The Tick is Ben Edlund's comic book superhero, a spoof of American comic book superheroes in general, created as the newsletter mascot in 1986 for the New England Comics chain of Boston area comic book stores. New England Comics published an independent comic book series starring the Tick in 1988 and several since, but the Tick gained mainstream popularity from his 1994 animated television series. Since then, he has seen live-action television series, a video game, and various other merchandise. The Tick's superpowers are numerous, but perhaps his most important power is his 'drama power', or basically a tendency for his powers to increase as the situation becomes more dramatic. The Tick's sidekick is a former accountant named Arthur who wears a white moth suit. The Tick is well-intended, friendly, childlike, good-natured, high-spirited, frequently obtuse, and prone to quipping odd, dim remarks and 'inspirational' speeches filled with bizarre metaphors. His nonsensical battle cry is 'Spoooooon!'
