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"The High Cost of Loathing" Discussion!

We're going to shake things up a little this week for those of you (US only, sorry!) who can watch the episode online. Head over to Adult Swim's website to watch "The High Cost of Loathing". Or if you prefer wait until Sunday night at midnight to watch it the traditional way. Either way, come back to this post to talk about the episode with your fellow Venture Bros. fans! Note that if you haven't watched the episode yet, there will be spoilers, so only read the comments if you don't mind being spoiled (I'm sure some of you are out there!). As always, enjoy and have fun!

  • by Captain V
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A great episode that's an absolutely fantastic and hilarious way to come back after last weeks BIG episode.

The Helper bit was the highlight, had me laughing very, very loudly.
  • 2
Aug. 24, 2018, 11:10pm
I didn't make it, but here it is in gif form
https://i.imgur.com/sCJ6U3X.gif
  • 0
Aug. 27, 2018, 2:01am
  • by Captain V
  • (unregistered id: 03A96A9F11)
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You sir, Go V Deep!

Just the exact gif we all need... but don't deserve.
  • 0
Aug. 28, 2018, 2:40am
Interesting love triangle seeming to form. Sinterklaas hinted at it in an interview a few weeks ago where the interviewer talked about the boys dating girls and he corrected them by saying something like "well, dating *girl*."
  • 0
Aug. 25, 2018, 1:37am
Love the blueprints for The Hank Cave. Includes a heart-shaped bed, skylight, an oven, conversation pit, water feature, movie monster make-up station and, but of course, a Batpole. Gotta have the Batpole!

Oh, and did anyone else enjoy seeing The Monarch's house get renovated? Must be residual from my former This Old House addiction from way back in the Bob Vila days.
  • 1
Aug. 25, 2018, 1:22pm
  • by zombiejesus
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Professor Helpful is Harvey Birdman!
(and Carl Sagan)

Cap'n V, I look forward to your always cogent analysis.
  • 1
Aug. 26, 2018, 6:13am
  • by Captain V
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Thanks!

I was actually going to guess the new t-shirt would be the Handy Dandy lid.

And then...

https://www.titmousestuff.com/collections/venture-bros-2015
  • 0
Aug. 27, 2018, 3:24am
  • by zombiejesus
  • (unregistered id: 3D1D85017E)
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I was pretty sure the shirt would be that.
Added to cart.

(I'm a Dapper Dan man, myself.)
  • 0
Aug. 27, 2018, 3:59am
  • by Captain V
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Now, obvious not always... but quite often the shirts will use in house animation designs from the episode proper.

Meaning, Doc Hammer already made that design and somebody put it on the can once the animation comes back from Korea.

Then they take the file with the design in it and put it on a shirt.

The BM shirt was also just key prop animation from the magazine cover.
  • 0
Aug. 28, 2018, 2:31am
  • by Captain V
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Damn that first sentence I typed got all messed up.

Yoda I am. At least... my keypad is.
  • 0
Aug. 28, 2018, 2:33am
  • by Destroyo
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There was a Guild bounty on the head of the Blue Morpho. Shouldn't The Monarch be able to collect on that?
  • 1
Aug. 26, 2018, 12:19pm
You would think. They obviously didn't give him a seat on the council, though that was Red Death's demand. They must have figured out that The Monarch didn't actually bag BM after interviewing the other witnesses present. They seem very thorough in those regards. I'll bet he didn't even get the free Guild dues either, or his weight in mugs.
  • 1
Aug. 26, 2018, 2:19pm
So Dean's rooming with the Brown Recluse. Does he know that or is this another case where the least likely people end up together, like the way Dean bumped into Sirena. (Consideing how closely guarded she is in her own home, I'm surprised that her father lets her walk to class without a bodyguard.

Hank can't find a job but Dean can whip a million dollar check just like that...

That The Monarch's Trust Fund money has run out surely proves that he's just like his brother, Rusty.

And when Hank was talking to Rusty in the hospital, and Rusty seemed to like him, did Rusty really know he was talking to Hank or did he think he was talking to Dean.

