When it comes to superhero adventures, Marvel and DC – the “Big Two” comic book publishers – tend to dominate the discussion. This isn’t limited to comics, either; the characters owned by Marvel and DC are easily the most visible (and as a result, most talked about) costumed crime-fighters in the film, television and video game industries, too.

But that doesn’t mean that every superhero movie released over the years has been a Big Two brainchild. On the contrary, flicks based on indie comic book heroes published by the likes of Image and Dark Horse have found their way into cinemas, as well. What’s more, there have also been films headlined by spandex-clad do-gooders who were created entirely for the screen, without having ever appeared in pen-and-ink form before.

Given the lower profile typically attached to non-Marvel and DC superhero movies, we thought we’d spotlight the best examples out there. At the same time, we’ve also decided to flag some of the very worst, so that you can avoid investing your time in a dud “cap and tights” outing.

Before we jump into the list, we should quickly point out that we came up with a few selection criteria to keep things manageable. For starters, we’ve ruled out any straight-to-DVD efforts – otherwise this list would have devolved into an endless stream of terrible sequels. We’ve also tried to be very strict in our definition of what a “superhero” actually is, which eliminates The Matrix and other movies partly (but not solely) influenced by the genre.

All that said, we present The 10 Worst And 10 Best Superhero Movies (That Aren’t Marvel Or DC) for your consideration!

Worst: Spawn

Created by maverick superstar artist Todd Macfarlane as one of the launch characters for Image Comics, supernatural superhero Spawn maintains a devoted following nearly 30 years later. That said, even the most ardent fan would it that 1997’s Spawn was an abysmal film. Much of the movie’s appeal when it was released were its then-incredible visual effects, which have since aged terribly.

Without its CGI crutch to lean on, Spawn’s many faults become even more pronounced – most notably, a feeble plot and middling performances from its cast. True, John Leguizamo is suitably irritating as demented clown The Violator, but Michael J. White is flat as Spawn, while veteran actor Martin Sheen is a poor fit for villain Jason Wynn. Here’s hoping the reboot finally delivers the film fans are craving.

Best: Hellboy

Eschewing the excessive CGI that often plagues superhero movies, Oscar-winning auteur Guillermo del Toro opted to have prosthetics and animatronics take center stage in Hellboy. The result is a visually stunning adaptation of Mike Mignola’s Dark Horse comics series starring good-hearted demon Hellboy and his fellow paranormal investors.

ittedly, del Toro occasionally crunches tonal gears trying to shift between rollicking supernatural shenanigans and quirky humor. Nevertheless, Ron Perlman is perfect in the title role, and Hellboy such an enjoyable romp, it’s easy to overlook any flaws.

Impressively, del Toro hit it out of the park again with follow-up Hellboy II: The Golden Army – which is as good (or even better than) the original – although box office returns weren’t quite good enough to bankroll another sequel, and a reboot is on the way this year.

Worst: Flash Gordon

Ok, we get it: there is a lot to love about Flash Gordon, a film that serves as the very definition of “cult classic”. For one thing, it boasts a soundtrack – including a truly iconic main theme – by none other than rock legends Queen. Then there are the outrageous costume designs, vivid visual effects, and scenery-chewing performances by acting greats like Max von Sydow and Brian Blessed to consider.

However, there’s also plenty not to love about Flash Gordon. Sam J. Jones is wooden as the eponymous football star turned intergalactic champion, and the special effects aren’t exactly best in class. And even if you can overlook these two rather significant shortcomings, your enjoyment of Flash Gordon will still depend on how much appetite you have for campy superhero adaptations.

Best: Megamind

Megamind is far from the most original movie on this list – to be honest, it’s basically a mash-up of The Incredibles and Despicable Me. But while it might not break any new ground, what director Tom McGrath’s animated family feature about a super-villain who discovers his inner hero does do, it does well.

The character designs are colorful, the animation slick and the jokes funny. But what really earns Megamind the thumbs up is its roster of stellar vocal talent led by Will Farrell, who deserve much of the credit for ensuring most of the gags land. So while Megamind might not reinvent the superhero movie formula, it’s never anything less than entertaining.

Worst: Bulletproof Monk

Fans of Bulletproof Monk by Brett Lewis and Michael Avon Oeming will be quick to point out just how little it has in common with its poorly received big screen counterpart. There’s a reason for their haste to set the record straight: Paul Hunter’s movie isn’t very good…like, at all.

