The History of Ben Edlund's THE TICK!

Buy The Tick Collection! amzn.to/34V56nz The Tick is a wacky hero created by Ben Edlund who escaped from a mental hospital and started fighting crime in The City. Never miss an episode by subscribing today! bit.ly/2WYvgkt #thetick
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[@comicpop]

You can buy The Tick Collection right here! amzn.to/34V56nz​

[@Grievousish]

I love these sort of retrospective episodes. Great way to introduce people to less well-known characters. I'd personally love to see an episode on Hellboy.

[@priceyyeti4058]

Since Mignola apparently made fun of/mocked/instigated a bad experience with Tiffany and Sal, that's not happening.

[@Grievousish]

@@priceyyeti4058 that's too bad :(

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

@@priceyyeti4058 And like that, I dislike him. Forever.

[@sundered_ant]

Huge fan of Hellboy, would definitely love to see them cover it.

[@timeguy441]

Agreed. I'd like to see him do Grendel from Matt Wagner.

[@mitchellregan21]

*Sal:* How familiar are you with The Tick? *Ethan:* Uh, not at all. *Sal:* I thought not. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you.

[@biggiejerseysTV]

MJ Regan lol

[@charleskitchen5422]

His suit is like an exoskeleton, when the guy tries to clone him he can't cut his antennae off

[@daelen.cclark]

It’s a Sith legend…

[@thaddeuswolfeiii8523]

Ben hugging Sal was kinda heartwarming

[@mitchellregan21]

Back Issues got real wholesome real fast.

[@langleymneely]

FYI An Electra Complex is the female version of the Oedipal Complex. Its when daughters sexualize their fathers. I imagine THATS the reason Edlund used Oedipus. Its a direct play on Electra as it relates to the psychological complex. Sorry to “umm actually” you guys! Lol Okay, done. Love episodes like this btw! Im glad you are doing more character/creator comic book deep dives on Back Issues! Keep it coming please!?👍🏾😜

[@nerdking1019]

As someone who knows a little bit about Oedipal Complex due to watching Evangelion. This is interesting news

[@idongesitusen5764]

Maybe a look at Savage Dragon?

[@Syntherus]

Dammit, Freud! You haunt me even in my beloved Comic Pop community!

[@chicostephenson]

Wow. that is a really good point. I also believe that you are seriously overthinking it, BUT that is an interesting point. Well played, sir.

[@Amuro1X]

@@chicostephenson He's not overthinking it, that's literally the reason. No one would ever "accidentally" name a parody of Electra 'Oedipus.'

[@RandomBlackGamer]

The Tick is the most criminally underrated super hero satire character. I hate that his latest tv series got cancelled. Just when they nail the costume they pull the plug smh.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Welcome, my dude!

[@Deadspace448]

Your darn right dude! The Tick animated series was in my eyes the definitive version because it captured the zaniness of the comic. Now these days people think of Deadpool as the go-to satire comicbook character.

[@thomaskrogh85]

parody not satire oh tho there is satire in the tick with dark edgy anti heroes.

[@chicostephenson]

More people do need to read or at least know about The Tick. SPOON!

[@willsee8391]

I love how he talks. The Amazon Tick was good for the first 4 episodes, then it falls off a cliff.

[@Fl1pbook]

Sal and Ethan having a metatextual conversation about the stat of the Tick and its reimaginings while Ben just plays with the Tick action figure is the most accurate depiction of me back in year 8 science

[@adambuckley2270]

Ethan playing with the Tick figure is oddly wholesome

[@philgraves8211]

I worked at a comicbooks store for years in the 90s and we had this by the register. It was, NOT FOR SALE! You get a 5% discount if he said SPOON!

[@mitchellregan21]

*Getting Physical with Ethan*

[@jaytheartman610]

@@philgraves8211 that is awesome

[@timshady237]

Tiff: Hey, what are you readi - Sal: SPOOOOOOOONNN!¡

[@dbzking02]

Tiff: ....... I SUMMON THE EYE OF AGAMOTTO!!