Between the old hover bikes and Hank's personal transportation module (who built that Jonas Sr or jr?) and JJ levitation belt there's enough good tech to put VentureTech on a firm financial basis. Of course we never see any of the tech goodies used by the Guild or OSI being introduced to the public. Is there some law against introducing high tech? And who decides what is or isn't high tech.

Is Hank going to turn evil and war against his brother. It seems like he has all the right conditions ... he always take shortcuts to his goals, tends to cheat people with Hankco, hates his father and has good reason to hate his brother if Serena starts liking Dean better than Hank.
  • 0
Aug. 27, 2018, 1:58am
Rusty ended his convo with Hank by calling him Kate Jackson, so I guess that's who he thought he was speaking to.
  • 1
Aug. 27, 2018, 9:35am
  • by Aaanon
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More odd is Dean rooming with an upper classman (at least my assumption, since Brown Recluse was giving orientation tours a year ago... ok, a season ago (which in Venture years is 3 or 4 years)
  • 0
Aug. 27, 2018, 5:14pm
He is the Brown Widow. I had just assumed he was a postgraduate student. He told Dean he got his condition while working on his irradiated spider thesis in Bright Lights Dean City, though we don't know how long ago that little accident happened.
  • 0
Aug. 27, 2018, 7:42pm
I had assumed the same last season (graduate student). But now that we see Dean room with him, and take a general education class with Dean, I would presume that Brown Widow (Jared) is a sophomore.

Since we found out that EVERYTHING that has happened over the entire run of the show (other than flashbacks) has occurred only over 2.5 (or less) years....it compresses how quick the characters have grown based on their wild experiences. I never would have thought the show ran over such a short time-frame, but I guess I had presumed it was spanning over about 4.5 years at this point (which really isn't that much more time). I still think the events of Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel had to occur over AT LEAST 9 months (and probably more) and it really can't overlap with any episodes before or after it (well...it conceivably could overlap with Perchance to Dean, but I doubt it).
  • 1
Aug. 27, 2018, 9:00pm
I did NOT need to see his ass though, or his very personal hygiene habits. I was eating at the time.
  • 1
Aug. 28, 2018, 6:39pm
  • by Aaaanon
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Liked the Hudsucker Proxy boardroom reference.
  • 0
Aug. 27, 2018, 3:04pm
Me too! Loved that movie. And so awesome the suicide of the original is turned into "see I'm still alive" but at the same time Dr. Venture starts to bleed out and could actually have killed himself by accident :)
  • 0
Aug. 29, 2018, 9:18pm
  • by Eartha Kite & Dismalicious Winds from Provo
  • (unregistered id: DDBEB16387)
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Glad the chess happy MODOK professor is back. Pretty bummed when he was car slammed into the V building.
  • 1
Aug. 27, 2018, 6:34pm
That was both funny and touching that Stars and Garters was singing to him while he's in a coma. Shows that some protagonist/antagonist adversaries actually care about each other, like Captain Sunshine being all broken up and distraught over the Clue Clown's demise.
  • 1
Aug. 27, 2018, 7:49pm
  • by Captain V
  • (unregistered id: 03A96A9F11)
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Random (Mostly Inane and Insane) Notes:

- Brock's old football jersey number from State U is 72, and he's obviously still a big fan to this day.

- Two separate episodes this season have characters mockingly mimic people's eyewear with their hands up to their own face. WW mocks BM's mask. Hank mocks Doc's glasses.
It was probably hard and very specific to direct the animation on originally, so they used the bit twice.

- Yes, the Monarch took credit for BM and Jonas's demise. But I guess they didn't believe him (or care) and Red Death basically 'got' the Monarch's seat, b/c a seat was promised to him by Dr. Mrs. The Monarch.

- Dean made the check out to 'The Mighty Monarch' and Monarch clearly got it cashed at the Guild Credit Union. Cause he ain't ever going back to his old bank... and they wouldn't cash a check not made out to his real name of Malcom F.

