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{{Refimprove|date=November 2009}}
  
 
{{Infobox Television episode
  
{{Infobox Television episode
 
| Title=Handsome Ransom
  
| Title=Handsome Ransom
 
| Series=[[The Venture Bros.]]
  
| Series=[[The Venture Bros.]]
 
| Season=4
  
| Season=4
−
| Episode=41
 +
| Episode=2
 
| Airdate= October 25, 2009
  
| Airdate= October 25, 2009
 
| Writer= [[Jackson Publick]]
  
| Writer= [[Jackson Publick]]
−
| Director= [[Jackson Publick]] and [[Jon Schnepp]]
 +
| Director= [[Jackson Publick]] and [[wikipedia:Jon_Schnepp|Jon Schnepp]]
  +
| Image = [[File:Handsome Ransom - Sleepover.png|240px]]
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| Image =<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Venturebros-401 1255647793.jpg|250px]] -->
  
 
| Production = 4-41
  
| Production = 4-41
−
| Guests = [[Kevin Conroy]] as Captain Sunshine<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jacksonpublick.livejournal.com/27094.html |title=Publick Nuisance - Let The Sun Shine In |publisher=Publick Nuisance - Jackson Publick's blog |author=McCulloch, Christopher |date=October 25, 2009 |accessdate=October 26, 2009}}</ref>
 +
| Guests = [[wikipedia:Kevin_Conroy|Kevin Conroy]] as [[Captain Sunshine]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jacksonpublick.livejournal.com/27094.html |title=Publick Nuisance - Let The Sun Shine In |publisher=Publick Nuisance - Jackson Publick's blog |author=McCulloch, Christopher |date=October 25, 2009 |accessdate=October 26, 2009}}</ref><br>[[wikipedia:Rachel_Feinstein_(comedian)|Rachel Feinstein]] as [[Barbie-Q]]
 
| Episode list = [[List of The Venture Bros. episodes]]
  
| Episode list = [[List of The Venture Bros. episodes]]
 
| Prev= [[Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel]]
  
| Prev= [[Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel]]
 
| Next= [[Perchance to Dean]]
  
| Next= [[Perchance to Dean]]
 
}}
  
}}
  ⚫
'''Handsome Ransom''' is the second episode of Season 4 and the overall forty-first episode of [[The Venture Bros.]]
−  
⚫
"'''Handsome Ransom'''" is the [[List of The Venture Bros. episodes|41<sup>st</sup> episode]] of ''[[The Venture Bros.]]''
  
   
 
== Plot ==
  
== Plot ==
−
[[Monarch (The Venture Bros.)|The Monarch]] is holding [[Hank Venture|Hank]] and [[Dean Venture|Dean]] hostage and, fed up with never being able to kill [[Doctor Thaddeus Venture|Dr. Venture]], demands a $10 million [[ransom]]. Superhero Captain Sunshine barges in and attacks the cocoon-lair, giving everyone [[sunburn]] on any exposed flesh, and flies the Monarch off to jail. The Monarch returns some time later after being released for lack of [[due process]] and finds that Captain Sunshine had returned, flew off with Hank, and left Dr. Girlfriend with a humiliating and embarrassing sunburn on half her body. Monarch tells a surprisingly fit and able #21 to kill the cab driver who drove him home but 21 just pays the man and tells him to keep the transaction a secret.
+
[[Monarch (The Venture Bros.)|The Monarch]] is holding [[Hank Venture|Hank]] and [[Dean Venture|Dean]] hostage and, fed up with never being able to kill [[Doctor Thaddeus Venture|Dr. Venture]], demands a $10 million [[wikipedia:ransom|ransom]]. Superhero Captain Sunshine barges in and attacks the cocoon-lair, giving everyone [[wikipedia:sunburn|sunburn]] on any exposed flesh, and flies The Monarch off to jail. The Monarch returns some time later after being released for lack of [[wikipedia:due_process|due process]] and finds that Captain Sunshine had returned, flew off with Hank, and left Dr. Girlfriend with a humiliating and embarrassing sunburn on half her body. Monarch tells a surprisingly fit and able #21 to kill the cab driver who drove him home but 21 just pays the man and tells him to keep the transaction a secret.
   
−
Captain Sunshine mistakes Hank for an orphan and hopes to replace his lost sidekick Wonderboy (technically, Wonderboy III, the latest of the Captain's teenage sidekicks; brutally killed by the Monarch sometime towards the end of the first season) with Hank. Hank initially takes to the superhero lifestyle happily. Throughout the episode an [[pederasty|inappropriate relationship]] between Sunshine and Wonderboy is implied. The assumptions are usually wrong as Captain Sunshine fails to realize what his relationship with Wonderboy looks like to others.
 +
Captain Sunshine mistakes Hank for an orphan and hopes to have Hank replace his lost sidekick [[Wonder Boy (Disambiguation)|Wonder Boy]] (technically Wonderboy III, the latest of the Captain's teenage sidekicks, brutally killed by [[The Monarch]] sometime towards the end of the first season.) Hank initially takes to the superhero lifestyle happily. Throughout the episode an [[wikipedia:pederasty|inappropriate relationship]] between Sunshine and Wonder Boy is implied. The assumptions are usually wrong as Captain Sunshine fails to realize what his relationship with Wonder Boy looks like to others.
   
