Over time there's been a number of fantastic superhero cartoons that are still revisited to this day. The likes of Batman: The Animated Series, Spectacular Spider-Man, and Justice League Unlimited are just some of the iconic animated shows that still have a devoted following. But while these shows are rightly praised, there's several other superhero cartoons that have unjustly fallen under the radar.
The term "reboot" is thrown around more than it should these days, but the shows on this list--some memorable, some maybe not as much--definitely deserve another chance in the spotlight, whether it's a reworking or an expansion of the original concept. So here are 10 Forgotten Superhero Cartoons That Deserve Reboots.
11 Cubix: Robots for Everyone (2001-2004)
Cubix followed a boy named Connor, who moves with his father to Bubble Town, home of the company RobixCorp. Connor befriends the kids at the local repair shop (and the shop's owner, Hela). He finds that there's one robot that's unfixed: Cubix, designed by Hela's father, RobixCorp's founder. Connor makes Cubix operate again, and the robot has the power to transform into almost anything thanks to the cubes that adorn his body. Aided by their friends, Connor and Cubix constantly thwart the plans of evil scientist Dr. K and work to uncover the mystery of Hela's missing father.
When it ended its initial run, Saban Brands got the rights to the English dub... only for Saban to close, forcing the rights over to Hasbro. Hasbro has no shortage of properties they've adapted, and with the success of Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy- Siege on Netflix, maybe Cubix could be next on their list of series to reboot for modern audiences.
10 Butt-Ugly Martians (2001-2003)
Butt-Ugly Martians was a short-lived series that aired on Nickelodeon that followed three martians sent by Mars's ruler to take over Earth, only for them to fall in love with Earth culture. After befriending a few teenagers, the martians decide to hang out on Earth instead, sending fake videos of themselves back to their ruler so that he doesn't think twice. The martians also fight intergalactic threats using armored suits.
While it wasn't always received well, its concept of aliens hanging out on Earth pretending to conquer it (whilst also saving it) has a lot of unexplored potential. In the right hands, a reboot for Nickelodeon could have a lot of fun sci-fi action and heroics, but also a modern pinch of bizarre dark humor (think Invader Zim/earlier episodes of Spongebob Squarepants) in regards to certain aspects of Earth living.
9 The Savage Dragon (1995-1996)
Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon was previously adapted into an animated series that ran on the USA Network for two seasons. It would be cool to see him make a comeback in an updated series that isn't afraid to show more aspects of Dragon and his world.
That possibility is low, as Larsen himself has made it clear that he's not interested in another animated series, and especially not a live-action movie. While it's respectable that he's not interested in adapting Dragon outside of the comics, a new series could work really well with the right people involved... if Larsen ever changes his mind, that is.
8 BraveStarr (1987-1988)
BraveStarr followed the adventures of Marshall BraveStarr, the Native American lawman of New Texas, a desert-like planet in the 23rd century. BraveStarr had the power to draw on the power of "spirit animals", which briefly give him superhuman abilities. He uses these abilities to defend the people of New Texas from numerous threats, aided by his horse-like companion and chief deputy Thirty/Thirty.
This property is just begging for a revamp; the Guardians of the Galaxy films have proven that there's still an audience out there for bizarre sci-fi stories, and a new version of BraveStarr could scratch that itch if done well.
7 The Centurions (1986)
Legendary comic artists Jack Kirby and Gil Kane consulted on this series, which followed a group of men who wore suits called "exo-frames" that allowed the men to fuse with assault weapon modules, forming mecha-style exosuits equipped with weapons. The Centurions were engaged in battle with Doc Terror, a cyborg and evil scientist who wants to rule the Earth and turn its people into his cyborg slaves.
It's unfortunate that the show didn't have a huge audience, but its overall aesthetic and plot still remain unique. A new series could build on the original, showcasing more weapons systems and larger threats to face.
6 Street Sharks (1994-1997)
While it was seen as an edgy TMNT rip-off in its heyday, a reboot of the underrated Street Sharks -- which saw four brothers turned into crime-fighting half-man, half-shark hybrids by a mad scientist -- could be a lot of fun.
A new take could actually take a page from the 2003 Ninja Turtles series: it could be darker compared to the 1980's version, but still have the same zaniness that made the original a blast. Whatever form it comes in, a new Street Sharks cartoon could be "fintastic", especially if Mattel gets Vin Diesel to promote it.
5 Bucky O'Hare & the Toad Wars (1991)
Based on the comic written by G.I. Joe creator Larry Hama, Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars followed the exploits of Bucky O'Hare, a green hare who captains a crew involved in a war against the ruthless Toad Empire, who want to enslave anyone that isn't an amphibian.
A rebooted series following Bucky and his crew seems like a good fit for that genre. Imagine it as a mix of Guardians of the Galaxy's humor and with the same kind of scope and galactic battles seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
4 Thundarr the Barbarian (1980-1981)
As implied by its title, Thundarr the Barbarian followed Thundarr, a warrior who travels a post-apocalyptic world with his companions, coming into conflict with powerful wizards and other creatures wherever they go. Thundarr himself wielded the Sunsword, which could cut through anything.
The show thrived on the vision of Steve Gerber and Jack Kirby's designs. The fantasy genre has gotten more popular through live-action series like Game of Thrones and The Witcher, and Thundarr could benefit from a series that updates his original stories.
3 Dynomutt, Dog Wonder (1976-1978)
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While this year's Scoob! failed to start a Hanna-Barbera Cinematic Universe, that doesn't mean that the company's characters don't work for modern audiences. Case in point: two of Scoob!'s major characters, Blue Falcon and Dynomutt, are more than deserving of another series. Well, let's rephrase that: the original versions of those characters -- the no-nonsense crime-fighter Radley Crown/Blue Falcon I and his bumbling, robotic sidekick Dynomutt -- deserve a new show.
A hand-drawn animated series that draws from the style and tone of Dexter's Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls would be the perfect fit for this duo, blending old-school superhero action with an irreverent sense of humor. If not that approach, then a series following the versions of the duo from Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated -- where Dynomutt was the sidekick to an ultra-violent, Dark Knight Returns-esque Blue Falcon --c ould be a lot of fun as well.
1 The Maxx (1995)
Based on Sam Kieth's comic series of the same name, this animated series notably made its way to MTV. The show follows The Maxx, who exists in two realities: the normal world and an alternate reality called "the Outback". In the real world The Maxx is a homeless man, whereas in the Outback he is the powerful protector of the "Jungle Queen", who's a social worker in the real world. The Maxx straddles these two realities as he protects his "Queen" from sinister forces.
The show was acclaimed for its differing animation styles and dark, complex content, but only lasted 13 episodes. With the presence of more psychological comic book adaptations like Legion and Joker, a revival of The Maxx with the same creative team could be a bigger hit now then it was then.