The addition of AEGIS to the new season is another logical step in building out Edlund’s world of very public superheroes. The Tick Season 2 examines superherodom from a public relations angle with one hero in particular keeping a close eye on his Instagram likes. AEGIS also introduces a certain level of political intrigue that fits pretty well for the show. Kudisch as Rathbone is the perfect Nick Fury-type and John Hodgman has a blast Hodgmanning up the role of AEGIS scientist Agent Doctor Hobbes. The political and bureaucratic stuff is all pretty benign, of course.The Tick Season 2 is by no means The Tick: The Winter Soldier, but merely addressing the questions of governmental oversight and public relations works really well for the story. It also gives Arthur a chance to indulge in his true superpower: filing paperwork.

Of the show’s cast, the two stars remain the most indelible fits. Peter Serafinowicz continues to shine as the gleefully simple Tick. It’s a role that doesn’t require much introspection on an actor’s part and Serafinowicz has an excellent handle on just how shallow to make the big lovable lug. It’s still Newman, however, that makes the whole thing run. Newman’s Arthur is the cornerstone of the show as seemingly the only person in the city without superpowers (which are given an X-Men-like category system this year) but still is somehow best suited to be a hero.

further reading: The Tick: Remembering An Impossible SNES Game

Arthur’s ascending superhero journey is crucial to grounding the show in something real amid the madness and Newman is exactly the guy to do it. In fact, Arthur and Tick’s shared story is so effective that, like in Season 1, they tend to overshadow their other super and non-super contemporaries. Arthur’s sister Dot (Valorie Curry) is still hanging out Overkill (Scott Speiser) who is in turn really struggling with his promise to Tick not to kill people anymore. Superian (Brendan Hines) is off doing his best Doctor Manhattan impression but only with more regrettable flannel. Of the non-Tick and non-Arthur ensemble Ms Lint (Yara Martinez) is the strongest, though that is probably because her storyline dovetails so nicely with the season’s public relations angle. She also gains a dour teenage quartermaster named “Edge Lord” who is just the absolute best.