- I surmise Sirena may actually be a gold digger or more accurately she just likes to play games with boys. Regardless, it'll be interesting if Dean falls for his brothers girlfriend and a love triangle forms. Or... maybe it was all a one off thing. I feel like her being in class with Dean was beyond coincidence too.

- Seems, every single professor at SU is either a super villain or a super scientist.


- Dr. Z would of course use the same palm aid as the Monarch.

- At least two Cohen Bros. film references; Handy Dandy is a reference to the palm aid in "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" / the board room jump is a direct parody of a scene from "The Hudsucker Proxy".

- Hopefully, we can get a "Barton Fink" reference next week.

- How'd Pirate Captain get Rusty back inside? A stick?

- The Monarch mentions amber grier (spelling?) in the Handy Dandy. Basically, a substance harvested from whale vomit used to make perfume and cosmetics. It comes up in "Futurama" and "Bob's Burgers" too. Basically, only good cartoons mention it.

- Both Monarch and Hank want money for new stuff (Hank Cave / Cacoon) and have very detailed blueprints ready to go.

- Both Rusty and the Monarch have blown through an entire fortune in inheritance money from their dead fathers.

- Full circle alert: The Monarch was a level 6 before all the BM stuff and he got dropped to 4. He is now a level 6 once again.

- Ketchup packet dream catcher by Helper for Dean.

- Burnt Mr. Reachy goes to college with Dean.

- Hank gets it from Rusty. Jumping off of tall buildings I mean.

- Rust 4 Life / Kate - Jackson - Meow. Kate Jackson was a main protagonist on Charlie's Angels.

- Hank Co. will never die... it lives on! Fuck, yes!!!

- The flowers now have a fake monarch on them. Dean's flowers for Hatred had a Blue Morpho on them. The animation design is just recycled and recolored to seem different.
But it seems clever to at least change the fake butterfly.
See: Hank and Sirena's ninja cups from their S6 date for another example. Best w/commentary track turned on.

- Hatred lives and sleeps in the lobby like a loser. B/c of course he does.

- Vigo Von Hellfire = Dr. Doom.

- Victor Von Hellfire/Helping = Kristoff Vernard aka Dr. Doom's adopted son. He isn't based on him exactly. But Doom's son bounces back and forth from good to evil. So it does all fit.

- 21 and the Monarch fly over the cargo ship from the beginning dream sequence.

- Gary Cole is playing Victor Von Hellfire. Gary Cole returns to [AS] as Harvey Birdman in an all-new special this Fall. Probably how they got him, he was already back around [AS] again.

- Monarch definitely uses the Guild Credit Union now. Fuck his old bank.

- Poster references galore!

- Where did the fake-out laundry room go BM activated to trick 21?
Now it's the regular cave again?!? Albeit painted up. Was there another switch in the laundry room?

- Two months later? Meaning it's now January in NYC. Not enough snow in the backgrounds. Epic Fail.

- Full circle alert: The former BM mobile is now a brand-new Monarch mobile. They even changed the doors to stay closed while flying. Yet again, it was destiny Malcom's dad had a flying car too.

- Helper is still the best underrated character. In the show and in the fandom.

- What new throne room? In S6 Monarch mentions this will be his throne room.
I really thought that room was going to be the Monarch's new throne room?
Looks more like his version of a slick expensive office.

- Very reference heavy episode. I left out a bunch of stuff.

Go Team Monarch!
  • 1
Aug. 28, 2018, 3:49am
  • by Captain V
  • (unregistered id: 03A96A9F11)
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Corrections:

1. Pomade

2. Ambergris

Damn, I use to know this crap!
  • 0
Aug. 28, 2018, 4:15am
On the photo from Prof. Von Helpings dad's it's signed; You are my greatest disappointment....
  • 0
Aug. 28, 2018, 1:07pm
I don't think you can Sirena a "gold-digger" that's a woman who tries to gouge money from a man because the woman is poor. Sirena has a dad issue but not a money issue. It's not really clear whether Sirena is in love with Hank or is just amused by him because of his numerous and persistent attempts to evade her bodyguard and get to her. And it's not clear whether she see Dean romantically or a sympathetic friend who shares her issues with super-hero/super-villain fathers. Clearly Hank and Dean have the trouser tent for Sirena but it's not clear if it's reciprocated.

