Copyright Screen Rant
At a time when superheroes have taken over both the big and small screen, Amazon Prime Video has carved out a very specific niche: gritty, self-aware superhero satire. With The Boys and Invincible, the streaming giant became the go-to home for darkly comic takes on capes and crusaders, the kind that mock everything DC and Marvel hold sacred. These aren’t just superhero shows; they’re dissections of the entire genre, tearing down the myth of the flawless hero with wicked glee. However, while The Boys, Invincible, and even Gen V dominate pop culture conversation today, Amazon’s relationship with adult superhero storytelling didn’t start there. Long before Homelander or Omni-Man were smashing heads and breaking hearts, Prime Video had already experimented with its own sharp and subversive hero. What’s more, it happened years before audiences even knew how brutal or funny superhero deconstruction could get. Amazon’s first foray into superhero satire wasn’t The Boys, it was The Tick. Premiering in 2016 and boasting a stellar 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, The Tick remains one of the funniest, smartest, and most overlooked superhero series ever made. For fans of The Boys, Invincible, or Peacemaker who crave clever chaos and genre-bending storytelling, this underrated Prime Video gem deserves a second look. The Tick Brought Superhero Satire To Prime Video In The Mid-2010s Amazon’s First Superhero Parody Was A Hilarious, Heartfelt Send-Up Of The Genre Long Before Homelander Arrived Before The Boys shocked audiences in 2019, The Tick had already brought superhero satire to Prime Video. Released in 2016, this live-action revival of the cult comic character delivered an absurd yet surprisingly emotional take on heroism. Created by Ben Edlund, the show stars Peter Serafinowicz as the titular Tick, a blue-suited, nigh-invulnerable hero with a childlike sense of justice. Beside him is Arthur Everest (Griffin Newman), an anxious accountant-turned-sidekick whose realistic fears and insecurities contrast perfectly with the Tick’s boundless optimism. Together, they take on crime, conspiracy, and corruption in a city that’s forgotten what true heroism means. The Tick is colorful, absurd, and unapologetically weird, but it’s also layered with sharp commentary about what it means to be good in a world that’s lost faith in heroes. Unlike The Boys, which gleefully dives into cynicism and gore, The Tick is built on heart and hope. It satirizes superhero tropes not by tearing them down completely, but by twisting them through humor and sincerity. Serafinowicz’s Tick is equal parts parody and tribute, his ridiculous speeches somehow inspiring in their earnestness. That balance of absurdity and heart makes the show stand out among darker satires. While The Boys and Invincible pushed boundaries with brutality and shock value, The Tick did it with charm and wit, proving that parody doesn’t always have to be grim to be clever. It showed that Prime Video could do superhero satire with both brains and heart years before it became part of their brand identity. Amazon’s First Superhero Satire Is Based On One Of The Best Parody Heroes Ever The Tick Has Been Parodying Superheroes Across Comics, Animation, And Live-Action For Decades Part of the brilliance of The Tick on Prime Video didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s the latest evolution of a character who has been poking fun at superheroes for decades. Ben Edlund created The Tick in the 1980s as a comic book store mascot, but the character quickly outgrew his humble origins. The Tick’s bizarre blend of bombast, innocence, and self-parody made him an underground hit. In the comics, the Tick gleefully mocked every superhero trope imaginable, from brooding vigilantes to overpowered alien saviors. His adventures often skewered the clichés of the genre while still celebrating its sense of wonder. The 1994 animated series only amplified that reputation, bringing Edlund’s creation to a wider audience with its blend of slapstick comedy and clever writing. Fans of Animaniacs or Freakazoid! will recognize the same manic energy, but filtered through spandex and supervillainy. By the time Amazon’s version arrived, The Tick had already conquered comics and Saturday mornings, and had a short-lived 2001 Fox show starring Patrick Warburton. Translating that mix of absurdity and sincerity into live-action was no easy task, but Serafinowicz nailed it. His booming, overconfident delivery perfectly captured the character’s joyful ridiculousness. In an era where The Boys, Invincible, Peacemaker, and movies like Deadpool thrive on subverting the superhero formula, The Tick feels like the unsung pioneer. As a character, he proved long ago that audiences love seeing their heroes taken down a peg, as long as it’s done with style and a little affection. The Tick Was Also An Early Victim Of Streaming Cancellations (But Is Still A Must-Watch) Despite Being Canceled Too Soon, The Tick Remains One Of Amazon’s Best Hidden Gems Sadly, The Tick didn’t get the long run it deserved. After just two seasons, Amazon canceled the show in 2019, the same year The Boys premiered. It was an unfortunate case of bad timing, and fans were understandably devastated. The Tick had built a loyal audience, earned critical acclaim, and scored a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it wasn’t enough to save it. Still, what The Tick achieved in its short lifespan is remarkable. Peter Serafinowicz is a comedic powerhouse, bringing both hilarity and genuine warmth to the role. Griffin Newman’s Arthur grounds the absurd world around him, while supporting characters like Overkill (Scott Speiser) and Miss Lint (Yara Martinez) make the universe feel fully realized. Even without the sprawling scope of The Boys or the jaw-dropping animation of Invincible, The Tick remains one of the best superhero satires ever made. It’s sharp, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt, proof that you can parody superheroes without losing their soul. Fans of The Boys, Invincible, Gen V, or anything put out by Marvel or DC that have somehow missed The Tick should consider it a must-watch. It’s a short, brilliant ride that reminds us why superhero satire works best when it’s done with heart. The Tick may have been cut short, but it left a mighty impression.
