Random Cartoon Comic Book Movies That Are Better Than Live-Action Superhero Movies (15 items)

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  (#5) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1

  • Ariel Winter, Michael Emerson, Peter Weller, Michael McKean, Mark Valley, Wade Williams, David Selby

  Simply put, The Dark Knight Returns is one of the greatest graphic novels ever made. Thus, it’s no surprise that the animated version, which is essentially a shot-for-shot adaptation, is also amazing. The film was split into two parts, and is incredibly faithful to Frank Miller’s ever-relevant masterpiece. The only thing the film is missing when compared to the comics is Batman’s inner monologue, but the movie more than makes up for it with beautifully rendered action sequences. Batman and the Joker’s battle in the Tunnel of Love is a particularly memorable moment, and perhaps their greatest battle on film to date. 
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  (#2) Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

  • Dana Delany, Nathan Fillion, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd, Michael B. Jordan, Justin Chambers, C. Thomas Howell, Cary Elwes, Kevin Conroy, Vanessa Marshall

  Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is really more of a Flash movie than a Justice League movie, but it's no less awesome for it. The Flashpoint event in the comics helped reset DC continuity, and the film version also helped kick off a new animated continuity. Flashpoint Paradox does what very few superhero films have successfully done, by making time travel work as a concept. Flash’s time-meddling results in a wildly different and deliciously dark DC universe, where Thomas Wayne is Batman and Aquaman is at war with Wonder Woman. The world of Flashpoint is just plain cool, and there’s an excellent plot to boot. 
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  (#7) The Incredibles

  • Samuel L. Jackson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee, Craig T. Nelson, Wallace Shawn, Brad Bird, John Ratzenberger, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Sarah Vowell, Elizabeth Peña, Joe Ranft, Lou Romano, Bob Peterson, Bud Luckey, Jean Sincere, Spencer Fox, Peter Sohn, Brad Lewis, Frank Thomas, Jeff Pidgeon, Ollie Johnston, Teddy Newton, Dominique Louis, Bret Parker, Mark Andrews, Nicholas Bird, Maeve Andrews, Patrick Walker, Stephen Schaffer, Eli Fucile, Bob Scott, A. J. Riebli, Michael Bird, Pamela Gaye Walker, Jazzie Mahannah, Elizabeth Greenberg, Kimberly Adair Clark, Lori Richardson, Louis Martin Braga III, Wayne Canney, Katherine Ringgold, Mary Elizabeth Clark, Christopher Leyva, Ted Mathot, Randy Nelson, Deirdre Warin, Philip Wong, Dennis 'D.J.' Jennings, Juliet Greenberg, Billy Guardino, Juliet Pokorny

  The Incredibles is the greatest Fantastic Four movie ever made in everything but name. Whereas Fox Studios has produced several floppy attempts at getting a FF franchise off the ground, Disney's Pixar already seems to have perfected the formula for a family superhero team with their 2004 classic. The Incredibles, who are essentially an off-brand version of the Fantastic Four, are energetic, likeable, and interact with each other in realistic and believable ways like a real family. Who knew that people would enjoy superhero movies that were actually fun to watch?
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  (#10) Planet Hulk

  Planet Hulk is an adaptation of one of the most popular Hulk stories ever, in which Hulk finds himself marooned on an alien planet and forced into gladiatorial combat. It’s basically Gladiator starring the Hulk, and that might be the greatest pitch ever made for a movie. Despite featuring more than its fair share of action, Planet Hulk also succeeds at humanizing the jade giant in a way that's rarely achieved. In addition, Planet Hulk features a great battle between Hulk and the Silver Surfer that isn’t possible in the Marvel Cinematic Universe due to rights issues. 
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  (#3) Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

  • Mark Hamill, Dana Delany, Marilu Henner, Abe Vigoda, Stacy Keach, Dick Miller, Jeff Bennett, Kevin Conroy, Robert Costanzo, Hart Bochner, Bob Hastings, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

  Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is one of the first feature-length animated comic book films. It actually received a theatrical release in 1993. Heavily influenced by the successful Batman: The Animated Series, the movie lived up to the hype. It’s regarded as one of the best Batman stories out there, and certainly as one of the greatest mysteries that Bruce Wayne ever solved. The plot features roles for several of Batman’s greatest enemies, but it’s the reveal of the true identity of the titular Phantasm that makes it a memorable story.
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  (#9) Big Hero 6

  • Jamie Chung, Maya Rudolph, Génesis Rodríguez, James Cromwell, Alan Tudyk, T. J. Miller, Daniel Henney, Damon Wayans, Jr., Abraham Benrubi, Scott Adsit, Katie Lowes, Ryan Potter

  Big Hero 6 is the first animated film since Disney purchased Marvel. Nonetheless, Disney hit it out of the park with their first try, as Big Hero 6 was a critical success and a fan favorite. The film took a very obscure team from the comics and crafted a sweet, heartfelt, and downright funny tale from their limited published history. Surprisingly, Baymax became the breakout character of the year. 

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