The Tick: Prime Video’s Underrated Superhero Series That Predates The Boys

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Prime Video’s hit show The Boys has changed what people expect from superhero stories, but the platform had a groundbreaking sci-fi series that was challenging the genre even earlier. While The Boys has found a large audience by focusing on the abuse of power instead of simply celebrating heroes, this approach to superhero storytelling didn’t begin with that show.

Television in the 2000s and 2010s started exploring different kinds of heroes, moving away from simple origin stories. Shows began to delve into more complex and morally gray characters. Programs like Heroes focused on the real-life impacts of having superpowers, and many others followed suit, blending genres in new ways. Instead of just telling traditional superhero tales, these shows aimed to create something fresh that reflected public feelings about power and authority. Viewers weren’t looking to simply admire heroes anymore; they wanted to see their human side.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how superhero stories have changed, and how we now expect a little more realism, a little more humanity from our heroes. That’s where a show like The Tick really stands out. It’s honestly one of the most original, yet surprisingly underrated, superhero series out there. The 2016 version, which you can find on Prime Video, is based on Ben Edlund’s comics, and thankfully lasted longer than the first attempt back in 2001. What impressed me most was that, despite all the fantastical elements, it wasn’t afraid to really look at things like trauma and what it actually takes to be a hero. It’s a shame it’s become a bit of a forgotten gem in the age of streaming, because it really deserves more attention.

Prime Video’s The Tick Is A Perfect Comic Book Adaptation

For the second time, The Tick comic has been brought to life as a live-action series, with Peter Serafinowicz playing the eccentric superhero. He meets Arthur Everest (Griffin Newman) just when Arthur needs him most. Arthur is plagued by anxiety and believes a supervillain called The Terror is still operating, even though he was supposedly defeated years ago. As Arthur and The Tick become friends – a somewhat mismatched pair thanks to Arthur’s worries and The Tick’s endless optimism – they team up to fight crime in their city.

The Tick stands out as a great comic book adaptation because it manages to be both funny and genuinely heartfelt. The show walks a fine line between satire and sincerity, intentionally portraying its hero as ridiculously optimistic. However, this exaggerated persona is just a surface layer. Beneath it, the series thoughtfully explores Arthur’s inner struggles with self-doubt and past trauma. The show uses its fantastical and humorous elements to balance these heavier themes, allowing for quieter, more character-driven moments.

The Tick Season 3’s Cancellation Still Hurts

Even though The Tick was well-received and praised for its unique, satirical take on superheroes, it was canceled by Prime Video after only two seasons in 2019. The show likely didn’t attract a broad enough audience for the streaming service, which was still establishing itself. Despite growing critical acclaim, particularly with its second season, The Tick wasn’t renewed for a third season.

As a big fan, it really stung when The Tick didn’t get a third season. The second season was clearly setting up some amazing storylines and expanding the world, so it felt like we were robbed of seeing where it was all going. Even after all these years, it’s still frustrating to think about those unfinished stories. It’s a shame both live-action versions were cut short, but it’s cool to see how much of an impact The Tick has had. You can even see its influence on shows like The Boys, which clearly learned a lot from it right from the beginning.

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2026-05-03 19:18