−
Dr. Venture and Sgt. Hatred show up to pay the ransom, but the Monarch, unable to fulfill [[Guild of Calamitous Intent|Guild policy]] of releasing all captives, lets Dean go. Dr. Venture is also unable to pay the ransom money so the Monarch pretends he still has Hank and takes an [[IOU (debt)|IOU]]. Dr. Venture calls Master Billy Quizboy and Pete White for help; who have just received a $10 million check after apparently defrauding an insurance company.
 +
Dr. Venture and Sgt. Hatred show up to pay the ransom, but The Monarch, unable to fulfill [[Guild of Calamitous Intent|Guild policy]] of releasing all captives, lets Dean go. Dr. Venture is also unable to pay the ransom money so the Monarch pretends he still has Hank and takes an [[wikipedia:IOU_(debt)|IOU]]. Dr. Venture calls Master Billy Quizboy and Pete White for help; they have just received a $10 million check after apparently defrauding an insurance company.
   
−
Captain Sunshine meanwhile is acting overprotective towards Hank. He is immensely afraid of losing Wonderboy again and panics easily. It is revealed that he, as well as his old superhero team, works at night as an anchor for a local news channel.
 +
Captain Sunshine meanwhile is acting overprotective towards Hank. He is immensely afraid of losing Wonder Boy again and panics easily. It is revealed that he, as well as his old superhero team, works at night as an anchor for a local news channel.
   
 
Dr. Venture attempts to con the Monarch out of the ransom by shrinking Hatred into the bag of money. The plan misfires when the Monarch runs off with the money and the shrink-ray fails to enlarge Hatred in time. Hatred then remains undercover and discovers where Hank really is, when [[Doctor Girlfriend|Dr. Mrs. The Monarch]] tells the Monarch that he is now obligated to return Hank due to Guild rules.
  
Dr. Venture attempts to con the Monarch out of the ransom by shrinking Hatred into the bag of money. The plan misfires when the Monarch runs off with the money and the shrink-ray fails to enlarge Hatred in time. Hatred then remains undercover and discovers where Hank really is, when [[Doctor Girlfriend|Dr. Mrs. The Monarch]] tells the Monarch that he is now obligated to return Hank due to Guild rules.
   
−
Both the Monarch and Dr. Venture track down Captain Sunshine's lair at night, when he is at work (hosting the eleven o'clock news as "Chuck Scarsdale"). Hank successfully fends off The Monarch and a muscular [[Monarch henchmen##21|#21]] while Chuck Scarsdale sees the Monarch's flying cocoon at his home from a submitted news video. He panics, steals the station's news helicopter, and flies home. The Ventures then show up and hide as Captain Sunshine (still dressed as his alter ego) arrives.
 +
Both the Monarch and Dr. Venture track down Captain Sunshine's lair at night, when he is at work (hosting the eleven o'clock news as "Chuck Scarsdale"). Hank successfully fends off The Monarch and a muscular [[Henchman 21]] while Chuck Scarsdale sees The Monarch's flying cocoon at his home from a submitted news video. He panics, steals the station's news helicopter, and flies home. The Ventures then show up and hide as Captain Sunshine (still dressed as his alter ego) arrives.
   
−
He quickly changes into costume as the Monarch falls into his "Sanctum Solarium". This also dresses him in Wonderboy's costume. The Monarch delivers verbal abuse about Wonderboy to Captain Sunshine, and ends the rant by revealing that he knows Captain Sunshine has no powers at night. He uses a kind of "sunlight ray-gun" in an attempt to defeat him. The 'hero' is instead recharged and blasts most of his adversaries.
+
He quickly changes into costume as The Monarch falls into his "Sanctum Solarium". This also dresses him in Wonder Boy's costume. The Monarch delivers verbal abuse about Wonder Boy to Captain Sunshine, and ends the rant by revealing that he knows Captain Sunshine has no powers at night. He uses a kind of "sunlight ray-gun" in an attempt to defeat him. The "hero" is instead recharged and blasts most of his adversaries.
   
−
After this, Hank realizes that Sunshine is using him to replace Wonderboy, and bids the hero a heartfelt goodbye. Sunshine romantically kisses hank on the lips before Hank has a chance to leave, and states that Hank broke his heart. Though before leaving, Hank asks him to put in a good word to [[Batman]] for him, leading to an angry and emotionally hurt Captain Sunshine to yell "Get out of my Sanctum Solarium!"
 +
After this, Hank realizes that Sunshine is using him to replace Wonder Boy, and bids the hero a heartfelt goodbye. Sunshine kisses Hank on the lips before Hank has a chance to leave, and states that Hank broke his heart. Though before leaving, Hank asks him to put in a good word to [[Wikipedia:Batman|Batman]] for him, leading an angry and emotionally hurt Captain Sunshine to yell "Get out of my Sanctum Solarium!"
   
−
In the post credits sequence, Monarch, Dr. Mrs. the Monarch and #21 (who are all badly sunburnt) take a cab home. When the cabbie demands money, the Monarch, off-screen, shoots a dart that hits the cabbie in the neck.
 +
In the post credits sequence, The Monarch, Dr. Mrs. the Monarch, and Henchman 21 (who are all badly sunburnt) take a cab home. When the cabbie demands money, The Monarch, off-screen, shoots a dart that hits the cabbie in the neck.
   
