If you told seven-year-old me that superhero movies would be as polished, epic, and bombastic as they’ve since become, I probably would’ve responded with the closest thing to a curse word I knew at the time. No one would’ve expected Iron Man or The Avengers back then; most comic book-inspired media was less The Dark Knight and more Superman IV, and we were grateful even to have that. The superhero genre’s past is much cheesier than modern-day fans are aware of or care to remember, but the Warner Archive Collection hasn’t forgotten. For those fans who want a look at the low-budget roots from whence today’s blockbusters came, Warner Archive offers a pair of made-for-television properties to fulfill your curiosity: the ensemble escapade Legends of the Superheroes and would-be pilot The Spirit.

Legends of the Superheroes (1979)

Did you think the ‘60s “Batman” TV show was as goofy as the Dark Knight ever got? Just wait until you see Legends of the Superheroes, a two-part special teaming Adam West’s Caped Crusader and Burt Ward’s Robin with other DC Comics characters in their silliest adventures yet. “The Challenge” sees the likes of Batman, Green Lantern, Black Canary, and other good guys racing to stop supervillains including Solomon Grundy and Sinestro from wiping everyone from the face of the earth. But things get less stressful in “The Roast,” in which the heroes are joined by Ed McMahon himself to pay tribute with some of the most awful stand-up routines you’ve ever heard. Produced by the legendary Hanna-Barbera studio, Legends of the Superheroes is a lot like the old “Batman” show, in that being truly entertained by it requires one’s age to be in the single digits. To be fair, this is kind of an ambitious project, with an expansive line-up of do-gooders and baddies, all of whom are decked out in colorful outfits sure to catch the eyes of kids. But the gags can be absolutely painful at times, with even the special not intended as a comedy sketch show filled with go-nowhere set pieces that seem to last for an eternity. I’m all for having a good time with a medium that’s gotten the dark and gritty treatment in the movies, but Legends of the Superheroes is almost condescendingly dumb and, in the end, no laughing matter.

The Spirit (1987)

Denny Colt (Sam Jones) is an honest cop on the trail of the men who killed his mentor. But when said thugs leave him for dead, Denny goes underground, donning a domino mask and busting up bad guys as a vigilante known as “The Spirit.” Twentysomething years before Frank Miller did whatever that was supposed to be with Will Eisner’s classic creation, an attempt was made to bring the costumed crimefighter from the comics to the small screen. Alas, The Spirit never made it past the pilot stage -- which is unfortunate, since it’s actually kind of fun. It’s no worse off than other ‘80s cop shows, and because it shows a sense of humor about itself, it’s at somewhat of an advantage. The Spirit jests at the expense of its source material’s hokier elements (indeed, jokes are made about Denny’s barely-effective mask), but it’s always good-natured and never disrespectful. The story is the usual routine about taking down art forgers and blah blah blah, though since this was intended to be the first in series of adventures, you can’t blame the filmmakers too much for playing it safe to start. The Spirit ends up as an affectionate slice of corny comic goodness, a show that never was -- but one a young yours truly probably would’ve had fun tuning into.

(The Spirit and Legends of the Superheroes are available to purchase through the Warner Archive Collection.)