The Venture Bros. - Season 2

There have been some changes around here. I picked a better looking layout, added some menu stuff for quick access to specific kinds of posts, and revamped the link section to be more organized. There's a ton to click on over there now. I also decided to add TV shows and books/comics to the list of subjects I'll talk about here, to have some more writing material.

I got the second season of The Venture Bros. recently. It's a really nice DVD; the color on the actual packaging is less garish than that image suggests and the presentation is pretty nice. I'd have to say this is the best show being produced on Adult Swim right now. Despite the typical low budget (They spent about an eighth of their funds for season two just to secure the rights to a single song), it looks much better than any of the other cheaply animated stuff they've been showing. They know how to do a lot with little means. I really like the universe the writers have created, the characters are well-defined and likable, the story arcs that tend to appear are a lot of fun, and there's a ton of continuity and backstory that really fleshes it all out. Combine this with hilarious writing and voice acting, and it's just a great show. It's become much more than the Johnny Quest parody it started life as.

Recurring elements in the second season are the revelation that the boys are actually clones that repeatedly get killed and have to be replaced, the development of Rusty's long-lost twin brother, Orpheus' attempts to reunite his old team and get a real arch enemy, and the Monarch's fight with Phantom Limb. Several episodes revolve around the Monarch rejoining the Guild of Calamitous Intent and trying to win back Dr. Girlfriend while Phantom Limb makes a play for the title of Sovereign, but there are also plenty of great one-shot episodes featuring returning characters and some new ideas.

Brock Samson is still one bad dude. He has just as many over-the-top, awesome moments as season one, if not more, as we learn a bit about his past. I'd like to see some more stuff with him back in the OSI, and the events that led to his demotion to protecting the Venture family. I liked the development of the titular characters in the second season also, we saw a lot about their personalities and Hank is really coming into his own.

The third season is in production, and I can't wait to see what's in store.