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~ The Tick vs
Season One review
The City... it never rests. It never forgets, and never, under any
circumstances... attempts to explain itself. She's full of mystery, our City... like a cup of cocoa with
too many marshmallows, there's always a dribble down one side. There's always someone who wants
to take a big squishy bite outta the City too. Fortunately for us ordinary citizens, there's always
someone else willing to slap the braces of justice on their villainous teeth!
American Maid, who brings down criminals with a keen mind hidden under her sparkling tiara,
Olympic quality combative acrobatics, and, of course, her stilettos flung with deadly accuracy. The
Caped Chameleon who uses his amazing chameleonic abilities to take out the bad guys...
provided he doesn't have to blend in with plaid or brick. The Sewer Urchin
who rules with kingly honor all the denizens of The City's sewers; bending his will, his overpowering
stench, and the might of his followers to the defense of his beloved City.
Die Fledermaus, who... well, let's face it, isn't the best example. Even the Mayor knows that if they
turn on the Die Fledermaus signal, he'll probably just turn off his phone and leave town for a few
days. Honestly, even Bi-Polar Bear is swifter to respond in an emergency, and most days he can't
We're watching the big picture, friend. We know the score. We are a public service, not glamor boys.
Not captains of industry. Keep your vulgar moneys. We are a justice sandwich. No toppings
necessary. Living rooms of America, do you catch my drift? Do you dig?" Well... do ya, punk?
Behind the Scenes:
In 1986 a young cartoonist created the Tick as a mascot for the New
England Comics store newsletter, which employed him at the time. Ben Edlund probably had no idea
how the Tick would live up to his name and latch himself instantly onto the heart's blood of cartoonviewers everywhere; faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and just as hard
to steer! Edlund's delightful and skilled superhero parodies swiftly became a comic, which led to a
cartoon aired by FOX in 1994. The Tick ran for three amazing seasons as an animated show in which
Edlund pitted his big blue purveyor of justice against various unique villains, history, education, time
and even the Tick himself!
Mickey Dolenz did an excellent job voicing Tick's sidekick for the first season. Arthur, a former
accountant who was let go after finding his super moth suit because his "rampant individuality"
The Tick was voiced by Townsend Coleman, whose name or face may not
ring any bells, but whose voice has graced an amazing array of beloved animated works. Corporal
Capeman from "Inspector Gadget", Michelangelo from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", Knotty from
"FernGully: The Last Rainforest" (1992), Silvermane from two episodes of the animated
"Spiderman", and Sentinel Prime from "Transformers" were all performed by Mr. Coleman. In all
likelihood, I will always remember him best as The Tick though.
Animation gives form to a character, but people, for the most part, still provide the voice that
While the details have never been clear, I always assumed that the predictable showdown between
"creativity" and "marketing" is what eventually brought this fantastic work of animation to a
grinding halt with a fourth season planned, but never created. When a cartoon appeals to both
adults and children, it is almost always a marketing dream and creative nightmare. Animanics is one
notable exception that seemed to beat the odds and continue to entertain for five full seasons.
Edlund did briefly revive The Tick as a live action work, but many changes were made and it simply
nd they too
Warburton, no stranger to voice work either, would be a great choice to voice this beloved
superhero should the animated series ever be revived and Townsend not be interested in returning
to the role. "The Tick" is a marvelous stress-buster, brimming with wry humor, hilarious superhero
parodies, and general good pokes at popular culture.
In The Beginning:
The Tick vs The Idea Men
We meet the Tick during an interview and learn of his arrival in The City,
where he was assigned during the annual superhero competition in Reno. In The City, Tick meets
Arthur, just another faceless accountant in a moth suit, but destined to be the greatest sidekick ever,
chum!
In the comic, Tick was actually committed to an insane asylum outside of The City for his belief in his
superhero status. Fortunately for us, he escaped! When the mysterious Idea Men come up with a
plan to hold The City hostage by threatening the dam, Tick and Arthur pair up for the first time, and
the stage is set for return engagements.
Favorite line: "Gravity is a harsh Mistress!" ~ Tick
The Tick vs Chairface Chippendale
Tick and Arthur inadvertently interrupt American Maid's surveillance, but make up for their faux pax
by providing her with back up after finding an ominous invitation.
"Happy Birthday to Me! You are cordially invited to a birthday party for the world's greatest criminal
mastermind. Gift required. Come see me commit the most daring spectacular crime of this or any
other century." Almost guarantees there's gonna be trouble, even without an RSVP, doesn't it?
Chairface Chippendale has reached the age where he wants to leave his mark to be remembered by
future generations. In the ultimate act of vandalism, he plans to use his new birthday toy to carve his
name on the face of the moon! Can Tick, Arthur and American Maid thwart his nefarious plans?
Along the way, we are also introduced to the Sewer Urchin whose speech patterns are reminiscent
of Rainman.
Already we are able to spot certain running gags like Arthur continually
being mistaken for a bunny, or incidentally placed over-the-top commercials like the one for a
favored breakfast cereal known as "Drama Flakes" are all part of what makes The Tick so amusing to
adult and child alike.
