List of The Venture Bros. characters
This is a list of main and recurring fictional characters and organizations from The Venture Bros., the Adult Swim/Cartoon Network comic science fiction series.
Team Venture
Team Venture composes the central characters in the show; they live in a fortified compound in an undisclosed location somewhere in the United States. The compound doubles as the headquarters for Dr. Venture's company, Venture Industries.
- Henry Allen "Hank" Venture (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): A teenage boy, one half of the eponymous pair, a fraternal twin but with blond hair. Hank's character is based on Joe Hardy of the Hardy Boys, Jonny Quest, and Fred Jones of Scooby Doo. He tends to be more athletic and better at disguises than his brother. He is shown as the more outgoing and daring of the pair, and more attracted to adventure. In season 4, he became more rebellious when Brock had left. Like his brother, Hank has been killed over a dozen times, but replaced with an exact clone who is supposed to have no memory of his own deaths; Though recollects jumping off the roof of his house in a batman costume.
- Roger Dean "Dean" Venture (voiced by Michael Sinterniklaas): A teenage boy, one half of the eponymous pair, a fraternal twin but with dark (possibly receding) hair. Dean is timid, selfless, and more "bookish" than Hank. He is a combination of Frank Hardy, Peter Parker (in fact, he wears Spider-Man pajamas in several episodes) and a stereotypical boy from the 1950s (e.g. Henry Huggins, Buddy Holly). While more timid than Hank, he shows signs of being slightly less emotionally stunted than his brother, as he has a crush on Triana Orpheus. Dean is considered the "Smart" son by Rusty. Dean has been killed over a dozen times, but replaced with an exact clone who have no memory of their own deaths. As previously noted but wrong Hank does not remember any of his prior deaths. He is named after fantasy artist Roger Dean.
- Dr. Thaddeus S. "Rusty" Venture (voiced by James Urbaniak): Father of the Venture twins. A pill popper, he constantly lives in the shadow of his famous father Dr. Jonas Venture, from whom he inherited Venture Industries. There is some question as to his actual degree of ability in the nebulously defined field of super-science. While Dr. Venture desperately wishes to emerge from his father's shadow, ultimately his knack for cutting corners proves his undoing, with his shoddy attempts at genuine technological innovation typically resulting in utter debacle (serving as the premise for several episodes). The doctor seems to dislike his son Hank; it is somewhat unclear whether he actually cares for him at all. However, he keeps cloning them and has not tried to cash in on the process. His childhood time with the original team Venture has had an undeniably traumatizing effect on him, and he still wakes up at night with nightmares of his worst adventures. He takes pills to manage his erratic psyche, hallucinations and stress.
- Brock Samson (voiced by Patrick Warburton): Brock Samson is the one-half Swedish, one-quarter Polish, one-quarter Winnebago murder machine who recently acted as bodyguard to the Venture Family. He now works for the organization S.P.H.I.N.X after quitting the O.S.I.,but still cares for the Venture family. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska to a single mother. After being kicked out of college he became an Army ranger before joining the Office of Secret Intelligence, presumably a covert branch of the United States Government. There he acquired secret agent skills and a License to Kill. Even though Brock possesses a license to kill, he refuses to use a gun and instead wields a bowie knife as his signature weapon. He relies on brute strength, endurance, and skill with a knife that borders on the supernatural. He is also able to tell whenever someone is in his car, apparently from an entirely separate continent, which Shoreleave believes is "a legitimate super-power". Brock also has subtly shown signs of being somewhat conflicted with his place in the world and unsure about his purpose as killing machine, such as when he confessed remorse for his murder of one Monarch henchman who later was revived by Dr. Venture into "Venturestein". Samson also has a personal code or ethics regarding innocents and who he will kill if they are threat to him and or the Ventures.
- H.E.L.P.eR. (voiced by "Soul-Bot"): The Venture family's personal helper robot. H.E.L.P.eR. is an acronym for Humanoid Electric Lab Partner Robot. He was created by Dr. Jonas Venture Sr. to look after his son Rusty, but now assists Brock in looking after Dean and Hank. H.E.L.P.eR. does not speak, but rather communicates via electronic beeps that are more or less understood by the Venture clan, similar in many ways to R2-D2. Though he has very sensitive feelings, the Ventures often treat him like an old appliance or pet. The robot routinely gets smashed to pieces during the course of their adventures, but seems to get repaired by the next show. It has also been stated that he often speaks of the coming war between man and Machine, revealing a possible darker side to his nature caused by his frequent damage and the lack of respect from the other family members. At the end of Season 3, he was destroyed in a Car accident with 24. In Season 4, it was revealed that he was lodged into Brock's chest, where he was later removed and fused with the Walking Eye.
- Sergeant Hatred (voiced by Brendon Small in season 2 and Christopher McCulloch in seasons 3 and 4): Dr. Venture's new one-time arch-nemesis and, as of season 4, the family's bodyguard. Hatred becomes Venture's arch-nemesis after the Monarch's forced departure from that position. Hatred is a large man with a giant red 'H' tattooed on his face (the rest of the word "hatred" is tattooed vertically down his body) and wears military fatigues much like the Marvel villain Nuke. He was the Monarch's next door neighbor when the Monarch had moved into Phantom Limb's former house. Sergeant Hatred mentions at a party that he hosts that he cannot be within 50 feet of a minor due to a court order, though he is married to Princess Tinyfeet and has a massive foot fetish. Despite being a convicted child molester, he is liked and respected throughout the supervillain community for his unfailing politeness and generosity; certain episodes also reveal that he knows his sexual attraction to children is wrong, and tries to keep it in check, in part by self-administering the IV drug "Nomolestol". The Monarch's henchman, namely 21 and 24, routinely steal parts from Hatred's technology, using his hover tank to rebuild the cocoon. 21 steals jet-packs from him as well. Hatred has revealed that he's taken Venture as his arch-enemy as revenge on the Monarch for his years of theft, as he'll treat them "like a goddamn king" and make Venture's life wonderful. He was Brock's former supervisor in the O.S.I. As of season 4, Hatred has become the Ventures' new bodyguard. As of the last episode of season four, Hatred had removed all of the word "Hatred" from his body, except for the D, which was placed in a "tender area". He had put a new tattoo on his face that is a giant V, for "Venture".
Venture acquaintances
- Dr. Jonas Venture, Jr., also known as J.J. (voiced by James Urbaniak): Dr. Venture's deformed twin, who was absorbed by Rusty in the womb. Until the first season finale, he appeared only in Dr. Venture's nightmares. He was freed from Rusty's body via surgery after being mistaken for a tumor. Desperate to claim the life that was stolen from him, he tried to murder Dr. Venture using a giant mechanical suit that he made out of household items. Though he has the body of an infant, his head has matured to an adult appearance and bears a striking resemblance to that of his father. He also seems to have inherited his father's brilliance, unlike Thaddeus, as he earned two doctorates within the period of a month (the amount of time Thaddeus had spent escaping his former life). By the end of the first season, Thaddeus has agreed to share his Venture birthright with his brother. He is given the old Venture compound on Spider-Skull Island, as well as the X-2, the boat built by their father. Jonas Jr. appears to be everything his brother is not: scientifically astute, hard-working, attractive to women, about two feet tall, and the possessor of a full head of hair.
- Triana Orpheus (voiced by Lisa Hammer): Dr. Orpheus's 17-year-old quasi-goth daughter. She has purple hair, and is fairly friendly with the Venture boys. She is possibly the most down-to-earth character on the show, despite her father's tendency to dramatize. She takes an interest in kitsch. In season four it is revealed that she has inherited her father's abilities when she encounters her father's mystical mentor who purposely took up residence in her closet as a result of her power. As of season four, she is living with her mother and stepfather, the Outrider, and has a boyfriend named Raven.
- Pete White (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): An albino computer scientist and co-founder of Conjectural Technologies. He went to college with Venture, Samson, Baron Ünderbheit and The Monarch where he hosted a New Wave radio show called "The White Room". After college, White and Billy Quizboy worked in tandem on a Jeopardy-styled gameshow, called "QuizBoys" in which Pete hosted and Billy participated. After a debacle concerning the show seeding Billy's answer display with the correct answer, regardless of what he put down, White and Quizboy were fired and left to find new lives. While the two had a short falling out, Pete eventually rejoined Billy (after his short unwanted stint with O.S.I. and his task of spying on Phantom Limb). They find refuge in a trailer near the Venture Compound where they currently reside. Like Venture and Quizboy, White tends to be somewhat lazy and half-hearted in his efforts. On occasion, characters refer to him as "the gay albino", which seems to annoy him as he does show interests in women such as Dr. Girlfriend and fantasies about the mother from Growing Pains.
