Animated Superhero Parody With 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score Needs New Generation Of Fans

The Tick began as the mascot for the New England Comics newsletter, created by Ben Edlund. That simple mascot evolved into a comic series, and then Edlund teamed up with future Venture Bros. creator Christopher McCulloch to create a Saturday morning cartoon based on the comics. That animated series would be followed by a pair of live-action series, one that began in 2001 and another in 2016, keeping the character’s legacy alive. 

I’m a fan of every iteration of The Tick, but as someone who grew up in the 90s, the animated series has always held a special place in my heart. Before a recent rewatch, I was worried that the show wouldn’t hold up to an adult viewing, but I was pleasantly surprised at how clever the writing was and how relevant it still feels in 2024. It seems I’m not alone in this assessment, with the show having a perfect 100 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes and a dedicated cult following. 

The plot of The Tick is very simple, following the dimwitted hero assigned to defend The City and his accountant-turned-sidekick, Arthur. Episodes usually center around the pair fighting a villain or stopping rampaging monsters, though it does stick to a surprisingly tight continuity. That continuity allows for character growth, creating a sense of progress despite lacking an overarching plot.

What makes The Tick a truly great parody is its ability to turn jokes into world-building and character development. A simple joke like Tick telling Big Shot, the show’s Punisher stand-in, to see a therapist is elevated when Big Shot’s future appearances center around his ongoing therapy.

Expanding one-off jokes into character arcs and plot points creates a fleshed-out universe, where all of the details are firmly rooted in the show’s wacky comedy. 

The Tick also assembles a great cast of characters with a wide range of personalities and capabilities. Die Fledermaus, the show’s Batman parody, is a cowardly, narcissistic womanizer, but other characters like American Maid are genuinely heroic. Like a proper superhero universe, the show also shows off a wide array of capabilities, from the nigh-invulnerable Tick to Carpeted Man, a normal man wearing a suit made of carpet. 

I love that The Tick always feels like a celebration of its genre while it’s making jokes at that genre’s expense. Even directly parodic elements like Tick’s verbose hero monologues are so rooted in the writing style of silver-age writers like Stan Lee and Bob Haney they feel more loving than mocking. That loving approach and clever writing push past the show’s stiff animation and occasionally dated jokes. 

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Superhero stories have a much bigger place in the pop culture landscape than they did in the 90s, which has helped The Tick feel fresh and relevant 30 years after it aired. It’s not a perfect show, but it’s consistently funny and brimming with creative passion. Sadly it’s not currently on any streaming service, but it’s worth seeking out.