16 Perfect Superhero TV Show Casting Choices That Nailed Their Characters

Live action TV shows focusing on comic book characters never used to be the subject of positive discussion. Sure, there was always Smallville, but much like the original Flash series that debuted 20 years ago, most shows were referred to in denigrative terms within geek circles. Often, serials were lampooned for their irreverent, sometimes unconventional methods of story-telling, and derided for their apparent disdain for what many fans saw as the unquestionable sanctity of comic book source material.

Ignoring the fact that, y'know, the '60s Batman show is the best comic book show of all time, said arguments do hold a degree of credibility.

Try as they might, that hasn't stopped the meteoric rise of comics on the small-screen, with some now dominating prime time slots on channels with millions of followers. Contrary to shows gone by, showrunners are now displaying a much-toted reverence for comic book source material.

With said dedication has also come a new style of performance; one that aims to depict their characters in a far more faithful light. This has become increasingly clear as the superhero genre has increased its presence onscreen, with Marvel Studios leading the charge on Netflix. Far from being the only service to hold such quality, actors on the CW, Fox and more have all stepped-up their A-game in recent years. Point being, you don't have to surf far to come across a truly magnificent performance.

Indeed, you don't have to look far to see some truly dynamite casting, and as the cross-medium superhero renaissance continues, the genre's all-out assault on TV may have paid off.

We kick off the list with what will be the first of many Netflix appearances, because let's face it, the streaming service pretty much owns the superhero genre. We've had three seasons of it so far, and with many more on the horizon, it must be said it's a fantastic time to be a comic book fan.

One such character who's set to receive his own TV show this autumn is Luke Cage, played by Mike Colter in the first season of Jessica Jones. He was one of the show's most prominent supporting characters, and Colter's performance is spot on - taking the Harlem-born hero and emulating his comic book persona with an almost effortless level of accuracy.

That element of physicality is certainly a massive boost to Colter's performance (Cage was always a character of immense strength, after all), but that's not all; the actor's blatant coolness manifests in a way that somehow shrouds a latent warmth. No matter how many quips, retorts or smackdowns the character delivers, Colter still manages to convey Cage's compassion in a manner appropriate to the character.