- Master Billy Quizboy (voiced by Doc Hammer): A self-proclaimed "boy genius," Billy Whalen is actually an adult (35 in "The Buddy System", 37 in "Handsome Ransom") with a speech impediment and growth hormone deficiency. He suffers from hydrocephalus, although his intellect seems to be unaffected by this condition. He starred as a contestant on the game show Quizboys hosted by Pete White. When White gave him the answer to the final question, they were both kicked off the show and Billy's winnings were frozen by the FCC. White and Billy went to Mexico, where Billy was accidentally entered into a dog fight, thinking it was an underground quiz match. Billy lost a hand and eye in the mix up. Billy left White, and was recruited by O.S.I. agents Brock Samson and Hunter Gathers, who provided him with a mechanical hand and camera eye. Brock and Hunter sent Billy undercover to spy on Professor Fantomas and dig up dirt on the possible existence of the Guild of Calamitous Intent. Fantomas had Billy help with his experiment, but the experiment went wrong, Fantomas became Phantom Limb and Billy lost his left eye again. After a mind wipe, Brock (newly assigned to Venture) smuggled Billy out of O.S.I. and left him with White. He then became a neurogeneticist and co-founder of Conjectural Technologies. He is a virgin as revealed during a conversation with Pete White and Dr. Venture (until Monstroso purchased prostitutes for him, in exchange for open heart surgery in "The Silent Partners"). In "The Invisible Hand of Fate", Billy hits his head on a toilet and remembers everything.
- The Pirate Captain (real name unknown) (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): The leader of the "ghost pirates" in the episode "Ghosts of the Sargasso". After his initial encounter with the Venture family, he began living on the X-2 after having difficulties in finding a job. When Jonas Jr. acquired the ship, he hired the captain. He has not been referred to by any name or nickname other than "The Captain" so far. He currently resides with Jonas Jr. on Spider Skull Island and fulfills the duties of a butler, caretaker, and right-hand man. The Captain always refers to Jonas as "Chairman".
The Order of the Triad
- Dr. Byron Orpheus (voiced by Steven Rattazzi): An expert necromancer and mystic who rents a portion of the Venture Compound and is friendly with Dr. Venture. Along with Brock, he is the only associate of Dr. Venture who displays any sort of competence, although his pomposity tends to detract from his abilities. His character is a parody of vintage comic book magic-users such as Doctor Strange and the even older Mandrake the Magician. His face and hair are similar to those of Vincent Price & Christopher Lee as Duc de Richleau (The Devil Rides Out). He has been confused for Dracula a number of times. His speech is filled with overly dramatic phrases, delivered in a theatrically grandiose voice with extreme emphasis on mundane topics, usually over a background of ominous trumpet-laden music, implying the pun, "Dr. Obvious". After witnessing Dr. Venture's various enemies, he develops a fervent desire for an archnemesis of his own. He is fiercely protective of Hank and Dean Venture.
- Jefferson Twilight (voiced by Charles Parnell): An old friend of Dr. Orpheus. He is a black man who fights Blaculas for a living and wields two swords. He is a pastiche of the superhero Blade and the blaxploitation movie protagonist, Shaft. As a play on Blade's half-vampire thirst for blood or an artificial replacement, Jefferson Twilight suffers from diabetes and low blood-sugar, leading him to heavily thirst for sugared liquids, such as Nik-L-Nips. His left eye is discolored as it is a magical blacula tracker he calls the "Blood Eye." The episode "What Goes Down Must Come Up" revealed a lot of his back story such as his mother was taken by marauding Blaculas when he was ten and he was a tank commander in the USMC.
- The Alchemist (voiced by Dana Snyder): Another old friend of Dr. Orpheus, who is searching for the philosopher's stone ("as a metaphor for enlightenment") as well as a cure for AIDS. Unlike Twilight and Orpheus, it would seem that he is much less serious about his business and would rather mix business with pleasure; however, his true opinion on the Triad was revealed in the episode "Showdown at Cremation Creek", where he stated that he was more into helping the balance of the Universe than running around fighting one Super-Villain. It has been openly acknowledged that he is gay and a fan of Jimmy Buffett. He is sometimes referred to as "Al", but whether this is his real name or merely short for Alchemist is uncertain. He has an open hatred of the Internet due to finding out his boyfriend was cheating on him via MySpace. It is revealed in "Everybody Comes to Hank's" that he was previously in a relationship with Shore Leave, but that the latter erased his memory of it because The Alchemist had become too "clingy."
Original Team Venture
- Dr. Jonas Venture, Sr. (voiced by Paul Boocock): Deceased father of Dr. Thaddeus Venture and Jonas Junior, seen in dreams, hallucinations, old videotapes, and flashbacks. He was the foremost scientist and adventurer in the world of his time and every bit as careless with his son as Dr. Thaddeus Venture is with his children. He created what is now known as Venture Industries and led the original Team Venture. His character is based on Doc Savage and Dr. Benton Quest. In the episode entitled "ORB", it is implied that Kano killed Dr. Venture under orders from the O.S.I., in order to protect the secret of the mysterious ORB. His public reputation is excellent; he is generally viewed as a brilliant scientist, adventurer and generally a wonderful man. The events of the show, however, have demonstrated that the truth is not as clear cut. He seemed to be more concerned with having fun, typically letting others clean up the mess and do the leg work. In "What Goes Down Must Come Up" the deranged computer system M.U.T.H.E.R attacks and he abandons a train full of orphans and never comes back for them, leading them to become deranged lunatics who ironically worship him. In "The Buddy System" he created a chamber to help astronauts live in space but simply forgot about it. Their fates are unknown but one of their skeletons was displayed ceremonially. His actions had a particularly damaging effect on his son, Rusty. In "Dr. Quymn, Medicine Woman" he is shown surreptitiously holding hands with young Tara Quymn's mother behind the back of her husband, the closeted but enthusiastically bisexual Colonel Gentleman. Later Jonas and Mrs. Quymn fall on the box fort in which Rusty and Tara are playing while wildly making love. In The Incredible Mr. Brisby it's shown he tested his inventions on Rusty when he was little. He is shown to have a haphazard style of parenting often ignoring his duties or delegating them on to others. In The Doctor is Sin he (inadvertently) exposes himself to Rusty, installing a deep insecurity complex. In "Careers in Science" he brought Rusty up to a space station to assist him, which Rusty later openly questions. In Now Museum-Now You Don't Dr. Venture remarks that his time in Team Venture traumatized him; in Are You There, God? It's Me, Dean, The Monarch comments to Hank that Hank's grandfather "really did a number" on Hank's father. In the season 3 finale Dr. Venture mentions his dad made him kill a man with a house key.
- The Action Man, whose real name is Rodney (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): Retired member of the original Team Venture. He is an all-American supersoldier reminiscent of a B-grade Nick Fury, though his costume evokes elements of a vintage Captain America. Since his retirement, he has become a crotchety old man with flatulence problems and "plastic knees" that hinder his movements. He married Major Tom's widow, Jeannie, after Tom's tragic accident. Dr. Orpheus predicted that Action Man would have a fatal stroke two years and seventeen days after an accidental confrontation (largely out of spite for shooting him). The Action Man gets his name from the David Bowie song "Ashes to Ashes", which functioned as a follow-up to "Space Oddity", which introduced "Major Tom". He had a habit of waking up Rusty Venture back in the old days by placing an unloaded gun against the sleeping boy's head and pulling the trigger, in which he said "not today, Rusty".
- Colonel Horace Gentleman (voiced by Christopher McCulloch impersonating Sean Connery): Retired member of the original Team Venture and later ersatz leader of the reformed Team Venture. He is a Scottish gentleman and adventurer in the vein of Allan Quatermain and James Bond. The influence is apparent in the similarity of his voice to that of Sean Connery, who has played both characters in movies. He dresses in an old-fashioned British suit, complete with cane and fedora. (His design is likely based on Theodore Marley "Ham" Brooks, a similarly up-classed, cane wielding gentlemen who was one of Doc Savage's 'Fabulous Five'.) It is briefly implied that he is a pederast and this was later confirmed by the creators.[1] In the second season, Hank and Dean find him apparently dead of unspecified causes; however, it is revealed in the Season 3 episode "Now Museum-Now You Don't" that he was merely in a diabetic coma and is still alive. He is an ethnic/gender chauvinist, and has a penchant for writing out random lists in his notebook such as "Toys Colonel Gentleman Wishes He Had When He Was a Lad but They Weren't Invented Yet", "Good Name for An Imaginary Friend" and "Hollywood Actresses That Need a Smack in the Mouth.", something Dean Venture, in a rare moment of shrewdness, referred to as "the diary of a crazy person". He briefly bore a grudge against Rusty Venture for breaking the heart of his stepdaughter, Dr. Quymn, whom he retained some affection for.
