Shows like X-Men ’97 are proving that a trip to the past does not need to feel like retreading old ground. Reboots and revivals often feel like lazy cash grabs in a media landscape starved for original ideas, but a select few capture pure nostalgic magic. Disney+ pulled off a miraculous balancing act with this revival. The creators successfully captured the Saturday-morning excitement of the original 1990s animated series while updating its themes to reflect the complexities of the modern world. It is unapologetically bold, remarkably colorful, and deeply emotionally resonant.
If you just finished the latest season and need more shows like X-Men ’97 that respect their source material with the exact same level of care, add these nine stellar series to your immediate watchlist.
1. Masters of the Universe (2021 – 2024)
Kevin Smith’s return to the world of Eternia operates on a very similar wavelength to our favorite mutant revival. Rather than completely rebooting the beloved 1980s property, Revelation (and its follow-up, Revolution) acts as a direct, faithful continuation. It deepens the lore and matures the themes without losing the vibrant spirit of the original cartoon. Picking up after a cataclysmic final clash between He-Man and Skeletor, the story follows Teela on a sprawling, magic-restoring quest that finally pays off narrative hints dropped decades ago.
2. Castlevania (2017 – 2021)
This visually stunning animated series serves as a sprawling adaptation (and loose prequel) to the 1989 classic video game, Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. When Dracula’s human wife is wrongfully executed, the heartbroken vampire lord unleashes an apocalyptic war on humanity. It takes a notoriously simple video game premise and transforms it into a breathtaking, blood-soaked epic driven by an unlikely trio: disgraced monster hunter Trevor Belmont, the magic-wielding Sypha, and Dracula’s half-human son, Alucard.
3. Young Justice (2010 – 2022)
While not a revival, this acclaimed DC Comics adaptation shares a fierce dedication to rich character development and mature, serialized storytelling. Following the teenage sidekicks of the Justice League, the show effortlessly blends high-stakes superhero action with compelling interpersonal drama. Despite facing a devastating cancellation early in its run, massive fan support helped resurrect the series across multiple streaming platforms, ensuring this masterclass in comic book storytelling lived on.
4. Cobra Kai (2018 – 2025)
Though it trades mutant superpowers for martial arts, this live-action sequel series perfectly executed the “legacy continuation” formula years before the mutants returned to our screens. By shifting the perspective to the original film’s antagonist, Johnny Lawrence, and introducing a brand-new generation of karate-obsessed teens, Cobra Kai completely reignited The Karate Kid franchise. It is a wildly entertaining soap opera packed with dojo rivalries and surprisingly deep character arcs.
5. The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008 – 2009)
While the 1990s Spider-Man animated series shares a direct continuity crossover with the original mutant roster, this 2008 adaptation remains the absolute gold standard for the web-slinger. Over two brilliant seasons, it perfectly balances Peter Parker’s stressful high school life with his chaotic superhero responsibilities. It is such a definitive, beloved take on the character that this specific version of Peter Parker even earned a coveted cameo in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
6. Creature Commandos (2024 – )
If you enjoy ensemble team-dynamics but want something considerably darker, this animated entry into the DC Universe is a fantastic pivot. When Amanda Waller is barred from utilizing human operatives for her black-ops missions, she forms a lethal strike force comprised entirely of literal monsters. Featuring a wildly eclectic roster—including Frankenstein, a radioactive doctor, and a deranged weasel—this hyper-violent series balances incredibly dark humor with a surprising amount of genuine heart.
7. Doom Patrol (2019 – 2023)
Historically, the Doom Patrol and the X-Men share uncanny comic book origins: both debuted in 1963, both feature a team of superpowered outcasts led by a genius in a wheelchair, and both fight the “Brotherhood of Evil.” However, while the mutants became a massive mainstream phenomenon, the Doom Patrol embraced utter absurdity. This live-action series is wonderfully weird, featuring a sentient genderqueer street and a muscle-bound hero who alters reality by flexing. Yet beneath the bizarre exterior lies a profound, character-driven exploration of trauma, guilt, and found family.
8. Gargoyles (1994 – 1997)
If we are discussing iconic 90s animation, this dark, mythological masterpiece demands a spot on your list. After being frozen in stone for a millennium, a clan of Scottish gargoyles awakens in modern-day Manhattan to serve as the city’s nocturnal protectors. Much like the best superhero team shows, Gargoyles was heavily celebrated for its intricate plotting, Shakespearean drama, and complex interpersonal dynamics.
9. My Hero Academia (2016 – 2026)
This massive anime sensation essentially flips the standard superhero premise upside down: what if possessing powers was the absolute norm, and being ordinary made you the outcast? In a society where nearly everyone has a “quirk,” Izuku Midoriya is born completely powerless and constantly bullied. After a chance encounter with the world’s greatest hero, he inherits an incredible ability and enrolls in a prestigious academy. It is a brilliant, action-packed coming-of-age story that tackles prejudice, societal expectations, and the true meaning of heroism.