I wondered how they recovered the unconscious floating Rusty, as well. They could have sent out a helicopter or, what -- Helper has a built in helicopter. They could have sent him out to get him.

Speaking of Helper, I'm reminded of an R2D2 comment I one read. How hard would it be to install a vocalizer in him so he wouldn't have to beep all the time. Of course a Helper that could talk wouldn't be as interesting.

Maybe Red Death got the bounty as well as the price for keeping quiet about Malcolm's double life as the current Blue Morpho. Or maybe Malcolm blew through the bounty money as well as the Trust Fund while rebuilding his house.

Red Death blend of loving to kill people and his happy daddy at home kind of reminds me of another villain who dresses in red -- Deadpool.

Sirena being in a class with Dean is like Dean rooming with Brown Widow or that Ventech HQ is right across the street from Wide Whale. VB is premised on unlikely coincidences.

von Hellfire = von Doom is a suprise but makes sense. I was thinking the professor's was Baron Underbite at the time. Of course underbite was another Dr Doom reference.

I binge watched the season last night. One think I noticed, especially in the 3rd episode was how the byplay between Whale and his chief bodyguard resembled the banter between The Monarch and 21. Apparently super-villans need their confidents.

I always enjoy your summary of references to each episode.
  • 0
Aug. 28, 2018, 3:55pm
  • by Aaaanon
  • (unregistered id: 7C3006FBD9)
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Nicely done Cap'n.

Re: Ambergris -- good cartoons and of course Moby Dick (a whole chapter, as I recall). Maybe the Handy Dandy people follow Wide Whale around...

Anything Freudian rattling around with the "palm aid"??
  • 0
Aug. 28, 2018, 9:02pm
  • by Aaaanon
  • (unregistered id: 7C3006FBD9)
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Oh, & I'm holding out for a Miller's Crossing reference
  • 0
Aug. 28, 2018, 9:05pm
  • by Captain V
  • (unregistered id: 03A96A9F11)
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I have it incorrectly written down alternatively as both palm aide and palmade in my notes. So... I'm just dumb.

However, lets say it was a Freudian slip.
Makes me seem more interesting and sexual.
  • 0
Aug. 29, 2018, 7:41am
  • by zombiejesus
  • (unregistered id: 1EE1FB7753)
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Fun fact: Ambergris is more likely in whale poop, not barf. Generally with an undigestible bit of a squid in it, usually a beak. It's kind of like a whale-pearl, and it develops so far down the digestive tract that it probably comes out from the exit, not the entrance. And not too many cases of anyone witnessing the ejection of ambergris.

I think Sirena (definitely Siren) genuinely likes Hank (in THAT way). We see her in her bra kissing him goodnight. She probably doesn't have many/any suitors because of her dad. Her friendliness with Dean is possibly for having another boy in her orbit who isn't daunted by WW.

The posters in Von Helping's office are great. My favorite: MAKE WHALES NOT BOMBS.

And, Kate Jackson was the sexiest Angel. The brains of the operation. Mrawr~
I went out and bought a second copy of this TV guide at the time:
https://metvcdn.metv.com/xGtdq-1472760796-embed-tv_guide_2.jpg
(No, I don't have it anymore. Yes, I am an Old.)
  • 0
Aug. 28, 2018, 10:48pm
  • by zombiejesus
  • (unregistered id: 1EE1FB7753)
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Ooh! Also, also, Vigo Von Hellfire's name is probably borrowed from Vigo the Carpathian, from Ghostbusters II.

Great article about the man from that painting:
https://deadspin.com/the-hateful-life-and-spiteful-death-of-the-man-who-was-1737376537
  • 0
Aug. 28, 2018, 11:13pm
Holy crap, that was a good article. And I think you're right about the reference.
  • 0
Aug. 29, 2018, 8:57pm
  • by Captain V
  • (unregistered id: 03A96A9F11)
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Good work everyone and thanks for the encouragement!

