Welcome!
Announcements & Information
5/11/10 - Biding Time
It's nice to be back. A host of "stuff" happening at once knocked us offline. Hopefully most of those issues are now resolved.
While we wait for more Venture Bros to air, make sure you take the time to enjoy the reruns [adult swim] is broadcasting. Season one is a great time to introduce new people to the show and has some of the classic stand alone episodes like "Tag Sale, You're It" and "The Incredible Mr. Brisby".
Other ways to get your fix can include:
Lam-Pooned: A Venture Bros Imaginary Episode Animatic
This animatic was created by Kevin Karstens between season 3 and 4. It is amazingly well done and shows what a dedicated fan can create with a screen saver program and some simple ingenuity. And while you're checking it out, also take a moment to view his other work on imaginary Family Guy animatics too.
Family Guy Version of The Mist
Other Family Guy and Red Dwarf Animatics
Cardboard Swords
Cardboard Swords is a song written by Kiernan McMullan about his favorite show, The Venture Bros. You can find Cardboards Swords on his MySpace page along with other songs he's written. It really is a great song with catchy lyrics and loads of Venture Bros. references. Right now, Kiernan is touring around the US, performing across the country and earning earning his chops. So take a moment to see if he'll be in your neck of the woods and sit in for a performance.
Heroes Con
Coming up the weekend of June 4-6 is Heroes Con, a very large comic book oriented convention on Charlotte, NC which focuses on not only the industry's current faves, but past and potentially future greats as well. There is no PRoV presence at this convention, but it is still a great one to attend and I will surely be there with nephews, nieces and friends in tow. I may have a lapel in or two on my (who knows). But on the guest list you'll find renown artist such as Brian Bolland, Frank Cho, Rob Liefeld, Mike Mignola just to name a very small few. It's an inexpensive convention, very family friendly and helpful to all those seeking information on breaking into the industry.
10/18/09 - Season 4 Premiere Tonight!
Airing at midnight and at 4am, the premiere episode "Blood Of The Father, Heart Of Steel" will kick off season 4 of The Venture Bros. in true VB ass-kicking fashion. Don't miss out on all the fun. And share your insights and speculations with others on the forum at the PRoV and on the [adult swim] message boards too.
10/02/09 - Season 4 Airing Oct 18th at Midnight
6/22/09 Heroes Con 2009
It's over now but what a great convention it was. Located in Charlotte, NC, HeroesCon has been running for over 20 years and has continued to keep it's focus on the comic book industry as well as the artists and writers who work in it. Like all the past years, this year I went as an attendee (no fan table, no work) and simply had a great time. And for any Venture Bros. fan who managed to go, there was a lot of love for the show at the convention.
The connection between comic books and The Venture Bros. has always been obvious. The homage paid to classic super heroes and villains of comic origins is the standard for the show. And the admiration is paid back is beautiful works of fan art based on The Venture Bros. The first piece of art that had me floored was this lovely pop-culture piece by Cat Staggs. I have seen this print many times on the People's Republic of Venture forum but didn't realize it was Cat who had created it.
Another fun piece of art was created by Jason Martin as a commissioned piece and later used as a cover for his sketch book. If only it were real, how awesome would it be to have a real Venture Bros comic book. But for now, no Venture Bros comic book and Jason is busy working on his own book, Super Real.
Dave Dwonch was another artist I met who also had some great art and prints available. When he's not working on his own title, he also creates Venture Bros fan art and toys with the concept of a Venture Bros comic book.
And of course, there is Bill Sienkiewcz who never fails to amaze. He was in attendance all weekend, signing and creating artwork for fans. It was a great pleasure to watch him work as people requested various images for their sketch art books. While I was in line, I got to see him create an amazing Devil Dinosaur in full color. One never realizes how much of a layered process it is.
And speaking of sketch art books, who has the best? Well that is difficult to say but I do know that Karl Story of Gaijin Studios has got one that is filled with sketches and artwork of some of the best of the best in the comic book industry. And they are all Venture Bros themed! That is correct, an illustrious book of artistic who's who filled with various characters from the Venture universe. It was enough to make me want to create my own.. which I am, starting at Dragon*Con '09.
6/20/09 - Publick Nuisance Update - Score One For The Home Team
Jackson Publick has again updated his livejournal with a great YouTube clip of John Hodgeman and a sneaky teaser from season 4.
http:
6/13/09 Everything & More
Jackson Publick's LJ Update
Jackson Publick has updated his LiveJournal to include production info on all sorts of great things. Some highlights include:
Animation! So far we've received four "first take" rough cuts back from Korea, and a new one arrives every two weeks...so the hits keep coming. They're looking really good so far.
