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The Tick #3
By Zak Edwards
May 13, 2010 - 16:11

New England Comics
Writer(s): Benito Cereno
Penciller(s): Les McClaine
$4.95 US



The new series of the Tick that began at the end of last year has a good approach behind it, executing a strategy which leaves every issue open to new readers and not breaking the bank trying to keep a schedule and cost of a regular series.  The series is bimonthly, extremely approachable, and without an intense continuity which leaves readers alienated from the very product they bought.  I hesitate to say the issues are one-shots, but anything building is pretty far in the background, less of a priority than telling really good individual stories.  Most importantly though, the series is funny and enjoyable with obvious care and attention being put into every issue by the entire creative team.  Writer Benito Cereno’s scripts are tight and joke heavy on multiple levels while artist Les McClaine is equally clear and funny in his own ways.  The first two issues were some of the more enjoyable comic books I have read in the last little while on sheer entertainment value, but the latest issue, while still enjoyable, was lacking in certain areas.

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The Tick #3 follows a similar structure of the other issues, putting the Tick and his sidekick Arthur on an adventure while a subplot involving some side characters fills up the rest of the issue.  Usually both are hilarious, but I found this issue’s subplot was far better than the actual plot, which is packed with jokes falling flat.  The Tick discovers his plumbing skills aren’t what he thought they are, causing him and Arthur to travel into the mime-infested sewers of the city.  That’s right, mimes.  Mimes who predictably have the power to manifest physical properties into invisible things.  While the past two issues of the Tick, and a large part of the Tick catalogue, reuses old cliches and plot points for humourous purposes, the mimes with telekinesis is less turning cliches against themselves than unfunny borrowing of an overused concept.  But while the overarching plot is frustrating, Cereno’s little jokes and gags manage to make an issue that’s still enjoyable.  The black and white cop flashback sequences are simply hilarious, as are some of Tick’s one liners, most of which are very funny in their context.  But the ultimate saving grace is the subplot, which sees long-time Tick minor character Running Man designing t-shirts for a website to make some quick cash.  The sequence is quite funny, parodying of many things people do to make money on the internet (stopping short of writing reviews of comic books for a website... phew!).  Overall, the issue keeps many of its strengths that has made the whole effort a joy to read every two months, combining quick humour with overarching hilarity.  Hopefully, the concept of the new Tick series will see the Tick in a regular rotation on comic store shelves.

While the script falters, Les McClaine’s art does not.  As strong as ever, McClaine’s style perfectly matches the Tick’s saturday morning cartoon feel; especially with the physical gags, McClaine nails the moments.  McClaine enjoys making fun of the dramatic shots superhero comics often use, with high angle shots littering the pages as heroes scream at the sky, and his panelling during the fight sequences is purposefully off-kilter without detracting from his clear communication.  In an issue relying on depicting the invisible as real, McClaine does a great job.  The page long gag of Arthur being caught in an invisible rope trap is certainly a highlight.  Furthermore, McClaine’s colouring is bold and reminiscent of both saturday morning cartoons and nineties superhero comics.  McClaine is perfect for this series and hopefully he isn’t going anywhere very soon.

Grade: B    While the main plot faltered, the issue is still very funny, hopefully this team sticks around for a long time.