In most respects, we live in fraught times. Some comfort can be found in two good Batman and Superman animated shows airing new episodes.

Yeah, that sounds like cold comfort for anyone worried about the state of the world.

But we take comfort where we can get it these days.

I’ve previously written here about “My Adventures with Superman,” a mostly lighthearted series that’s part of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block. The series is good, fun stuff, probably the best Superman-focused animated series since “Superman: The Animated Series” in 1995. (“Krypto the Super Dog” was good fun too, and hewed to Superman canon more than it could have been expected to.) The Superman animated series, part of the wave of animated DC heroes that included the truly great “Batman: The Animated Series,” “Justice League” and “Justice League Unlimited,” featured the work of Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski and Paul Dini.

The 1995 Superman series, like all of the work of those creators and other animation geniuses like writer Dwayne McDuffie (“JLU” and others), captured the comic book spirit of Superman: the forthright hero who deals with uncertainty at times but always does the right thing. “My Adventures with Superman,” pitched to a slightly younger audience than some of those earlier series, has the absolute correct tone.

And as different as Batman and Superman are, so are “My Adventures with Superman” and “Batman: Caped Crusader.”

The later series, ten episodes of which are available on Prime Video, debuting just a few days ago, is the latest in a long, long line of Batman adaptations that include live action and animation.

It’s no surprise that “Batman: Caped Crusader” is so good when you consider the show’s creators and executive producers: long-standing animation wiz Bruce Timm, producer J.J. Abrams, “The Batman” film director Matt Reeves and writer Ed Brubaker.

The series is an incredibly effective blend of Batman mythos and characters into a genre that’s always been a good home for the vigilante: noir.

In “Batman: Caped Crusader,” Batman operates in a shadowy world that’s clearly the 1940s, even more so than the stylized “Batman: The Animated Series.” There might be an anachronism or two, but the look and feel of the series is pure mid-century noir.

Batman – and alter ego Bruce Wayne – moves through a world of gangsters, cops both crooked and straight, crusading attorneys and prosecutors and increasingly, as the season progresses, more dangerous and outlandish criminals.

In the 10 episodes of the season, we see the deepest, most unsettling secrets of not only Gotham’s criminal underworld but of its upstanding citizens. We’re introduced to a number of classic Batman villains, but none more impressive than Harley Quinn, who isn’t played as a frenetic joker (pun intended) but as a soft-spoken menace.

The vocal cast is led by Hamish Linklater, who at times seems to be channeling the voice of the late, great Kevin Conroy but always makes the dual roles of Batman and Bruce Wayne his own. The supporting cast, especially Jamie Chung as Harley, is perfect.

“My Adventures with Superman” is lighthearted comic book fare and does a great job at hitting that tone. “Batman: Caped Crusader” is dark and menacing and is the best Batman adaptation in years.

We’re lucky to be able to see both right now.