The Best Superhero Anime

Since the debut of Superman in the 1930s, superheroes have remained a popular fixture in modern culture, so much so that they’ve bled into anime. From a hero powerful enough to take out enemies with one punch to an android fighting crime, anime is replete with superheroes that have made their own mark in the world.

Some of these heroes were born with superpowers, while others had to claw their way to victory. Each of these stories has its very own nemeses, one that helps to shape them into the superheroes they are. With that being said, these are the very best superhero anime to watch right now.

10

Samurai Flamenco

(2013)

Samurai Flamenco is an interesting one in the superhero genre. The protagonist, unlike most entries in this list, does not have any special abilities that help him fight crime. Instead, its main character, Masayoshi Hazama, is just a normal guy whose childhood dream of being a hero never left him.

Masayoshi lives alone, working during the day as a fashion model. But at night, he dons his ‘hero suit’ and takes on the alias ‘Samurai Flamenco’. Samurai Flamenco is a refreshing take on the superhero genre, where the hero has to climb and grind to the top without any superpowers. There is no sort of divine intervention where he is granted powers and it’s extremely realistic and relatable among other superhero anime.

9

Zetman

(2012)

Zetman tells the story of Kanzaki Jin, who was the product of the ZET Project alongside other ‘Players’. These Players were humans who were successfully turned into monsters, made to kill one another for the amusement of the extremely wealthy. Jin was saved as a baby and raised by the head of the ZET Project, Kanzaki Gorou.

Jin grew up to use his superhuman abilities to stop other deranged Players and criminals. When it comes to superhero anime, Zetman stands out due to its fearlessness in showing blood and gore. The series follows a similar format to other anime in the genre, but it has a well-written storyline and relatable, likeable characters.

8

Heroman

(2010)

Heroman is a collaboration between Marvel comic book creator Stan Lee and Japanese animation studio Bones. The anime takes place in a fictional city in California, where our main hero, Joey Jones, lives with his grandmother. Joey aspires to become a hero, believing that a new toy robot, Heybo, will help him accomplish his dreams.

After getting his hands on a Heybo, Joey begins living out his dreams after a stray bolt of lightning brings his Heybo to life. Ultimately, Heroman ticks all the boxes for storyline conception and execution, and is still an enjoyable watch nearly two decades since its release.

7

Darker Than Black: Kuro No Keiyakusha

(2007)

2007’s Darker Than Black takes place on an alternate, post-apocalyptic Earth where a strange phenomenon known as the Hell’s Gate has taken over Japan, covering the sky with a dark, artificial imitation.

As a result of Hell’s Gate, individuals known as Contractors begin to emerge. Kept a government secret, Contractors have supernatural abilities, but these powers come at a cost that varies from user to user. Darker Than Black is not your archetypal superhero anime, with an anti-hero type protagonist with an intriguing narrative arc that’ll have you hooked.

6

Sailor Moon

(1992)

Sailor Moon is one of the most popular and recognisable franchises in the world. The series follows the life story and adventures of Usagi Tsukino, who was once your average, everyday teenage girl until she was gifted the power to shift into Sailor Moon by a magical cat called Luna.

Usagi’s main mission is to take down the Dark Kingdom and its evil lackeys while trying to find the Moon Princess (not realising she’s an incarnation). From the dashing and iconic Tuxedo Mask to the indomitable Queen Beryl, the story of Sailor Moon remains an iconic, rewatchable series to this day.

5

Astro Boy

(1963)

A timeless classic in every sense of the word, Astro Boy is a total trailblazer in the anime space. Since it first premiered in 1963, the series instantly drew attention with its unique art style, complex and intriguing storylines, and excellent characters.

Astro Boy tells the tale of a robot child built by Doctor Tenma to help him recover from the grief of losing his son. As a high-powered android, Astro has extreme durability, strength, super sharp hearing, and many other abilities. Throughout the series, Astro is the consummate superhero, possessing a strong sense of justice and fighting criminals left and right.

4

Inuyashiki: Last Hero

(2017)

Inuyashiki: Last Hero follows the tale of Inuyashiki Ichirou and Shishigami Hiro. Both men were accidentally killed by an alien airship but were rebuilt as robots, granting them immense durability and unimaginable powers. However, Inuyashiki and Shishigami are polar opposites.

While Inuyashiki uses his power for good, Shishigami becomes drunk at his new invincibility and goes on a reckless killing spree. The anime does an excellent job of presenting the two stark contrasts in Inuyashiki and Shishigami, as well as the moral conflict that sparks throughout the series, along with the well-written storylines for all its characters.

3

Tiger & Bunny

(2011)

Tiger & Bunny is an excellent and underrated superhero anime. The anime is set in Sternbild City, where Heroes are televised and commercialised to high heaven. In this world, a select few develop special abilities and are categorised by the government as ‘NEXT’.

Wild Tiger, real name Kaburagi Kotetsu, is the main protagonist of the series, a veteran hero who struggles to maintain viewership points while despising the fame-based system he works in. He is forcibly paired up with rising star Barnaby Brookes Jr to clean up crime. Tiger & Bunny not only gives you a treat with its sleek art style but also its well-written character progression, with Wild Tiger and Barnaby’s growing relationship executed well on screen.

2

One-Punch Man

(2015)

One-Punch Man is set in a world plagued with eldritch monsters that threaten the lives of everyday people. Although there are heroes of every rank and power to respond to the situation, Saitama rises above it all as the strongest living being in the world. Due to a strict exercise routine, Saitama gained the strength to kill monsters with one punch. However, this comes at the expense of his hair.

Despite his overwhelming power, Saitama manages to slip under the Hero Association’s radar due to a series of comical misunderstandings. One-Punch Man shines by not only giving you endless entertainment through Saitama and Genos, but it also broaches the question about power and the purpose of life after you’ve reached the peak.

1

My Hero Academia

(2016)

The brainchild of Horikoshi Kohei, My Hero Academia takes place in an alternate, futuristic world where meta-abilities known as Quirks spread among the human population. As a result, Pro-Heroes became a real occupation, tasked with capturing and restraining Villains.

The story follows Midoriya Izuku, a high schooler who dreams of becoming a Pro-Hero, but never developed a Quirk. In a twist of fortune, Midoriya was selected by the Symbol of Peace, All Might, as the next holder of One For All.

My Hero Academia is one of the best superhero anime ever created, with an interesting and entertaining cast of characters. The anime does well in giving secondary characters their time in the sun, as well as crafting solid backstories for its characters in a world that’s not as black and white as it seemed.