5 Superhero Anime You Need To Watch If You Love Marvel + DC
James Gunn says Superman (2025) takes cues from Godzilla Minus One and old-school tokusatsu classics like Ultraman. We can see that influence in the giant monsters, practical effects, and human drama throughout the film. But Western superheroes borrowing from Japan isn’t new. Long before Marvel and DC ruled the box office and the comic book stands, Japan was churning out its own costumed heroes too. From spandex-wearing cyborgs to high-school kids saving the world, these anime heroes pack the same punch as any cape-wearing Avenger. Want a change from the usual Superman vs Lex Luthor routine? Start with these five superhero anime and you might just find your new favorite hero.
1. My Hero Academia
Being a superhero is about more than just looking cool, posing in the sky and beating down bad guys. My Hero Academia understands this perfectly and gives us a glimpse into the darker side of the job and what it’s like to be under the public spotlight.
The story follows Izuku Midoriya, a kid born powerless in a world where nearly everyone has superpowers (known as quirks here). Everything changes when All Might, the most powerful hero in the world, gives him his power, called One for All. With these new abilities, Midoriya could become the greatest hero alive.
With flashy, comic book–style fight scenes and heavy themes like bullying and trauma, this is the anime you recommend to anyone who thinks superheroes are just for kids.
2. Tiger & Bunny
Think corporate sponsorships for superheroes sound ridiculous? Wait until you watch Tiger & Bunny, and suddenly it makes perfect sense. In this futuristic city, heroes called NEXT earn points for every heroic act, all broadcast live on Hero TV. The hero with the highest points becomes “The King of Heroes.”
The story pairs up veteran hero Kotetsu “Wild Tiger” Kaburagi with the younger and far more polished Barnaby Brooks Jr. They share the same powers, but their ideas about heroism clash constantly. The murder of Barnaby’s parents drives much of the plot, while a “villain of the week” format keeps things fresh in between the bigger mystery.
No official season 3 has been announced as of July 2025, but the creators have hinted that the story isn’t over.
3. Heroman
Marvel Comics’ Stan Lee didn’t just create Spider-Man and the X-Men. He also had a hand in this 2010 anime, and you can feel his superhero fingerprints all over it.
Heroman follows Joey, a poor American kid living with his grandmother who dreams of owning a toy robot called a Heybo. He finds a broken one, renames it Heroman, and, thanks to a freak lightning strike, watches it transform into a massive robot just in time to save his friend Lina. Soon, Joey and his new robotic partner become Earth’s last hope against an alien invasion by insect-like creatures called the Skrugg.
This isn’t just a flashy action series. It’s also about Joey figuring out what being a hero really means.
4. One Punch Man
What if Superman was bored out of his mind because he was too good at his job? That’s basically what One Punch Man is about. Saitama, one of the most powerful anime characters of all time, can defeat anyone with a single punch, and that becomes a problem. He’s just too strong and desperately craves a real fight.
The comedy lands perfectly, especially as Saitama gets stuck in a lowly C-Class hero ranking while his disciple, Genos, becomes an S-Class celebrity. Two seasons aren’t enough, and fans are impatiently waiting for season 3.
5. Astro Boy
Before any of these shows existed, there was 1963’s Astro Boy, a black-and-white TV series based on Osamu Tezuka’s 1952 manga. This is the show that pretty much helped define anime as we know it.
Set in 2013, it follows Atom, a robot boy created by a grieving scientist after his son dies in a car accident. Atom is abandoned, sold to a circus, and treated horribly until Professor Ochanomizu takes him in and encourages him to fight for justice.
Astro Boy explores what it really means to be human and why compassion matters, especially when the world doesn’t show it to you.
