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 or near Colorado Springs, CO United States. The compound doubles as the headquarters for Dr. Venture's company, Venture Industries.

Venture acquaintances

The Order of the Triad

Original Team Venture

O.S.I.

The Office of Secret Intelligence is a branch of the United States government that handles supervillain activity, both combatting groups of supervillains or assisting super scientists and superheroes with their Guild of Calamitous Intent-assigned archenemies. A pastiche of G.I. Joe, in the 1980s they even fought against S.P.H.I.N.X. (itself a pastiche of Cobra Command) in the Pyramid Wars, during which the original S.P.H.I.N.X. was defeated. The O.S.I. operates from a hovering base and seems to answer to a division known as the Misters who are the go-between with the Secret President.

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; the Guild acts as a stabilizing influence on the world of super-villainy, as without it they would be unchecked free agents with no rules restricting their behavior. As Brock Samson put it: "These guys like their system, it's what they do; you take that away, and you're looking at a bunch of pissed off nut-bags with ray guns." The Guild not only serves to organize those mentally unstable individuals prone to acts of villainy into an efficient force, but at the same time it also acts as a brake on their more murderous impulses, as well as restricting attacks to Guild-approved targets. It is led by a mysterious figure known only as "The Sovereign" (thought to be David Bowie, but later revealed to be a nameless shapeshifter), and a group of villains called the Council of Thirteen. The current incarnation of the Guild (or at least its leadership) is implied to be a haven for missing and/or presumed deceased rock stars. In "All This and Gargantua-2", most of the Council of 13 is killed by the Sovereign as part of a gambit to draw out the Investors. The only survivors being Dr. Mrs. The Monarch, Dr. Phineas Phage, Dr. Z, Red Mantle, and Dragoon. Dr. Henry Killinger forges a new Council of 13 from the remaining councilmen and surviving Revenge Society members (sans Richard) after his slaying of the Investors in order to restore the balance between the OSI and the Guild, but declined the role of Sovereign, claiming his work was done.

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", an enigmatic sphere that had been built over the centuries by humanity's greatest individuals. The Guild then split over how to use the ORB, with Fantomas founding the Guild of Calamitous Intent (who wanted to use the ORB to control mankind) while Lloyd founded the modern version of the OSI (who wanted to use the ORB to help mankind).

Original members

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". The group has effectively been broken up as of "All this and Gargantua-2".

Ünderland

Ünderland is a micronation smaller than the state of Delaware and located near Michigan. Once led by Baron Werner Ünderbheit in a dictatorship, he ruled the land and had a forced conscription for all men age 18 and a forced euthanasia at 40. Ünderland also had no prisons, as all crimes are subject to the death penalty. As a result of "Love Bheits", Ünderbheit is deposed and Ünderland becomes a democratic society.

Imprisoned villains

Fraternity of Torment

The Fraternity of Torment is one of a handful of supervillain organizations other than the Guild of Calamitous Intent. The group was largely made up of disenfranchised men shunned by society for their various physical defects, causing them to lash out in return. They were frequently the ineffectual antagonists to Team Venture during the 1960s, and it is shown that Jonas and his team often seemed to merely be tormenting and bullying them for fun rather than fighting them out of any sense of justice. The remnants of the original group appear in "Now Museum, Now You Don't", but it is stated they still have some level of presence in the world of organized supervillainy alongside the "Peril Partnership".

Peril Partnership

The Peril Partnership is another supervillain union based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is one of several rival organizations to the Guild of Calamitous Intent.

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). At the end of season 4 and the beginning of season 5, the members of S.P.H.I.N.X. who were formerly O.S.I. agents are redrafted into O.S.I., leaving the former Henchman 21 as the only S.P.H.I.N.X. operative. Gary tries to recruit new members, and accidentally reunites the original S.P.H.I.N.X. members. Knowing that their S.P.H.I.N.X. loyalty chips will soon dissolve and kill them, they dedicate themselves to a final suicide attack against O.S.I. S.P.H.I.N.X.'s rented headquarters space within the Venture compound is blown up in the season 5 episode "S.P.H.I.N.X. Rising", forcing Gary to live in the Venture's backyard. The original remaining S.P.H.I.N.X. members are:

Other supervillains

Recurring and minor characters

The Impossibles

Jonny Quest

The Venture Bros. is, in part, a parody of Jonny Quest, and some Jonny Quest characters appear in several episodes; Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. own 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.

Therapy group members

The Super Gang

A group of superheroes who also work as newscasters on the Action 5 News Team. They are a deconstruction of Silver Age superheroes.

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 1980s it is 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 and are ruled by the Council of 13 (all high-ranking Guild members).
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 1980s, 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. The trailer also contains a hidden basement where the Billy and White perform their duties as the heroes Billy Quizboy and the Pink Pilgrim.
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.
The Soul Mates Adventurers/Youth ministry After leaving the OSI, Shore Leave and Mile High assumed new identities (Holy Diver and Sky Pilot) and started the "fastest growing youth ministry in southern California", The Action Bible School. They referred to their duo as "the Soul Mates". This group is now defunct, as both members joined S.P.H.I.N.X.
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. 21 joined the group during "Operation PROM". Hunter was made head of OSI in the same episode he reinstated Brock and the others leaving 21 the only member of S.P.H.I.N.X. In "S.P.H.I.N.X. Rising", Gary (under name Viceroy) working as a member of S.P.H.I.N.X. and continues its mission of targeting unregistered supervillains, but ends up foiling an OSI undercover operation involving Shoreleave and Brock. He eventually decides on recruiting ex-villains and henchman who want to be heroes. Hank decides to join in on the action and claims the powersuit of former S.P.H.I.N.X. second-in-command The Countess for himself. Three others respond to his ad, and turn out to be original S.P.H.I.N.X. members (S.P.H.I.N.X. Commander, Windsong, & Diamondbackdraft). They join in order to reclaim their organization from Gary. The original S.P.H.I.N.X. is defeated by Brock and Shoreleave. Col. Hunter Gathers then destroys the S.P.H.I.N.X. hoverfortress and S.P.H.I.N.X. base at the Venture Compound is mistakenly destroyed by the Monarch due to Sgt Hatred's intervention. Both incarnations of S.P.H.I.N.X. are no defunct and no longer active.
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).
The Brimstone Assembly Gathering of Magic Users Occasional gathering of magic users and mystics which includes Doctor Orpheus, the Outrider, Orpheus' ex-wife, the Alchemist, and Red Mantle. Outsiders are usually not allowed to come to gatherings but Red Mantle had to bring Dragoon to the 331st meeting due to them sharing a body. The Master has apparently trained many of them and appeared at the 331st meeting after the group summoned a zombie army from the Potter's Field near the Venture Compound.

References

  1. Season 5 Deleted Scenes
  2. Season 2 DVD commentary for "Powerless in the Face of Death"
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