The Tick Vs. Season One
Starring: Kay Lenz, Gail MatthiusDirector: Art Vitello
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Running Time: 252 minutes
DVD Release: August 29th 2006
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DVD Review
Even with one episode missing, The Tick vs. Season One offers a dozen good reasons to enjoy one of the wackiest superheroes of all time. From his humble beginnings as an in-house comic book character created by 17-year-old Ben Edlund for a Boston comic shop, the Tick (with his muscular physique, twitching antennae, and form-fitting "blue tights of justice") has proven remarkably popular and versatile as a multimedia juggernaut, attracting a global fan base in comics, then this animated series beginning in 1994, and finally as a live-action comedy series starring Patrick Warburton as "the big blue bug of justice." All three of the Tick's incarnations are wildly entertaining, but the animated series comes closest to capturing the unbridled giddiness of Edlund's comics, albeit somewhat sanitized for a Saturday-morning audience of kids and Tick-loving teens and grown-ups. And while episode #11, "The Tick vs. The Mole Men" (widely considered to be one of the first season's weakest episodes) is missing here for legal reasons (but may be included in a future DVD release), the 12 episodes included are remarkably consistent in their well-written hilarity of character and plotting. "The Tick vs. Chairface Chippendale" is just one example of the series' rogue's gallery of oddball monstrosities (the villain's head is a wooden chair, after all!) and the show's clever writers are always finding inventive ways to incorporate in-jokes, show-biz homage (such as the villainous "Uncommon Cold," who sounds suspiciously like James Mason!), and choice bits of throwaway dialogue that will cause older viewers to burst out laughing.
It's regrettable that Buena Vista (i.e., Disney) didn't include any bonus features with this two-disc set (at the very least, the Tick's comic book origins should be acknowledged), and the color and clarity of these episodes varies a bit, from crisp and clean to just a little it fuzzy. But let's face it, the animation (as good as it is) isn't exactly state-of-the-art, and most of The Tick's quality is derived from the outrageous cast of characters (including patriotic superheroine American Maid and the Tick's moth-costumed sidekick, Arthur), all of whom reside in a kind of alternate world of hyper-imagination. Perhaps that's why The Tick has proven so enduring as a pop-cultural touchstone of the late 20th century: Whether he's in a comic book, an animated cartoon, or a live-action sitcom, the Tick is just a goofy, lovable, well-meaning reflection of our better selves, eager (as the saying goes) to swat evil on the snout with the rolled-up newspaper of goodness. Make way for seasons 2 and 3! --Jeff Shannon
User Reviews
As Usual, The Tick Wins - Rating: 5/5
Season One proved to be no challenge to the nigh invulnerable Tick. Justice is served. The world is safe. He is... The Tick.
SPOOOOOOON! - Rating: 4/5
I was also disappointed that this dvd ommitted an episode. Last year I had purchased a Helios up converter dvd player that plays all regions. (or should I say it is a region free player?)
I'm happy to say that the UK version of this title has ALL 13 episodes!!!
There are no extras, the set is quite plain, but at least I have them all on disc. I've already pre-ordered season 2, which ALSO has ALL 13 episodes from that season. It seems there are quite a few UK released movies that have 2 disc sets, more features, extras, etc. Even alternate endings that we DON'T get in the States! I still buy US versions in most cases, but Amazon UK is worth checking out.
A great show - finally on dvd - Rating: 5/5
I adored this show when I was younger, and I still do. The writing still holds up, for the most part, and will appeal to young and old alike. After watching it again now that I'm older, I'm catching more things than I did when I was younger. True, the animation may not be the best (as was - and is - the case with most american 'kids' shows), but it is very enjoyable and one of the funniest things you'll ever watch.
If you are a comic book fan or have at least some knowledge of comics, you'll get a lot more of the jokes.
Highly recommended.
Best Buy Brittish - Rating: 5/5
To all Tick fans...the uk realease has all thirteen episodes with 11 having "Note: written by Christopher McCulloch", it's also region free.
GOOD NEWS FOR THE MISSING SEASON ONE EPISODE - Rating: 5/5
The reason Episode 11(THE TICK VS. THE MOLE MEN)Is missing from season one is due to some form of cast copyright. But for some extremely excelent reason, that copyright issue doesn't apply abroad being they have released season one in the UK now with all 13 episodes. I am in the UK, have bought it and watched it, so I know it's true. Even better it already has a leaflet advertising season 2 will be released soon and shall also featured the missing episode from that in the USA.
THE EVEN BETTER NEWS IS - It is a region free DVD. It is still in the PAL FORMAT like UK VHS Videos are. But since the late 90's and early 00's nearly all USA TV, VCRS AND DVD PLAYERS SINCE THEY STARTED Have got PAL playback in them which lets you play worldwide Videos and DVDS. Meaning the only problem with DVDS is the region number that you have to have a multi region DVD player for but not if it is region free which this is. I know it is true because I at first didn't have a multiregion DVD player to watch American DVDS in but it still played them if they were region free because like I say all machines in America now have THE PAL Europe as a playback which we have in Europe of the USA Format which is NTSC Playback.
I was very disappointed when reading about copyright issues on TV.[...] about the tick not featuring a certain episode from season 1 and two which is why when I was in Brighton on Wednesday 22nd August 2007 and saw it in Vergin Megastores and read it had all 13 Episodes, I bought it strait away like a shocking good surprise according to the Bad news in America.
HOPE THIS HELPS ALL TRUE TICK FANS WHO WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET THE WHOLE SERIES.
