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The Tick: Specials
- GenresComics
440 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
11 people want to read
About the author
Sean Wang
55 books7 followersSean Wang, an MIT architecture graduate, got his start in the comics industry writing and drawing seasonal specials for THE TICK, published by New England Comics. He also wrote and illustrated the 6-issue TICK AND ARTHUR series, in which the duo joined a superteam of equally-dysfunctional heroes.
In 2006, Sean illustrated MELTDOWN for Image Comics, which chronicles the final days of a volatile superhero. The series garnered major critical acclaim for Sean's use of a variety of art styles to tell different aspects of the story.
Sean is best known for his highly-acclaimed series, RUNNERS, a fun sci-fi action comedy about alien smugglers. The first graphic novel collection RUNNERS: BAD GOODS made several reviewers' Best of 2005 lists. The second volume, RUNNERS: THE BIG SNOW JOB, was released online from 2009-2012 and was funded as a graphic novel via a very successful Kickstarter campaign in 2013. Both RUNNERS volumes are now available in print as graphic novels and also in webcomic form for free online at www.runnersuniverse.com.
From 2009-2017, Sean has also contributed illustrations to various LEGO magazines and Scholastic reader books. As of 2017, he has resumed working on RUNNERS, outlining the remainder of the epic story and preparing to finish the series of graphic novels.
In 2006, Sean illustrated MELTDOWN for Image Comics, which chronicles the final days of a volatile superhero. The series garnered major critical acclaim for Sean's use of a variety of art styles to tell different aspects of the story.
Sean is best known for his highly-acclaimed series, RUNNERS, a fun sci-fi action comedy about alien smugglers. The first graphic novel collection RUNNERS: BAD GOODS made several reviewers' Best of 2005 lists. The second volume, RUNNERS: THE BIG SNOW JOB, was released online from 2009-2012 and was funded as a graphic novel via a very successful Kickstarter campaign in 2013. Both RUNNERS volumes are now available in print as graphic novels and also in webcomic form for free online at www.runnersuniverse.com.
From 2009-2017, Sean has also contributed illustrations to various LEGO magazines and Scholastic reader books. As of 2017, he has resumed working on RUNNERS, outlining the remainder of the epic story and preparing to finish the series of graphic novels.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 30, 2015
The Tick Specials is sprawling Seventeen Comic story chocked full of Big Blue goodness as we're given several Tick Yule Log specials and Halloween specials as well as specials for other seasons such as "Summer" and "Tax Time."
The first seven issues in the book are my favorite. All of them are very self-contained stories without the trappings of comic book continuity. We have a short with Arthur trying to teach the Tick about Hanukkah, Arthur going to Sidekick Summer Camp, old Tick foes Barry Hubris and Chainsaw Vigilante teaming up (and eventually battling it out), the Tick and Arthur in a haunted house, and the has the Tick trying to teach the true meaning of Christmas to a stranded alien overlord. It some ways it reminds me of the cartoon series.
The second half of the book is not bad, but has some problems. The first seven specials of the year 2000 (Big Ydear 2000 Spectacle, Tax Time Terror, Mother's Day Special, Father's Day Special, the two massive Summer Vacation Spectacles, and the Big Cruise Ship Vacation special are essentially another ongoing series masquerading as a series of specials and the last issue leads into the Tick Color series. There are strengths and weaknesses in the series. The Father's Day Special with Kid Tick is hilarious and the idea of criminals making rules with heroes in the Summer Time spectacles is hilarious and very clever. The Year 2000 special was a little hard to follow and the Mother's Day special was a bit odd.
The book closes with a hilarious Halloween special with the Tick battling killer Pumpkins, and then an okay Yule Log special with the male members of the Tick's superhero team on vacation. It's okay but ends a bit weird.
Overall, this is one of the better Complete works books with a lot of fun. If you're wanting to keep right with continuity I'd recommend purchasing this one after Big Blue Destiny but before the Tick and Arthur. Overall, this is a very nice collection for fans of our big blue hero.
The first seven issues in the book are my favorite. All of them are very self-contained stories without the trappings of comic book continuity. We have a short with Arthur trying to teach the Tick about Hanukkah, Arthur going to Sidekick Summer Camp, old Tick foes Barry Hubris and Chainsaw Vigilante teaming up (and eventually battling it out), the Tick and Arthur in a haunted house, and the has the Tick trying to teach the true meaning of Christmas to a stranded alien overlord. It some ways it reminds me of the cartoon series.
The second half of the book is not bad, but has some problems. The first seven specials of the year 2000 (Big Ydear 2000 Spectacle, Tax Time Terror, Mother's Day Special, Father's Day Special, the two massive Summer Vacation Spectacles, and the Big Cruise Ship Vacation special are essentially another ongoing series masquerading as a series of specials and the last issue leads into the Tick Color series. There are strengths and weaknesses in the series. The Father's Day Special with Kid Tick is hilarious and the idea of criminals making rules with heroes in the Summer Time spectacles is hilarious and very clever. The Year 2000 special was a little hard to follow and the Mother's Day special was a bit odd.
The book closes with a hilarious Halloween special with the Tick battling killer Pumpkins, and then an okay Yule Log special with the male members of the Tick's superhero team on vacation. It's okay but ends a bit weird.
Overall, this is one of the better Complete works books with a lot of fun. If you're wanting to keep right with continuity I'd recommend purchasing this one after Big Blue Destiny but before the Tick and Arthur. Overall, this is a very nice collection for fans of our big blue hero.
March 4, 2016
Read the first two stories. I loved the cartoon show as a kid, but the written material didn't grab me. I may have enjoyed it more if it started at the beginning.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews