For some inexplicable reason, shonen anime is flooded with shows that feature children who happen to behave like adults in dangerous situations. Prime examples of this are shows like My Hero Academia, where 2D children are constantly putting their lives in danger to either save the world or ruin it.
In the real world, most children would simply run for their lives – it would be more realistic to see adults behaving like this. Fans of the superhero genre might be craving to watch entertaining anime series that don’t feature children, and there happens to be a handful of good ones out there. The following 10 recommendations are sure to blow fans’ minds away.
10 Zetman: Two Rival Heroes With A Common Enemy
There exist two superheroes, named ALPHAS and JET, who consider themselves rivals of each other. Jin Kanzaki is the face behind JET, who possesses superhuman abilities. Kouga Amagi is the person behind ALPHAS, who prefers using modern technology to fight crime.
While both of them aim to protect humankind, their ideologies and methods couldn’t be more different. With the looming threat of Players above them, can they set their differences aside and work together?
9 Samurai Flamenco: When A Popular Model & Policeman Join Hands
Masayoshi Hazama is a popular model who moonlights as the superhero Samurai Flamenco. His identity is discovered by Hidenori Gotou, a Japanese policeman. Although he initially encourages Hazama to leave his “hobby” behind, he is instead convinced by Hazama to join hands with him.
They begin by preventing petty offenses like littering and street brawls. However, things soon escalate to the point where those two find themselves in the position of saving the world.
8 Hamatora: Tracking Down A Serial Killer Who Targets Minimum Holders
In this anime, people who possess superpowers are not called superheroes, but Minimum Holders. “Minimum” are showcased as powers that very few people on the planet possess.
A detective agency, which comprises of a handful of Minimum Holders, suddenly finds itself inundated with requests, all of which lead to the same individual. This person is a notorious serial killer whose victims are all Minimum Holders. Who is he and what could he possibly want?
7 One-Punch Man: Parody Featuring An Extremely Overpowered Hero
One-Punch Man is one of the most popular superhero parody shows to have debuted in the last decade. Its story revolves around an excessively powerful Saitama, who can defeat the strongest of foes in one punch.
He is bored out of his mind, until one day, he suddenly finds himself a loyal disciple named Genos, who reveres his master and wants to be as strong as him. Expectedly, a lot of hilarity ensues.
6 Bungou Stray Dogs: All Begins With A Revelation About A Mysterious White Tiger
Atsushi Nakajima always sees a white tiger that nobody else can see. He is taken in by Osamu Dazai, who saves the lad from drowning. Dazai agrees to look into the mysterious tiger, and he ropes in his partner Doppo Kunikida.
The revelation proves to be startling for Atsushi, who then somehow finds himself joining the duo’s detective agency, where they spend most of their time dealing with superpowers and super-powerful objects.
5 The Devil Is A Part-Timer!: A Demon Lord & Hero Visit Earth Without Their Powers
Satan and his army wreak havoc on the island of Ente Isla, but he is pushed back by the Hero, who uses their superpowers in order to defeat his minions. Trapped, the demon lord runs away to the planet earth to escape the wrath of the Hero.
What he doesn’t know is that not only does the Hero follow him there, but none of them can use their superhuman abilities on this new planet.
4 Kekkai Sensen: Leonardo Uses His All-Seeing Eyes To Help Stop Crime
After an incident involving an alien portal, many humans found themselves possessing superhuman abilities, which were otherwise only seen in comics and movies.
Leonardo Watch possesses the All-seeing Eyes of the Gods, and this power of his is used by the Libra organization to help him curb superhuman crimes in NYC. In exchange, they promise to give him as much information as they can on his missing sister. One day into his job and Leonardo soon realizes how in over his head he really was.
3 Tiger & Bunny: A Veteran & New Hero Team-Up Despite Conflicting Personalities
The world of superheroes has thoroughly been capitalized in Stern Bild City. All their antics are showed on Hero TV, and their popularity decides which sponsorship deals they’ll get and what their rankings will be.
Veteran hero Kotetsu is teamed up with a new hero named Barnaby. Their sponsors believe this is a pairing that will spice things up for the audiences, but thanks to their polar opposite nature and methodologies, these two find it difficult to get along.
2 Double Decker! Doug & Kirill: A Police Officer & Detective Track Down The Source Of A Drug
This is a spin-off of Tiger & Bunny, but it takes place in a new city and with an entirely new set of characters. With a mandatory Double Decker (buddy system) in place, police officer Kirill Vrubel teams up with detective Douglas Bilingam to help hunt down the source of the drug called Anthem.
Soon, the Special Crime Investigation Unit SEVEN-O realizes exactly how dangerous this excursion really is. Yet, none of this deters Kirill because he's finally becoming what he’d always dreamt of – a hero.
1 Promare: A Firefighter Investigates The Truth Behind A Terrorist Organization
The city of Promepolis is plagued by terrorists called Burnish, who possess the superhuman ability to manipulate fire. Ostracized by society for their inability to control their powers, they are hunted down by “firefighters” who receive special training in dealing with such individuals.
Galo is one such firefighter. One day, he manages to capture the leader of said terrorist organization, but to his shock and surprise, it appears to be a boy who looks no older than 20. Intrigued, Galo decides to talk to him and soon becomes involved in a conspiracy he didn’t even know existed.