The Tick Vs. Season 2: DVD Review

Superheroes are a group of people ripe for parody. I mean, really, when you stop to think about it, all of them are a bit silly. Most of them, when you look at them closely, are ridiculous. No one could have as much money as Bruce Wayne to create all of those amazingly advanced gadgets, for example. And if they did, why aren't they turning their smarts and money toward curing diseases instead of dressing up in tights and leaping around on rooftops?

When the parody is done well, it can be very funny. This is true of any parody, but seems particularly true of parody of comic books and super heroes. "Mystery Men" did not quite live up to expectations, for example. One cartoon, comic book and live series seems close to getting it right and it was "The Tick."

The Tick is a spectacularly goofy cartoon and season two is now available on DVD. It is definitely worth getting and worth watching. I had forgotten just how illy and and how much fun the television show was.

The Tick is a big giant guy in a blue suit, lots and lost of muscles, and antennae on top of his head. He also has a chin much larger and more square than Jay Leno's and a sense of justice second to none. He has no secret identity and even sleeps in his costume. He IS the Tick and he is nothing else. he lives with his sidekick, the one-time accountant named Arthur who also has a moth costume that allows him to fly.

The Tick lives in a place just called The City where he is its staunches defender. Of course, the villains he has to defend it against are just about a silly as he is. All of the favorites make a return visit in the second season.

El Seed, an anthropomorphic flower in a matador outfit, shows up to try and steal a giant flower that only blooms once every 400 years. However, unless music is played constantly it will "bloom badly."

Brainchild, which is a child genius who has his own brain in a glass jar on top of his head, shows up to capture The Tick and then try to auction him off. How? Why, because he has a device that turns the Tick into a two-headed blue bird that can only speak high-school French class French.

The one villain I wished I had seen more of was Chairface Chippendale. For those of you who do not know, Chairface Chippendale is a very well-spoken, very wealthy, very well-dressed underworld crime boss. Of course, he just so happens to have a chair for a head.

Even more interesting are the other super heroes in this city. The ones who show up throughout the season are Die Flederaus, a parody of Batman who appears to have no powers and runs away from trouble at the first chance he can. He spends most of his time trying to pick up women.

The Sewer Urchin who, inexplicably, talks like Rainman, but lives in the sewers where he is the ultimate in cool. He also appears to have no powers save for an unbearable smell from living in sewers most of the time.

American Maid is some kind of cross between Wonder Woman and Captain America. She is probably the most competent superhero around, even if she is a little goofy. She can fight hand-to-hand, but her biggest weapons are her stiletto heels and her tiara which she can throw with amazing accuracy.

Some of the best parts of the series are the lines that get thrown around. During an episode where the Tick hangs out with some very old and very retired super heroes from the 40s and 50s there are frequent flashbacks. In each adventure, one of the team of super heroes named Living Doll will step forward and ask for his chance to join the fight. What is his battle cry?

"I'm full of tinier men!"

Then there is the Civic-Minded Five and several of their members show up during a memorable Christmas episode. For example, 4 Legs, who, as you might imagine, has four legs and can run really fast. It is in this episode that we learn The Tick still very much believes in Santa Claus and then, we all learn, he may be right after all.

All of this is done with such goofy abandon that you just have to shake your head and laugh. Every episode ends with the Tick going on and on in some dramatic fashion that attempts wrap up the entire show and how it all relates to his sense of justice. Most of the time it makes little sense, but every time , it is very funny.

If there is one criticism I have against this DVD package of season two is that is comes absolutely with no extras. There are the shows, unevenly distributed between two DVDs and then nothing else. While the shows are great, I do believe you can still find them on things like the Cartoon Network. Why buy the DVD if there isn't anything extra? Would it be too much to have a making-of documentary? How about having The Tick comment on The Tick? How about a look into the comic book that inspired the cartoon series?

Instead you get a "limited edition litograph" which,I suppose is cool if you are the type likely to put up a lithograph of The Tick in your cubicle or room. If you are that type the, definitely, you are the right audience for this DVD collection.

I know that I am. No, I am not putting up the lithograph anywhere, but I am into this show enough to give a hearty thumbs up to this collection. It makes me want to get Season One and then wait for any subsequent seasons. It also makes me curious to check out that short-lived live version starring Patrick Warburton that came and went very quickly a few seasons ago.

So, that's The Tick vs. Season Two and it is out now. I suggest you go buy it and let the chewy nougat center of justice in the chocolaty badness of evil wash over you. Sppoooooonnnnnn!!!