[1] The Tick has been syndicated by various networks (such as Comedy Central), further increasing the show's cult following, and has been released on both VHS and DVD.

With the aid of Die Fledermaus, American Maid, Sewer Urchin, and other superheroes, the Tick and Arthur protect the City from bad guys like Chairface Chippendale, Breadmaster, El Seed, the Terror, and others who would harm it.

Major TV networks and studios were reluctant to take on an animated series based on the absurd character.

Kiscom stayed in touch with Edlund and finally Sunbow Entertainment, the small, New York–based animation company that created The Transformers, G.I.

Neither man held high esteem for their final script, and their feelings were validated when FOX turned down the first pitch.

Writing duties were also given to Christopher McCulloch who had met Edlund prior to their television work and wrote several issues of the Tick comic book series.

They would much later work together on McCulloch's Adult Swim series, The Venture Bros.. Edlund, a co-producer of The Tick, remained very hands-on during production, causing delays.

Edlund later expressed his view that, because the series did not reach the commercial heights of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, its merchandising success deteriorated by the end of its first season.

The series also features exclusive allies to the Tick like Die Fledermaus, a shallow, self-absorbed Batman parody; Sewer Urchin, a sea urchin-themed Aquaman parody who resembles Dustin Hoffman's character in Rain Man; and American Maid, a more noble superheroine featuring aspects of Wonder Woman and Captain America.

The show's opening theme, written by Doug Katsaros, who also composed the scores for every episode, consists of big band music and campy scat singing.

A typical episode plot would have the Tick battling a villain until Arthur devises a solution that saves the day.

Although the series was initially aimed primarily at children, it features an absurdist style that appeals to an older audience as well.

The following year, FOX began talks with Sunbow Entertainment about producing a prime time Tick special, but this never came to fruition.

Comedy Central syndicated The Tick during this time and subsequently helped make it a cult hit with adults.

FOX attempted to capitalize on the growing adult fan base by introducing this new incarnation in November 2001, but the series could not match the success of its animated predecessor.

Villain: The Idea Men The Tick attempts to thwart Chairface Chippendale's plan to commit the "Crime of the Century": using a powerful heat ray to write his name on the face of the moon.

Mental takes control of the Tick's mind and forces him to steal the Thinking Cap, a device which will give Mr.

A villain known as the Breadmaster orders large quantities of baking supplies to build the sinister City-Smothering Lemon Soufflé.

The Tick, Arthur, and American Maid are sent to Pokoponesia to rescue Yank, a hyperintelligent astronaut monkey, from the evil dictator Pineapple Pokopo.

IGN went on to regard it "the first great lampooning of the superhero genre" and compared the series to Mel Brooks and Monty Python.

Fox Interactive also published a beat 'em up Tick-based video game and released it on the Super NES and Sega Genesis.