Review: Go Team Venture! The Art and Making of the Venture Bros.

“Release the butterflies!”

I have to tell you, I was pretty late to the Venture Bros. game. Like many people, my first impressions were thrown off by the retro style and themes. It wasn’t until 2008, when I was a bachelor living in a new city with nothing to do that a friend had lent me the complete series. It didn’t take long to see the magic of the show, and what makes the retro style so valuable.

Like most people my age, there was plenty of retro cartoons still airing that I would spend hours soaking in. Despite having great shows to watch, there was something special about old-school Hanna Barbara cartoons. Venture Bros. brings us back to a time when cartoons were simple and lovable, but with a modern edge and humour. The style defines the humour and it helps to create this fantastic world.

With a fresh season of Venture Bros. on its way, the anticipation is starting to build. That is why when I heard that this art book focusing on the design and making of the series was on its way, I knew that I had to get into it myself. The massive tome may not be a usual pick up for most of us, but there is something really interesting about books that give you a behind the scenes look at how things came to be.

Right off the bat I was sucked in as Jackson Publick explains the original concepts and origins of Venture Bros. Much to my comic nerd delight, Publick had originally intended for Hank and Dean to be part of a comic run. A lot of the concept involved there being an established world that we are entering halfway through – which translates over to the show. The book takes us from those original sketches that built this world to a look at the pitches and pilots concepts that helped to make the show a reality.

Much to anyone’s delight the book takes a serious look at every single episode individually. Publick and Doc Hammer give us some background and anecdotes on how stories and characters came to be. It was a blast to read about a few of my select favourites. More than that, I have a fresh ambition to watch the whole series over again, while stopping to read these little extras like bonus content on a Blu-ray release.

My favourite to read so far is about the creation of 21 and 24 in episode six “Tag Sale – You’re it.” Doc Hammer gets in deep about how these two side characters were truly representative of how he and Publick communicated around the office. Considering how brilliant these characters were, it was awesome to get some of that background. And, the book is full of them, so if you have your own favourite, you will definitely want to pick this art book up and read about how they came to be.

To top it all off, there is another added bonus to this gigantic book. There is some sneak peeks at the work going into the upcoming season. There is a look at new settings and characters, and the style looks like there is a larger budget. Looking at this new art has me more excited than ever, and is worth picking this book up on its own.

Go Team Venture! is a complete history of the Venture Bros. There is even a complete section documenting all of the released merchandise including shirts from the tee shirt club and all of the action figures and statues. If you are a major fan of the show, this book will give you all the information you could possibly handle. Plus, it is just in time for some fresh material to brighten our lives once again.

As far as art books go, I really appreciate how comprehensive this one is. It feels like a history book documenting every moment that built the cult classic series. One look at some of these images brings you back to all of the best moments. Having Hammer and Publick add their own commentary makes the book even more special, as it feels like a behind the scenes documentary. I am more excited than ever to rewatch this amazing show and I feel like I have an inside look at how the new season is going. Totally worth reading this book all the way through.