Go Team Venture: in which blue windbreakers get signed

Organizers distributed tickets to the first signing by Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, sending a few fans scrambling for a coveted spot in that always long line. Unlike last year’s free signing, this free signing, which took place between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., was far more organized. The duo sat inside one of the panel rooms, both wearing sunglasses as fans toward the front of the line speculated how late they must have stayed up the night before.

Fans brought a variety of items for the pair to sign, including DVD covers and merchandise that was on sale all weekend on the show floor, such as toy maker’s Bif Bang Pow‘s Rusty Venture Lunch Box, or tin tote, $45, which features action figures of a young Rusty Venture and Dr. Jonas Venture Sr. inside. The lunch box appeared in Season 2 episode “Escape to the House of Mummies.”

This reporter, who remains smitten with the show’s first two seasons, brought along a blue windbreaker, which the duo signed in silver Sharpie as Doc went into character and said, “Get me my blueeeeee windbreaker!”

The banter between the two was ongoing. If they were tired and if they didn’t want to be there, they certainly didn’t show it. Enthusiastically chattering away and smiling warmly for photographs with fans, they signed and engaged in badinage with each fan and with each other, prompting one fan in line to exclaim, “Look at them now! They’re fucking ROCK stars!” One does not get the sense that the banter is forced or staged, either. These guys, despite having achieved rock star status, are genuine, remain down-to-earth and make their fans feel included, as if they were all in their living room, chattering about a show they all love.

That the pair successfully makes fans in line for signatures and photos feel as if they are being treated to a live version of their DVD commentary is notable. It was a sentiment echoed by Hammer in the Venture Bros. panel at the 2009 New York Comic Con and it speaks to their character that they remain committed to having that warm, intimate connection to their fan base even as they get bigger and bigger every year.

Adult Swim has renewed the show for two more seasons and production on Season 5 begins soon. According to a recent blog post by Publick, the budget and schedule are all set.

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About Viv Gomez 32 Articles
Vivian Gomez is a freelance writer for Journatic and a contributing writer for several online publications, including eHow, Examiner.com, Answerbag, and PetPlace.com. She loves the marriage of good writing and beautiful, fantastic art, and that's mostly why she writes here.