| Slot: |
New England Comics Newsletter #14 |
| Item: |
New England Comics Newsletter #14 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.4 |
| Cert #: |
0270788001
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Owner Comments
New England Comics Newsletter Issue No. 14 The Tick's First Appearance New England Comic's Newsletter Issue 14 July-August 1986 This is the Official First Print Introduction of Ben Edlund's The Tick as seen in New England Comics Newsletter Issue No. 14, dated July-Aug, 1985. This Newsletter was distributed around Marvel's 25th Anniversary, as shown on this cover. This particular Newletter was acquired from the one and only William "Bill" Devine, Jr., once Editor of New England Comics. Bill is credited for The Tick Karma Tornado, Man-Eating Cow, and Paul the Samurai. I asked him if he could share anything about this item and here is what he had to say, "...I worked on a number of early newsletters and NEC catalogs as an independent contractor when I had a graphic design and printing business, I designed the cover logo and handled the printing of the early newsletters...Glad to hear that the package arrived in good order and that you are pleased with them. Thanks for your interest, best regards, Bill."
Thanks again Bill for this Most Excellent First Appearance Issue of The Tick! For many of us it is the Holy Grail of The Tick Collectible Items and it has found a place here at The Tick Museum! You can find other items from Bill on Ebay under American-Record.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 1 Third Printing |
| Item: |
The Tick #1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.4 |
| Cert #: |
0352339001
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Owner Comments
The Tick No. 1 (Third Printing) Yellowish Green Colored Background. Released June 1989 for a price of $1.95.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 1 Fourth Printing |
| Item: |
The Tick #1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.0 |
| Cert #: |
0352339002
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Owner Comments
The Tick #1 Fourth Printing Orange Cover Variant. Published December 1989 by New England Comics.
This is a Fourth printing as noted on the inside. Written by Ben Edlund. Art and cover by Ben Edlund. The Tick arrives straight from the nuthouse and into The City where he decides to be a superhero. After having a tussle with ninjas and being run over by a train, he is no closer to realizing his lofty goals. One page art lesson on how to draw The Tick by Ben Edlund. 7.5-in. x 10.5 in. 40 pgs., B&W. $2.25. Cover price $2.25.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 1 Fifth Printing |
| Item: |
The Tick #1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.2 |
| Cert #: |
0352339003
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Owner Comments
The Tick No. 1 (Fifth Printing) Pink Cover with White Poka Dots.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 1 Sixth Printing |
| Item: |
The Tick #1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.4 |
| Cert #: |
0352339004
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Owner Comments
The Tick No. 1 (Sixth Printing) This one is red with white poka dots! The Tick logo has a yellow background. Ben Edlund story, cover & art. Produced by New England Comics on January 1, 1995.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 1 Seventh Printing |
| Item: |
The Tick #1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.6 |
| Cert #: |
0352339005
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Owner Comments
The Tick #1 (Seventh Printing) This on is White with Red Poka Dots and the Tick Logo is Yellow with a blue background. Ben Edlund story, cover and art. Produced by New England Comics in April 1996.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 1 Eighth Printing |
| Item: |
The Tick #1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 7.5 |
| Cert #: |
0352339006
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Owner Comments
The Tick No. 1 (8th Printing) Tenth Anniversary B&W. Date 8-1-1996. Cover Price is $2.75 and Writer and Artist is Ben Edlund.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 1 Ninth Printing |
| Item: |
The Tick #1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 8.5 |
| Cert #: |
0352339007
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Owner Comments
The Tick No. 1 (9th Printing). Ben Edlund Art, Writer, and Cover Art. Produced by New England Comics in March 1998.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 2 |
| Item: |
The Tick #2 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.4 |
| Cert #: |
0272653019
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Owner Comments
The Tick No. 2 with the die cut window on the cover. The Tick Comic Book No. 2 Blazing Issue Two (1st Edition September 1988)Issue 2
"High Rise Hijinx"
Special edition, die-cut cover, stamped with a serial number from 1 to 3000, released June 1988. First edition released September 1988.
Ben Edlund, Writer & Penciller; Max Banks, Inker; Bob Polio, Art Director; George Suarez, Editor & Publisher.
Clark Oppenheimer reports, late, for his job at the newspaper. Meanwhile the Tick dons a tie and purse as a secret identity, Mr. Nedd. The Tick obtains a job as a crossword editor at the Weekly World Planet. While snooping in Clark's desk, he inadvertently reveals a message from Clark's father and builds his "fortress of fortitude." Clark takes the Tick aside and explains that he is the protector of the City, which the Tick disputes. The Tick is fired from the newspaper. On his way out, he leaves a gift for Clark by molding his car into an oversized ashtray. Clark, understandably upset by this development, attacks the Tick who defeats Clark by breaking his disguise (his glasses).
The parallels between Clark Oppenheimer and Superman continue, when the Tick inadvertently unleashes a message from Clark's father, Ban-Al, and identifies him as Marlon Brando, who played Jor-El in the 1978 Superman movie.
The 1st edition of The Tick 2 was released with a die-cut cover: a small square window revealing the Tick from the first page. A mistake in the production resulted in a rare number of issues (less than 200) without the diecut being released.
