Static Shock introduced a new kind of superhero: one grounded in real-life issues, inner-city struggles, and teenage self-discovery.
Virgil Hawkins’ journey from a bullied student to a hero with electromagnetic powers offered a refreshing mix of action, identity, and social commentary.
With themes like justice, family, prejudice, and redemption, the series struck a chord with fans who wanted more than just flashy fights.
The anime series below may not wear the same DC badge, but they echo Static Shock’s soul, blending underdog stories, power struggles, emotional growth, and cultural nuance.
These are the unsung titles that deserve more attention for delivering layered narratives through a superhero or supernatural lens.
1. Hamatora: The Animation (2014)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 6.9 | Episodes: 12
Studio: NAZ
Plot: In a city of superhumans called Minimum Holders, a detective duo solves crimes while unraveling a conspiracy against their kind.
Similarities: Combines street-smart characters, unique powers, and youth-led justice within a colorful but corrupt urban world.
2. Zetman (2012)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 6.9 | Episodes: 13
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Plot: Two boys—one bred for heroism, the other born to destroy—clash over what it means to be a protector.
Similarities: Explores genetic enhancement, duality of justice, and inner conflict much like Virgil vs Ebon dynamics.
3. Kekkai Sensen (Blood Blockade Battlefront) (2015)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 7.6 | Episodes: 12
Studio: Bones
Plot: After New York merges with another dimension, an unlikely hero joins a secret society to maintain balance.
Similarities: Urban sci-fi chaos, powers with side effects, and a teen protagonist thrown into heroism unexpectedly.
4. Michiko & Hatchin (2008)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.8 | Episodes: 22
Studio: Manglobe
Plot: A rebellious woman breaks out of prison to rescue a young girl from her abusive foster life in a Latin-inspired world.
Similarities: Gritty environments, character-driven drama, and real-world struggles against oppressive systems.
5. Megalo Box (2018)
Streaming: Netflix, Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 7.9 | Episodes: 13
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Plot: A nameless underground boxer fights his way to legitimacy using grit and raw skill, not the standard tech enhancements.
Similarities: Underdog tale with streetwise attitude, social critique, and powerful mentorship themes.
6. Mob Psycho 100 (2016)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Netflix
MAL Rating: 8.5 | Episodes: 25
Studio: Bones
Plot: A reserved teen with godlike psychic powers tries to live a normal life while suppressing his emotions.
Similarities: Young hero balancing overwhelming power with moral clarity, emotion, and personal growth.
7. B: The Beginning (2018)
Streaming: Netflix
MAL Rating: 7.2 | Episodes: 12
Studio: Production I.G
Plot: A supernatural vigilante and a genius detective collide as they uncover a government-led genetic experiment.
Similarities: Government manipulation of youth, vigilante ethics, and advanced powers echoing Bang Baby experimentation.
8. Darker than Black (2007)
Streaming: Hulu, Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.9 | Episodes: 25
Studio: Bones
Plot: Emotionless “Contractors” with supernatural powers are tools of espionage in a fractured Tokyo.
Similarities: Secret powers in a cynical world, identity struggles, and agency in morally gray environments.
9. No Guns Life (2019)
Streaming: Hulu
MAL Rating: 7.4 | Episodes: 24
Studio: Madhouse
Plot: A veteran with a gun for a head solves tech-crime cases in a dystopian world dominated by cybernetic humans.
Similarities: Post-human power systems, corporate greed, and the question of where humanity ends and weaponry begins.
10. The Reflection (2017)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 5.7 | Episodes: 12
Studio: Studio Deen
Plot: After a strange global event, superpowered individuals—both heroes and villains—emerge.
Similarities: Co-created by Stan Lee, this stylized series explores alienation, hero legacy, and public fear of powered youth.
11. Spriggan (2022)
Streaming: Netflix
MAL Rating: 6.9 | Episodes: 6
Studio: David Production
Plot: An elite teenage agent protects ancient artifacts from being misused in modern warfare.
Similarities: Weaponized youth, covert threats, and stylized action fused with mysticism.
12. Karas (2005)
Streaming: Amazon Prime
MAL Rating: 7.1 | Episodes: 6
Studio: Tatsunoko Production
Plot: In modern Tokyo, spiritual warriors defend the balance between humanity and the supernatural.
Similarities: Urban fantasy, dual identities, and a darker visual tone in the vein of Static Shock‘s mature arcs.
13. World Trigger (2014)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 7.5 | Episodes: 73 (Season 1)
Studio: Toei Animation
Plot: Earth’s defenders recruit teens to use alien tech in a war against interdimensional invaders.
Similarities: Team-based development, outsider themes, and evolving heroism from adolescence to responsibility.
14. Revisions (2019)
Streaming: Netflix
MAL Rating: 6.1 | Episodes: 12
Studio: Shirogumi
Plot: A group of students are transported to a future where they pilot mechs to protect a ravaged Tokyo.
Similarities: Youth vs fate conflict, futuristic powers, and skepticism of institutional authority.
15. Devilman Crybaby (2018)
Streaming: Netflix
MAL Rating: 7.8 | Episodes: 10
Studio: Science SARU
Plot: A sensitive teen becomes a demon-human hybrid to defend humanity from monstrous threats—and itself.
Similarities: Harsh themes of alienation, prejudice, and the cost of power echo Static’s most emotional arcs.
Why These Anime Work for Static Shock Fans
Whether it’s identity, justice, or systemic struggle, each of these anime reflects what Static Shock did so well: portray young people facing extraordinary challenges while fighting to protect what matters most.
These characters aren’t just heroes—they’re survivors, thinkers, and leaders. If you appreciated Virgil’s journey from high school student to community protector, you’ll find the same electric energy pulsing through these series, each one a bold take on what it means to be powered, principled, and painfully human.