−
== Cultural references ==
 +
== Episode Cast ==
  +
* [[wikipedia:James_Urbaniak|'''James Urbaniak''']]: [[Dr. Venture]]
⚫
* Captain Sunshine parodies both [[Batman]] and [[Superman]] simultaneously.<ref name=io9 />
 
  +
* [[wikipedia:Michael_Sinterniklaas|'''Mike Sinterniklaas''']]: [[Dean Venture]]
−
* Captain Sunshine keeps a giant penny that the Monarch used in an attempt to kill him. The [[Batcave]] contains a giant penny that Batman took as a trophy after defeating Penny Plunderer, and [[Two-Face]] also attempted to crush Batman with a giant penny.
  
  +
* [[Chris McCulloch|'''Chris McCulloch''']]: [[Hank Venture]], [[The Monarch]], [[Sgt. Hatred]], [[Pete White]], [[Scorpio]], Copter 5 Guy, [[Pirate Captain]]
−
* Hank, and later the Monarch, each fall through a trap door beneath Hank's bed and arrive in the Sanctum Solarium, finding themselves automatically dressed in a Wonderboy costume. On the Batman series, Bruce and Dick would slide down the "Bat-Poles" from Wayne Manor, and appear in the Batcave in their costumes. (It was never made clear if the costumes where changed automatically, or if the heroes stopped at a dressing room en route.)
  
  +
* [[Doc Hammer|'''Doc Hammer''']]: [[Dr. Girlfriend]], [[Henchman 21]], [[Billy Quizboy]], [[Desmond]], [[U.S. Steel]]
−
* The Sanctum Solarium may be a reference to the [[Sanctum Sanctorum]], the home of [[Doctor Strange]].
  
  +
* [[wikipedia:Rachel_Feinstein_(comedian)|'''Rachel Feinstein''']]: [[Barbie-Q|Barbie-Q/Barbara Quantas]], Woman on Street
−
* Captain Sunshine has a British butler named Desmond, a reference to Batman's [[Alfred Pennyworth]].
  
  +
* [[wikipedia:Kevin_Conroy|'''Kevin Conroy''']]: [[Captain Sunshine (Chuck Scarsdale)|Captain Sunshine]]
−
* The way Captain Sunshine flies with Hank is nearly identical to the way Superman flies with Lois Lane on their date in the 1978 film, ''[[Superman: The Movie]]''.
  
−
* When The Monarch blasts Captain Sunshine with the ray gun, an explanatory narration similar to [[Ted Knight]]'s and [[William Woodson]]'s work on ''[[Super Friends]]'' is heard.
  
−
* Before firing his radiation ray, The Monarch tells Captain Sunshine that he is about to have "funtime eating sunshine on a stick!" This is a reference to a ''[[Time for Timer]]'' public service announcements from the 1980s, in which the cartoon character encourages children to make ice cubes out of orange juice instead of water so that they ingest healthier food than [[popsicles]].
  
−
* Captain Sunshine kisses Hank on the lips and says "You broke my heart!", a reference to a scene in ''[[The Godfather Part II]]'' when Michael Corleone discovers that his brother has conspired with his would-be murderers.
  
−
* Captain Sunshine's alter-ego, TV news anchor Chuck Scarsdale, may have been based on [[Chuck Scarborough]], a news anchor in [[New York City]].
  
−
* At the end of the episode Hank asks if Captain Sunshine can introduce him to Batman. Captain Sunshine is voiced by [[Kevin Conroy]], who voiced Batman in the [[DC Animated Universe]], as well as other media.
  
−
* The inappropriate behavior of Captain Sunshine implied throughout the episode is a reference to the claims of Fredric Wertham's [[Seduction of the Innocent]], which suggested that comic books were the major cause of juvenile delinquency, citing the so-called homoerotic undertones of Batman and Robin as a case study.
  
   
  +
== First Appearances==
⚫
== Connections to other episodes==
  
  +
* Copter 5 Guy
⚫
* This entire episode finds its origin in "[[Return to Spider-Skull Island]]", in which the Monarch ordered #21 and #24 to send the "charred remains of Wonderboy to his beloved Captain Sunshine."<ref name=io9>{{cite web |url=http://io9.com/5382987/weve-seen-next-weeks-rainbow+powered-venture-bros-episode |title=We've Seen Next Week's Rainbow-Powered Venture Bros. Episode! |author=Davis, Lauren |accessdate=October 26, 2009}}</ref> The Monarch blames his breakup with Dr. Girlfriend and the resulting drinking problem for his "slaying" of Wonder Boy. Captain Sunshine is also mentioned by a henchman in the episode "[[Powerless in the Face of Death]]", and in an anecdote told by the Monarch at a party in "[[Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny]]".
  
  +
* [[Desmond]]
⚫
* Dr. Venture's shrink ray makes its third appearance in the show, the first being in "[[Tag Sale – You're It!]]" and the second in "[[Escape to the House of Mummies Part II]]". The device is mentioned but not shown in the Season 3 finale "[[The Family That Slays Together, Stays Together (Part II)]]", as Sgt. Hatred reveals he tried to commit suicide unsuccessfully using the shrink ray (leaving him with a shrunken "baby tongue").
  