[@marcushamner5994]

"Who do I look like? the Tick?"- Spider-Man That is my favorite line from Spider-Man in the episode Sting of the Scorpion from 1994! The Tick aired on Fox Kids during this time!

[@priceyyeti4058]

Hey, to the one guy on Twitter who bet Sal's Tick tease was a random Back Issues, you won. I have no prizes, but take pride in that you were right.

[@jonfrombuckland_3784]

Enjoy your No-Prize!

[@TheGothamite3]

Hey! Thanks

[@robphoenix1182]

That was funny. Sal was like,"it's Ben's time to play with the Tick, Ethan." 😂

[@coltonhuston1062]

I would love a show that is just more of this. I love the Spawn, the Maxx, and wizard magazine episodes. Sal is so knowledgeable and sometimes the history is more fascinating than the actual story.

[@Cubelarooso]

30:30 That's a mistake I frequently make, since there's so little notable about ticks as animals; you're thinking of a flea.

[@Mattkeyz1]

This is my favorite version of Back Issues, where Sal just explains the history of something more than a breakdown of story beats. I loved The Maxx and Spawn episodes and can't wait for whatever one they decide to do next.

[@JoshMunroe]

The Tick cartoon was the first to make me really impressed by continuity. They carved a half-name in the moon! And it was there throughout the series!

[@rubenthinks]

"Connecticut your known for Lymesdisease" - Ben 2019

[@joshuahalili5449]

This was a great episode, I always love seeing Sal flex his knowledge a bit. I loved the animated Tick show and I think they should definitely give another animated show another go.

[@ahmedal-qabandi5223]

Since I didn't know anything about the Tick before this episode, he reminds me of that superhero from the fairy odd parents

[@comicpop]

The Crimson Chin!

[@creed8712]

ComicPOP they also had Catman on the show as voiced by Adam West

[@jackmacmahon417]

Q8 Vonglia I think butch Hartman based the chin off the tick unless the fairly odd parents wiki was wrong that time I deep dived on there for no reason in particular

[@RatelHBadger]

JUSTICE! MY NAME IS CHIN!!!!!

[@davidfinney6211]

@ComicPop Thank you for teaching us all that love is thicker than most bodily membranes. But not quite as sticky. And that a heart full of love is better than a body full of people. Merrilly, the feet that carried us on the heart's path today will be the feet that soak in the steaming brew of happiness tomorrow.

[@shadowanderson2004]

The Tick was so big that Fairly Odd Parents based Crimson Chin’s look on him.

[@terryotoole3265]

Tick memory: "You can't eat the earth! It's where I keep all my stuff!" Love tick😄

[@valleyDweller]

The taco bell toy where he balances on his chin and spins is still one of my favorite things.

[@rubenalmazanalmazan2742]

I really liked the new tick show and was bummed out when they cancelled for season 3 cuz the clifhanger on season 2 was intersting, plus i like the cast.

[@Bona_D._Roosky]

The Tick movie will be out before a Savage Dragon movie.

[@bacsilva]

And the Spawn reboot.

[@chicostephenson]

I would run to see a tick movie

[@soheilkhavari4474]

@@bacsilva everything will come out before Spawn Reboot 😂

[@ADrowName]

I grew up watching The Tick cartoon, loved the Warburton Tick and heartbroken the amazon show ended. However, this Back Issues gave me hope.

[@Benm701]

"Limes disease." Lol

[@emeraldlizardgames]

Finding this made my evening much better.

[@Jordan83709]

Also! Even the 90's Spiderman cartoon referenced The Tick! By name! lol "Hey, who do I look like, The Tick?!" LOL

[@BrogiNaric]

I love the Amazon version of The Tick; and had hoped to see Peter Serafinowicz vs Patrick Warburton as Barry (The Tick)! 😢

[@AdamCoate]

Oh man what a perfect idea. He even had the deeper voice on the cartoon.

[@thegorgeousgloriousone9851]

I need more of the mad bomber what bombs at midnight

[@AdamCoate]

And I said yeah baby yeah!!!