Doc and I (mostly Doc, of course) are currently editing the first episode of The Venture Bros. Season 4.1. "Handsome Ransom" is our fortieth episode (not including the pilot and the Christmas special), features the voice of Kevin Conroy, and for continuity purposes will probably air at least second or third.
We even finally caved in to Hollywood style writer's room protocol and purchased a giant Dry-Erase "Big Board" for the Astrobase, upon which we work out our ideas and storylines for many episodes to come. It's already paid for itself in Post-Its savings alone.
We will also be at Comicon. - Both Doc and I will be appearing at the San Diego Comic Con this year--one by air and one by rail, as is our habit. Don't know what day or what panel format or anything yet, but Mike Sinterniklaas is joining us for sure (you can't keep that kid away), and possibly James Urbaniak (can we get a confirmation, James?) and/or John Schnepp, who co-directed with me this season and who you probably already know and love from Metalocalypse.
Publick Nuisance - Publick's LiveJournal
4/17/09 - Venture Bros. Widgets
One more Venture Bros. item available, and that is a Venture Bros mobile widget. Now if you're like me, you might be wondering what a widget is. It would seem that they are programs that perform some simple function, such as providing a weather report or stock quote, and can be accessed from a computer desktop, webpage, mobile phone or subscription television service. In this instance, we are talking about ringtones.
You'll find installation to be pretty easy.
1. Go to http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/venture-brothers-mobile-widget
2. Click Get Widget
3. Choose your destination (i.e. Myspace, Facebook, Blogger, Wordpress etc.)
4. Copy and paste the code on your chosen social network or blog
5. The widget should appear on your page. Users will be able to interact with the widget as well as grab it and install it on their pages.
4/10/09 - Thirlwell Talks Venture Bros Interview PRoV Caption Contest March Winners
LA Weekly Thirlwell Interview by Liz Ohanesian
In a recent interview for LA Weekly, writer Liz Ohanesian got a chance to talk with JG Thirlwell about his work on The Venture Bros. From the first time he was approached by Jackson Publick (Chris McCulloch) to his current projects (Foetus and Manorexia). So take a moment to check out the full article and learn for yourself which types of episodes of Venture Bros. he likes best and why.
It's Venture Time: Composer JG Thirlwell Talks Venture Bros. Score
3/24/09 - ToyFare Interview with Jackson Publick Free WEEP MP3 Venture Bros. Season 3 DVD Now Available!
ToyFare Interview with Jackson Publick
Coinciding with the release of the Venture Bros. season 3 DVD release, ToyFare magazine (those great guys who do the awesome Twisted ToyFare Theater) and writer Justin Aclin have an interview with Jackson Publick. In the article, you'll find questions pertaining to season 3 production, character development and of course, talk about Venture Bros. toys and action figures. And as if that were not enough, it has early VB artwork with it. Like pre-pilot artwork. It's hilarious. The guys at ToyFare, however, said that the printed article (issue #141) will have different artwork than what is on the ToyFare website. So if you want to see the first-ever sketches of the boys, you will have to pick up the issue from either your local comic vendor, magazine stand or order it online.
ToyFare Magazine: Venture Capitalist by Justin Aclin
Free WEEP MP3
WEEP has, as a gift to you, made their cover of the song Shut Up & Drive available to you. Yes you. And if you are asking yourself "Why?", well they have at least 10 reasons that they are willing to list. I could list them here for you, or you can read their MySpace blog for yourself. But I'm lazy, so you're going to have to read their blog. It's better than anything I could post. Plus they have instructions on how to download the song, just in case you get confused. They're so super nice.
3/19/09 - An Interview with Jackson Publick & Doc Hammer
Craig J. Clark has an article in this months Animation World Magazine. In it you'll find his interview with both Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer about The Venture Bros., it's transition to HDTV as well as some news on the upcoming season 4. If you think you know everything there is to know about The Venture Bros., I guarantee there will be info in this article that will leave you surprised.
Seeing More Venture Bros. In HD
3/6/09 - J.G. Thirlwell Latest MySpace Blog
In his most recent blog, Thirlwell mentions the upcoming release of the Venture Bros. CD and LP. Aside from a song list, his blog also includes some interesting bits of information.
The CD will only be
available from the Williams Street online shop. Why?
The vinyl, however, will be available in retail! What?
The pieces on the album are reworked and drawn from the first three
seasons of the show.
The vinyl omits four tracks to provide great sound fidelity; however
it should come with a coupon giving the purchaser access to a free download
of the album.
Thirlwell's Blog