Second edition released March 1989. Third edition released June 1989. Fourth edition released December 1989. Fifth edition released July 1991. Sixth edition released January 1995. Special Edition Reprise with same cover as the Special Edition with a second wrap cover and serially numbered 3001-8000, July 1996. Seventh, 10th anniversary edition, released August 1996. Eighth edition released March 1998.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 2 Third Printing |
| Item: |
The Tick #2 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
1301615003
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Owner Comments
The Tick No. 2, Third Printing.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 2 Fourth Printing |
| Item: |
The Tick #2 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 8.0 |
| Cert #: |
0352339008
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Owner Comments
The Tick #2, (Fourth Printing), Ben Edlund Art, Writer, Cover. Produced by New England Comics in December 1989.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 2 Sixth Printing |
| Item: |
The Tick #2 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 6.5 |
| Cert #: |
0352339010
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Owner Comments
The Tick No. 2, (Sixth Printing) Ben Edlund Art, Writer and Cover Art. Produced by New England Comics in January 1995.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 2 Seventh Printing |
| Item: |
The Tick #2 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 6.0 |
| Cert #: |
0352339009
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Owner Comments
The Tick No. 2, (Seventh Printing), Ben Edlund Art, Writer and Cover Art. Produced by New England Comics in August 1996.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 3 |
| Item: |
The Tick #3 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.6 |
| Cert #: |
0272653021
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Owner Comments
The Tick No. 3. The Tick Comic Book No. 3 Night of a Million-Zillion Ninja (1st Edition December 1988) Issue 3
"Night of a Million-Zillion Ninja"
Released December 1988
Ben Edlund, Writer & Penciller; Max Banks, Inker; Bob Polio, Art Director; George Suarez, Editor & Publisher
A young ninja woman, Oedipus, is pursued by other ninjas who desire to recover, from her, the Thorn of Oblivion. Seeking to escape them, she climbs to the top of a building where she encounters the Tick. He easily defeats the ninjas pursuing her and Oedipus demands of one of the defeated, without success, the whereabouts of Shing. The remaining ninjas retreat to the headquarters of the District Manager with the news of this encounter and he orders them to surround Oedipus's house which they do, disguised as a hedge. While trying to sneak into her house, Oedipus is nearly captured by the ninjas, but is saved by the Tick only to find that they are now trapped in the house. Oedipus relates her ninja background: how Shing, the leader of ninjas in America was ousted by the District Manager who made the ninjas into a tourist attraction. Shing recruited and trained Oedipus to infiltrate the ninjas and steal the Thorn of Oblivion, the source of the ninjas power. Oedipus decides that she and the Tick should disguise themselves as guests at the party being thrown by her stepmother that night and thus, escape.
The character of Oedipus is a parody of Elektra Natchios, the popular ninja assassin from Marvel Comics Daredevil series. The costume worn by Oedipus is basically a yellow version of Elektra's classic red costume, and, like Elektra, Oedipus carries the sai as her primary weapon. While Elektra is of Greek descent and has dark hair, Oedipus appears to be caucasian and has brown hair. Also, when The Tick is inquiring about her name, one of his guesses is "Elektra?" In Freudian psychology, the Oedipus and Elektra complexes are used to describe incestuous longings for a parent in boys/girls and girls, respectively.
Second edition released November 1989. Third edition released April 1990. Fourth edition released July 1991. Fifth edition released August 1993. Sixth edition released January 1995. Seventh, 10th anniversary edition, released August 1996. Eighth edition released March 1998.
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| Slot: |
The Tick 4 |
| Item: |
The Tick #4 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.4 |
| Cert #: |
0272653022
|
Owner Comments
The Tick No. 4 The Tick Comic Magazine No. 4 A Big Fight (1st Edition April 1989) Issue 4
"A Big Fight"
Released April 1989
Ben Edlund, Writer & Penciller; Max Banks, Inker; Bob Polio, Art Director; George Suarez, Editor & Publisher
Oedipus and The Tick, dressed in a tuxedo, proceed to Amanda Steven's party, but the Tick is completely intimidated by Amanda and passes out. Meanwhile the ninjas finally get orders from the District Manager to attack the house and the District Manager gets a call from Sagin, the worldwide leader of ninjas in Japan, that he will be visiting to inspect the American operation. Ninja enemy, Paul the Samurai, tapping into the phone lines, becomes aware of Sagin's travel plans. The Tick fends off the initial ninja attack while Oedipus stashes the Thorn of Oblivion in the trunk of a car parked outside the house, but is then stabbed by one of the attacking ninjas (Earl). The Tick vanquishes the ninjas and starts off for help with Oedipus in his arms, but soon relinquishes her to a passing ambulance. Arthur appears and retrieves the Thorn from the trunk of the car. Meanwhile, Sagin and Paul the Samurai make their way to the City and the Tick, despondent over his inability to protect Oedipus, decides to and does destroy Ninja World. While about this task, he encounters Shing, who he is inclined to kill as responsible for Oedipus's injury, but Arthur shows up to inform the Tick that "Superheroes never kill....ever." Arthur reveals that he has been following the Tick and gives the Thorn to him. Shing demands that it be destroyed, but the Tick runs off with it as Sagin and the District manger arrive. Meanwhile, Paul follows the Tick to the hospital.
Second edition released December 1989. Third edition released with special "scarce red" test cover, June 1991. Fourth edition released with 5th anniversary ad on inside cover and 500 printings, October 1991. Fifth edition released March 1992. Sixth edition released January 1995. Seventh, 10th anniversary edition, released August 1996. Eighth edition released March 1998.
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