[@ScottyC133]

My only exposure to the Tick is the amazon show, and I loved it

[@gravityape7708]

These type of episodes are really fun

[@MerylCheap]

I really enjoy this kind of back issues. Where it’s more of an analysis of a character than a specific story

[@pleffman]

27:04 Ben youre so sweet and wholesome I hope you know we all love you

[@chicostephenson]

A friend o mine ran into this and let me read it. I laughed my ass off. This was a parody of not just comic books but everything Ben could think of. I remember one when he made fun of a Stephen King book. (I think it was called the Landgoiers but don't quote me on that)

[@StardewDanny]

Thank you for this!!! There is a Tick for everyone :) the amazon series is MY Tick, but I've just adored going back and looking at the old material, I definitely also recommend reading the comics last, I LOVED getting to see where it all came from and how far it has come, they made me emotionalat times because I've developed such a huge attachment to the characters by now. also hugely appreciated the acknowledgment of the gay subtext, one of the most important elements to me that doesn't get talked about often enough!

[@AdamCoate]

Have you come out about going super yet?

[@alexwilliamfisher]

The tick is such a fascinating character. I still don't fully understand him but I guess no one does, maybe that's part of the fun.

[@FloorTankMain]

Woah woah woah wait hold on. Ben Edlund, as in, one of the names I saw in nearly every opening writing credit scene of classic Supernatural Ben Edlund? I loved that dude!

[@dinkydotzero]

I have a glow you cannot see. I have a heart as big as the moon, as warm as bathwater. I am a superhero, man! I don't have time to be charming! The boots of evil were made for walking. I'm watching the big picture, friend. I know the score. I am a public service, not a glamour boy! Not a captain of industry! Not a maker of... things! Keep your vulgar monies. I am a justice sandwich, no toppings necessary! Living rooms of America, do you catch my drift? Do... you... dig?

[@comicpop]

I can fly.

[@AdamCoate]

Better written than literally anything Dead pool ever

[@AnthonyMillerJr]

I’m sure it’s coming but you should do Batman Universe. ✊🏾

[@infernaldisdain8051]

Oedipus and Electra are very similar but different complexes. That's the connection.

[@langleymneely]

Infernal Disdain Im glad Im not the only nerd that knows this & said something! Kudos to you!🙏🏾😜

[@Javierm0n0]

truly a delight of an episode.

[@ChesterLivingstonIII]

Has Edlund ever discussed his conception of the character? I can't help but think it was influenced by The Roach from Cerebus, which parodied a bunch of Marvel characters.

[@AdamCoate]

Pretty sure it is just his version of a ninja turtle or spider man type character. And they hit on the fact that there was a tick and Lyme disease outbreak in his area at the time, so that's probably where the idea for a tick character came from. Edlund seems almost reclusive and doesn't seem to expound on such things much. I have him on LinkedIn and asked about the origin of the tick. He never responded but a couple years later the amazon series happened. I like to think I helped inspire that.

[@Woopywomp]

I remember around this time Ethan Van Schiver was selling his animal comic parody called Cyber Toad at comic conventions back before they were media conventions. Im just bring this up because ur whole explaination of crazy black and white comics reminded me of it. I cant find any exsistence of it online. But i got the comics!

[@dieboyandy5150]

SOOOOOOOOOOO STOKED!!! FINALLY!! I have been waiting since the very first episode I ever saw of you guys to do Tick! I remember seeing ads for Tick in the old Mirage Studios TMNT comics, and fell in LOVE with it IMMEDIATELY!!! Thank you guys (yet again) for bringing SO MANY hours of joy, happiness, and nostalgia! I Love you guys!!!!! (Tiff is one of the Guys too!)

[@dieboyandy5150]

Also, just wanted to Add; Chris McCullough, who was an artist Ben Edlund personally chose to continue drawing the Tick comics after he started working on the cartoons, eventually was chosen (by Edlund, again) to be co-head artist, and show runner for the cartoons. After the end of the cartoon, McCullough eventually met up with artist and multi-media genius Doc Hammer, uses the pseudonym "Jackson Publick", and goes on to create "Venture Bros" with Hammer. Edlund even has the honor of being the ONLY person other than McCullough or Hammer to write an episode of Venture Bros (eventually, writing 2 episodes, and coming up with the story for another episode). I guess that's why I'm so OBSESSED with Venture Bros, as it reminds me so much of the comedy and situations of The Tick!