- Kano (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): Retired member of the original Team Venture. He is a master of the martial arts and an accomplished pilot. In earlier episodes, he never speaks and only communicates by way of origami and sparse gestures; however this is attributed to a vow of silence he'd taken as revealed in the episode "ORB". The vow was made when he took a great man from the world, which Brock believe was Jonas Venture Sr., when Brock asks him if he killed Dr. Venture Kano didn't answer. However, due to the fact Kano was depicted as already silent in flashbacks to the time Venture Sr. was alive, this theory seems questionable. As Col. Gentleman describes him, his hands are "powerful enough to crush a boulder, yet delicate enough to crush a butterfly." Although not a villain, his silent demeanor, fighting skills and brute strength all correspond with the bodyguard/henchman archetype found in many works of fiction, with particular similarities to Oddjob. Although a hulking, powerful fighter, he is still no match for Brock Samson, at least in his old age. In addition to his skill in fighting and origami, Kano also appears to be a capable aircraft pilot ("despite his racial handicap," according to Col. Gentleman). Kano has also displayed an ability to breathe fire in the episode "Now Museum-Now You Don't". During the commentary it is revealed that this is where his name originates in that it is short for "Volcano".
- Otto Aquarius (voiced by T. Ryder Smith): Retired member of the original Team Venture. An exiled son of Atlantis, he is half-human and half-Atlantean, which grants him a greatly extended life-span and the power to communicate telepathically with sea-creatures, who obey his commands. Most recently, he has converted to either The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (according to the special features section of the Season 1 DVD) or the Jehovah's Witnesses (according to Jackson Publick's blog), though his bizarre appearance often sabotages his attempts at evangelism. Due to his new found faith, he is now a pacifist (which seems to confirm that he is a Jehovah's Witness), limiting his usefulness to the reformed Team Venture. In a deleted scene, he refuses to work alongside Kano, Col. Gentleman, and the Action Man, accusing them of being, "an idolater, a sodomite, and a murderer" respectively; he goes on to explain that the only reason he went in the first place was to accumulate missionary hours (another nod to the Jehovah's Witnesses). He is a parody of aquatic characters such as Sub-Mariner, Aquaman and Abe Sapien of Hellboy fame.
- Dr. Entmann (voiced by Stephen DeStefano): A tiny man that was left abandoned in a nuclear fallout shelter by Jonas Venture, Sr. He originally went by the name Humongeloid, was 15-feet tall, and appeared similar to pro wrestler André the Giant, with curly hair, a flabby physique, and medical complications. Dr. Entmann was found by Brock Samson in "What Goes Down Must Come Up", and he is now living with the Venture family. Since he is based upon and is referenced to Ant-Man, his name may be a play on that character's name, and specifically the original Ant-Man, Henry Pym, who has also adventured as both miniature and gigantic beings in his career.
Archvillains and henchmen
The Guild of Calamitous Intent
The Guild of Calamitous Intent is the primary organization of antagonists in the series. It acts as a sort of supervillain trade union, providing benefits such as health insurance and setting the rules of conduct between its members and their enemies. It is led by a mysterious figure known only as "The Sovereign" and a group of men called the Council of Thirteen.
The current incarnation of the Guild was apparently founded around 1959 by Phantom Limb's grandfather, but its history can be traced back to the late Victorian era, where it was a heroic organization led by Colonel Lloyd Venture, Rusty Venture's grandfather, dedicated to the protection of an item known as the "ORB."
Members
- The Monarch (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): Dr. Venture's self-styled archnemesis. His real name is Malcolm. He is obsessed with Monarch butterflies, which he claims raised him as a child after he survived the plane wreck which killed his parents in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. In fact, he only spent a few months unsuccessfully imitating them before returning to claim his inheritance, and still seems to have almost no understanding of their biology or behavior. He then attended State University where he began arching Dr. Venture, but for reasons as yet unrevealed. He then began henching for a variety of villains, and was employed by Phantom Limb as Shadowman 9, until he became the Monarch and seduced Dr. Girlfriend (then known as Queen Etheria). Though he frequently describes himself as Dr. Venture's nemesis, their rivalry resides almost completely in the Monarch's imagination. In reality, Dr. Venture considers him more a nuisance than a genuine threat. His plans against the Venture family are usually bizarre and fail for a number of sad reasons. For instance, his first attempt on Venture's life instead mutilated his lab partner, Werner Ünderbheit (Ünderbeit believes Venture was responsible). At the end of season one, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to prison after being framed by the Phantom Limb. However, in the second season, he escaped and began to rebuild his criminal operation, being reunited with Dr. Girlfriend in the process and eventually marrying her. As of the third season, the two have moved into Phantom Limb's old mansion in a town called Malice.
- Henchman 21, whose real name is Gary (voiced by Doc Hammer): An overweight pop-culture geek who lives with his mother (except when living in the Monarch's flying cocoon headquarters). He is always accompanied by Henchman 24. Wrote (or at least provided the cover-photo for) "Flight of the Monarch", a tell-all that starts the chain of events ending in the Monarch's incarceration. In the first episode of season two, being without costume for the first time, he is described by 24 as resembling Kevin Smith, although Doc Hammer himself stated the "Gary" portion of the character is in fact inspired by Ken Plume on Ken's "A Bit Of A Chat" podcast. He briefly toyed with the idea of becoming a supervillain himself, "the Viceroy". He claims that he joined the world of henching when he was kidnapped by the Monarch's henchmen when he was 15 (though further details of this event have not been given). When not henching, Number 21 runs a comic book hotline, the "Atomic Comic Collection Connection" from his bedroom. It is also revealed that he has a crush on Doctor Girlfriend. He seems to have a friendship with Hank. After the death of Henchman 24, he goes into heavy combat training and emerges with sufficient strength and martial prowess (not to mention the new nickname "2-ton 21") to contend with former-tormentor Brock Samson. He and Samson then work together to defeat Monstroso, a common enemy. Henchman 21 still speaks to what he believes is Henchman 24's ghost, though Henchman 24's ghost suggests that he is only a figment of Henchman 21's imagination (simultaneously confirmed and refuted in Operation: P.R.O.M.), in echos of Rudyard Kipling's classic story The Man Who Would Be King. In "Operation" P.R.O.M.", 21 was offered a chance to work with the anti-unlicenced super science team, SPHINX. He found he enjoyed working "with guys who actually know what they're doing" for once, and began to question his dedication to the ways of the Monarch and evil in general. By the end of the episode, he realized that being a villain was not for him, and quit the ranks of the Monarch. In "From the Ladle to the Grave: The Story of Shallow Gravy" 2011 Venture Brothers special which takes place after "Operation P.R.O.M," he is interviewed while wearing a SPHINX uniform with his face censored, and using the Viceroy name.
- Henchman 24, (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): a tall, thin man with voice characteristics resembling comic Ray Romano and was described by 21 in the first episode of the second season as resembling Jerry Seinfeld with a unibrow. He and Henchman 21 frequently have arguments about unusual hypothetical situations. He tends to repeat words that are dirty or have a double entendre like "loin" and "jerkin". Number 24 served as Shadowman 24 for Phantom Limb at the same time the Monarch was Shadowman 9. The Monarch promised to make him his "number 2" in return for a favor, a promise which has never been carried out (possibly due to Dr. Girlfriend's reservations about 24, who was wearing the Monarch's Shadowman 9 uniform as part of the aforementioned arrangement with the Monarch, due to issues with 'staring'). Number 24's powder blue Nissan Stanza becomes the replacement Monarch Mobile after the Monarch's lair is destroyed but is promptly stolen by a fleeing prostitute. The Stanza later inexplicably reappears in the garage of the Monarch's Cocoon. It was heavily damaged when the Cocoon crashed in the Grand Canyon. The Monarch doesn't remember much about 24 besides the fact he thinks his voice sounds like aforementioned Ray Romano. A former factory worker before he joined up with the Monarch, 24 has revealed to Dean that his ex-girlfriend married his father and that he has always wanted to be a cabinet maker. Number 24 dies in an explosion at the end of the season three finale. His skull makes appearances throughout season 4 as an object with whom #21 converses, like they did previously. In Pinstripes & Poltergeists, #24 is apparently a ghost that has decided to haunt #21 due to lack of options, the other choices being the Cocoon lair, which gets blown up frequently, or his ex-girlfriend from when he was 15, which would have been 'way too creepy' as she no longer likes him 'in that way'. In Operation: P.R.O.M., it is revealed that 24 was not actually a ghost throughout Season 4, but a figment of 21's grief-stricken imagination. 21's acceptance of this allows him to finally accept 24's death.