Favorite line: "You can thank my dental hygienist for our untimely aliveness!" ~ Tick
The Tick vs Dinosaur Neil
The Tick, sensing Arthur's intense stress over his sister's disapproval of his new lifestyle, declares a
Arthur's plans for a nice normal dinner with his sister are sure to be ruined
by a 70 foot mutated paleontologist on an official rampage through The City. I found one scientist's
certainty that all Neil required was an enormous pair of pants to wear quite amusing. He eagerly
awaits Neil's arrival just outside The City to no avail as all the action is happening at the Must-go
Shopping Plaza downtown though.
E
qually entertaining are Tick's efforts to "tone it down" for Dot's benefit.
His attempt at appropriate small talk are astounding. Complimenting Dot on her hair which is like "a
halo of mouse-brown fire" may have been a tad much though. We are introduced to Die Fledermaus
here during an on the street interview in which he declares that The City's superheroes are planning
to "probably sit this one out and wait for the National Guard to handle it".
Favorite line: "Well, once again we find that science is a two-headed beast. One head is nice. It gives
us aspirin and other modern conveniences. But the other head of science is bad. Oh Beware the
other head of science, Arthur! It bites! ... And it can really ruin a good day off." ~ Tick
The Tick vs Mr. Mental
One of the many hilarious bits in this episode involves Mr. Mental's
invasion of the Tick's mind. Once in, we see a small bare room decorated only by a chair, a crudely
drawn pig framed and labeled "Cow?", and the item of potential control Mr. Mental seeks... a
tattered cardboard box marked "My Worst Nightmare". I was shocked that Mr. Mental dared to
challenge such awesome defenses!
Favorite line: "You know what I miss? I miss the old days when I would think up a sinister scheme
for world domination and you'd show a little emotional support!" ~ Mr. Mental
The Tick vs the Breadmaster
While shopping for the weekly groceries, Arthur and the ever-vigilant Tick find themselves on hand
to thwart a self-detonating bread bomb of tasty but evil design that threatens to overwhelm shoppers
and store alike. The Breadmaster and his slippery assistant, Buttery Pat, have begun a baking
The City's plant life begins exhibiting aggressive and anti-social behavior.
After an encounter with an unlicensed crop-duster over The City park, piloted by an individual with a
sunflower-like head and a heavy accent, our heroes suspect foul play. Leave it to Tick and Arthur to
pick up on those subtle clues like roughhousing cacti and joy riding saplings.
El Seed and his beloved Bee Twins have begun a leafy uprising to herald the fall of gross plantdominating humans and usher in a new Plant Kingdom ripe for the ruling. Tick's stake in the matter
becomes even more compelling when El Seed sprays him with some of his special formula. Tick must
deal with his body producing spontaneous growths like leaves, potatoes, dandelion fluff, and random
ears of corn. Working against a deadline to find an antidote before he becomes a vegetable
permanently.
Disguising themselves as kernels in El Seed's new corn army, Tick and Arthur are weeding out this
vegetative villain with the mighty spade of Justice! In this episode we also meet the members of the
Civic-Minded Five (Four-legged Man, Captain Mucilage, Carpeted Man, Jungle Janet, and Feral Boy),
whose battle cry, "Let's make a difference" doesn't exactly strike down the enemy with
uncontrollable fear.
El Seeds overly enthusiastic interjections like, "I'm on a big power trip and
you're coming with me!", and "Please print clearly!!" seem far more effective. I don't know what they
are teaching at agricultural colleges these days, but World Domination must have been at the top of
El Seed's course list!
Favorite line: "I didn't even want to be involved. I got jumped by a hedge! Where are the cops in this
town?! Ahhh!" ~ Die Fledermaus
The Tick vs The Tick
Like the first episode in the season, this one begins with another amusing
television interview with The Tick and his beloved sidekick. As usual, The Tick's responses are
childlike, startled and overly enthusiasistic. While being queried about the particulars of super
abilities, the Tick is asked if he is capable of destroying the Earth. Aghast, he responds naively with,
"Egad! I hope not! That's where I keep all my stuff!"
Interview aside, the real story happens at the Comet Club, the newest trendy superhero nightclub.
Borrowing his sister's car, Arthur reluctantly drives Tick, Sewer Urchin and Die Fledermaus to the
Comet Club only to find that he isn't allowed in! Banished to the "sidekick lounge" around back
(basically a spartan storage room with some leftover furniture), Arthur combats the unique
prejudices of the superhero/sidekick world to call attention to the dubious activity of a hyper beetlelike individual who calls himself... The Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight.
The Midnight Bomber almost steals the show and is wonderfully voiced by
Maurice LaMarche, yet another major talent in the world of animated voicing, LaMarche contributed
many voices to The Tick over three seasons. His work can be found on Futurama, The Simpsons,
Tripping the Rift (Gus), Pinky and the Brain (as Brain), Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, The Real
Ghostbusters, and Inspector Gadget (as Chief Quimby)
Favorite line: oh so many!