[@AdamCoate]

I find the humor so much more immature and vulgar than the tick, much like Dead pool. Just can't like it on the same level. Much like how Space Ghost Coast to Coast beats any of the other mainline Adult Swim shows. Getting old I suppose.

[@Yungtacosss]

I barely remember The Tick aside from the animated show which I only caught glimpses of as a small child so it was really awesome to learn about the history behind this character!

[@RatelHBadger]

The Tick fits alongside the same satirical worldview like Earthworm Jim, Animaniacs and to an extent The Mask. Very self aware, without being too "winky winky" at the audience. The villains are absurd, the hero is ridiculously macho and "cloud cuckoo-lander" it sends up the normal super hero story formula. Much like The Mask and Earthworm Jim (who else would have a Princess Whatsername as a love interest and Queen festering Puss filled pustulent slug for a butt as the main villain)

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

_How fast you got here_ < _Speed of Lint_ < _How fast I got here_ *I'M **_THAT_** FAAAAAAST!*

[@marcushamner5994]

The Tick intro is so cool! I grew up with the Tick as a kid, and I watched the cartoon on Fox Kids! SPOOOON!

[@SeigiChoujin]

I'd say it was more Christopher McCulloch, who wrote for the Tick comics, the cartoon and the Warburton show, who had more to do with the Venture Bros. connection seeing as he created the Venture Bros. Edlund also worked on Venture Bros. occasionally

[@matyG101]

Love these types of back issues!

[@StickmanD311]

Any chance we can see Spiderman: life story on back issues sometime soon?

[@maxwellchris]

Megaton Man was out on the stands before the Tick came around, and the similarities are ah, interesting.

[@AdamCoate]

He eats X Men I hear. Need to read those

[@antgto]

Well, this was fantastic. My first encounter with The Tick was the b&w issue 3 maybe a year or so prior to the cartoon. That cartoon was simply amazing, and the Tick vs Tick episode introduced my friends and I to the Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight, a character who we constantly impersonated. To the dismay of our teachers.

[@accidentalmadness1708]

Imagine a spider verse story with spiderman or a bvs story with the flash knockoff

[@ftfasttalkfoodreviewsyt]

I was explaining the tick to my mom and came and rewatched this.

[@Cpt.LEEBOY]

This is gonna be another amazing episode

[@ryanisabox292]

I want an episode where y'all go into ALL the comic/ pop culture references that Venture Bros pull from! It'll be a 6hour rant, and we all need it

[@JoshuaOfGrandRapids]

I adore the comic and there’s a lot of nuance that seemed to go unacknowledged on the show. And there is definitely character growth

[@drewchesher3232]

Can we just get more episodes like this? I love the “Look Back” Issues...

[@Benm701]

SPOON!

[@FriendlyNeighborhoodGeek99]

Holy crap!!! I love the Tick ❤

[@galvatronus1139]

My first experience with The Tick was a reference in Transformers Animated in 2008. Townsend Coleman plays this asshole character named Sentinel Prime, and they model him after The Tick! Similar proportions, big chin, and blue. Then I saw a rerun of the show on like Toon Disney or Jetix or whatever it was at the time, and it clicked.

[@ItsMichaelReid]

I found out about the Tick thru the cartoon on Disney’s Jetix. It was always on like on 11 at night

[@michaelthethird702]

I love these breakdown episodes (Spawn, Maxx, etc). The info and the story discussions are so good. I can't wait for the next one

[@devthakor6847]

this is the best video to watch if you wanna know the entire history of the tick

[@niksimmons4448]

Remember that episode of 7th Heaven where the plot was about getting Simon a Tick toy?

[@AdamCoate]

Almost makes me want to watch 7th heaven... almost. .. lol

[@pillsburydoughbane2618]

I came in with the Warburton show- so sad it was cancelled, it was one of my favorite shows as a kid, even while not understanding most of the sex jokes.

[@scubasteve4355]

"Why are you doing this?" "Well, we figured we would rob the bank and then we would have money and we wouldn't have to work anymore."