  +
* [[The Super Gang]] (Channel 5 Action News Team)
⚫
* Captain Sunshine spares The Monarch a beating upon their first encounter, saying that he knows The Monarch is invulnerable. This is a reference to the episode "[[Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny]]", where The Monarch regales Dr. Girlfriend and Truckules with a tale in which he duped Captain Sunshine into believing this.
  
  +
** [[Barbie-Q|Barbie-Q]] (Barbara Quantas)
⚫
* Sergeant Hatred implies that his alcoholism was a key reason for Princess Tinyfeet leaving him.
  
  +
** [[Brown Thrasher]] (Neville Brown)
⚫
* Hatred's supposedly cured pedophilia is implied at when he learns that Master Billy Quizboy is 37 years old. The Office of Secret Intelligence administered a shot that was supposed to rid him of the problem in "[[Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel]]".
  
  +
** [[Captain Sunshine (Chuck Scarsdale)|Captain Sunshine]] (Chuck Scarsdale)
⚫
* The Sea Captain mentions that Jonas Jr. is building ''Gargantua-2''. The space station ''Gargantua-1'' crashed in "[[Guess Who's Coming to State Dinner?]]".
  
  +
** [[Ghost Robot]] (Weatherbot 5)
⚫
* At the end of the episode, Hank asks if Captain Sunshine can give him a reference for Batman. Hank has displayed a Batman obsession throughout the series.
  
  +
** [[U.S. Steel]] (Sam Turgen)
⚫
* A giant penny can be seen in Captain Sunshine's lair. In "Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny," henchmen can be seen rolling another giant penny with the Monarch's face on it from the wreckage of the cocoon.
  
⚫
* Billy and Pete's $10 million insurance check came from "General Consolidated Insurance." This is a reference to the Guild's tendency to create fronts using the same initials as "Guild of Calamitous Intent," having previously used this method when financing Phantom Limb's muscle regeneration experiment in the episode "[[The Invisible Hand of Fate]]" under the name "Guild of Collegiate Investors."
  
⚫
* One of the members of Captain Sunshine's superhero group is "Ghost Robot" a reference to Hank's deduction in "[[Past Tense (Venture Bros. episode)|Past Tense]]," upon seeing the destroyed robot version of Mike Sorayama, that "He's [Sorayama] not just a ghost - he's a ghost robot!"
  
⚫
* The Monarch's claim that Captain Sunshine wanted to have sex with him (as his arch enemy) is a possible echo of the episode "[[Tears of a Sea Cow]]" wherein the Monarch attempts to infect a robot with Dr. Venture's face with chlamydia.
  
⚫
* Captain Sunshine's butler Desmond make a reappearance in [[Every Which Way But Zeus]] in a more pivotal role, it's revealed he was the ''original'' Captain Sunshine in the '60s while the current Captain Sunshine was his sidekick Wonderboy. Further paralleling the Batman mythology of the sidekick taking on the mentor's role.
  
   
  ⚫
== Connections to Other Episodes==
⚫
== Production notes ==
  
  +
[[Tag Sale – You're It!|'''''Tag Sale – You're It!''''']]
⚫
*One of the animation directors (Kimson Albert) gets to have a nickname inserted into his credits. For "Handsome Ransom" the credit reads Kimson "Copter 5" Albert.
  
  ⚫
* Dr. Venture's shrink ray makes its third appearance in the show, the first being in [[Tag Sale – You're It!|''Tag Sale – You're It!'']] and the second in [[Escape to the House of Mummies Part II|''Escape to the House of Mummies Part II'']]. The device is mentioned but not shown in the Season 3 finale [[The Family That Slays Together, Stays Together (Part II)|''The Family That Slays Together, Stays Together (Part II)'']], as Sgt. Hatred reveals he tried to commit suicide unsuccessfully using the shrink ray (leaving him with a shrunken "baby tongue").
⚫
*Despite the numerous jokes and hints made in the episode, [[Christopher McCulloch]] has stated categorically that "Captain Sunshine = NOT an actual [[pedophile]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jacksonpublick.livejournal.com/27372.html |title=Publick Nuisance - The Revenge Society |publisher=Publick Nuisance - Jackson Publick's blog |author=McCulloch, Christopher |date=November 15, 2009 |accessdate=November 16, 2009}}</ref>
  