- Doctor Girlfriend (voiced by Doc Hammer): Wife and assistant to the Monarch (now going by the name: Dr. Mrs. The Monarch.) Her real name is Sheila, although her last name is still unrevealed. She bears a remarkable similarity to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, at one point dressing in her famous short pink jacket and pillbox hat, and shares her New England accent. Her comically deep voice (the character is voiced by a man) is a parody of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' relatively low voice for a woman, and at one point, the creators claimed that they originally imagined her as sounding like actor Harvey Fierstein. Rumors that she is transsexual have been dispelled as a red herring. She was introduced to the world of costumed villainy by Phantom Limb, her then-lover and former professor. She initially failed as an independent villain named Lady Au Pair. She then served as Phantom Limb's second-in-command under the codename Queen Etheria, until she was seduced by the Monarch at a party. Dr. Girlfriend was the undisputed brains behind the Monarch's operations, but she felt unappreciated by him. After a short separation, Dr. Girlfriend and the Monarch renewed their relationship on the condition that the Monarch stop arching Dr. Venture and make Dr. Girlfriend his partner, not just his number 2. They were married in the Season 2 finale and recognized by the Guild of Calamitous Intent as "villain and villainess" in Season 3. Dr. Girlfriend now goes by the name Dr. Mrs. The Monarch and has designed a new butterfly-themed costume for herself. According to the show's creators, her title of doctor is honorary in nature. Her doctorate was received after donating a large sum of money to an unnamed evil college.
- Tim-Tom and Kevin (voiced by Christopher McCulloch and Doc Hammer, respectively): Achondroplastic dwarves who were Dr. Girlfriend's Murderous Moppets in her solo career as Lady Au Pair. They apparently remain on good terms with her, helping in her application to be the Order of the Triad's nemesis, helping her at her wedding, and organizing the rebuilding of the cocoon after its destruction. They speak to Dr. Girlfriend in a respectful manner, but outside of her presence, they are both surly, foul-mouthed, and utterly psychotic (they seem to ferociously attack with their matching stilettos with very little provocation). Both of them wear Little Lord Fauntleroy suits and ribboned hats. Tim-Tom is white (and speaks with a cockney accent) and wears a blond curly-top wig, whereas Kevin is black, and does not have a wig (he appears to have a jeri-curl, and thus curly hair like his partner). However they are now seen wearing matching larva uniforms now being associated with The Monarch. They apparently also deceive their mistress: she tells the Monarch that they were upset that henchmen pick on them, and that #24 was bullying them—when in fact they terrorize (and routinely brutalize) the henchmen and Tim-Tom savagely knifed (and nearly murdered) #24 after he jubilantly poured Gatorade on him as a mischievous affirmation of the Moppets' leadership. Dr. Girlfriend seems to completely believe the Moppets' story, but the Monarch seems dubious. After Dr. Girlfriend becomes Dr. Mrs. the Monarch, the Moppets apparently officially join the Monarch's organization, performing reconnaissance on the Venture compound for the Monarch (disguised as child participants in Dr. Venture's "Day Camp for Boy Adventurers") and accompanying the villainous couple on a mission while costumed as "the Pupaetwins". Dr. Girlfriend treats them both as though they were her children, and they call her "mom" in turn but both of them also have sexual fantasies about her. Tim Tom admitted to Kevin that he sneaked a look at her panties once when she knelt in front of them, and both of them enjoyed receiving hugs from her when she donned her revealing Dr. Mrs. the Monarch costume, taking the opportunity to openly stare at her breasts. While the Moppets have been shown to be relatively surly and fearless, they both were intimidated by Monarch in "Return to Malice" when he peevishly confronted them outside of his wife's presence. It is implied in "Bright Lights, Dean City" that they may actually be double agents working for Phantom Limb—a theory supported by the fact that Phantom Limb is fully aware of Henchman 21's mental problems.
- Monstroso is considered the most evil of evil men as he is both a lawyer with the Mammoth Corporation and a super villain licensed with the Guild of Calamitous Intent. His size is enormous, with a lap sufficient for Dr. Girlfriend and a brace of 4 additional revelers as can be seen in a picture in the book The Flight of the Monarch. Monstroso is prosperous enough to have employed the bulk of the Monarch's men while he was in prison, no doubt due to his lawyer and super villain vocations. His voice is slightly demonic. His lawyer attire consists of a standard business suit with pinstripes and a red shirt. When he conducts Guild business, however, he dons a red hood with horns, in accordance with Guild code. His coworkers at his law firm don red cowls with black M's on the top when they are portraying his henchmen and do not change out of their own business suits. Among his other diplomas, he has one from the Rancor University of Global Management, alluding to the possibility that he has aspirations for world domination. He wears a ring on his left ring finger suggesting he is married. He smokes cigars and constantly offers them to his guests. He also has a penchant for the double-cross, a fact Dr. Girlfriend reminded The Monarch of when he tried to make a deal with him.
- He was said to have been at attendance at The Monarch and Dr. Girlfriend's wedding, but he was not seen on screen. Brock believed Dean may have been torturing him with Snapple facts, when Dean was, in fact, hallucinating in the bellows of the Cocoon.
- In Pinstripes & Poltergeists he tried to double cross the Monarch by seizing his arch-enemy's property and his own through legal means. He was prevented by Henchman 21 and Brock Samson.
- In The Silent Partners, Monstroso has the Investors kidnap Billy Quizboy, we learn that he is dying of heart failure and requires a transplant, namely the heart taken from King Gorilla by an agreement he made with the Investors to rescind his life sentence. Billy was chosen because of his skills, and the Investors would return the favor by forging documents signed by Billy to "officially" give him credentials to be legally recognized as a doctor and "immortality" for his recognized fame as a great surgeon because, the surgery is so difficult. (and performed in international waters).
- Billy completes the transplant, and the Post credits scene, Monstroso appears to be recovering from his surgery, although he appears to be unaware that he is no longer on his boat but actually at the Sphinx headquarters on the Venture compound, Billy checks on him and returns to Brock. The only thing Brock is worried about is if Monstroso is “well enough so I can kill him yet?”.
- However, in Operation: P.R.O.M. Monstroso is rescued by Molotov, and it is revealed that he and Molotov are in a romantic relationship.
The Revenge Society
A new, independent organization of villains set up primarily to oppose the Guild of Calamitous Intent; as such, a number of its members have had unpleasant dealings with the Guild in the past. Its founder is Phantom Limb, who initially created the society as his "team" to obtain the ORB for use against the Guild; however, this version of the Revenge Society was merely Phantom Limb himself along with a coffee mug named Wisdom, a toaster named Chuck, and a shoe called Lady Nightshade that he believed (possibly deludedly) were real people. After escaping Guild custody later on, Phantom Limb teamed up with Richard Impossible to found the current Revenge Society, which has since had quick success in the field of villainy (though there are only six members) and they fail to kill Dr. Venture, twice in Bright Light, Dean City.
