A superhero called “The Immortal” is coming through The City on a book-signing tour. He’s evidently this version of the Tickiverse’s version of Superman. (In the Comics and the Cartoon, the Seldom-seen Superman Parody is called “The Cape,” and his real name is “Clark Oppenheimer,” and he’s much more straightforward than the TV iteration). Everyone is in awe of The Immortal, including Arthur who, as a much younger guy, camped outside a hotel to get his autograph.

The Tick and Arthur are on patrol, beating down some petty thief. The bad guy almost gets away, but is intercepted by another superhero team: “Fiery Blaze” and his (Very gay) sidekick, “Friendly Fire.” (Best. Sidekick. Name. Ever.) They do some surprisingly effectual Batman/Robin stuff on the bad guy, and function as a well-oiled (Ambiguously gay) team, impressing the heck out of Tick and Arthur. Blaze is very much the one in charge, and says things like “Nobody was talking to you” whenever Friendly says anything. Blaze invites Tick and Arthur out to dinner.

Arthur is at the Happy Panda or someplace equally inconsequential when he sees Mindy Waxman, a girl he loved in high school who didn’t know he was alive. The only time she talked to him in 4 years was when she hit him with her car. “I threw up, I was so happy.” She comes over and talks to him, and it turns out she’s got a thing for superheroes, so she’s immediately hot for Arthurs’ chubby bod. Arthur is elated and terrified (He’s such a nebbish!) and quickly realizes she’s only into him for the costume, not because of who he is.

Maybe it’s just the week I’m having (Spent most of the last 2 days in the hospital) or maybe it’s just that I’ve also been watching “Running Wilde,” a similarly dead-before-it-hit-the-air, which inevitably and unfairly makes me compare these 13-and-done series, but I find I’m getting bored by The Tick all over again. Seriously: despite not being SF at all, if you have the choice between watching two dead series you don’t give a crap about, go with Running Wilde.