Prime Video’s Best Superhero Series Was Canceled After Just 2 Seasons, But Is Already A Cult Classic

Prime Video‘s greatest superhero TV show was canceled after just two seasons, but, since then, has become a cult classic on the platform. Superhero TV shows have become a dominant force on Prime Video, with some of their most popular series being in the genre. This includes the upcoming Invincible season 4, as well as the ever-expanding universe of The Boys.

However, the release of new shows like The Boys season 5 and future seasons of Invincible weren’t how Prime Video got a foothold in the superhero genre. Back when the streaming service was relatively new, one of its very first original series was a superhero comedy. And, despite now being over, it retains a cult following to this day.

The Tick Is Already A Cult Classic Series On Prime Video

In 2017, Prime Video released The Tick. The Tick originally began as a comic series created by Ben Edlund for New England Comics, eventually becoming the mascot for the Massachusetts-based line of comic book stores. The comic follows the title character, a superhero known as The Tick, who defends The City from various villains that show up.

The success of the comic led to an animated series in 1994, which Edlund created and wrote 24 episodes of. It ended after season 3 in 1996, with the next adaptation being a live-action version that aired on Fox in 2001. The show, which starred Patrick Warburton as the title character, was canceled after nine episodes, despite positive critical reception.

The latest version, however, was a Prime Video original that aired from 2016 to 2019. In the show, The Tick (Peter Serafinowicz) arrives in The City to defend it, with no memories of his past. He eventually teams up with a young man named Arthur Everest (Griffin Newman), making him his sidekick as the pair protect The City from a supervillain named “The Terror.”

The comedic superhero TV show earned overwhelming praise from critics, with reviews for The Tick emphasizing its likable characters and silly premises. As of writing, the show holds a 95% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a 93% audience score. It’s clear that, despite how long ago it aired, it was still a successful superhero foray for Prime Video.

The show was also one of the first originals on Prime Video, making it a cult classic amongst the sea of content that’s come out since. As their first foray into superhero TV shows, The Tick holds historical importance. Without its success, it’s possible the likes of The Boys and Invincible wouldn’t have been greenlit by the streaming service.

Why The Tick Deserved At Least One More Season

Unfortunately, The Tick‘s time on Prime Video was relatively short. Following the end of season 2 in 2019, the show was canceled, with Edlund confirming Amazon had no interest in pursuing a season 3. In June 2019, after months of searching for a new home where the series could continue, it was officially confirmed the show would be ending for good.

This cancellation is despite the level of potential The Tick has to be an ongoing superhero series. Not only is there plenty of comic material the show could still pull from, but the series’ comedic, parody approach to superheroes was a defining feature. The series builds its own superhero lore while still being tongue-in-cheek about the genre, to hilarious results.

It helps that, unlike The Boys universe, The Tick is much more light-hearted. The show is a sitcom above all else, making for plenty of hilarious situations The Tick and Arthur find themselves in throughout its two seasons. It’s a genre that’s gone relatively untapped in the superhero market since, making it ripe for Prime Video to capitalize on.

Though it’s unfortunate that The Tick was never given a proper conclusion with season 3, its historical importance for Prime Video and the superhero genre can’t be understated. It’s how the show has maintained cult classic status for so long, paving the way for other shows on the platform in the process.