  +
''[[Past Tense|'''Past Tense''']]''
  ⚫
* One of the members of Captain Sunshine's [[The Super Gang|superhero group]] is [[Ghost Robot]], a reference to Hank's deduction in ''[[Past Tense]]'', upon seeing the destroyed robot version of [[Mike Sorayama]], that "[Sorayama]'s not just a ghost - he's a ghost robot!"
  +
[[Return to Spider-Skull Island|'''''Return to Spider-Skull Island''''']]
  ⚫
* This entire episode finds its origin in [[Return to Spider-Skull Island|''Return to Spider-Skull Island'']], in which The Monarch ordered #21 and #24 to send the "charred remains of [[Wonder Boy]] to his beloved [[Captain Sunshine]]."<ref name="io9">{{cite web |url=http://io9.com/5382987/weve-seen-next-weeks-rainbow+powered-venture-bros-episode |title=We've Seen Next Week's Rainbow-Powered Venture Bros. Episode! |author=Davis, Lauren |accessdate=October 26, 2009}}</ref> The Monarch blames his breakup with Dr. Girlfriend and the resulting drinking problem for his "slaying" of Wonder Boy III.
  +
[[Powerless in the Face of Death|'''''Powerless in the Face of Death''''']]
  +
* [[Captain Sunshine (Chuck Scarsdale)|Captain Sunshine]] was previously mentioned by [[Herman]], one of [[Crime-O-Dile]]'s henchmen, in the episode [[Powerless in the Face of Death|''Powerless in the Face of Death'']]''.''
  +
[[Guess Who's Coming to State Dinner?|'''''Guess Who's Coming to State Dinner?''''']]
  ⚫
* [[The Pirate Captain]] mentions that [[Jonas Venture Jr.|Jonas Jr.]] is building ''[[Gargantua-2]]''. The space station ''[[Gargantua 1|Gargantua-1]]'' crashed in [[Guess Who's Coming to State Dinner?|''Guess Who's Coming to State Dinner?'']]
  +
[[Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny|'''''Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny''''']]
  ⚫
* [[Captain Sunshine]] spares [[The Monarch]] a beating upon their first encounter in the episode, saying that he knows The Monarch is invulnerable. This is a reference to the episode [[Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny|''Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny'']], where The Monarch regales [[Dr. Girlfriend]] and [[Truckules]] with a tale in which he duped Captain Sunshine into believing this.
  ⚫
* A giant penny can be seen in Captain Sunshine's lair. In [[Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny|''Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny'']], henchmen can be seen rolling another giant penny with [[The Monarch]]'s face on it from the wreckage of the cocoon.
  +
[[The Invisible Hand of Fate|'''''The Invisible Hand of Fate''''']]
  ⚫
* Billy and Pete's $10 million insurance check came from "General Consolidated Insurance." This is a reference to the Guild's tendency to create fronts using the same initials as "Guild of Calamitous Intent," having previously used this method when financing Phantom Limb's muscle regeneration experiment in the episode [[The Invisible Hand of Fate|''The Invisible Hand of Fate'']] under the name "Guild of Collegiate Investors." In this instance it's an early reference to [[The Investors]].
  +
[[Tears of a Sea Cow|'''''Tears of a Sea Cow''''']]
  ⚫
* The Monarch's claim that Captain Sunshine wanted to have sex with him (as his arch enemy) is a possible echo of the episode [[Tears of a Sea Cow|''Tears of a Sea Cow'']] wherein the Monarch attempts to infect a robot with Dr. Venture's face with chlamydia.
  +
[[Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel|'''''Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel''''']]
  ⚫
* Hatred's supposedly cured pedophilia is implied when he learns that Master Billy Quizboy is 37 years old. The [[Office of Secret Intelligence]] administered a [[Nomolestol|shot]] that was supposed to rid him of the problem in [[Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel|''Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel'']].
  +
''[[Any Which Way But Zeus|'''Any Which Way But Zeus''']]''
  ⚫
* Captain Sunshine's valet, [[Desmond]], makes a reappearance in ''[[Any Which Way But Zeus]]'' in a more pivotal role. It's revealed he was the ''original'' [[Captain Sunshine (Disambiguation)|Captain Sunshine]] in the '60s while Chuck Scarsdale (the current Captain Sunshine) was his sidekick [[Wonder Boy (Disambiguation)|Wonder Boy]], further paralleling the Batman mythology of the sidekick taking on the mentor's role.
  +
  +
== Cultural References ==
  +
[[wikipedia:barbecue|'''Barbecue''']]
  +
* [[Barbie-Q]]'s name is a pun on the doll [[wikipedia:Barbie|Barbie]] and the word [[wikipedia:barbecue|barbecue]], since she is on fire.
  +
[[wikipedia:Barbie|'''Barbie''']]
  +
* [[Barbie-Q]] is in part a parody of [[wikipedia:Barbie|Barbie]]. According to [[Jackson Publick]] "she has doll parts--she's not a real person--and she's on fire."<ref name=":0">[[Jackson Publick]], ''[https://www.amazon.com/Go-Team-Venture-Making-Bros/dp/1506704875 Go Team Venture!: The Art and Making of The Venture Bros.] (2018),'' p. 182</ref>
  +
[[wikipedia:Batman|'''Batman''']]
  +
* [[Captain Sunshine]] is voiced by [[wikipedia:Kevin_Conroy|Kevin Conroy]], who voiced Bruce Wayne/Batman in [[wikipedia:Batman:_The_Animated_Series|Batman: The Animated Series]], [[wikipedia:Justice_League_(TV_series)|Justice League]], [[wikipedia:Justice_League_Unlimited|Justice League Unlimited]], and other [[wikipedia:DC_Comics|DC Comics]] TV shows, movies, and games.
  +
* There is a giant penny with [[The Monarch]]'s face on it in [[Captain Sunshine]]'s Sanctum Solarium, an allusion to the giant penny traditionally present in drawings of the [[wikipedia:Batcave|Batcave]] (from [[wikipedia:Batman|Batman]]'s encounter with either the [[wikipedia:Penny_Plunderer|Penny Plunderer]] or [[wikipedia:Two-Face|Two-Face]]).
  ⚫
* At the end of the episode, Hank asks if Captain Sunshine can give him a reference for Batman. Hank has displayed a Batman obsession throughout the series. (See: [[The Bat]].)
  +
* Captain Sunshine’s “Sanctum Solarium” evokes the [[wikipedia:Batcave|Batcave]] from [[wikipedia:Batman|Batman]] comics.
  +
[[wikipedia:Black Condor#John Trujillo|'''Black Condor''']]
  +
