Every Batman TV show ever, ranked from worst to best

4. The Batman

If we were giving out an award for the most underrated of all the Batman shows, we'd have to give it to The Batman. A new animated series that began airing in 2004, it spent much of its run living in the shadow of the critically-acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, with constant comparisons between the two. But The Batman wasn't trying to be its predecessor; it was a very different show, and it did a wonderful job at finding its own unique identity in the midst of that.

The show focused on Bruce Wayne's early days as a Gotham City vigilante, when The Batman was only talked about but never actually seen in person. Over the course of five seasons, it charted his journey from urban legend to beloved hero as he battled all of his infamous foes for the first time ever, with fun adventures devoted to his first meetings with The Joker, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze, The Riddler, and more.

From its unique anime-inspired character designs and funky theme music to its compelling storylines, The Batman was an incredible thrill-ride that never got the love and appreciation it deserved when it first aired. Over the years, more and more people are discovering it and giving it that chance, which is honestly really cool.

The Batman was ahead of its time and it was an epic TV series at that.