Live-action superheroes have been a part of TV history since the very beginning, but they’ve had a rocky road along the way. Sure, there have been memorable hits like The Incredible Hulk and Arrow, but boy, have there been some stinkers (we shudder to think about Spider-Man’s dollar-store costume in his 1970s series). In this week’s episode of “Vulture’s Secret History of Television,” we revisit the highs and lows of televised caped-crusading.

Tune in Wednesdays for more episodes, and check out our past installments on topics like “lesbian-kiss episodes” and crossovers.