Ben Edlund's The Tick has done surprisingly well for an independent comic book---and in a variety of forms, no less. First published under the NEC banner in the mid 1980s, The Tick was created as a mascot for a Boston comic book store by the 17 year-old Edlund. Filled with colorful characters spoofing the all-too-serious superhero world, The Tick soon became a cult favorite. Perhaps the most literal incarnation of Edlund's work arrived in the form of an animated series less than 10 years later, as "The Tick" became a Saturday morning favorite and, eventually, a bonafide franchise. Action figures, an underrated live-action series, the works.

Many fans consider the animated series to be the purest translation of "The Tick"; for visual reasons alone, I'd have to agree. Though a substantial degree of the comic's adult humor was swept aside---including the title character's origin, which originally painted him as an escaped mental patient---the goofy, free-wheeling heart of the story was left intact. Several of the original printed stories were adapted for the small screen (including Episode #2, "The Tick vs. Chairface Chippendale"), which is largely identical to the original.

Pound for pound, the first season remains one of the strongest of all three, boasting a consistent lineup of over-the-top episodes. If you're unfamiliar with the series but enjoy lighthearted superhero fare, you'll most certainly enjoy it.

Standouts for this season include fan favorite "The Tick vs. The Tick", where our hero and his pals travel to an exclusive superheroes-only nightclub, only to be nearly one-upped by a second "The Tick" (actually, it's Barry, the owner's brother-in-law) and the diabolical "Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight". "The Tick vs. Arthur's Bank Account" is another highlight, in which a rickety old supervillain ("The Terror") enlists the help of several colorful baddies to conquer The City. There's also "The Tick vs. Dinosaur Neil", in which The Tick and his sidekick, Arthur, try to shrink down an overgrown paleontologist with an ordinary home remedy.

All things considered, nearly all of the 12 episodes included here are excellent---and that's quite an accomplishment, considering the show was just finding its legs. This two-disc collection from Buena Vista collects nearly all of the first season episodes (see below), presented in what appears to be their original broadcast versions. Though a few early episodes dip slightly below the 20-minute mark, they don't appear to be cut for syndication or content. The pilot episode, "The Tick vs. The Idea Men", is one such example of this: sharp-eyed viewers noticed a scene with "Bi-Polar Bear" was trimmed for syndication, but it's left intact on the DVD. It's also worth noting that each of these episodes include the opening and closing credits, along with black-screen "prologue" interviews with The Tick and Arthur when applicable.

NOTE: Missing from this two-disc collection is Episode #11, "The Tick vs. The Mole-Men", apparently for legal reasons. Though many fans can agree it's not one of the stronger episodes, Buena Vista may include it in a future season release if the situation is resolved. Let's take a look at what we get:

Presented in their original 1.33:1 format, these episodes look good but not excellent. Colors are fairly bold and bright, while the individual transfers look clean from start to finish. The problem here is a moderate amount of edge enhancement and interlacing, which creates a slightly unstable image during scenes of fast motion. These problems shouldn't hinder your overall enjoyment of the episodes, but they're notable drawbacks nonetheless. The audio is roughly on par in terms of quality, as the included English and French 2.0 Surround mixes boast clear dialogue and sound but little in terms of power. English captions and French subtitles have been provided for all 12 episodes.

Excellent series, not-so-excellent DVD release. Even so, anyone with fond memories of The Tick---whether you're a fan of the comic, this animated series or the underrated live-action show---should enjoy this two-disc package, as it's got a high percentage of standout episodes for its slim total count. The DVD's technical presentation isn't so bad, all things considered, but the complete lack of bonus features really hurts this one in the long run. Casual fans should be satisfied with a rental, but any die-hard Tick disciple will want to add this to their collection. Recommended.