* [[Brown Thrasher]] appears to be a parody of the [[wikipedia:DC Comics|DC Comics]] superhero [[wikipedia:Black Condor#John Trujillo|Black Condor]].
  +
[[wikipedia:Brown thrasher|'''Brown thrasher''']]
  +
* [[Brown Thrasher]] is named after the [[wikipedia:Brown thrasher|brown thrasher]], a bird whose diet includes [[wikipedia:Monarch butterfly|monarch butterflies]].
  +
[[wikipedia:Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind|'''''Close Encounters of the Third Kind''''']]''' (1977)'''
  +
* [[The Monarch]], and particularly [[Dr. Mrs. The Monarch|his wife]], become sunburnt by Captain Sunshine with her burn being halfway down the middle, reminiscent of Roy Neary in [[wikipedia:Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind|''Close Encounters of the Third Kind'']] (1977).
  +
[[wikipedia: Doctor_Strange|'''Dr. Strange''']]
  +
* Captain Sunshine’s “Sanctum Solarium” evokes the Sorceror Supreme’s [[wikipedia:Sanctum_Sanctorum|Sanctum Sanctorum]] from [[wikipedia: Doctor_Strange|Dr. Strange]] comics.
  +
[[wikipedia:Fire_(comics)|'''Fire''']]
  +
* [[Barbie-Q]] is in part a parody of DC superheroine [[wikipedia:Fire_(comics)|Fire]].
  +
[[wikipedia:Human_Torch_(android)|'''Human Torch''']]
  +
* [[Barbie-Q]] is in part a parody of the [[wikipedia:Human_Torch_(android)|original Human Torch]], an android from the original [[wikipedia:Marvel Mystery Comics|''Marvel Mystery Comics'']].
  +
[[wikipedia:Lenny Bruce|'''Lenny Bruce''']]
  +
* Captain Sunshine's order to his butler, Desmond, is reminiscent of comedian [[wikipedia:Lenny Bruce|Lenny Bruce]]'s routine from around 1959: 'It's very appropriate what we do in this country to homosexuals and entirely consistent with the rest of the justice system: put them in gaol with a lot of ''men''─"Wash 'im up and get 'im ready!".'
  +
  +
[[wikipedia:Michael_Jackson|'''Michael Jackson''']]
  +
* Captain Sunshine's demeanor is partially based on [[wikipedia:Michael_Jackson|Michael Jackson]].
  +
* Stately Scarsdale Manor, Captain Sunshine's home, is based on [[wikipedia:Michael_Jackson|Michael Jackson]]'s [[wikipedia:Neverland Ranch|Neverland Ranch]].
  +
''[[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (arcade game)|'''Punch-Out!!''']]''''' (1983)'''
  +
* When [[Hank Venture|Hank]] (as [[Wonder Boy (Disambiguation)|Wonder Boy]]) is fighting [[Henchman 21]] and [[the Fluttering Horde]], he narrates his attacks: "Jab! Body blow! Body blow!" This is a reference to the voiceover from the early 1980s arcade game ''[[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (arcade game)|Punch-Out!!]]'', where the player controlled a boxer whose moves were commented on by a prerecorded voice.
  +
[[wikipedia:Superman|'''Superman''']]
  +
* Captain Sunshine’s “Sanctum Solarium” evokes the [[wikipedia:Fortress_of_Solitude|Fortress of Solitude]] from [[wikipedia:Superman|Superman]] comics.
  +
[[wikipedia:The_Godfather|'''''The Godfather''''']]''''' ''(1972)'''
  +
* Captain Sunshine’s dramatic declaration to Hank that he broke his heart is a reference to a similar scene between [[wikipedia:Michael_Corleone|Michael Corleone]] and [[wikipedia:Fredo_Corleone|Fredo]] in [[wikipedia:The_Godfather|''The Godfather'']].
  +
  +
[[wikipedia:Time for Timer|'''''Time for Timer''''']]
  +
* ''[[wikipedia:Time for Timer|Time for Timer]]'' was a title for a short series of public service announcements broadcast on Saturday mornings on the ABC television network starting in the early 1970s. Having "a fun time eating sunshine on a stick" is a quote from a ''[[wikipedia:Time for Timer|Time for Timer]]'' Saturday morning cartoon PSA on how to make homemade popsicles, produced by UCLA School of Public Health.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaVWM1mqG74</ref>
  +
[[wikipedia:Uncle Sam (comics)|'''Uncle Sam''']]
  +
* [[U.S. Steel]] appears to be a [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling|pro-wrestler]] version of the [[wikipedia:DC Comics|DC Comics]] superhero [[wikipedia:Uncle Sam (comics)|Uncle Sam]].
  +
[[wikipedia:Vision_(Marvel_Comics)|'''Vision''']]
  +
* [[Barbie-Q]] is in part a parody of the [[wikipedia:Marvel Comics|Marvel Comics]] hero [[wikipedia:Vision_(Marvel_Comics)|Vision]].
  +
* Show creator [[Jackson Publick]] would refer to [[wikipedia:Vision_(Marvel_Comics)|Vision]] as "Ghost Robot" when doodling the character, with the nickname eventually inspiring the creation of the character [[Ghost Robot]].<ref name=":0">''[https://www.amazon.com/Go-Team-Venture-Making-Bros/dp/1506704875 Go Team Venture!: The Art and Making of The Venture Bros.] (2018),'' p. 182</ref>
  +
  ⚫
== Production Notes ==
  +
{{wikiquote|The_Venture_Bros._(season_4)#Handsome_Ransom|Handsome Ransom}}
  ⚫
*One of the animation directors ([https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0454068/ Kimson Albert]) gets to have a nickname inserted into his credits. For ''Handsome Ransom'' the credit reads Kimson "Copter 5" Albert.
  ⚫
*Despite the numerous jokes and hints made in the episode, [[Christopher McCulloch]] has stated categorically that "Captain Sunshine = NOT an actual [[wikipedia:pedophilia|pedophile]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jacksonpublick.livejournal.com/27372.html |title=Publick Nuisance - The Revenge Society |publisher=Publick Nuisance - Jackson Publick's blog |author=McCulloch, Christopher |date=November 15, 2009 |accessdate=November 16, 2009}}</ref>
  +
* [[Captain Sunshine]] is voiced by [[wikipedia:Kevin_Conroy|Kevin Conroy]], who voiced Bruce Wayne/Batman in [[wikipedia:Batman:_The_Animated_Series|Batman: The Animated Series]], [[wikipedia:Justice_League_(TV_series)|Justice League]], [[wikipedia:Justice_League_Unlimited|Justice League Unlimited]], and other [[wikipedia:DC_Comics|DC Comics]] TV shows, movies, and games.
  +
  +
== Trivia ==
  ⚫
* [[Sergeant Hatred]] implies that his alcoholism was a key reason for [[Princess Tinyfeet]] leaving him.
  ⚫
* Captain Sunshine parodies [[wikipedia:Michael_Jackson|Michael Jackson]], [[wikipedia:Batman|Batman]], and [[wikipedia:Superman|Superman]] simultaneously.<ref name="io9" />
   
