Genius from the Cartoon Network

Unlike some folks, I only write the occasional post about televised pop culture, in spite of the fact that I watch too much.

What can I say, I’m a child of the sixties, and a latch key child to boot.

That being said, a steady pre-pubescent diet of 60’s action cartoons, like Jonny Quest, was perfect preparation for appreciating the genius that is The Venture Brothers.

The Venture Brothers hits the perfect note. It’s always smart, perpetually witty, never afraid to “go there” (this series is not for the kiddies), and the writers (Christopher McCulloch and Doc Hammer) are intent upon thoroughly fleshing out the weird niches and crannies of the universe they’ve created. Whether they’re exploring the relationships between heroes and arch villains, uncovering the forces that turn a normal everyday boy adventurer into a failed super scientist or the origins of a suave killing machine…

Wait.

I’m making this sound like some oh, so, serious graphic novel, or the self important outpourings of some graduate student’s pop culture fevered brain. Nothing could be further from the truth. This series is comedy gold. I mean, bust up, squirt your drink through your nose, gasping for breath, funny. Because it is smart and snarky and self reflexive and mines deeply into the pop cultural strata, not in spite of these things. The more you know, the more you think about it, the better it becomes.

As funny as ATHF is, it’s kid stuff compared to The Venture Brothers.

This is definitely a series for my Amazon wish list.