I enjoy reading all of your comments and notes.
  • 0
Aug. 30, 2018, 8:34am
The ck Dean scratches to the Monarch is #0005.
  • 1
Aug. 28, 2018, 1:11pm
  • by Destroyo
  • (unregistered id: 4152F60B7A)
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Another interpretation of Sirena is of the classic sirens who lead men to their doom. Those gills also suggest shark DNA. My bet is at least one of the boys is getting hurt this season, perhaps getting broken-hearted enough to turn. With last season's pool foreshadowing I'm still going with Hank going full Bad-guy.
  • 1
Aug. 28, 2018, 9:02pm
  • by Captain V
  • (unregistered id: 03A96A9F11)
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Interesting, I have it written down simply in my own notes as: Sirena = siren?

Only time will tell. Hank was already going to join WW to marry Sirena before he had to kill the Monarch. I don't think Hank will ever be truly evil. But... it all could be building to something else just as intriguing.

I just thought it was funny Sirena kissed Dean after seeing him write a million dollar check. I know he "saved" her from 21. But she quickly pointed out they were just level -3 bozos who wouldn't do shit to her. So, the kiss seemed a little less than innocent ultimately b/c she also just kissed Hank the same way before she went to class.

Honestly, it might be nothing more than a thanks, and Sirena is totally innocent. A perceived rivalry between Hank and Dean might be their own doing, as Dean reads far into things as the season unfolds. I guess we'll see.
  • 1
Aug. 28, 2018, 9:24pm
Really wished the last beat of the episode was Dean saying; "Oops, the Apaches are back!!"
  • 2
Aug. 28, 2018, 10:25pm
  • by zombiejesus
  • (unregistered id: 1EE1FB7753)
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My thought, too!
  • 1
Aug. 28, 2018, 11:15pm
"Better call Dr. Orpheus!"

Oh, any idea why that dreamcatcher that Dean hung on his dorm room wall had ketchup packets tied to it? Is that from something?
  • 0
Aug. 29, 2018, 3:10pm
googling "dreamcatcher ketchup" is very unproductive. I know it's from HELPeR so it's bound to be wonky but I don't recall any reference that would explain it. Maybe it's foreshadowing for a reference yet to come? Some season 8 line that mentions ketchup?
  • 0
Aug. 29, 2018, 9:09pm
  • by Captain V
  • (unregistered id: 03A96A9F11)
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Helper put unopened ketchup packets directly in the food he made the for the Venture's in S6. It's after he kills J-bot. It's all because J-bot makes them a delicious breakfast and causes Helper's jealousy in the first place.

He thinks humans like unopened ketchup packets and doesn't fully understand why.

It's just a weird running gag.
  • 1
Aug. 30, 2018, 6:20am
Oh, yeah. Like giving Dean a warm freezer pop after he got his balls untwisted.
  • 0
Aug. 30, 2018, 8:24pm
  • by Captain V
  • (unregistered id: 03A96A9F11)
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I think this got overlooked b/c [AS] posted it a month after the fact, not to mention that the new season is already half over this weekend.

Venture Bros. 2018 SDCC Panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiK7kROoPJs

Oh, and don't forget to rate each new episode on here after you've watched it.
I see the newest one only got a few votes total so far.
  • 0
Aug. 30, 2018, 8:45am
Just watched The Inamorata Consequence. It was alright. Interesting to say the least. One of the rare episodes where Doc Hammer did more voices than Chris McCulloch or is this a first perhaps?
  • 0
Aug. 31, 2018, 5:54pm
  • by Captain V
  • (unregistered id: 03A96A9F11)
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The huge revelation in this one!!! Wow, I loved it!

I was wondering if Dean would go back to Ben's house.

