Arthur (The Tick)

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caption = Arthur, as depicted in the animated series
comic_color = background:#c0c0c0
character_name = Arthur the Moth
publisher = New England Comics
debut = "The Tick" #4, April 1989
creators = Ben Edlund
alliance_color = background:#ffc0c0
alter_ego = None
alliances = The Tick
previous_alliances =
aliases =
powers = Moth costume grants: Flight, possible night vision and several other unknown powers

Arthur is a fictional character, a vigilante in the "Tick" comic book series, animated series, and live action series. He serves as The Tick's sidekick.

Arthur wears a moth suit, which gives him the ability to fly, but he is often mistaken for a bunny. He is an extremely kind, sensible and intelligent person, but his social skills are somewhat lacking as he is shy and has little self confidence. He often shows mild discomfort or annoyance with the dangers and frustrations of being a superhero's sidekick. Various family members and friends continuously beg him to give up his superhero lifestyle. Arthur is Jewish, but he does celebrate non-Jewish holidays, such as Christmas. Arthur’s apartment serves as his and The Tick’s superhero headquarters.

Arthur first appeared as a character in "The Tick" #4, but he can be seen as a mysterious flying figure in the background of earlier issues of that series. Trained as an accountant, Arthur purchases his moth-suit at an auction and decides to pursue the life of a superhero. He is currently on indefinite "psychiatric leave" from his accounting firm. After rescuing the Thorn of Oblivion, a powerful ninja artifact, and helping The Tick and Oedipus defeat the ninjas, Arthur decided to become The Tick’s sidekick.

Arthur has a romantic relationship with Chet Atkins, a waitress at a local fast food restaurant, whom Arthur rescues after the restaurant was destroyed.

Arthur has two sisters, Dot and Alice. Alice is married to an ex-coworker of Arthur’s named Errol, who, after winning a fortune in Las Vegas has decided to become a supervillain, the Slot Jockey of Doom. Alice and Errol have two children.

While Arthur only uses the moth suit to fly (and poorly, at that), it has a host of other built-in powers that he doesn't know how to activate. The suit, which he bought at a yard sale, did not come with the instruction manual. When the villainous Bowlingame acquired the suit, he quipped "I'll bet he didn't even know about the night vision, the fool."

Appearances in other media

Arthur is one of the few characters that appears in all versions of "The Tick". In the animated series, Arthur's moth suit was created by scientist JJ Vatos. Later, Arthur develops a bashful romance with Vatos’s daughter, Carmelita, who has an identical flying suit. Arthur’s sister also appears, and The Tick and Arthur often borrow her car for road trips or errands. Dot is dating and later marries Dinosaur Neil. Arthur adopts the battle cry "Not in the face!" after The Tick chooses "Spoon!"

Arthur is voiced by Micky Dolenz (Season One) and Rob Paulsen (Season Two and Three). He is played by David Burke in the live action TV series. This series also introduces Arthur’s mother named Bea.