This is a spoiler-free review

Each new comic book adaption must justify its own existence.

Lets see: what can I miss?

Can I skip the DC Cinematic Universe even thoughWonder Womanwas great?

Or what about Marvels Netflix properties?

Damn, it would suck to miss out on Jon Bernthals standalonePunisherthough.

Not only do we have enough superheroes; we have enough Ticks.

What say you, 2016 Amazon Prime version?

What is your justification for having the audacity to exist in this crowded superhero marketplace?

The Ticks justification is that its good.

The Tick was a very original character at the time of his creation.

In 1986, there were few superheroes who deconstructed the genre so aggressively.

The Tick is a well-meaning lunatic with superpowers.

Hes nigh-invulnerable and possesses the strength of 10-20 men (hes never quite sure how many).

Its an original concept but this 2016 version ofThe Tickborrows generously from other modern superhero myth deconstructions.

The 50 espionage-tinged soundtrack and graphics recalls the aesthetic ofThe Incredibles.

It takes its real-world superhero physics and violence straight fromKick-Ass.

The Tick, himself, is basically a non-fourth wall breaking, less-dickish version of Deadpool.

The Tickdoesnt bring anything new to the table quite simply because it cannot.

There is scarcely anything new left to try.

InsteadThe Tickleans into thoseIncredibles/Kick-Ass/Deadpoolaesthetics and homages and then wraps them around a surprisingly compelling and charming origin story.

The Tick provides the charm and dayglo aesthetic while Arthur provides pretty much everything else.

Arthur is a young accountant struggling through some major demons.

Newman does an excellent job on both fronts and makes for a perfect audience cypher.

Peter Serafinowicz does admirable work as the Tick as well.

He contorts his natural British accent into a convincingly corny yet uplifting superhero shout.

The best part ofThe Tickis how unabashedly serialized it is.

Lint is often the most compelling villain onscreen as though Haley as The Terror is certainly doing…something.

Yeah, hes like really doing…something.

That just causes more damage!

Looking at you, dummies on literally every other TV show ever made.

Its few shortcomings are mostly visual.

Despite borrowing imagery and ideas heavily from other sources,The Tickdoes little to improve upon them.

The graphics work is often understandably sketchy given the shows scale against its pilot project budget.

The show seems to agree as the Tick gets a costume upgrade right after the pilot.

Some will argue thatThe Tickdoesnt do enough to justify its existence.

I suppose thats fair in a grand, creative sense.

Oftentimes, superhero stories that dont challenge or change the genre feel like theyre wasting our time.

InThe Ticks defense, however, challenging or changing the genre isntThe Ticks purpose.The Ticks purpose is to charm.

And charm it does.

Its not a superhero story deconstructed.

Rating:

4 out of 5