Yes, the broad strokes of the original Bulletproof Monk story made it onto the big screen (albeit very badly mangled) – and martial arts star Chow-Yun Fat fits the Nameless Monk role like a glove. However, Seann William Scott is far less satisfying as plucky sidekick Kar, and the whole endeavor is undermined by a weak script, bland visual effects and, most of all, curiously pedestrian action scenes.

Best: The Rocketeer

A fun throwback to the Saturday matinee serials of the 1930s and '40s, The Rocketeer is brimming with retro charm and thrilling derring-do. Director Joe Johnston’s take on Dave Stevens comics series ticks all the right boxes: the good guys are square-jawed, the villains dastardly and the dialogue sprinkled with just the right amount of cheese.

It’s true that the more adult elements of the original funny-books were toned down at the behest of Walt Disney Pictures. Yet Johnson faithfully captures the spirit of Stevens’ work, and has translated as much of the comics’ world into live-action, right down to the iconic helmet worn by lead Billy Campbell. Sadly, The Rocketeer was one of several '90s period piece superhero ts to tank at the box office, but owing to its strong cult following, a soft reboot is currently in production.

Worst: The Meteor Man

Decades before Black Panther took the world by storm, another superhero movie arrived in theaters that featured a predominantly black cast and crew: The Meteor Man. But that’s where the similarities end between Marvel’s blockbuster smash-hit and Robert Townsend’s action/comedy superhero adventure.

It’s not that Meteor Man isn’t well-intentioned, or that it’s lacking in heart. You can definitely tell that everyone involved was trying to make something truly special. But Jackson – who not only plays the titular role, but also penned the script and sat in the director’s chair – has saddled himself with a sitcom-esque screenplay that oscillates wildly from broad laughs to clumsy melodrama. Occasionally, it does elicit a chuckle or a gasp – but these moments are few and far between.

Best: Darkman

Sam Raimi propelled himself onto the Hollywood A-list with the original Spider-Man trilogy in the 2000s, but he first enjoyed more modest success in 1990 with another superhero picture, Darkman. Intriguingly, Raimi initially set out to helm either Batman Forever or The Shadow, but he was ultimately forced to create his own character, instead.

Fortunately, Darkman turned out to be an inspired invention, with his tragic origin, distinctive aesthetic and stripped-back powers. It doesn’t hurt that Raimi was able to recruit an actor of Liam Neeson’s caliber to play the part, and he – along with the presence of two-time Oscar winner s McDormand as love interest Julie – really elevates proceedings. Their acting prowess, coupled with the infectious glee with which Raimi approaches the pulpy subject matter, makes Darkman well worth checking out.

Worst: The Phantom

The Phantom is another of those '90s superhero movies with a period setting that earned the dubious label “box office bomb”. In many ways, Simon Wincer and his cast and crew were unlucky – this cinematic version of Lee Falk’s long-running comic strip isn’t awful by any means. Indeed, Billy Zane serves up a likeable performance as mythic jungle adventurer The Phantom, and there’s an appealing, Indiana Jones vibe to Jeffrey Boam’s breezy screenplay – fitting, since he wrote The Last Crusade!

But Wincer and co. made more than a few critical missteps when bringing The Phantom to cinemas. For one thing, Treat Williams is unbearably grating as the obnoxious (and nasal) antagonist, ruthless industrialist Xander Drax. Then there are the Skulls of Toganda, the mystical McGuffin driving the narrative, which don’t really fit with the established mythos of Falk’s canon.

Best: The Mask

Based on an obscure Dark Horse Comics series, The Mask marries a performance by Jim Carrey at the peak of his OTT comedic powers with groundbreaking CGI courtesy of ILM. The outcome of this union only superficially resembles the comics run by John Arcudi, Chris Warner and Doug Mahnke on which it’s based, which isn’t exactly a good thing. Indeed, The Mask has more in common with the classic Looney Tunes shorts overseen by Tex Avery – and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, either.

Certainly, the rapid-fire pace of the zany humor means that you’re never bored and often amused – and the visual effects employed to realize the Mask’s live-action cartoon shtick largely hold-up today. But Carrey’s hyperactive, kinetic stylings remain the best effect of all, while Cameron Diaz is effective as female lead Tina (her breakout role).