Matthew Jacobson

mjacobson@thespectrum.com

Parody, when done correctly, is one of the best forms of entertainment. From Mel Brooks' study of the Western genre in "Blazing Saddles" to "Weird Al" Yankovic's take on musical chart-toppers, holding up a proverbial funhouse mirror to popular media has the potential to create something amazing.

This is the case with Jackson Publick's "The Venture Bros." Season six of the popular Cartoon Network Adult Swim show is now available on Blu-ray.

I first discovered the show when Cartoon Network's Adult Swim was in its infancy. What started as a spoof of '60s adventure cartoons like "Johnny Quest" soon became a parody of science fiction, superheroes, spy movies and thrillers.

Season six picks up after "All This and Gargantua-2," a 45-minute special aired after season five, in which Dr. Venture (James Urbaniak) his twin sons Dean (Michael Sinterniklaas) and Hank (Christopher McCulloch) and their bodyguard Brock Sampson (Patrick Warburton) fight a variety of foes and engage in a plethora of plot lines in the space station Gargantua-2.

In case you want to get caught up, this special is included in the Blu-ray.

In the latest episodes, writers Publick and Doc Hammer add campy '60s spy shows to the list of spoofs, with the addition of a new character: The Blue Morpho (think Green Hornet meets Batman). As this new hero begins offing the best supervillains in the Guild of Calamitous Intent, Dr. Mrs. The Monarch (Doc Hammer) makes it her personal mission to find the man behind the mask and put an end to him.

In the meantime, Team Venture is dealing with their own issues, being arched by a variety of villains from Think Tank (a giant-headed man in a tiny tank) to Harangutan (who gets in people's faces and dares them to hit him) to The Doom Factory (a collection of villains that are a cross between DC's Legion of Doom and Andy Warhol and The Factory).

What's especially appealing is the commentary included on every single episode. For those of you who want to get into the minds of the creators, this Blu-ray offers an incredible payoff.

"The Venture Bros." takes a jab at all things geeky, from Spider-Man to Star Wars. It's conception was genius, and the show has only become better with age.

Publick and Hammer have done something amazing. They've managed to create characters that were meant to make fun of popular franchises, and in the process have created a new franchise that fans follow just as closely – if not more so – than many other comic books, television shows or movies. Attend any comic-book convention and you're sure to see cosplayers bringing the now iconic characters of The Monarch, the Venture brothers and Dr. Mrs. The Monarch, among others, to life.

Every episode is packed with nods to pop culture. From presidential elections to Apple references, "The Venture Bros." has become more than just a parody. In addition to being rife with sophomoric humor, it's also one of the smartest cartoons on TV. You'd have to be a pop culture genius to truly get and appreciate every reference made, and even if you're not, the rest of the show is pumped with hilarious jokes and imagery for even the most simple-minded among us.

I can't wait to see what Publick and Hammer have in store for us next.

"The Venture Bros." season six is available on Blu-ray for $29.98.

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