[@EternalBlockBuster]

This video was great! I watched the cartoon series growing up and was a big fan of the Amazon series because it was trying something new. Also i am from and grew up in Boston so I was familiar with New England Comics and seeing The Tick advertisements but had no idea of the back story. So Cool!

[@AdamCoate]

Was there actually a tick and Lyme disease outbreak around the mid to late 80s in the area?

[@DMorfin11]

I saw, I clicked!

[@thetizic]

*See image of Arthur* Don't do it Sal! COPPA has spotted your scent!

[@legendarymarvelmann8154]

I loved the tick!

[@3dagalathor]

dream crossover The Tick vs Deadpool

[@samuelmiller5157]

Best boys are back

[@peterzeppeli2563]

SPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONN

[@Tim_Beitel]

I love both the cartoon and the Warburton show. Unfortunately, I never saw the Amazon series

[@reeferman42078]

True story about New England Comics in New Bedford Massachusetts, I tried to have them hold a certain storyline event couple years back for me, which is part of the service they offer and I was told when I ask them to hold the book for me that it would be easier to come in and buy it when it comes out. So basically the employee that work there was refusing to do his job and give me the customer service that he should have given me. It was not an unreasonable request he just did not want to be bothered. They offer pull box subscrips free of charge for customers....and i was refused servixe. Screw #NewEnglandComics !!! Tick was cool though once!!!

[@Onani_Master]

I did really like that the basic premise of the Amazon show was 'What if it was Adam West's Batman in the Dark Knight, but as effective"

[@TheGilgameshLore]

Sweet. Tick is from new England lol

[@ricardorios2355]

I wish there was more talk about the Amazon show because it is so great at making fun of modern superhero media.

[@AdamCoate]

The way they trash it is pretty weak sauce. It is a truly great show

[@blueseanewt2138]

I love the live action, so good.

[@levidu99]

I hope you guys do an episode on Trouble one day, just to see your reactions about that

[@rusky9110]

I watched the show as a kid but never really absorbed any of it. Now hearing it as an adult it sounds like Deadpool meets One Punch Man.

[@AdamCoate]

I can't get into the Dead pool hype fully just because I feel his shtick was ripped from The Tick with a bunch of vulgarity added in lieu of true comedy and satire. I feel like it's The Tick that deserves his popularity. Good comparison though as I never thought about how One Punch Man is similar but he really is. Freakazoid and the Earthworm Jim cartoons were also from the mid 90s and are super similar.

[@judahgregory1030]

Please do more of these “History of” episodes. I love the normal episodes, but these are super fun to watch.

[@The_Cold_Slither]

I found out about The Tick in 92/93. The comic book store I went to had them, but they were in black and white so I didn’t care at all or pay anything to the indie section. It came on my radar when a customer came in asking if any new Man Eating Cow. They got into a very enthusiastic conversation, I listened while going through back issues and that’s how I discovered The Tick.

[@cameronf7566]

woah i live/lived in the town this was created what the heck

[@Revanxbone]

I never expected a story about the tick to be so entertaining

[@heeroyuy5520]

I was at the grand opening of mile high comics the large store they used to have before the warehouse but they had to shutdown that 1 because the roof got ruined their or something then they turn the warehouse into their new one but had no idea was the largest comic bookstore in the world.

[@metalliopleurodon]

great, now do a Venture Brothers episode!

[@CAPappy]

Alright Sal you’ve convinced me to watch the Tick shows

[@OreoBrawl]

That moment when you did all the Crisis comics, so you do The Tick

[@freebatman4everyone]

EVIL IS AFOOT! EVIL IS AFOOT! EVIL IS AFOOT! EVIL IS AFOOT! *passes to Ben* . . . EVIL IS AFOOT!

[@ijl007]

HAHA this episode was brilliant, as always. Loved it lol 👍

[@wayneigoe6722]

Can you do the Green Arrow/Green Lantern anti-drug crossover?

[@goodgame764]

They also did an Amazon show for the tick which is great.

[@chadalpha7983]

Spoon!

[@dertitan4870]

So... Big Guy and Rusty confirmed???