"Hey, sweetheart! Whatcha got in that poodle gun? Anything for me?" ~ Die Fledermaus or
"An object at rest cannot be stopped!" ~ Evil Midnight Bomber
or "So she says to me, do you wanna be a BAD boy? And I say YEAH baby YEAH! Surf's up space
ponies! I'm makin' gravy... Without the lumps. HAAA-ha-ha-ha!" ~ Midnight Bomber
The Tick vs The Uncommon Cold
Nigh invulnerable, but still susceptible to the common cold, The Tick uncovers villainy hidden in
their own apartment building! Their neighbor across the hall has taken in a new roommate, who
bent on galactic domination, Thrakkorzog creates an evil clone of Arthur to gather genetic material
from the Tick. From this he can produce a vast, nigh invulnerable army, with brains the size of
cherry pits, to do his bidding. Clones made from mucus don't make the best of soldiers though... not
enough backbone and no guts!
The gross-out factor in this episode is fairly high, but the trademark Tick humor is well worth the
disgusting elements that are sure to delight all the boys of a certain age, physical or emotional, in
the audience. Tick's battle of wits with Thrakkorzog, abundant inventive name calling, and Arthur's
developing ability to take charge in emergencies offset the Tick's up close and personal battle with
the mucal invader and it's alien creator.
Favorite line: "Brace yourself while corporate America tries to sell us it's wretched things." ~ Tick
The Tick vs Brainchild
Tick and Arthur get into a scuffle with a large robotic dog at Angry Hank's Technorama. They just
want to replace their broken microwave, but the last one on the shelf is the only component missing
from the plans of The City's villainous child prodigy, Charles, who prefers to be known as Brainchild.
Skippy is his obedient, if dim-witted, pet, and the only lead they have to follow. Fortunately for our
heroes, S
Being a minor, Charles still lives at home, but the lair he shares with his sister is a perfectly
adequate tree-house complete with it's own mega-multi devastator cannon. Brainchild's progressive
intellectual parents are sure this evil thing is just a phase Charles is going through, like the clear
dome he installed on his own head so everyone could see his impressive brain. Tick and Arthur
aren't very well equipped to deal with an under-aged super villain, but watching them make the
attempt is highly amusing!
The parents of this super villain are perfect parodies of some of the worst parenting attitudes out
there, and this family's dynamics in general are extremely entertaining. Charles' little sister Amelia
appears to be the most well adjusted, reality based individual in the family, although her brother's
constant need to explain everything might just drive her over the edge. In the end, when crime
needs a spanking, The Tick is always willing to lend a disciplining hand!
Favorite line: "Arthur, is this a warm moment, or should we be disturbed?"
The Tick vs Pineapple Pokopo
D
uring a routine space experiment with a monkey-guided shuttle, cosmic
rays increase the pilot's intelligence to dangerous levels. Brought back down to earth by island
dictator Pineapple Pokopo, NASA's plans to promote the super-monkey to director are postponed
until three elite superheros can smuggle their way in and rescue Earth's newest genius.
Thrilled with the arrival of what appear to Pokoponesia's first tourists ever, Pokopo soon realizes
that he is playing host to none other than American Maid, The Tick and Arthur. Pokoponesia is not a
hot vacation spot, much to Pokopo's frustration. Of course, they really only have two things to
promote on this island; pineapples and sharks. Making the monkey an official member of his cabinet,
Pokopo demands that he find a way to steal Hawaii and add it to Pokopenesia so they can finally
attract their first tourists.
Monkey realizes he has to work fast because the effects of his cosmic encounter appear to be fading
fast! The Tick appears too delighted with his new spy toys to be of much help. Can American Maid
and Arthur rescue NASA's new director from this pineapple-faced villain without The Tick's help?
Favorite line: "What is this unbounded middle you speak of, oh genius monkey mind?"
The Tick vs the Mole Men
The Tick and Arthur return to The City after a trip to Wheatland. Who new
a grain-based theme park could be such fun? They find their beloved The City in trouble once again
as an enormous overly aggressive clown rampages and The City is evacuated. They soon learn that
Proto Clown is an escaped clowning experiment.
This inadvertently destructive clown is the angry brainchild of Dr. Bud who just loves clowns and
figured a bigger clown could provide everyone with even more laughter. Shame he never thought
this laughter might upset his creation! Proto Clown cleans the Tick's clock in their first encounter,
and hurls Tick into space. Leaving the atmosphere doesn't implode our unsquishable blue bug of
Justice, although it does have some unexpected side effects.
Tick's mind separates from his body and acts as a guide through some pretty bizarre self-exploration
as we wait for Tick to return to his rightful mind... and earth. Meanwhile, Arthur leads the usual
motley crew in an effort to subdue Proto Clown and save The City. Tick's mind is represented as
Arthur is beginning to feel the strain The Tick has been putting on his
finances as he, apparently, does not feel the need to maintain an alter ego with an actual paying job.
The Terror, an elderly but infamous villain, lives in a spider-like mobile home that has been recently
sited near The City.
These unconfirmed reports inspire Tick to purchase all new crime-busting equipment... with Arthur's
credit card. Beginning with their newly chosen battle cries, Tick is sure all the usual superhero
trimmings are all they need to inflict some much needed justice. While Tick's battle