And Rusty calling them all out, just awesome!

http://www.adultswim.com/videos/the-venture-bros/the-inamorata-consequence
  • 1
Aug. 31, 2018, 5:58pm
A number of fans had been speculating that for some time, and I guess that does confirm it., though what really matters isn't so much as to where you came from as it does as to where you are.... as a person, that is!
  • 0
Aug. 31, 2018, 6:47pm
JAW ON FLOOR DANG HOW CAN THEY DROP A BOMB LIKE THIS ON US
  • 0
Aug. 31, 2018, 7:03pm
  • by Captain V
  • (unregistered id: 03A96A9F11)
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Everyone who watches the show has speculated on two things:

1. Are Rusty and the Monarch brothers?

2. Is Rusty actually a clone as well, in a long, sad twisted tradition of family cloning?

This season seems to answer both. However, just not totally definitively... yet.

To me Rusty definitely died multiple times and was cloned. He and Malcom are definitely related. Likely brothers. And maybe BOTH are actually clones.
  • 1
Aug. 31, 2018, 7:59pm
Oh snap I just remembered a thing Jackson or Doc said about Monarch's memory of the plane crash / being raised by butterflies maybe not being as true as he said just cuz he was such a little kid, that could tie into your last point.
  • 0
Aug. 31, 2018, 8:32pm
There's also the theory that Malcolm is the original Venture son and that Rusty is a clone of him, likely one of many. That would make Malcolm the actual heir to the Venture "Empire".
  • 1
Aug. 31, 2018, 9:47pm
  • by Captain V
  • (unregistered id: 03A96A9F11)
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Could definitely be correct.
But I just want the Monarch to find out he's a clone too.
  • 0
Sep. 1, 2018, 2:25am
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Latest Informatives

Hank

Apr. 19, 2023, 12:53am
First footage! Title revealed! https://youtu.be/eXJ5OM9RfV8 Synopsis and cast too! “In The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart, a nationwide manhunt for Hank Venture leads to untold dangers and unexpected revelations, while the Monarch is literally out for Dr. Venture’s blood. An imposing evil from the past reemerges to wreak havoc on the Ventures, the Guild, and even the Monarch marriage—it will take friends and foes alike to restore the Ventures’ world to order… or end it once and for all.” The voice cast includes the returning James Urbaniak as Dr. Venture, Patrick Warburton as Brock Samson, Michael Sinterniklaas as Dean Venture, Chris McCulloch as Hank Venture, and The Venture Bros. co-creator Doc Hammer as Dr. Mrs. The Monarch. (Hammer and series co-creator Jackson Publick also wrote the script, and Publick directed.) Other voice cast members include Nina Arianda as Mantilla, Clancy Brown as Daisy and Red Death, John Hodgeman as Snoopy, Hal Lublin as Clayton, Jane Lynch as Bobbi St. Simone, Charles Parnell as Jefferson Twilight, Jay Pharoah as Nuno Blood, Steven Rattazzi as Dr. Orpheus, JK Simmons as Ben, and Dana Snyder as The Alchemist. A project of Titmouse, Adult Swim, and Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment, all that radiant baboon heart blood will be gushing forth later this year. Go Team Venture! https://gizmodo.com/venture-bros-movie-adult-swim-warner-bros-animation-1850353234

CaseCrash

Jul. 4, 2019, 11:34pm
It's a month old but there's not much news here for two years at a time, so whatever :) https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/the-venture-bros/281421/the-venture-bros-season-8-jackson-publick-doc-hammer

cpc65

Jun. 7, 2019, 9:33pm
Okay, Venturoos. Here's what ya get for the Extras, at least on the DVD version. I felt it was a little light, but that's just my opinion. Deleted Scenes (as always) - Some are B&W sketches with the dialog, others are animated with the dialog. Ghost in the Pro-Blem - An extended view of the distorted images of events from the Pro-BLEM's point of view. Maybe there are some clues hidden in it if you like frame-by-frame advancing. Maybe not. Sirena Goes Off... - Cristin Milioti ad-libbing way more dialog than the script calls for. Poor Rocco. Promo - Basically the season 7 promo. Maybe there's Easter Eggs to find. I haven't done any extensive searching yet. If anyone finds any feel free to post them here!

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