 
== References ==
  
== References ==
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[[Category:The Venture Bros. episodes]]
  
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[[Category:2009 television episodes]]
  
[[Category:2009 television episodes]]
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[[Category:Season 4]]
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[[Category:Episodes]]

Revision as of 12:27, 19 October 2019

"Handsome Ransom"
The Venture Bros. episode
Handsome Ransom - Sleepover
Episode no. Season 4
Episode 2
Directed by Jackson Publick and Jon Schnepp
Written by Jackson Publick
Production code 4-41
Original air date October 25, 2009
Guest Stars
Episode Chronology
← Previous
"Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel" 		Next →
"Perchance to Dean"
List of The Venture Bros. episodes

Handsome Ransom is the second episode of Season 4 and the overall forty-first episode of The Venture Bros.

Plot

The Monarch is holding Hank and Dean hostage and, fed up with never being able to kill Dr. Venture, demands a $10 million ransom. Superhero Captain Sunshine barges in and attacks the cocoon-lair, giving everyone sunburn on any exposed flesh, and flies The Monarch off to jail. The Monarch returns some time later after being released for lack of due process and finds that Captain Sunshine had returned, flew off with Hank, and left Dr. Girlfriend with a humiliating and embarrassing sunburn on half her body. Monarch tells a surprisingly fit and able #21 to kill the cab driver who drove him home but 21 just pays the man and tells him to keep the transaction a secret.

Captain Sunshine mistakes Hank for an orphan and hopes to have Hank replace his lost sidekick Wonder Boy (technically Wonderboy III, the latest of the Captain's teenage sidekicks, brutally killed by The Monarch sometime towards the end of the first season.) Hank initially takes to the superhero lifestyle happily. Throughout the episode an inappropriate relationship between Sunshine and Wonder Boy is implied. The assumptions are usually wrong as Captain Sunshine fails to realize what his relationship with Wonder Boy looks like to others.

Dr. Venture and Sgt. Hatred show up to pay the ransom, but The Monarch, unable to fulfill Guild policy of releasing all captives, lets Dean go. Dr. Venture is also unable to pay the ransom money so the Monarch pretends he still has Hank and takes an IOU. Dr. Venture calls Master Billy Quizboy and Pete White for help; they have just received a $10 million check after apparently defrauding an insurance company.

Captain Sunshine meanwhile is acting overprotective towards Hank. He is immensely afraid of losing Wonder Boy again and panics easily. It is revealed that he, as well as his old superhero team, works at night as an anchor for a local news channel.

Dr. Venture attempts to con the Monarch out of the ransom by shrinking Hatred into the bag of money. The plan misfires when the Monarch runs off with the money and the shrink-ray fails to enlarge Hatred in time. Hatred then remains undercover and discovers where Hank really is, when Dr. Mrs. The Monarch tells the Monarch that he is now obligated to return Hank due to Guild rules.

