On Politics And Ideas

The Seventh Kavalry from HBO's Watchmen

Despite its association with superheroes, people are unlikely to mistake Watchmen as a series for children, and for good reason. The show is dark and gritty, telling a story of costumed police officers battling against a powerful white supremacist militia, echoing racial tensions in the US.

Politically-inclined children may be more interested in the events of the show, but overall it deals with topics that are somewhat beyond the years of younger viewers, and certainly ones that many parents would consider to be too dark.

1 Wandavision Is An Exploration Of Grief

Wanda and Vision hold hands as the Hex disappears in Wandavision

The Marvel Cinematic Universe leans towards the most family-friendly superhero outings, especially in its Avengers films. Nonetheless, this series, despite being beloved by audiences, is likely to bore children.

Rather than a superhero plot, the show instead focuses on Wanda Maximoff's attempts to repress and deny her grief, and the disastrous consequences it has on those around her. The show's main action occurs only in the final episode, after hours of character exploration and homages to iconic sitcoms, by which time younger audiences have likely found something else to watch.

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