Members
- Phantom Limb (Hamilton G. Fantomos) (voiced by James Urbaniak): A villain with invisible arms and legs. He is arguably the most competent villain seen thus far in the Venture Brothers universe, however he seems largely indifferent to the Ventures themselves. Although he is quite cunning and ruthless, he is also one of the more culturally refined characters in the show, judging from his interest in Persian rugs and fine cheeses. He framed the Monarch for murder and attempted to foil the Monarch's escape plot, ostensibly because he wanted Dr. Girlfriend all to himself. It was later revealed in season 2 that the framing of The Monarch was simply part of a larger picture to lure out and kill The Sovereign/David Bowie and seize the leadership of the Guild of Calamitous Intent. Despite his intellect, he often comes off as pretentious, and at times clueless about the repercussions of his action - as if he's too far into his 'role' to understand what he's doing. At the end of season 2, he seems to have escaped, although minus an invisible leg and arm (and perhaps another 'limb'). His name and invisible limbs are references to the phantom limb syndrome experienced by amputees. The name and purple costume are also references to the comic book and comic strip hero The Phantom. It is revealed in episode three of season three that he was originally professor at a state college, and had tiny deformed arms and legs. When Billy Quizboy was sent in by O.S.I. to spy on him, Fantomas made Billy his lab assistant, thinking he possessed a brilliant mind. During an experiment to turn his limbs to normal size, a malfunction occurred which turned Fantomas' limbs not only to normal size, but also invisible, and endowed him with the ability to kill with a mere touch. He later returns in "The Revenge Society" with the name Revenge. After leaving the guild, he appeared to have gone insane, forming a "team" consisting of a coffee cup, a toaster, and Dr. Mrs. the Monarch's high heel shoe. In the same episode he stole the ORB from Dr. Venture, and during the climax he attempted to activate it, believing it would give him the upper hand. Moments later, nothing happened. In a flashback it is shown that the ORB was broken by Sandow (the bodyguard of Venture's grandfather) who chose that option as opposed to killing Venture, as he was initially instructed. Phantom Limb, distraught from losing the power of the ORB, kneels defeated before David Bowie and his Guild underlings and is promptly captured. After a few months in Guild custody, he escaped and founded a new incarnation of the Revenge Society; the first recruits of his new organization are a now-villainous Professor Impossible and Baron Ünderbheit.
- Professor Richard Impossible (voiced by Stephen Colbert in seasons 1 and 2, Peter McCulloch in "The Terrible Secret of Turtle Bay", Christopher McCulloch in season 3, and Bill Hader in season 4), also nicknamed Dicky. Founder of Impossible Industries, a major government contractor, and former professor to Dr. Venture, Mr. White, and Billy Quizboy. He holds science and the pursuit of knowledge in a much higher regard than he does his wife or other people; at times this has made itself manifest as homicidal ruthlessness, though most of the time he's simply out of touch. Impossible and his cohorts are a parody of the Fantastic Four: an experiment with cosmic radiation gave them each strange abilities (this parody is referenced explicitly in the episode "Love Bheits" when it is mentioned that the Impossibles beat the Ventures in a costume contest by dressing as the Fantastic Four). Richard can stretch his body like rubber, similar to Mister Fantastic, and seems to use this power to make himself appear taller. The other members of his family have useless parodies of the other members' powers. Jackson Publick's blog states that Colbert's representatives have said he has neither "the time nor the interest" to further voice Professor Impossible. According to Publick's most recent update, Bill Hader will provide Impossible's voice in Season 4. A disheveled, depressed Richard Impossible is seen in "Pomp & Circuitry," having spent time since the party in terrible condition, being recruited by the Phantom Limb, for his help (citing their time together in Dr. Venture's Boy's Brigade) to gain revenge on the Guild, and in the end, forming a new Guild with Phantom Limb, and becoming a supervillain.
- Baron Werner Ünderbheit (voiced by T. Ryder Smith): A noted member of the Guild of Calamitous Intent and former tyrant dictator of Ünderland. He wears a prosthetic metal jaw and speaks in a thick, pseudo-German accent. He blames Dr. Venture for the loss of his jaw; as he says, "In my country, a lab-partnership is a sacred trust. One is always supposed to look out for one's lab-partner! Venture... did not." It has since been revealed that the explosion that disfigured Ünderbheit was actually caused by The Monarch, in an attempt to kill Dr. Venture. Baron Ünderbheit is a parody of Doctor Doom and Apocalypse, and has been jokingly identified as such in the context of show (e.g. The Monarch referred to him as "that dime store Doctor Doom"). Ünderland is a sovereign nation that shares at least one border with Michigan. Ünderland is a parody of Latveria and other fictional comic-book countries, which play on the reader's relative lack of knowledge of geography. After his deposing, he is seen in "Pomp and Circuitry" panhandling outside of Impossible Industries, and again in the post-credits sequence asking to join Phantom Limb and Professor Impossible's new Guild.
- Manservant (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): Baron Ünderbheit's long-time personal servant, given to him as a birthday present from his mother while he was in college. He is so completely devoted to Ünderbheit that he almost seems to have no will of his own; he speaks in a zombie-like monotone somewhat reminiscent of Peter Lorre, and always appears to be staring into space. He is seen in "Pomp and Circuitry" with Baron Underbheit, panhandling outside of Impossible Industries, and by his side when the Baron tries joining Phantom Limb and Impossible's new Guild. In "Bright Lights, Dean City" he appears briefly with the Revenge Society in a new costume before Ünderbheit seemingly breaks his neck killing him.
S.P.H.I.N.X.
Originally a terrorist organization (an homage to G.I. Joe's Cobra Command) that was the primary adversary of the O.S.I. 20 years ago until its defeat in the Pyramid Wars of 1987. Several members of the O.S.I. who were disillusioned with its ineffectual bureaucracy decided take up the S.P.H.I.N.X. mantle, along with their leftover equipment, to create an organization to deal with rogue supervillains (those who do not abide by the rules of organized villainy mandated by institutions like the Guild of Calamitous Intent).
- Col. Hunter Gathers (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): Brock's former mentor from when he was in training for the O.S.I. Gathers has since gone into hiding after undergoing gender reassignment surgery (SRS), taking a job as a dancer at Nightingales, a strip club. The character appears to be modeled on Hunter S. Thompson, and his name is a play on the term hunter-gatherer (indeed, the character appears to be a sort of cross between Thompson, with the author's aviator sunglasses and cigarette holder, and Col. Nick Fury, similar to Doonesbury's Uncle Duke.) Other than Brock, Gathers was the only O.S.I. agent who believed the Guild was still in existence in the late eighties, as seen in "The Invisible Hand of Fate". Despite being extraordinarily eccentric, he seems to sincerely care about his job and defending his country. He also taught Brock the strict rule of never killing women or children, as that differentiated them from the "baddies". This is something he used to his advantage when he went rogue from the O.S.I. who then sent Brock to kill him (as Brock doesn't kill women). He is apparently a member of Molotov Cocktease's "Black Hearts" assassination guild, as shown in the scene following the end credits of "The Family That Slays Together, Stays Together (Part II)". However, despite the SRS, he still has the same face and voice as before — including perpetual five o'clock shadow. He also stated in "The Invisible Hand of Fate" that he wanted to be born with "big, beautiful tits", which turns out to be foreshadowing (down to the fact that he has large breasts, but can still grow facial stubble). The gender reassignment and apparent betrayal of O.S.I. were revealed in the Season 4 opener to have been an elaborate ruse to infiltrate the Black Hearts; when Gathers and Samson were captured by Sphinx agents, Gathers revealed himself as an undercover Sphinx officer, complete with revealing the reversal of his surgery with the statement to Samson "You don't know DICK!", uttered while pointedly grabbing his own groin. In the episode Pinstripes & Poltergeists, it is revealed that Gathers and other members of the O.S.I., disgusted with its ineffectual bureaucracy, eventually quit the O.S.I. and took S.P.H.I.N.X's name and equipment to form an organization capable of covertly and effectively combating super-powered villains (mostly those who do not abide by the rules of organized villainy) against whom the O.S.I is powerless. S.P.H.I.N.X. seeks to terminate villains who do not abide by the rules of organized villainy mandated by institutions like the Guild of Calamitous Intent (basically acting as a regulator of sorts, keeping the more dangerous supervillains in check). Slogan: "If someone points a gun at you, call the police. If a bunch of guys are pointing guns at you, you call SWAT. If they're in spandex and pointing a super laser at you, you call the OSI. And if they're dressed regular and they're pointing a super laser at your daughter, you call S.P.H.I.N.X."
- Shore Leave/Holy Diver: A former O.S.I. agent fired for violating O.S.I.'s don't ask, don't tell policy. His appearance and code name seem to be a parody of G.I. Joe characters, as Shore Leave resembles the character Shipwreck. Shore Leave had joined Hunter Gathers in SPHINX. In the episode Pinstripes & Poltergeists, it is revealed he and Mile High faked being a couple (while Mile High was only pretending to be in a gay relationship with Shore Leave, Shore Leave himself thought their relationship was real) as well as their conversion to religious fanaticism, for their cover. (Shore Leave's name is spelled "Shoreleave" in the Season 4 credits.) Shore Leave is often teamed up with Brock. He is also an extremely skilled combatant, matched only by Brock Samson and possibly Henchman 21; though in contrast to Brock he favors firearms over melee combat (specifically a matched set of pistols, with which he is deadly accurate). He has started flirting with the Alchemist in the last episode of the 4th season, and ended up making out with him.
