"The Tick vs. The Proto-Clown" is an episode of the animated television series The Tick.
Synopsis[]
When Tick is knocked into orbit by a hulking clown, he goes on a spiritual journey through his own mind. Meanwhile, the heroes on Earth try to stop the monster.
Plot[]
The episode beings with a view of The City from above, with a startled radio host panicking and telling the audience to evacuate The City before "It" gets to them. Tick And Arthur have returned from a wheat-themed amusement park, and the Tick is joyous about the many fun experiences they had. They encounter Sewer Urchin and Die Fledermaus in Ben's Diner, and Die Fledermaus asks to borrow their car. The Civic-Minded Five arrive in their car, and warn Tick and Arthur to leave immediately. The Tick and Arthur are confused because they had not heard about "Its" rampage. Tick runs off to find the threat, but It (a large, super-strong clown) immediately finds him, and while Tick tries to fight it, he can barely land a blow. The clown throws Dot's car at them, and hits Tick into outer space with a bus.
Orbiting Earth, Tick meets his mind, and asks him the existentialist question of "why are we here?". This excites his mind, who takes him on a "psychic journey of self discovery" into his consciousness.
Back on earth, the heroes are struggling to keep the monster at bay, when American Maid arrives. She has brought a scientist named Bud Frontier who says he can stop the monster, which he calls "Proto-Clown". Bud tries to reason with Proto-Clown, but Proto-Clown becomes enraged when Bud calls him funny. The heroes escape with Bud, but Die Fledermaus and American Maid stay to hold back Proto-Clown.
In Tick's consciousness, Tick becomes excited with a shiny object and runs off, frustrating his mind.
In the Civic-Minded Five's headquarters, Bud tells the origin of Proto-Clown. He says that he has always loved clowns, and thought that if he created a giant clown, it would be even funnier, and bring to joy to the whole world. Using this logic, he reasoned that a vast army of giant clowns would reach this goal faster and set out to create it. He was successful, but only one survived: Proto-Clown. Arthur berates Bud for his hubris, and Bud clearly regrets his actions, saying that he only wanted to make people happy. American Maid returns with an unconscious Die Fledermaus in her arms. He had fainted when confronting Proto-Clown.
Tick, meanwhile, has discovered his pleasure center, which his mind warns him not to enter because they will both fall into a coma from which they will never awaken. Tick falls into a pool of water, where a giant snake attacks. Or so it seems, as the snake was merely trying to make out with him.
On Earth, Die Fledermaus regains consciousness. Proto-Clown arrives and the heroes run to the garage where they can hold him off for a while.
Tick and his mind reach his self-image, which can answer any question, but only one. Tick asks it "how it's doing", and receives a giant thumbs up. His mind is extremely disappointed with him, and tries to ask a question himself. The statue releases a bunch of small Tick-like beings that chase him to an mysterious doorway.
The heroes are terrified that Proto-Clown will find them at any moment, and he does. Bud gets Proto-Clown to explain that he's so angry because people laugh at him.
The doorway that Tick entered leads to his escalator of enlightenment, where he climbs to the top after it starts going down when he asks a stupid question. At the top, his mind tells him that he must clear his mind and walk along. He instead falls, because his mind wasn't so clear. He falls, but in the process remembers why he was there. Proto-Clown and Bud have made-up, but Bud accidentally honks his hose, and makes everyone laugh. Proto-Clown prepares to crush all of them, but Tick falls from space and lands on Proto-Clown, knocking him out. Bud laments over his failure, but Tick tries to comfort him with a speech, but its odd content does nothing but bewilder everyone.
Characters[]
Main Characters[]
Supporting Characters[]
- Tick's mind (only appearance)
- American Maid
- Die Fledermaus
- Civic-Minded Five
- Bud Frontier (only appearance)
Antagonists[]
- Proto-Clown (only appearance)
- Tick midgets (only appearance)
Other Characters[]
- Talking snake (only appearance)
- Baby Proto-Clowns
Locations[]
- The City
- Wheat Land (mentioned only)
- Tick's mind (not the character)
- Tick's pleasure center (in Tick's imagination)
- Tick's self-image (in Tick's imagination)
- Tick's escalator of enlightenment (in Tick's imagination)
Notes[]
- Ending Lines:
- Tick: "Don't take it so hard, mister, There are many mysteries in this universe big and small. Like 'why do clowns make us laugh?' 'Why do we love puppy dogs?' and 'why, why do little, blue midgets hit me with fish?!'"
- Everyone: "What?"
- Tick: "See what I mean? Mysteries abound!"
- This episode was mysteriously pulled from Hulu in 2022.
- Evidently, the Proto-Clown is a parody of the Incredible Hulk.
Gallery[]
