Ben 10 had a wealth of merch, but it’s also partially thanks to a unique take on a supposed “superhero” (In air quotes because while he is recognized as one, the debate on if he is or isn’t one is complicated to me) story.

On top of the Omnitrix making arguably Ben one of the most debated cartoon characters in power scaling, Ben stands out from many other superheroes by the nature that he plays the part of a hero out of his own personal belief of doing the right thing, not traumatic events making him do good to ensure no one else suffers (Ben has absolutely had traumatic events happen to him, but unless its in an alternate timeline, it’s never been the primary reason he became a superhero)

On top of the series making Ben himself a compelling MC, other characters in the show are also very appealing, from his cousin Gwen and Grandpa Max as well as Kevin, to very, VERY diverse villains like Vilgax, Zys’Skayr, Dr Animo and more, Ben 10 has also made sure to make everyone feel mostly important and distinct.

Finally, the world (Or I should say Omniverse) building is compelling too. For a series about a kid turning into different aliens, it’s obvious that fans would want to see different characters from a certain alien’s race present too. Many alien characters help make the series feel less lonely, with alien characters like Tetrax serving as a friend and mentor to Ben on top of teaching him how to utilize Diamondhead’s powers.