Both the Monarch and Dr. Venture track down Captain Sunshine's lair at night, when he is at work (hosting the eleven o'clock news as "Chuck Scarsdale"). Hank successfully fends off The Monarch and a muscular Henchman 21 while Chuck Scarsdale sees The Monarch's flying cocoon at his home from a submitted news video. He panics, steals the station's news helicopter, and flies home. The Ventures then show up and hide as Captain Sunshine (still dressed as his alter ego) arrives.

He quickly changes into costume as The Monarch falls into his "Sanctum Solarium". This also dresses him in Wonder Boy's costume. The Monarch delivers verbal abuse about Wonder Boy to Captain Sunshine, and ends the rant by revealing that he knows Captain Sunshine has no powers at night. He uses a kind of "sunlight ray-gun" in an attempt to defeat him. The "hero" is instead recharged and blasts most of his adversaries.

After this, Hank realizes that Sunshine is using him to replace Wonder Boy, and bids the hero a heartfelt goodbye. Sunshine kisses Hank on the lips before Hank has a chance to leave, and states that Hank broke his heart. Though before leaving, Hank asks him to put in a good word to Batman for him, leading an angry and emotionally hurt Captain Sunshine to yell "Get out of my Sanctum Solarium!"

In the post credits sequence, The Monarch, Dr. Mrs. the Monarch, and Henchman 21 (who are all badly sunburnt) take a cab home. When the cabbie demands money, The Monarch, off-screen, shoots a dart that hits the cabbie in the neck.

Episode Cast

First Appearances

Connections to Other Episodes

Tag Sale – You're It!

Past Tense

Return to Spider-Skull Island

  • This entire episode finds its origin in Return to Spider-Skull Island, in which The Monarch ordered #21 and #24 to send the "charred remains of Wonder Boy to his beloved Captain Sunshine."[2] The Monarch blames his breakup with Dr. Girlfriend and the resulting drinking problem for his "slaying" of Wonder Boy III.

Powerless in the Face of Death

Guess Who's Coming to State Dinner?

Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny

The Invisible Hand of Fate

  • Billy and Pete's $10 million insurance check came from "General Consolidated Insurance." This is a reference to the Guild's tendency to create fronts using the same initials as "Guild of Calamitous Intent," having previously used this method when financing Phantom Limb's muscle regeneration experiment in the episode The Invisible Hand of Fate under the name "Guild of Collegiate Investors." In this instance it's an early reference to The Investors.

Tears of a Sea Cow

  • The Monarch's claim that Captain Sunshine wanted to have sex with him (as his arch enemy) is a possible echo of the episode Tears of a Sea Cow wherein the Monarch attempts to infect a robot with Dr. Venture's face with chlamydia.

Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel

Any Which Way But Zeus

  • Captain Sunshine's valet, Desmond, makes a reappearance in Any Which Way But Zeus in a more pivotal role. It's revealed he was the original Captain Sunshine in the '60s while Chuck Scarsdale (the current Captain Sunshine) was his sidekick Wonder Boy, further paralleling the Batman mythology of the sidekick taking on the mentor's role.

Cultural References

Barbecue

Barbie

Batman

Black Condor

Brown thrasher

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Dr. Strange

Fire

Human Torch

Lenny Bruce

  • Captain Sunshine's order to his butler, Desmond, is reminiscent of comedian Lenny Bruce's routine from around 1959: 'It's very appropriate what we do in this country to homosexuals and entirely consistent with the rest of the justice system: put them in gaol with a lot of men─"Wash 'im up and get 'im ready!".'

Michael Jackson

Punch-Out!! (1983)

  • When Hank (as Wonder Boy) is fighting Henchman 21 and the Fluttering Horde, he narrates his attacks: "Jab! Body blow! Body blow!" This is a reference to the voiceover from the early 1980s arcade game Punch-Out!!, where the player controlled a boxer whose moves were commented on by a prerecorded voice.

Superman

The Godfather (1972)

Time for Timer

  • Time for Timer was a title for a short series of public service announcements broadcast on Saturday mornings on the ABC television network starting in the early 1970s. Having "a fun time eating sunshine on a stick" is a quote from a Time for Timer Saturday morning cartoon PSA on how to make homemade popsicles, produced by UCLA School of Public Health.[4]

Uncle Sam

Vision

Production Notes

Wikiquote-logo-en Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Handsome Ransom

Trivia

References

  1. ↑ McCulloch, Christopher (October 25, 2009). "Publick Nuisance - Let The Sun Shine In". Publick Nuisance - Jackson Publick's blog. http://jacksonpublick.livejournal.com/27094.html. Retrieved October 26, 2009. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Davis, Lauren. "We've Seen Next Week's Rainbow-Powered Venture Bros. Episode!". http://io9.com/5382987/weve-seen-next-weeks-rainbow+powered-venture-bros-episode. Retrieved October 26, 2009. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jackson Publick, Go Team Venture!: The Art and Making of The Venture Bros. (2018), p. 182 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":0" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaVWM1mqG74
  5. ↑ McCulloch, Christopher (November 15, 2009). "Publick Nuisance - The Revenge Society". Publick Nuisance - Jackson Publick's blog. http://jacksonpublick.livejournal.com/27372.html. Retrieved November 16, 2009. 


Preceded by:
"Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel" 		The Venture Bros. episodes
Original Airdate:
October 25, 2009 		Followed by:
"Perchance to Dean"
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