Television series

The Tick

Name: The Tick
Genre: Comedy, Action, Science Fiction
Released: 2016
Cast: Griffin Newman, Valorie Curry, Peter Serafinowicz, Yara Martinez, Scott Speiser

Other titles called The Tick: the 1994 series (FOX).

A deadpan comedy about a neurotic man in a moth suit and an invulnerable blue strongman fighting crime in a grimy city. The Tick is absurdist superhero pastiche—earnest and ridiculous in equal measure, anchored by character-driven comedy rather than spectacle. For people who love their heroes flawed and their jokes weird.

TVMaze rating

3.6

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like superhero send-ups played completely straight, where sincere absurdity and a cheerfully oblivious hero get more laughs than any punchline does, closer in spirit to Mystery Men than to Marvel.

Skip it if you need every joke to land, since this one leans on mood and oddball pacing, and some stretches drift without much payoff.

What it asks of you: Short, brisk half-hour episodes that move quickly and expect you to catch background gags, with a straight-faced tone that never winks at you to explain the joke.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

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Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Tick

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

The Spectacular Spider-Man2008

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Animated series that nails the tone of reluctant heroism and ordinary-person stakes. Funny, dark, genuinely moving about the cost of responsibility. Some of the best superhero storytelling in any medium.

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The Venture Bros.2003

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But It's deliberately slow-paced, and early episodes are rough. The deep mythology means casual watching is tough.

DC's Legends of Tomorrow2016

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But The first season is genuinely awkward, and the show requires tolerance for goofy time-travel logic and B-team DC characters.

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But The animation style won't appeal to everyone. The narrative gets abstract in ways some find frustrating rather than compelling.

The Umbrella Academy2019

Dysfunctional superhero family comedy with genuine weirdness and style. Colorful, fast-moving, and surprisingly emotional about estrangement and redemption.

But Tonal shifts can feel chaotic. Later seasons prioritize spectacle over character, and the ending disappoints many fans.

Kim's Convenience2016

Like The Tick, it finds its comedy and humanity in the gap between how people see themselves and how they actually behave. Both celebrate losers and weirdos with real affection.

Comedy about family running a corner store. Warm, genuinely funny, character-driven without being maudlin. Every episode is a small, perfect story about awkward people trying to connect.

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Ink Master2012

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But It's a competition show, so there's elimination and occasional real tension. If you hate reality TV structure, no amount of tattoo artistry will save it.