The History of The Tick by Ben Edlund 

One thing to remember is that The City is not unnamed, it's name is "The City."

I loved the Tick cartoon and it introduced me to actual comic book characters through their parodies. I didn't know Galactus was a real character until someone told me the Tick parody version was based on a real character, which I found incredulous at the time.

I love love Venture Bros. I always thought they could exist in the same world as the tick. That would be an awesome crossover. Imagine brock samson meeting the tick.

When The Tick came out, I had put my interest in comics away. The Tick made me fall in love with comics again and made me a life-long fan on the character and his universe!

The animated series was my childhood back then I didn't know it was a comic. SPOON!

I’m biased because I did storyboards for the animated show, but the comics that Ben did himself had such a wonderful magic to them. Plenty of people could draw or write the Tick, but no other versions of the comics really ever felt authentic to me.

One of the cool things about The Tick is that its never got a bad adaptation. Even the kids show was good for what it was.

As a 90's kid in Poland, I only knew about the cartoon.

The Tick disguising himself by just wearing a tie over his costume is one of my favorite gags. Sometimes I'll randomly think of it and just start giggling.

I find Ben's answers to letters from readers super fun and enjoyable. So much, I didn't felt bad if the comic was about to end, cause the Ben's writing part was next.

SPOOOOON!

How rad would it be if Edlund went back and wrapped up the comic all these years later like Rob Schrab eventually did with Scud: The Disposable Assassin?

The news that Infotron died during the snap has me emotionally crippled over here. Gonna need a minute.....

The Tick is a great character, hope to see more of him in the future

Oddly enough I never read the Tick or watched the TV show but for some reason "Come on spine, work with me" is something I say.

Ben Edlund co-wrote one of my favorite science fiction movies, Titan AE.

I used to watch the animated series. I didnt know it was a cómic. Always found it funny. Re watched it recently, found it funnier haha

I loved the Tick cartoon; I wish it would've lasted longer.

I knew this was gonna be a good one when I saw you were covering The Tick, but that went and gave a mini history lesson for my all time favorite animated series The Venture Brothers and now this is the best episode you've done.

Oh man you should seriously start a campaign or something to get an interview with Ben Edlund. That would just be an amazing experience all around!

The monologues are very reminiscent of The Spirit too. I loved the Tick cartoon!

I knew when you said you were going make a video about a weird comic it would be The Tick.

Why does it not surprise me that Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick had some connection to the Tick lol.

Your unintentional pronunciation of "our Tick" sounded like "Arctic". Gave me a uncontrollable flurry of laughter. Always enjoy the videos( usually for intended reasons) thank you

I'm a 90s kid and I loved (continue to love) the Tick comics and the original animated series. I still have all the action figures from the cartoon. For some reason, the live action versions don't appeal to me. I'd love to see a Tick / Flaming Carrot team-up!

I was a ninth grader in the middle of Nowhere, Virginia when I began ordering comics thru the mail. The first place I ordered from was New England Comics.. I was so elated to check out their newsletter and catalog which featured the first few appearances of The Tick. Those were some good ol' days! Thanks for this video!

The Tick was the One Punch Man of the 90s.

Spoon! TICK was also my introduction to comics. My college had a comic library and a friend persuaded me to drop in and read the Tick. That led to other late-80s comics from the indie golden age but Tick remained huge regardless. It's amazing that the Amazon series has fresh ground to cover with the characters. Instead of being tapped out Ben Edlund seems clearer than ever on the story he wants to tell. If you ever return to that Tick / TMNT / Yojimbo era the aardvark in the room is Cerebus. Huge in its time but very difficult to talk about now.

Benito! I met Benito online ages ago on the Bendis board...maybe when it was housed at Image? Anyway...he sent me a package with the last issue I needed to complete Priest's run on Black Panther AND a few issues of a new comic that he was doing backups for. That comic was Invincible. ;) I watched The Tick cartoon as a kid but never really read the comics or saw the live action shows. The only comic I have is a giant anthology issue from I want to say the mid-00s. I can't remember the exact name of it, but I believe it had a Simon Bisley cover.

Man, remember having to use the phone book to find stores?

Oh wow didn't know Les McClain worked on The Tick. He's a hell of an artist. I wish he'd get more attention.

I'd love to see you cover the history of Usagi Yojimbo, which happens to be one of my most favorite comic book series that I enjoyed ever since I discovered it back in 2011. :D

I absolutely loved the TICK!! Comics, Cartoons, and the live action shows!! I knew that NEC was up here in New England, but never realized that Edlund was local as well. Thanks for this episode!! SPOOOOOOOONNNNNNNN!!!!

I loved The Tick"s animated series! He may be a bit slow, and a tad clumsy, but I think he is as heroic as Superman!

