The Tick's Big Tax Time Terror

      

The Tick comes into a giant windfall due to a tax loophole. Meanwhile, Barry, the evil Tick, discovers that someone has been stealing his credit card. Donning the forbidden identity of the Louse, Barry seeks revenge on those who have stolen his identity. Back in the City, Tick's teammates have been making some big purchases on a certain online auction site which may account for Barry's lost funds.  It looks like some of Tick's allies are in for a massive beat down...

    Another very funny one-shot special. I laughed the most at this one as there were some very clever easter eggs and some very amusing banter. But I felt the most lost with this book as well. In this issue, there is a doppelganger Tick and Arthur team called Flea and Doyle that I've never run across. (Is there a third team with a sidekick named Conan? Sherlock fans should get the reference.) Also, the events from which the Tick received his tax check are an undiscovered country to me as well. So I am sure some inside jokes went right on pass me!

   The next book in the miniseries is the Father's Day Special. It is a book that I currently do not own. But like the books that cover all that unknown information I just griped about, I have a feeling I will not be without these issues for long.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Tick Omnibus, Volume 3 (2nd Printing)

No, there's no Christmas story here.
This is the cover to what would have been
Tick #13.

  The third omnibus featuring some mighty blue justice roughly completes Ben Edlund's epic run of the Tick. Though this only collects issues 11-12 there are tons of great extras in this book including Edlund's very first sketches and appearances of the Tick in other media plus a sneak peak of issue #13.

    I had said that Omnibus 3 'roughly completes' the first series and I wasn't lying. There was a long-rumored 13th issue but it's publishing was very unlucky as it took over a decade for Edlund to finally complete it! (And you thought it took a long time for Marvel to finish up Ultimate Hulk/ Wolverine!)

   Aside from an epic cliffhanger that wouldn't be resolved anywhere near when this book was published, there wasn't very much to hate about this collection. Yeah, it's a short omnibus but at 100-pages and with lots of great extras it's worth the $12 cover price. Or go to the New England Comics website and get it for only $6!

  So, let us talk about the stories themselves. Issue #11 is the original story in which the epic Tick cartoon episode "The Tick Vs. The Tick" was based. Yep- it's the first appearance of Barry, the Comet Club, and the Sidekicks Lounge! The only thing missing is the Evil Midnight Bomber Who Bombs at Midnight (Yeah, baby, YEAH!)

   Then issue #12 wraps up a nit from the Tick that I couldn't figure out for the longest time. When Tick beats Barry, he and Arthur are given the rights to the former Tick's name, mansion, and his secret lair. (So that's how Tick got it!) But alas, when it looks like the Tick and Arthur are about to be ambushed by the Terror and his team of henchmen, we get that famous 'To Be Continued' that won't be resolved anytime soon.

   Still, as I said this is an essential volume and I loved just about every minute of it. Oh and I'll get that Edlund follow-up some day.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.