Superhero comedy on Fox is filled with much laughter

NEW YORK -- Sure he came from planet Krypton. But where besides America could Superman have come into his own?

The same goes for a fellow superhero, the Tick, as we learn on his new Fox comedy.

The Tick, too, embodies the American ideal of rugged individualism tempered by allegiance to a higher cause. He, too, thrives in this land of opportunity where every superhero -- even a thickheaded chap in a blue wetsuit -- is guaranteed a chance to fight for truth, justice and the American way.

Granted, much of the Tick's day is devoted to less epic activities.

Stuff like government red tape (turns out a license is required for him to legally pursue his superhero calling). Or outbursts from his superhero roommate when he forgets to put the cap on the toothpaste tube. Or social climbing in a superhero league the Tick proudly joins, only to find that it excludes women and minority superheroes.

Until now, the private life of a superhero has gone largely unexamined. But it's the lifeblood of "The Tick," which is not only hilarious but somehow far more credible than the superhero tradition that inspired it.

Easily mistaken for a spoof, "The Tick" is instead an affectionate debunking of superhero gospel. It's a zany unmasking of the world "real" superheroes so preposterously inhabit. (It airs Thursdays.)

Encased in brawny blue rubber, Patrick Warburton (best known as Puddy, a recurring character on "Seinfeld") is splendid in the title role. Hulking but childlike and equipped with a pair of wagging antennae that constantly threaten to upstage him, he trills, "I am the wild blue yonder! The front line in the never-ending battle between good and not-so-good!" And he means it.

When first encountered on the series' premiere, the Tick was waging his battle at a backwater bus station. His foe: a vending machine that had taken a customer's money but dispensed no coffee in return.

Then, looking for more challenges, he headed for the city.

Despite the comic-book quota of one superhero per population center, the Tick on hitting town found a thriving free market.

Helping the public is its own reward. But "The Tick" sheds light on another kind of payback: superhero celebrity. "The Tick" demonstrates that many superheroes have less interest in showing up the bad guys than in showing off themselves.