There are many streaming services vying to join Netflix and Hulu in an attempt to cash in on the exodus of cable television subscribers. One of the more interesting and ambitious of these is DC Universe, a streaming service solely dedicated to animated and live TV shows and movies based on popular DC Comics characters. In order to get people excited about the service, five new shows have already been ordered, including the return of possibly the most beloved DC Comics cartoon of all-time -- one that many fans believe was canceled before its time -- Young Justice.
Incredibly, the DC Universe streaming service will also include comic books -- finally, DC Comics' answer to Marvel Unlimited, although it will not include everything and only have specially curated issues from DC Comics history. Also included is a DC Comics encyclopedia, news and interviews, and daily videos. While there is no word on when or if the DCEU movies will arrive, there is an expectation that DC will bring in some of its classic television shows -- both animated and live-action -- to add to the library to make this a one-stop shop for fans of DC entertainment. With so many shows coming at the launch, and more surely to come, here is a look at five new shows and 10 old ones for the DC streaming service, ranked by fan anticipation.
15 FLASH
Fans quickly fell in love with CW's version of Flash, with Grant Gustin's fantastic Barry Allen battling the infamous Rogues and putting together his own team of superheroes to fight by his side. However, 24 years before Gustin put on the red tights, there was another Flash that appeared on TV.
In a fun bit of trivia for fans, John Wesley Shipp, who starred as Barry Allen's dad in the 2014 series, was also The Flash in the original series in 1990. The Flash only lasted one season but will be coming to the DC Universe streaming service upon launch. Don't miss out on the great Mark Hamill appearance as he portrayed The Trickster, a role that he then reprised on the CW series as well.
14 LOIS & CLARK
In 1993, a TV show that became popular against all odds was Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. By this time, Superman was dead in the water in theaters and Batman was changing the comic book landscape by going darker. However, Lois & Clark hit it big by focusing more on the relationship between the title characters than on Superman in action.
Dean Cain has since gone on to become a DTV star while Teri Hatcher came back to prominence with Desperate Housewives. However, for four seasons they were who the world saw as Superman and Lois Lane. This is another show that has been announced as available upon launch of the DC Universe streaming service.
13 HARLEY QUINN
There are five new series coming to the DC Universe streaming service and one other ordered but delayed. The delayed series is a live-action Metropolis, which follows reporter Lois Lane as she covers the superhuman beat in her town. While that has been put on the back burner, an animated Harley Quinn series is coming.
According to reports, this will be a more adult-oriented animated series, following in the footsteps of recent Harley Quinn appearances in the DC Comics animated movie world. Twenty-six episodes were ordered, with the story having Harley breaking away from The Joker and joining up with friends like Poison Ivy and others to cause problems in Gotham City.
12 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
One of the biggest announcements when it comes to what is coming to the DC Universe streaming service was the arrival of Adventures of Superman. This is the classic DC Comics TV series from the '50s that starred the legendary and iconic George Reeves. For an entire generation that sees only Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel, there is an older generation that only sees George Reeves in the cape.
Adventures of Superman lasted for six seasons and a total of 104 episodes. The cast of characters includes Perry White, Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane, although the bad guys are normal criminals, many with a noir flavor. The show was set to last longer than six seasons, but the death of George Reeves caused its demise.
11 WONDER WOMAN
While the 2017 movie brought Wonder Woman back to the public eye in a huge way, DC Comics fans of a certain age will always see one person as Diana Prince -- Lynda Carter. Airing originally on ABC and then later on CBS, Wonder Woman lasted for three seasons and included 59 episodes.
The show took place during World War II in the first season, with Carter's Wonder Woman teaming with Lyle Waggoner's Steve Trevor. Later seasons moved the story to the '70s and retitled the show The New Adventures of Wonder Woman. From Diana spinning in circles to turn into Wonder Woman to the golden lasso of truth, this is the show that introduced much of the world to the Amazon princess.
10 DOOM PATROL
Possibly the most surprising new show coming to the DC Universe streaming service is Doom Patrol. While the show won't appear until 2019, there has been some big news to leak about this addition. First, it is a live-action series, which is interesting since it will also include Cyborg as the hero who gathers these misfits together.
For old-school comic book fans, Doom Patrol was The X-Men before the mutants appeared in Marvel Comics -- a group of misfit heroes led by a man in a wheelchair to protect a world that feared them. This update is referred to as a "reimagining" of the team that will lead them on adventures to "unexpected corners" of the DC Universe.
9 CONSTANTINE
Recently, the CW Seed created a brand-new animated Constantine series with Matt Ryan, which fit well since it already aired the live-action Constantine as well. It looks like that might be short-lived as the DC Universe has announced Constantine is coming to their streaming service.
This will be an interesting proposition. NBC canceled Constantine despite an uproar from fans and then Ryan returned as the character on the CW show Legends of Tomorrow. There are even rumors that he will become a regular cast member of that series, making us wonder if the arrival of Constantine will mean other CW shows might move from Netflix to DC streaming in the future.
