The Tick

One of the joyous discoveries of the recent Free Comic Book Day was an issue of “The Tick.”

Published by New England Comics Press, “The Tick” is arguably one of the most successful alternative comics characters – live-action TV shows, a cartoon series, etc.

The Tick is a spoof of costumed heroes such as Batman. He has gadgets, such as the TickCycle. He has a sidekick, the pudgy Arthur. He has adventures, albeit comedic. He knows enough other superheroes to be part of a super team.

Publishers claim “The Tick” has been part of Free Comic Book Day almost every year for a decade. Enough to likely collect the Free Comic Book Day issues into a trade paperback collection.

Readers will find plenty of trade paperback collections advertised within these pages. 

That’s what Free Comic Book Day is about – introducing people to new characters and new titles with the hope folks may want to buy some titles later.

Plenty to enjoy here. The Tick and Arthur meet the Tick Collectors – a couple who has collected Tick gear and costumes, a collection that seems to be missing only two things …

 The Tick has a jungle adventure and there are a few single-page gags.

Some may think how can a joke run for 30-plus years (yes, it’s been that long; The Tick was created by Ben Edlund in 1986). 

But, really, it’s no different than any other long-running character. How can there still be fresh material for Batman after 80 years? And, yet, there is. Same with the Tick. 

So, get attached to the Tick … sorry, couldn’t help the bad joke. Blame it on the Tick.