“The Tick vs. Season Two” DVD Review
Despite the shows scant thirty-six episode run, The Tick remains a cult favorite in the animation community. Mixing animation that clearly reflected the comic it was based off of as well as giving it the look of MTV’s Aeon Flux, The Tick delighted fans for three seasons until the show met an untimely end on the Fox network (a phrase you’ll hear many times, across many television shows).
I’ll admit I haven’t seen more than a few minutes of The Tick prior to this set (I do, however, own the live action The Tick series which is incredibly short as well [not even a full 13 episode run]), but I was familiar with the character. The twelve episodes on this disc are all equally as funny as the last, although “Heroes” and “Grandpa Wore Tights” are the ones that I found to be the best on the set. It’s easy to see why this series has such a loyal following, it’s just a bit of a bummer these DVD releases couldn’t be a bit more robust in the extras area.
One major downer fans will have with this set is the lack of the episode “Alone Together”, an episode left off, like the first season set, for legal reasons. Apparently it has something to do with similarities to Marvel properties, I’m not entirely sure—regardless leaving off the episodes make for incomplete season sets and with The Tick having a rather high price tag for a twelve-episode two-disc set with no extras, not getting the entire series seems like a bit of a rip off.
Overall this season comes Recommended. The humor in the series is quick and witty and unmatched by other shows of its time. On top of that, the animation still holds up and looks great in a nice, comic booky and gritty sort of way. It’s certainly of the few animated shows from the 90s I can think of that had wholly realistically designed humans.
The DVD
The Tick vs. Season Two arrives in a two-disc amaray set with an embossed cardboard slip cover, an insert detailing the contents of the discs and a Tick lithograph that is printed on high gloss paper with excellent colors. The quip (“Destiny’s powerful hand has made the bed of my future…and it’s up to me to lie in it!”) stems from the shows pilot episode and on the back of the lithograph is a bit of Tick trivia.
The video and audio for the set is clean and clear. There isn’t any serious amount of ghosting or interlacing I noticed and the compression is kept to a minimum. There is grain, but it helps add to the mood of the show, rather than detract from it. Audio is loud and the voices are easily heard, and the music and sound effects never overpower the hilarious dialogue. There are chapters in the episodes themselves, which is always a relief (repeatedly watching a shows intro is never fun, I don’t care how good it may be).
We have music over the menus, which are in 16×9 and look good for the most part. There’s not much on these menu’s to look at, as there aren’t any extras. Aside from some trailers on the first disc, there is not a bit of bonus content to be found on the set. As mentioned before, the set has a high MSRP ($34.99) that is usually reserved for shows of more discs or ones with some extras at least. Only the most dedicated fans will want to plunk their cash down on these sets, as no extras and a missing episode is a bit too shaky for the general public to dedicate their money to.
Despite its shortcomings, The Tick vs. Season Two is fun to watch—but only for the episodes on them, obviously. You won’t get anything extra to go with your money and if you’re a fan the set comes Recommended. Otherwise, give the season a Rental if you’re curious.
The Tick vs. Season Two is now out on DVD.