PIMPING THE 'VENTURE

My favorite new cartoon PERIOD is The Venture Brothers. There's nothing on the air that beats it for pure cartoon hilarity. Not O'Grady, not The Simpsons, not Sealab 2021, not Aqua Teen Hunger Force, not repeats of The Critic, not even the DVD of Clerks-The Animated Series. None of them come close to offering what Venture Brothers has in its infancy. 

Action, intrigue, satire, dark humor, character development and a loose, but promising continuity make this show what it is. That character development is key though, as the characters are brilliant, fantastic and lovable in their awkwardness. A bizarre parody of the Quest family, the Ventures are so much more and so different than them. 

First there's Rusty "Doc" Venture, who isn't actually a real doctor, but that’s besides the point, as he's a scientific "genius" like his father, the Doc Savage-esque original Jonas Venture. Younger than he appears, although not THAT young, Doc rides on his dead dad's coattails. Most of the science he develops has faults and experiences problems. He is the father of the two Venture Brothers. 

That would be Dean and Hank, who slap five and yell "Team Venture" even when they haven't done anything. Hank is the blond and looks sorta like Fred from Scooby Doo. He's the bolder brother and wears Aquaman pajamas. Dean is brunette and looks like a dork. He's a whiner and cries a lot and wears Spiderman pajamas. Hank's main thing is that he wants to be just like Brock.  

Meaning Brock Samson, a government agent with a license to kill. He's big, he's huge, he's just really big. He can be shot and keep coming. He can snap a neck like THAT. Also, he's a ladies man. He gets ALL the ladies. Finally, he's so tough, he can have a mullet, a curly blond mullet! He is the man, don't mess with him! 

As cool as Brock is... he's no where as cool H.E.L.P.eR, the robot that is both assistant, nany and idiotic savior to the whole gang. He's lovable the way R2D2 was lovable. He's like the family's pet and maid, all in one! 

There's villains too of course, like The Monarch and his partner Dr. Girlfriend. There's plenty of other mysterious, different interesting characters from episode to episode that will have you howling with laughter at both the humor and the satire of it all. If you aren't sold yet OR if you already a fan... then I direct you the the one person who can sell and tell the show the best. 

That would be Jackson Publick, the producer and creator of the Venture Brothers. His LJ has become practically a mini commentary track on the cartoon. I have also posted a question or two to him, so make sure you check the comments as well for more wonderful Venture Bros. goodness. 

If you also ever want even more work ala the goodness that is Venture Bros., then head yourself over to Monkeysuit Press where you can buy volumes of work by Chris "JP the III" McCulloch, Doc Hammer, Mike Foran and others who had a major hand on the show.

VENTURE BROS. first airs Saturdays at 11 PM and concurrently on Sundays and Mondays on the Cartoon Network.  Check Adult Swim.com for a full schedule.