The Tick

The true hero stays above it all,

using their keen senses to feel through the fog,

to penetrate the din,

and hear that one tiny voice on the wind, crying out for help.

It's easy to lose sight of the big picture.

I mean, come on, people, the world is a ginormous place,

am I right?

Flashy.

Crime, nastiness and evil

rear their foul, odorous heads in every corner of the globe.

And that's saying something,

because globes don't even havecorners.

Every three seconds, an innocent life is on the brink

of disaster.

Murder and mayhem are down everyone's block,

locked, loaded and heading this way.

What do you do, hero? What do you do?

All right, he's moving.

You've got to gird your loins

and slap steel into your spine

because one day that tiny voice you hear

crying out on the wind may be your own.

* *

This is a News 3 V-L-M update.

We have eyewitness reports that Superian has been spotted

heading towards the V-L-M's location.

Handing it over to Chet Riley on the scene.

Chet.

Yes, we can confirm

that Superian is on the scene

and has brought the V-L-M to a halt.

Do you have a sense

of the V-L-M's reaction?

It's hard to say,

but his curiosity has certainly been aroused.

So that's Superian. Look at him...

strong, caped.

And he can fly.

Arthur should see this.

I don't want to die! I don't want to die!

Oh, please, please, please.

Please, please, please, please... please.

Yes, yes!

No! No!

Pull up!

Pull up, pull up, pull up!

Oh, yes.

You weren't with The Flag Five

when they were defeated by The Terror.

You were at a veterinarian at the time, isn't that correct?

Well, look, Graham, you need to understand

that heartworm is a very serious and potentially fatal disease.

I still struggle with survivor's guilt.

But they died 15 years ago,

and I had to find a way to get back on my own four feet.

You wrote, very movingly, about the death

of your master, Christian Soldier.

Chris was not my master. We were equal partners.

Every one of the Five were.

But isn't it true that Christian Solider

did rescue you and name you Onward?

Yeah. He also crate-trained me, baptized me,

and turned me into a Crusader for Christ.

Just like all of you, I was domesticated. -Mm-hmm.

And it took my team's death for me to realize there is no God,

there is only Dog.

That's very profound.

Do you have to eat straight out of the can?

There is a little thing called quality of life.

Treat yourself to a plate

- and a side salad. - Leave me alone.

You don't even know what's in that.

Mostly hoof. And salt.

It won't be a bullet that kills you.

- I'm trying to hear this. - Your honesty

and openness about your journey

have really struck a chord with readers.

I wrote Good Intentions as a form of therapy.

But if it resonates with other people,

then I am humbled.

I hate that fuckin' dog.

You were...

What do we got?

My radar is picking up something over The City.

- Identify. - Currently classified UFO.

Can we get a visual?

All right, let me tap into a satellite.

Stand by.

Enhance.

- Enhancing. - Enhance.

- Enhance. - Enhance.

Enhancing... Oh.

It's a big butterfly.

Son of a bitch.

Okay, okay, there's got to be something.

There's got to be something.

Stupid icons. What do these mean?

Okay.

Is that a bear in a sombrero?

Phone! Yes, yes, yes.

Hello.

Oh, hey, Dot.

Hey, it's Arthur.

Uh, could I speak to Tick, please?

Arthur? I thought you were upstairs.

No, I, uh... went out to, uh, g-get ice.

We have more than enough ice.

The party's almost over.

What's that whooshing sound?

Uh, the street cleaner.

Hey, could you just put The Tick on, please?

It's for you.

Thank you.

No, you idiot. Arthur's on the phone.

- He needs to talk to you. - Oh.

Arthur? Are you reading me?

Tick, Tick, I'm in trouble!

- I'm in the air! I'm flying! - Really?

Good for you, chum.

Imagine what you could do if you had that suit back.

I do have the suit, okay?!

I'm wearing the suit right now.

Miss Lint made me put it on!

That electric she-devil? When did you see her?!

She's Paloma, Tick!

I'm not following.

Never mind, never mind. I'm going to die.

Okay? Can you follow that?!

I can't figure out how to stop flying.

I don't know how to work this stupid thing.

Relax, chum. Take a couple of deep breaths. I'm on my way.

Okay, Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick, just stay on the line, okay?

Stay on the line, and don't tell Dot anything.

Don't tell sister anything. Copy that.

Hey, where are you going with my phone?

I need to be in touch with your brother at all times.

Why? What's going on? Is he in trouble?

That's a lot of questions

Arthur doesn't want me to answer.

I'm coming with you.

Arthur didn't say anything about that.

Arthur, it's me... The Tick.

Yes, Tick, I know!

Which direction are you heading?

- Up! - Going to need a little more

to go on there, chum.

Can you make out any landmarks?

Tick, it's a little hard for me to see things right now.

O-Okay, wait a second, I-I see a water tower coming up.

Dot, would you happen to know,

are there any water towers in the vicinity?

Water towers? Um, yeah.

There's one over by the old scout camp.

Fantastic! Head for that water tower.

- We'll meet you there. - What do you mean "we"?

I'm with Dot. She's driving.

Tick, I told you not to tell her anything!

Oh, don't worry, chum.

- She's none the wiser. - Give me that.

Arthur,

what kind of trouble are you in?

Have you been arrested again?

Uh, no, no, of course not.

You don't have to worry about that.

Well, then why can't you tell me what's going on?

Uh, 'cause you're not gonna like it.

Whoa, whoa, what-what are you doing?

Attempting to make visual contact.

In the sky? Why would...

Ah! There he is.

Hey, chum!

Hang in there!

We're coming!

Oh, my God.

Signal's off the map grid entirely.

That little bastard.

He put it on. He's flying.

Flying?

- Go that way. - There's no road there.

Just go.

Swear to Ra.

When I find whoever stole that suit,

I'm gonna cut him to pieces.

Damn.

What happened to you?

Go back to your room, Derek. I'm in no mood.

Aw, Jesus. You're gonna track that crud all over the floor.

Stay there. I'm gonna put some newspaper down.

I'm not a goddamn puppy.

Well, you're gonna ruin the Turkish rugs.

I swear to God.

If you say one more word.

* Are you a badfish, too? *

* But I ain't got no money to spend *

You need a towel?

Yes.

I need a towel.

Okay.

* Lord knows I'm weak. *

You gave my brother a flying suit?