Arthur and the Tick

 

The magic of The Tick and Arthur is that they’re less “superhero partners” and more like an old married couple who just happen to fight crime. And not a glamorous couple either more like your quirky neighbors who argue in the driveway but still clearly love each other.

On one side, you’ve got The Tick: a big, blue wall of muscle who’s invincible, heroic, and dumber than a sack of doorknobs. He’s loud, confident, and absolutely convinced he knows best… even though he almost never does. He barges through life (and walls) like an enthusiastic golden retriever in spandex.

Then there’s Arthur: a sweet, nerdy accountant who just wanted a normal life but somehow ended up in a moth suit. He’s smart, cautious, good at math… and a total pushover. Arthur didn’t exactly choose to be a superhero The Tick kind of just showed up, moved in, declared him a sidekick, and refused to leave. Like a very muscular squatter.

That’s the joke: they’re the superhero Odd Couple. The Tick drags Arthur into wild adventures, Arthur sighs and tries to keep things sensible, and together they save the day in the most chaotic way possible.

It’s hilarious because they bicker like a married pair:

• The Tick makes grand speeches about justice; Arthur reminds him about rent.

• The Tick breaks into battle without a plan; Arthur crunches the numbers on their odds of survival.

• The Tick calls him “destined chum,” Arthur mutters, “I should’ve stayed in accounting.”

And yet… they actually balance each other out. The Tick gives Arthur courage, Arthur gives The Tick direction (sort of), and the world gets saved just with a lot more yelling, accidental property damage, and awkward moth-flapping than your average superhero team-up.

Basically, it’s superhero comedy part action, part parody, part sitcom about two very different guys stuck living together except one of them is indestructible and the other files taxes in a moth costume.