8 SWAMP THING
The DC Universe streaming service is taking a huge chance with a new live-action version of Swamp Thing. This isn't the first time that Swamp Thing has seen a live-action adaptation with two movies made in the '80s -- the first directed by Wes Craven. This was also followed by a TV series with Dick Durock reprising the role for three seasons.
The new Swamp Thing live-action series is tabbed as a drama that follows Abby Arcane, a researcher who is investigating a swamp-born virus, only to lose her lover Alec Holland. As DC Comics fans know, Holland becomes Swamp Thing, and it sounds like the series is more interested in the relationship between the two rather than a traditional superhero adventure.
7 STATIC SHOCK
DC has had its fair share of amazing animated television shows air over the years. One of the better shows often overlooked and underrated is Static Shock, which aired for four seasons, starting in 2000. While the show was aimed at a pre-teen audience due to its placement on Kids' WB daytime television, it was still a breath of fresh air and something different at the time.
A lot of animated comic book cartoons at the time were aimed towards older audiences and included adult themes. Static Shock was aimed squarely at kids but remained smart and fun, picking up critical and awards acclaim over the years. Now, DC fans can rediscover it because it is coming to their streaming service.
6 JUSTICE LEAGUE
There are some DC Comics properties that were not included on the list of shows advertised as coming to the DC Universe streaming service at launch. However, with all the great animated shows coming to DC, one that has to make the jump someday soon is the Justice League animated series. Super Friends is coming so the JLA can't be left behind.
Justice League ran on Cartoon Network for two seasons and then was replaced by the equally great Justice League Unlimited, which ran for three seasons. While the core heroes were here, this series made many others extremely popular -- from John Stewart and Booster Gold to Hawkgirl. The show was smart and entertaining and is one of the most anticipated cartoons that DC streaming needs to add.
5 OLD-SCHOOL BATMAN
While Wonder Woman is coming immediately for the DC Universe streaming service and even The Flash was listed in the announcement, one show that wasn't mentioned but needs to arrive ASAP is the 1960s Batman TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward.
While the show is nothing like what fans today think of when they imagine Batman, it holds a place in history as one of the most iconic versions of the Caped Crusader in history. Add in the fact that Cesar Romero (Joker), Burgess Meredith (Penguin), Frank Gorshin (Riddler) and Julie Newmar (Catwoman) remain icons to this day, and classic Batman is something DC needs to bring to its service now.
4 BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES
While '60s-era Batman might not be announced as coming to the DC Universe streaming service yet, the most successful animated Batman franchise is on the way. Batman: The Animated Series was listed in the announcement as one of the series hitting the lineup when it starts.
While it only lasted for two seasons, that equaled an amazing 85 episodes and made Kevin Conroy the voice that most animated Batman fans recognize as the one true Batman. Add in Mark Hamill as The Joker, and this series was one of the most beloved cartoons in DC Comics history. The show was so successful that it even spawned a theatrical movie in 1993 with Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.
3 TITANS
The brand-new live-action series getting the most attention for the DC Universe streaming service is Titans. The show is based on the popular Teen Titans and there have been many images released of the costumes and actors in the series with some getting praise (Robin) and others more polarizing (Starfire).
The show will focus on Dick Grayson as the team leader as he gives up his role as Robin to become Nightwing. While the looks of characters like Beast Boy have some fans worried, this is still one of the shows DC is putting all its weight behind. There is also hope that the new Titans series will lead to the animated Teen Titans finding a new home on DC Universe streaming as well.
2 BATMAN BEYOND
Interestingly, Batman Beyond was not listed among the animated TV series set for the launch of the DC Universe streaming service. However, while the show was not listed, the movie Batman Beyond: The Return of Joker was on the slate making it look like the TV show shouldn't be far behind.
This is a hugely anticipated addition that needs to show up on the new streaming service. Airing for three seasons and 52 episodes, the series takes place in the future when Bruce Wayne is old and retired and a new Batman bursts onto the scene in Terry McGinnis. This is officially a sequel to Batman: The Animated Series, which is coming at launch, so hopes are high that this is coming soon.
1 YOUNG JUSTICE: OUTSIDERS
Easily the most anticipated new series coming to the DC Universe streaming network is the third season of Young Justice, officially titled Young Justice: Outsiders. It seems almost hard to believe that Young Justice only lasted two seasons and 46 episodes, as it holds a spot in most DC fans' eyes as the greatest animated series to ever come from the comic company.
Cartoon Network canceled Young Justice in 2013 and fans have clamored for a revival for five years now. With DC controlling its own streaming service now, it can bring back the beloved characters of Robin, Superboy, Miss Martian, Aqualad, Artemis and Kid Flash and set them loose for more adventures. Twenty-six episodes were ordered for season three.