My experience is similar (finding the NEC store and its offering of indie comics) except down here on the west coast of Florida. I had read marvel and DC thru the 70's as a kid lucky enough to have a collection of old gold key comics and Charlton comics but NEC showed me the joy of finding small press books, perhaps the art or quality was no where near the big boys, but those small indie books had heart, I collected to many different to even name here, but most of what you can think of I had at one point or another....... Tick was one of my favorite I ended up buying several copies of the first 8 issues because I couldnt stop reading them, from "bored bored bored" to every "wub" I laughed out loud every TIME ("keep going honey its only a ninja, its not like we hit a dog or anything") bens story telling and art style inspired my work for a long time, Tick #2 still stands as one of my favorite of all time. I lost my entire collection (that stretch back to DC books from the 50's early issues of Spider-Man fantastic four and avengers from the 60's, toys and rare books) when my house burnt down 3 years back now. Still hurts to think about. But thanks for reminding me how great this original series was, it was good times. Your the best man.

I love the current live action version so much. Everyone should watch it.

Great episode. I loved the Tick cartoon and I've always meant to check out the comics. They look even better!

My first comic shop was the NEC in Norwood, MASS. It's still there and I still go occasionally.

Each iteration of both the comics AND the TV shows, both cartoon and live action are awesome. I got into it in the 90's with the cartoon on FOX Kids, but upon finding out it's a local comic it compelled me to find more. So glad i did. Great video man..... "SPOOOOOOOON!"

I never realized that the Tick had such a short run. I enjoyed every single one of the TV adaptions and was very unhappy to hear that Amazon had cancelled the new version of The Tick after only two seasons. A real shame right there.. I always liked parody stuff and The Tick was one of my favorites! Thanks for the long overdue review.

Your story of discovering an actual comic book store and being a bit overwhelmed reminds me of my own experience. Good memories!

Great episode! The Tick is awesome.

I too remember the original Tick ashcan that NEC printed in their newsletter. NEC mailed it to me and I loved it.

The first comic stores went as a kid they are still around in NYC. Forbidden Planets and Roger's Comics aka Time Machine. I remember ordering an issue the Tick from one of NEC ads in Marvel Comics

wow , thanks for this Chris. Really takes me back.I had the pleasure of lettering the Man Eating Cow & Paul the Samurai for Ben when I lived in Boston. I sat at an NEC table with him once at a New York Comicon , where I suggested to him that his creation of such bizarre villains was due to inhaling the fumes of the markers he drew with. I don't recall him disagreeing with me.

You're the best. Been with you since the Skunkape days when you were below 5k. It's good to see you grow.

They used to show The Tick cartoon in a block alongside Earthworm Jim, when I was a kid back in the 90's. Funniest hour of cartoons there was.

You are honestly in my top 3 for favorite youtubers. You have pure quality content. You have also sparked my interest in comics once again (reading at that to be honest). Thank you!

Absolute best, funniest, spoof on superheroes ever produced. Almost 30 yrs ago at a con w/ Stan Lee. While waiting for an an autograph a lady with her son told me to read the Tick. Before she could finish talking, she busted out laughing. I bought, read it and laughed so hard I soiled myself. Been a Tick collector ever since.

A cartoon was a masterpiece. I wish there were more episodes. Oh yeah, I loved "The Tick" cartoon and I tend to watch "Venture Bros" as a guilty pleasure.

All I remembered was the tv cartoon and I was waaay too young to understand the jokes and I was never a fan. Now that I’m older I understand it and I find it to be pretty enjoyable.

I will go to my death remembering 'we are a hedge. move along'

Thank you for this one. I found the tick with the cartoon but quickly looked for everything, pure genius

I'd love to see you cover Now Comics. I loved their Astro Boy, Speed Racer, and Green Hornet books, plus some early Alex Ross covers on their Terminator book. And who could forget Ralph Snart?

Superpowers? BAH! who needs em? I've got a *HAND GERNADE*

I never read the comics, but was a fan of the cartoon as a kid. I still laugh whenever I think of The Deadly Bulb and Sarcastro.

"Tick, get with it, there is no Santa Claus!" "I know...he got fried!" The Tick Loves Santa is a yearly tradition in my house. I've loved that episode for years. I also thought the Warburton version was great, if not a bit undercooked in terms of execution, but he was SO good in the role. Funny also that the guy who played Batmanuel ended up being the mayor in The Dark Knight. When I saw it with my older sister, she was convinced he was an upcoming villain because it ALWAYS looked like he was wearing eyeshadow. I adore Pete Serafinowicz. His sketch show and roles in Edgar Wright projects are always amazing, but ugh... I don't know, the Amazon Prime version feels so heavy handed with the mental health angle and plays it a bit too straight for me. I get that it was trying to be a parody of modern movie superhero stuff, but I think the Tick works best when it's whackier and less grounded. Just my take.

Seriously, tho-- how *perfectly does the current Prime series capture the tone of the comic? INCREDIBLE.

Thanks for this video. I've been a long time fan of Venture Bros and I've just finished Amazon's The Tick season 1, but I had no idea there was a connection :).

This is the best Comic based RU-vid channel, PERIOD! I love your show Chris. It's full of positivity and genuinely brings a ton of joy to me and tons of other fans!

How am I just now hearing about a Season 2 for The Tick?

What a good and fun video Chris! Now am going to pick up the Tick.

"I've got a straw right here, pal!"