- Mile High/Sky Pilot: A former O.S.I. agent fired for violating O.S.I.'s don't ask, don't tell policy. His appearance and code name seem to be a parody of a G.I. Joe character. He had joined Hunter Gathers in Sphinx. In the episode Pinstripes & Poltergeists, it is revealed he and Shore Leave faked being a couple (while Mile High was only pretending to be in a gay relationship with Shore Leave, Shore Leave himself thought their relationship was real) as well as their conversion to religious fanaticism, for their cover. His name is a reference to the mile high club. In the season finale "Operation: P.R.O.M." it is revealed he was a double-agent working for the OSI.
- Brock Samson (voiced by Patrick Warburton): Though not related to the Ventures biologically, Brock is the bodyguard of the Venture family and an agent with the Office of Secret Intelligence. As a "Super Secret Agent," he has a license to kill and an amazing zeal to use it. His background has been revealed to be "half Swedish, quarter Polish, quarter Winnebago". Though Brock usually displays a relaxed and casual attitude, his temper can cause him to snap into psychotic violence at the slightest provocation. His ability to dispense punishment is equaled by his ability to sustain it, to the point that he is seemingly unkillable. He also has a superhuman sexual appetite, with conquests ranging from beauty queens to sleazy strippers to "the Queen of the Ant People." He is extremely loyal to the Venture family, actually living with them in the compound, and now seems to serve as a bit of a mentor for the boys, to whom he has an avuncular relationship.
Recurring and minor characters
- Molotov Cocktease (voiced by Mia Barron): a highly-trained assassin and sometime-ally, sometime-rival to Brock Samson, as well as his love interest until her apparent death at the end of the episode "Operation P.R.O.M." Despite, or perhaps because of their often-violent history, she held Brock in very high regard, although she disdained his loyalty to the Ventures. She was an ex-Soviet agent who made a living as a mercenary. She shared a somewhat sadomasochistic relationship with Brock, who has referred to her as "the only woman [he has] ever loved." She unfailingly wore a chastity belt (her father's dying wish) until the end of the fourth season, when she told Brock she was "taken" by Monstroso. Her name is a play on the phrases "Molotov cocktail" and "cock tease." In some Venture Bros. related artwork, her last name is spelled "Coqtiz," though "Cocktease" has become the official spelling. Her name is also a reference to Bond girls with improbably provocative names, such as Pussy Galore.
- Colonel Bud Manstrong (voiced by Terrence Fleming): The former leader of the two-man crew of the space station Gargantua-1. Manstrong takes a strong moral stance on most issues, and is strictly sexually abstinent. Although he is very willful in most situations, he wilts under attention from his often inebriated and oversexed mother. His forbearance of sex puts a great deal of strain on his relationship with cosmonaut Lieutenant Anna Baldavich, his love interest and fellow crewmember aboard Gargantua-1. He is declared a hero when Gargantua-1 crashes on a wanted terrorist in the episode "Guess Who's Coming to State Dinner?" whereupon he is offered a chance to run for the vice-presidency, which he turns down in horror upon learning of the president's sexual indiscretions (strongly satiric of the Clinton-Lewinsky affair, although the president resembles Lyndon Johnson physically and speaks in the manner of George W. Bush).
- Watch and Ward (voiced by Christopher McCulloch and Doc Hammer respectively): Two Guild operatives who seem to be in charge of Guild communications, as well as the induction of new recruits. They are almost always seen together, and frequently engage in petty arguments based on actual conversations between the show's creators. Their names may derive from the Watch and Ward Society.
- The Master (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin): a shapeshifting, supernatural presence who lives in a black void accessible through a portal in Triana's closet, he is Dr. Orpheus's mentor. What he is, and therefore his gender, are never made clear, although he speaks in the same masculine voice regardless of his appearance, and is referred to by other characters using masculine pronouns. He is much more relaxed than Orpheus, and often chides his student for being extremely uptight. However, this attitude seems to be his method of imparting advice to his pupil; he convinces Orpheus to better himself by pointing out his flaws. He has called Orpheus his best student and seems to have a fondness for him, frequently letting Orpheus come to him for advice. He often takes on appearances that make it possible for him to perform erotic acts; his first appearance is as Cerberus, a form in which he entertains himself by allowing a head he cannot control to clean his genitals with its mouth.
- Myra Brandish (voiced by Joanna Adler): A former O.S.I. agent, and former bodyguard and lover to Dr. Venture, she is probably biological mother to Hank and Dean. She is mentally unstable, and it is suggested that she spends much of her time in a mental institution, although it is not clear whether or not her residence there is self-imposed. Despite her tenuous grip on reality she is shown to be capable of concocting complex schemes. She is also highly pain-tolerant, a skilled hand-to-hand combatant, and almost certainly adept in the use of firearms. She occasionally assaults the Venture family and has abducted each of the Ventures on at least one occasion.
- General Manhowers (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): A general in the United States armed forces. Due to his high military rank, he is one of Dr. Venture's principal clients.
- Dr. Henry Killinger (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): A supervillain parody of diplomat Henry Kissinger and magical nanny Mary Poppins; he is never without his "magic murder bag". Killinger is a highly skilled businessman and negotiator and demonstrates a keen understanding of legal matters, particularly tax law. He is shown to have magical abilities, although the nature and extent of his powers are unclear. Some characters have a great deal of trouble understanding him when he speaks. Killinger's major appearances have twice involved spontaneously offering his services as strategist, business consultant, and/or motivational coach to main characters, free of charge, in the episodes "I Know Why The Caged Bird Kills" and "The Doctor Is Sin". In both cases, his influence results in a substantial increase in the efficiency with which his clients conduct their affairs. He seems to be a 'villainous' counterpart to The Master of Doctor Orpheus, both in his role as a mentor and life-coach to super-villains, and due to the fact that he possesses greater magical power than Doctor Orpheus (Doctor Orpheus' magic is completely ineffective against Dr. Killinger, as seen in 'The Doctor is Sin'). He also appears conducting the marriage services during the Monarch's wedding to Dr. Girlfriend in the episodes "Showdown at Cremation Creek (Part I)" and "Showdown at Cremation Creek (Part II)". Although, as a supervillain Killinger is capable of dispassionately murdering adversaries, he is also shown to be capable of quickly forming warm friendships, as well as acts of great kindness. He develops an avuncular relationship with the Venture boys in "The Doctor Is Sin", to the extent that the two of them refer to him as "Uncle Henry". In "I Know Why The Caged Bird Kills", he goes to great lengths to reunite Dr. Venture and Myra Brandish, and although he fails, succeeds in reuniting the Monarch and Dr. Girlfriend. In the DVD commentary for "I Know Why the Caged Bird Kills", it is mentioned that Killinger may actually be the alter-ego of Henry Kissinger in the Venture universe.
- The Sovereign/David Bowie (portrayed by Christopher McCulloch/voiced by James Urbaniak): The mysterious entity who runs the Guild of Calamitous Intent. He communicates principally by use of tele-screens which distort his face and voice. Bowie is a shapeshifter, and has been shown capable of taking the form of specific human beings, as well as animals and inanimate objects. This power is a reference to the real Bowie's reputation for adopting new musical styles (and possibly the ability of his character in the movie Labyrinth). His identity is something of an open secret among members of the Guild.
- Dermott Fictel (voiced by Doc Hammer): An obnoxious teenager who first appears in "The Buddy System;" he was hinted to be the son of Brock Sampson. Dermott is a compulsive liar and frequently interjects wild, and often clearly false claims about his abilities and past deeds into unrelated conversations. He is a friend of Hank's and occasionally visits the Venture compound from the nearby trailer park where he and his "mother" live. In the season 4 episode "Everybody Comes to Hank's" Hank sleeps with Nikki Fictel whom he knows as Dermott's older sister. It is revealed that Nikki is actually Dermott's biological mother and that her mother raised Dermott as her own son. When Nikki was 15 she had been the chairperson of the Rusty Venture Fan Club and she was impregnated by Rusty Venture who thought she was 20. Rusty paid the family off with a check, due to threats from Dermott's grandmother about pressing charges for statutory rape. This also means that Dermott is in fact the third Venture brother. In "From the Ladle to the Grave: The Story of Shallow Gravy", Dr. Venture has an interview in which he seems to believe Dermott is Brock's son. However by the end it is implied that Dr. Venture has figured out that Dermott is his son.
