The Tick: First look at Peter Serafinowicz as 'strange blue superhero'

The comedy series will air as part of Amazon's pilot season next month

You may believe the current world of film and television to be suffering from superhero overload but it's time to make room for an irreverent addition played by none other than Peter Serafinowicz.

The comedy actor is set to play The Tick, a cult character best described as "a big blue bug" who was the star of Ben Edlund's 1988 comic book series of the same name.

A first look at Spy actor Serafinowicz in character has been released via Comicbook.com.

(Amazon)

Such was the character's popularity that he got handed his own animated series as well as a sitcom which aired nine episodes in 2001 with Patrick Warburton in the lead role.

Serafinowicz's incarnation is for Amazon Studios who will air one episode as part of its pilot season on 19 August; a full season order will be granted should the reception warrant it.

The synopsis reads: "In a world where superheroes have been real for decades, an underdog accountant with zero powers comes to realise his city is owned by a global supervillain long thought dead. As he struggles to uncover this conspiracy, he falls in league with a strange blue superhero."

Griffin Newman (Vinyl), Jackie Earle Haley (Preacher) and Yara Martinez (Jane the Virgin) complete the cast, while the character's creator Edlund is - promisingly - on writing duties.