*_I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR SO DAMN LONG!!_*

Before The Tick, there was The Badger. Also Ambush Bug (as in "these are characters from mid 1980s comics"). They're all delightful if you want your superhero action off-kilter.

Thanks for this video. I've long enjoyed the Tick and am envious of your being there from the beginning. I discovered the comics rather early on but am blown away by that copy of NEC newsletter with the Tick's first appearance. In my imagination, Ben Edlund was an employee of NEC and doing the Tick comics in between ringing up customers at the shop. As much as I loved them, I hated that the Tick comics were oversized and would not fit in with my other comics.

There's a fanfic crossover with "My hero academia" "The Tick vs My hero academia".

SPOOOOON!!!!!! Oh, you caught me saving the day with my roommate! Speaking of roommates, lets talk about him....The Tick!

Dude thank u this brings back some great memories

Another great episode! The tick cartoon was one of my favourites as a kid. Few years I got my hands on Tick comics, never had the entire collection but always loved what I was able to read. Also, anyone else remember the tick game on Genesis? Use to love that lol

I asked about this on a livestream a couple of weeks ago... and now it's actually happened. I've never felt so powerful! SPOON!

I am making a RU-vid series about The Venture Bros and I am currently researching for my video about the episode Ben Edlund wrote. I really enjoyed watching this video. 👍

This was a very cool first viewing of this first seventh issue of the comic, thanks cool chris

I love your content but honestly those intros are the reason I subscribed! Keep it up!

Brilliant. I love watching your videos. Perfect Lockdown entertainment. Lots of love from the UK,

I love Tick but /really/ loveDon Simpson's Megaton Man which was kinda a weirder proto-Tick. His Bizarre Heroes spin-off was so crazy. Anyway - so looking forward to S2 of the Tick, season one was amazing.

Duuuuude - I'm living in Massachussetts and came across The Tick # 4 1st printing at the freaking thrift shop!! I moved here 4 years ago and got into comics shortly after and what luck. I've found so many tmnt comics here too(and got to meet Eastman!). Thank you for your great videos!!

It's a shame the first Live Action series was so short. That for me is definitely the funiest of all the Tick incarnations. Batmanuel: Tick, you don't by any chance have super-hearing? The Tick: What?

I love the show, and I love the Tick. Having said that, it's shocking that there's a drink in your hand with ice clanking around the whole time...

I definitely was a fan of the animated series! I'm surprised it didn't have any action figures! It has crazy characters!

Everytime I see a Tick comic book I always hear, "dum dwee duh duh duh dum dwee. Dwee dum. Dwee dum!"

I watched this strictly because I knew you'd have to bring up The Venture Bros!! Well...and because I watch all your videos anyway. STILL, thanks for not disappointing. Great piece on the Tick. Gonna go binge that shit now.

I love hearing the many origins of the many aspects of Chris

". . . the Midnight Bomber what bombs at midnight!!!" -- Man, I still remember that from when the cartoon was on TV originally!

Thanks Chris, excellent video very informative thanks, I love it.

Great work as usual.I had no idea you were a fellow New Englander.

Great video!!! Thanks Chris.

The animated show was great. This channel's great. You're great. I'm gonna go now.

Holy crap I used to shop at that New England Comics for years.

That’s a cool original drawing of Dean! I love it when. I can get artists to do stuff like that!

I was reading The Illiad when they did the episode of the cartoon where The Tick was sulking in his tent like a guy from Chile. I mean Achilles. Made it extra funny.

Loved the Tick growing up. The cartoon was really my first exposure to it and I would watch it every week. The first live action show didn't really work for me with it's dark satire of the genre. The best part of it was Warburton who was very likeable and believable as the Tick. First episode was great but it went down from there.

Really cool. Nice work

When Tick says: "I especially like the part about dancing across rooftops. I'm like a god when I do that." That is a DIRECT parody to an issue of Frank Miller's Daredevil where Karen Page says almost the exact same line about Matt. It tickled me to death when I first read it.

Thanks Chris, I loved "The Tick"! How about an episode on "The Flaming Carrot", "Yummy Fur" or Paul Chadwick's "Concrete"?

That shit with The Tick wearing the neck tie disguise and it fools everyone is one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

I was collecting the original Tick comic in my early teens before it became an animated series. Needless to say, I was disappointed that the cartoon wasn't as edgy as the comic and was missing several characters but luckily it still won me over. I was disappointed to hear that the dvd release had a couple of episodes removed and decided not to get it for that reason initially. I downloaded the missing episodes and still want to track down the dvd set. I wish the series had lasted much longer. I wish Mickey Dolenz had continued to voice Arthur as I preferred his voice for Arthur. I haven't watched any of the live-action series as I don't think any live-action series can truly capture the look and wackiness of the characters.

Just finished the tick (Amazon) now I’m going back to the first live action but then it’s the cartoon. I never knew he did all these. I’m excited

@ 3:20 that’s how I feel whenever I discover a thriving channel is from around Mass it makes the desire to begin a channel all the more tempting

I met one of the letterer/inkers on the Tick at RICC it was pretty cool. Love the Tick.