- General Timothy Treister (voiced by Toby Huss): Commander of the OSI, he's a tough, no-nonsense, highly energetic military man. He seems to be based on a combination of General "Thunderbolt" Ross and Teddy Roosevelt. First appearing after Brock Samson is on the run from the hit put on him by Molotov Cocktease (that he was led to believe was placed by the OSI), he leads the effort to find and debrief Samson. He later shows up to help coordinate between the OSI, SPHINX, the Guild of Calamitous Intent, the Revenge Society and the Peril Partnership during Zero's rampage across the world's sidekicks. Finally, in "Operation P.R.O.M.", Treister reveals he's dying of cancer, and leaves the OSI in Col. Gathers' hands, while Treister shoots himself into space to be fixed by "Alien technology".
The Impossibles
- Sally Impossible (voiced by Mia Barron): Richard's estranged wife. She has invisible skin which leaves her muscle tissue visible (which is significantly less useful than the abilities of the Invisible Woman) and she requires all her concentration to keep her skin visible. This power is occasionally referred to as her becoming "visible" (making her "the visible woman"). She does not show any ability to create forcefields like her Marvel counterpart. Sally developed, and still maintains, a crush on Dr. Venture, who was repelled when he discovered her condition. Richard has implied that she has been repeatedly unfaithful and that her newborn son might have been fathered by someone else. This is a reference to the Invisible Woman's relationship with the Sub-Mariner, who has pursued her romantically from their first encounter. Eventually, it came to the point where Richard was keeping Sally practically as a prisoner in their home and keeping her under constant guard, accurately suspecting that she wanted to run away from him. Sally has been dating Jonas Venture Jr. and resides on Spider Skull Island with the rest of the Impossibles, sans Richard and Cody.
- Rocket Impossible: Sally and Richard's newborn son. Thus far, he has not displayed any sort of super powers or genetic mutations. He is a parody of Franklin Richards, son of Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman. Richard has previously voiced concerns that he may not be the father.
- Ned (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): Sally and Cody's mentally-handicapped cousin, who has been transformed into a "giant callus" with 3-inch-thick (76 mm) skin. He has a pale orange, lumpy appearance. He is stronger than ordinary people, but not nearly as strong or impervious to harm as the Thing.
- Cody (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): Sally's brother. Bursts into flames when exposed to oxygen. Unlike the Human Torch, he cannot control this very painful reaction, so he is kept in an air-tight container. As a result, he is usually in a state of unconsciousness. In "Bright Lights, Dean City," Professor Impossible is revealed to have been using an imprisoned Cody to provide clean energy to Impossible Industries, an act which Phantom Limb describes as being "the most deliciously evil thing he'd ever seen", though the true evilness of it seems to be lost on Professor Impossible.
Ünderland
- Girl Hitler (voiced by Mia Barron): Formerly one of Baron Ünderbheit's senior advisers, she (along with Catclops and Manic 8-ball) were "executed" for betraying Ünderbheit's confidence, although all three survived. Since Baron Ünderbheit's removal from power, she has become Ünderland's president. As her name suggests, she resembles Adolf Hitler, complete with toothbrush moustache.
- Catclops (voiced by James Urbaniak): A cyclops with a cat's face (itself wearing an eyepatch since his second appearance) in the place of an eye and a tail protruding from the back of his head. After their "execution" by tiger-bombs, he and Girl Hitler fled underground, where they led an ineffectual group of freedom fighters. After Ünderland's liberation, he proposed to Girl Hitler.
- Manic 8-ball (unvoiced): He is a human with the powers of a magic 8-ball. He was "executed" by Baron Ünderbheit for treason along with Catclops and Girl Hitler. Despite surviving the combination of tiger attack and explosion, he was captured and remained a prisoner of Ünderbheit, who used his eight-ball power for advice. Lacking a mouth, he never speaks, instead using the 8-ball messages on his chest to answer yes or no questions (except for one message, in which he calls Ünderbheit an "asshole").
Imprisoned villains
- King Gorilla (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): A talking, homosexual gorilla who befriended the Monarch while in jail. King Gorilla was a member of the Guild of Calamitous Intent until his imprisonment for brutal murder and rape (in that order) of Mötley Crüe lead singer Vince Neil during a reality TV show, defending himself by stating "I only sodomized half of him". Because of his high-profile crime, the Guild turned its back on King Gorilla and has led to the villain becoming bitter and cynical towards the Guild. After kidnapping and attempting to rape the Monarch (the Monarch's feminine qualities turned him off before the act), he was moved enough by the Monarch's quest to regain Dr. Girlfriend's love that he assisted in the fellow villain's escape from prison. When he is hesitant to help the Monarch before he does, the Monarch parodies a quote from The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, saying, "Et tu, King Gorilla?" His ability to talk and walk upright is not explained, and he has an obsession with Tarzan (Jackson Publick has suggested that he somehow houses and raises multiple Tarzans in his cell or the common area of the prison). King Gorilla mirrors the many super gorillas and apes that exist in comics (particularly in the DC Universe), which include several heroic ones like Solovar, Detective Chimp or Congorilla, but are mostly villains like Monsieur Mallah (who also talks and is homosexual), Gorilla Grodd (a talking genius level gorilla, enemy of the Flash and member of the Secret Society of Super Villains), Ultra-Humanite, Titano, The Mod Gorilla Boss, Gorilla Boss, Jackanapes, etc. Though it was believed at first that King Gorilla had been killed off screen by Phantom Limb, Jackson Publick's LiveJournal has revealed he was supposed to return, free from prison, in the second half of the fourth season. He has apparently been released for medical reasons, as he now apparently has lung cancer (implied by the angry faces at Monarch's gift, cigarettes, when Monarch was unaware of the illness). In "The Silent Partners", King Gorilla is killed in his hospital bed by the Investors. Its revealed he made a deal with Monstroso to give him his heart when he dies.
- Mr. Monday (voiced by Christopher McCulloch): An upperclass-esque villain with a monocle, obsessed with Monday. The character very much resembles the Detective Comics character Calendar Man. When the Monarch is planning his breakout for that night, Mr. Monday insists "Can't we wait until Monday?" and uses words such as "Mondaylicious!" Mr. Monday is released from prison by Phantom Limb, only to be hunted by him on his private grounds to make a point to the Monarch in Showdown at Cremation Creek (Part I). He is presumed to have been killed by Phantom Limb in this scene.
- Tigeriffic (voiced by Paul Boocock) A former supervillain with massive strength and tiger-like abilities. When imprisoned, his costume was confiscated, which apparently is where all his powers come from. When the Monarch assigns him to pull off the gate during the breakout, Tigeriffic informs him that he is powerless without the costume. The Monarch is shocked, as he assumed he was "Raised by tigers, like Moogli." "It's Mowgli...and that was wolves...and still no!"
- White Noise (voiced by Brendon Small) A smoking, racist former television repair-man, White Noise was transformed while repairing a TV that was still plugged into a live socket. He is concerned about the Monarch's criminal organization being "racially mixed", and doesn't want his pure white blood to be muddied. The Monarch then questions whether he even has blood, and how he knows he's even white. He speaks with a Southern dialect. During the Monarch's escape, he was supposed to aid by taking out the guards, along with Dr. Septapus. He is also hunted and fatally shot by Phantom Limb on his private grounds.
- Dr. Septapus (voiced by Christopher McCulloch) Another one of the Monarch's criminal cohorts while in prison, Dr. Septapus has seven limbs on his body. Four arms on his sides, one arm from his chest, and two legs. He is loosely based on the Marvel Comics character, Dr. Octopus. During the Monarch's escape, he was supposed to aid by taking out the guards, along with White Noise. He is released from prison, only to be hunted by Phantom Limb on his private grounds. He is shot down from a tree, and then shot again on the ground.
- Tiny Joseph (voiced by Doc Hammer): Although he originally appeared as one of the Monarch's henchmen in a dream sequence in "A Very Venture Christmas", he later appeared as the Monarch's cellmate. He is only a few inches tall, and inscribes a message upon a Microdot, which is to be carried out by a butterfly for the Monarch. He was also used as a projectile in the Monarch's makeshift prison dartgun.
