Superhero stories, from comic books to Marvel, have always been popular. Live-action superhero stories are always a good time, especially those filled with slapstick humor. Any real Nickelodeon fan will say three shows stand out from the rest. From Swellview to Hiddenville, Henry Danger, Danger Force, and The Thundermans are three live-action 30-minute shows worth watching. 

Growing up, my favorite show was Henry Danger. Set in present-day Swellview, it follows a young boy named Henry who searches for an after-school job. Instead of a typical job, he becomes the sidekick of the famous Captain Man, who is dedicated to protecting Swellview from the criminals that roam the streets. They spend most of their time in the secret man cave below their junk shop with all their hidden rooms and contraptions. With help from his two best friends, Jasper and Charlotte, and their tech genius Schwoz, the team goes on adventures battling man-babies, time jerkers, crazy doctors, and many more, all while trying to keep their identities a secret. I love this show, particularly because of the slapstick humor. Jace Norman was famous for his funny quips and stunts that would make all of his interactions memorable. Spanning six years and 5 seasons, this show is worth watching.

Remaining in Swellview, Danger Force was a spin-off series of Henry Danger that aired in 2020. While many of the OG characters left, a few remained. Ray Manchester, AKA Captain Man, finds four new kids with their own special powers to replace Henry after he leaves. These four kids also have to protect their identities, so they go to superhero school  (which Captain Man created) every day and fight crime at night. The biggest difference between this show and Henry Danger is that it is aimed more at kids than teens. The villains are more watered down, and the crimes are not as dangerous, however, this is the only large difference between the two. While this show was interrupted due to the pandemic, they continued to play at-home episodes and even released a song called “This Gas Will Pass,” sung by one of my favorite villains, Frankini. Unfortunately, while the show did not come back after COVID-19, it is a must-watch for anyone who loves Henry Danger as much as I do. 

Lastly, taking a trip over to Hiddenville’s present-day setting, siblings Phoebe and Max Thunderman must prove their worthiness to their family and protect their town, all while balancing their crazy family and nosy neighbors. The most regular set is Hiddenville High, where they all attend school. The Thundermans is a perfect coming-of-age teen comedy. Similar to Henry Danger, there are both cynical villains like lord Dark Mayhem and regular people who are always causing problems for the family. One of the recurring characters is Principal Bradford, who is always getting in the way and meddling with The Thundermans’ private affairs. They spend half of their time battling villains and trying to keep their identities a secret. Spanning 5 years and 4 seasons, this show will give you a great laugh along with some real-world skills. 

While the shows technically aired on Teen Nick, they were more adult than any Disney Channel show or anything on Nick Kids, which appealed to me as a kid. And while Henry Danger and The Thundermans are over ten years old, they hold up quite well. So, if you have some extra time and nothing to watch, consider watching these three classics.