Fans of The Venture Bros had their hearts broken when the cult-classic series was untimely canceled in 2020, and though an upcoming film is set to tie up any remaining loose ends, there’s still a while to go before the film’s release. It’s fun to go back and relive the adventures of the Venture family, but at some point or another, you’ve got to find a new show to fill the void. Unfortunately, there really aren’t too many shows that can replicate what The Venture Bros did so well – save for one.
DC’s Harley Quinn originally premiered in 2019 to universal praise, with many highlighting the show’s violent action, dark humor, and well-rounded portrayal of its eponymous protagonist. Despite the drastic differences between the two shows, they share many uncanny similarities, so much so that fans of The Venture Bros will feel right at home in giving Harley Quinn a shot. With an upcoming Valentine’s Day special, there’s no better time to jump into the series. These are just some of the ways Harley Quinn is perfect for Venture Bros fans.
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Both Shows Tackle Self-Improvement
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
The Venture Bros and Harley Quinn both share the common theme of self-improvement, as both show’s protagonists struggle with forming a new, positive identity separate from their past traumas.
Rusty Venture, super-scientist and former boy-adventurer, spends most of the series as a bitter man living in the shadow of his father’s successes. After dozens of traumatic adventures as a child, he cynically accepts his place in life while trying to survive whatever the world tries to throw at him. However, he grows as the series continues, realizing that, despite his past, things could be worse – he has a loving family, a relatively-stable income, and the ability to succeed should he genuinely put his mind towards it.
The titular Harley Quinn, meanwhile, tries to find her own place in life after serving as The Joker’s aide. In branching out, she finds herself exploring a variety of her own issues: a desire to join the Legion of Doom ultimately turns to a desire to do good for Gotham; a professional relationship with Poison Ivy blossoms into something more personal and affectionate; and all the while, she struggles to find what fits “her” outside of serving the Joker’s whims. Her growth through the series is nothing to scoff at, with some of the best episodes of the series examining how she handles her internal issues.
The Venture Bros and Harley Quinn Reinvent Comic Properties
Arguably one of the best aspects about both shows is how they take existing properties – for example, DC’s Kite Man or Johnny Quest – and give them a whole new spin, taking their original characteristics and giving them a new perspective.
Kite Man was originally a Z-tier supervillain from the 1960s silver-age era of Batman comics. His gimmick was kite-based weapons, and he flew around Gotham with a giant kite strapped to his back. It’s not really something any person could take seriously nowadays. With his ridiculous verdant costume and laughable gadgets, how could you? Fortunately, the flight-based scoundrel saw a significant revamp in Harley Quinn, taking on a new-found confidence that allows him to shrug off insults while he dates the illusive Poison Ivy. This relationship even gives him some depth as a human being, revealing a genuine desire for validation and acceptance by those he values.
Conversely, The Venture Bros’ take on “Action Johnny” – a legally distinct version of Jonny Quest – is as equally interesting. A former drug addict, Action Johnny is forced to confront the traumatic “adventures” he found himself enduring as a child, including developing a healthy way to cope with his former arch-nemesis and tormentor, Dr. Z. After everything he’s gone through, the two ultimately are able to make peace with each other.
Both shows have immense respect for their source material, being able to poke fun at it while modernizing it for contemporary tastes. To do both simultaneously takes significant talent and care, something that fans of both series have acknowledged time and time again.
Both Shows Are Hilarious and Action-Packed
On top of everything else, both shows share a similar genre – action-comedy. Harley Quinn and The Venture Bros feature a distinct sense of humor compounded by well-choreographed action scenes.
The Venture Bros. raised the bar for animation quality on Adult Swim, featuring multiple memorable fight scenes that are frequently intercut with esoteric jokes and amazing choreography. There’s something particularly entertaining about a hulking Brock Samson mowing down dozens of henchmen with a sunset Dodge Charger, painting the floor with blood as if he were a gruesome artist. Or that time Samson squeezed a henchman’s groin so tightly he found a potentially cancerous lump. It leads to an equally hilarious and earnest discussion between the two as the now-worried henchman leaves to get tested. An oddly-specific sense of humor will have you in stitches outside the more serious moments.
Harley Quinn revels more in poking fun at the more bizarre aspects of the DCU, giving a fresh personality to Harley, Ivy, and their various cohorts. King Shark and Bane are easily some of the most hilarious characters in the series, with the former jumping between lovable charisma and psychotic rage and the latter threatening to blow up every little inconvenience in his life. Of course, this is book-ended with visually-stunning action sequences, taking full advantage of the powers and abilities each hero and villain provides for its creative scenarios.
Both shows can be watched in their entirety on HBO Max. The Venture Bros movie currently has no release date, but Harley Quinn’s Valentine’s Day special is slated to release in February 2023.