Jonny Quest
Although The Venture Bros. is a parody of Jonny Quest, some Jonny Quest characters appear in several episodes. This is because Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. owns the rights to the Jonny Quest characters. Some of these characters, particularly Action Johnny, are drawn with variable line weights in the same style as the original comic-book-like Jonny Quest cartoons, as a visual homage.
- Action Johnny (voiced by Brendon Small): Since the death of Dr. Benton Quest, he has been secreted away within the Quest Bathysphere, feeding (when possible) his addiction to narcotics, as shown in the episode "Twenty Years to Midnight". He is fooled into handing over a piece of Dr. Venture Sr.'s machinery after being bribed by the Captain and Jonas Jr., an act that Jonas Jr. later regretted. He has sobered up, but is still a high strung nervous wreck due to his many psychological issues resulting from his father,. In "The Buddy System", Johnny claims that "fathers are caring and protective men, and I don't have one of those". In the same episode, Johnny also expresses the desire to free Dean from his father, but is stopped mid-sentence by Brock. He has since shown to become much better in "Self Medication" as well as more functional.
- Race Bannon: Brock's friend from the Office of Secret Intelligence, where he once worked as a torturer. Died after jumping from a jet that Nat King Cobra's Snake Men were piloting while retrieving the Goliath Serum. He carries various spy gadgets (all of them extremely dangerous) that are reminiscent of those carried by James Bond.
- Rajni Singh: Another reference to a Jonny Quest character, he is now a manager working with Jonas Jr. He is seen also taking care of Johnny, while worrying that if he brings Johnny back home, his (Hadji's) wife will leave him.
- Dr. Z: A reference to a recurring villain "Dr. Zin" in the Jonny Quest franchise, he was featured in the episode "The Buddy System" in which he was to be a special guest star in a stage show featuring Action Johnny. The show was being performed as part of "Rusty's Day Camp for Boy Adventurers." Upon seeing his old nemesis, Johnny panics and runs away in fear. Sergeant Hatred, having interrupted the show with what he thought was a routine arching, greets Zin with a hand shake, saying "The Dr. Z! Aw man, I love your work." In "Self-Medication" Dr. Z was confronted by Action Johnny, Dr. Venture, and a group of former "Boy Adventurers" to accuse him of the murder of their therapist. However, Dr. Z was innocent and the group discover that he is married. During a peaceful dinner Dr. Z advises the former "Boy Adventurers" that they need to grow up and stop living in the past. In "Pomp and Circuitry", one of the silhouetted members of the Council of 13 looks and sounds a lot like Dr. Z. Appears to be a homage to Fu Manchu, an evil genius from a series of novels by English author Sax Rohmer.
Organizations
Name |
Purpose |
Information |
Team Venture/
Venture Industries |
Adventuring and scientific research |
The world's foremost scientific adventuring organization decades ago. It consisted of a group of extraordinary gentlemen led by the late, great, Jonas Venture. Although the present group is a less-than-worthy successor to the original team, they occasionally manage to have fantastic adventures nonetheless. In Now Museum-Now You Don't Jonas Venture Jr, mentions one of Dr. Venture's first missions was to stop the Rosenbergs, indicating the original Team Venture began in the early 1950s. As Dr. Venture died in the 80's it's likely the original team ended then. |
The Guild of Calamitous Intent |
Organized super-villainy syndicate |
A shadowy syndicate of major and minor supervillains, ne'er-do-wells, and otherwise outlandish criminals. The Guild has rules and guidelines regulating villainous behavior. Undercover Guild operatives are called "Strangers." The activities of Strangers are monitored by two Guild operatives (Watch and Ward), who receive orders from the mysterious entity, Sovereign, who was revealed to be none other than David Bowie. |
The Fluttering Horde |
Henching for the Monarch |
The loyal henchmen of The Monarch, who claims they prefer to be called "minions" rather than "henchmen". They are responsible for keeping the cocoon up and running as well as carrying out orders. They are armed with dart guns. The only henchmen that appear to continuously survive The Monarch's many botched attempts at killing Dr. Venture are Henchmen 21 and (until recently) 24. |
The Order of the Triad |
Adventuring |
Dr. Orpheus' adventuring team recently approved for arching by the Guild of Calamitous Intent. |
Office of Secret Intelligence |
Secret spy organization |
The supersecret spy organization of which Brock Samson was a member. According to agent Hunter Gathers, the O.S.I. has been in existence since "the second American Revolution — the invisible one". It trained him into the wonder he is today. Its name seems to be patterned after that of the real-life Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the CIA or the Office of Scientific Intelligence, the controlling organization of The Six Million Dollar Man.
Its military outfits are vaguely reminiscent of those of S.H.I.E.L.D., but the dress code was discontinued in the 80's, leading some members to choose flamboyant costumes. This is a deliberate reference to shows like G.I. Joe, where members of a military organization have highly individualized costumes as opposed to uniforms.
|
Impossible Industries |
Scientific research and development |
A scientific empire headed by Professor Richard Impossible. It includes a think tank in a secluded location near the North Pole and main headquarters in New York City. Pete White, Master Billy Quizboy, and Dr. Venture were selected to participate in an undisclosed project for the think tank. In the episode "20 Years to Midnight", several characters fall from a window in the New York City headquarters through a subway ventilation grate and directly into the path of an oncoming V train (on the F, V, B, D line) at which time a "5th Ave" sign is posted in the station. Based on this, the Impossible Industries headquarters is located across the street from/near the 53rd Street and 5th Avenue V station. It is also noted in "20 Years to Midnight" that the New York City headquarters was formerly a Venture Industries location. |
Ünderland Troops |
Forced military of Ünderland for former leader Baron Ünderbheit |
Soldiers (formerly) at the service of Ünderland and Baron Ünderbheit. Seem to be proud of the discipline involved and unfazed by the fact they would be executed at age 38. |
Conjectural Technologies |
Business |
A business started by Pete White and Master Billy Quizboy, operated out of the trailer in which they live. Dr. Venture contacted them to help identify and cure Dean's testicular torsion and enlisted their help in trying to fix his father's shrink ray to win a bet with Dr. Orpheus. |
State University |
School |
A University which was attended by many of the series major characters, in two different time periods (Thaddeus Venture, Brock Samson, Pete White, Werner Ünderbheit, Mike Sorayama, and The Monarch during the early/mid eighties; Dr. Girlfriend, Billy Quizboy, and the future Sally Impossible during the late eighties/early nineties). Brock left to join the Army during his Freshman year, and several tragedies befell the others, but it is unknown if any of them graduated. Professor Hamilton Fantomos was employed there, until the accident which transformed him into Phantom Limb. Billy Quizboy attended for a few weeks, but only as a spy for O.S.I. who were looking into Fantomos. Professor Richard Impossible was also on the faculty, and shared an office with Fantomos, and taught at least one class attended by Thaddeus Venture. Impossible left the faculty shortly before Fantomos' accident, a result of a scandal involving his student Sally (later, his wife). |
The Blackhearts Elimination Agency |
Assassins Guild |
An all-woman group of mercenary/assassins run by Molotov Cocktease. It is unknown whether it still exists: most of the members mutated to "Giant fly humanoid" in Operation P.R.O.M. |
S.P.H.I.N.X. |
Independent Secret Spy/Peacekeeping Organisation |
Originally a terrorist organisation that drew many parallels with Cobra Command, it was shut down by the O.S.I. and later revived by disgruntled former O.S.I. agents who disliked the system set up with the Guild of Calamitous Intent. The organisation currently exists in secret, hunting down international threats who have not signed up with the Guild and thus are beyond the O.S.I.'s power. Agents known thus far are its leader, Col. Hunter Gathers, his protégé Brock Samson, former operatives Shore Leave and Mile High, and an unnamed German plastic surgeon. They currently maintain a secret base hidden inside the Venture Compound. |
The Revenge Society |
Independent Villain Group |
Formed by Phantom Limb, and named after his alternate codename–Revenge–the first incarnation consisted of himself, Billy Quizboy, Guild Councilmen 3 & 8 (all of whom he had kidnapped and forced into service), as well as three inanimate objects which Phantom Limb believed to be alive. After freeing himself from guild incarceration, Phantom Limb formed a second version of the Society with Professor Impossible, Baron Werner Ünderbheit, Fat Chance, and Lady Bird and Lyndon Bee (characters based on the fantasy film Ladyhawke and American President Lyndon Johnson and his wife. |
References