| Rocco | |
|---|---|
| The Venture Bros. character | |
 | |
| First appearance |
Maybe No Go |
| Voiced by |
Mark Gagliardi |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation |
Wide Wale Henchman Bodyguard |
| Significant other(s) | Angie (former girlfriend) |
| Notable Characteristics |
Directed energy harpoon |
| current alliances |
Whale Lice (and their boss, Wide Wale), Sirena Ong (Rocco serves as her bodyguard) |
| Prior Alliances |
Brock Samson (temporary unofficial team-up to find Sirena and Hank Venture) |
| Enemies |
Brock Samson, Hank Venture |
Rocco is one of the Whale Lice, the henchman who serves the villain Wide Wale. He appears to be the second-in-command of the group.
Appearance[]
Rocco is large muscular man with short black hair which is shaved in the back and has faded goatee. He is usually seen in his whale lice strength suit, but in formal instances wears a blue suit with a light blue tie.
Personality[]
Rocco is shown to be a loyal henchman, always follows his orders even at the expense of his personal interests. He is also on close personal terms with Wide Wale, often engaging in small talk with his boss. He is very protective of his boss's daughter Sireena, despite her constant irritation and open disdain towards him. He is also heavily impulsive and will often leap into action without thinking, especially at anything he perceives as a threat.
Despite his job, Rocco appears to be well mannered and respectful even to his enemies, demonstrating respect for Brock Samson after their initial fight and even proposing a team-up to find Hank and Sirena. The two end up forming a begrudging sense of respect for one another as bodyguards, though this does not prevent him from taking shots at Brock's anachronistic lifestyle and aversion to firearms.
Rocco enjoys doing Mad Libs, although he claims nobody ever wants to join in on them with him.
Abilities[]
Rocco is shown to being capable of holding his own against a seasoned deadly OSI agent like Brock Samson in combat, emerging with a few bruises, which is noteworthy due to the latter's dangerous reputation. Rocco mentions having experience in the military in his second fight with Brock, being a former member of Delta Force. It is unknown if Rocco's strength matches that of Brock's without his strength suit, as he is rarely seen fighting without it.
Rocco has also developed excellent rope-tying skills from having dated a women who was into bondage.
Equipment and Paraphernalia[]
Electric Harpoon - In his occupation as Wide Wale henchmen, he wields an electric harpoon which he uses to stun enemies.
Strength Suit - His costume is a strength suit that enhances his fighting abilities.
Gun - When out of costume, Rocco uses a gun to handle enemies, shown when he was ready to shoot Hank after he entered Wide Wale's home.
Character History[]
In Maybe No Go, Rocco makes his first appearance (though he is not named) and is shown giving Wide Wale the protection money that Fallen Archer has earned. Wide Wade then notes that the money is lower than it usually is causing Archer to state that Venture had refused the Crusaders Action League protection. He then participates in the attack on VenTech Tower although he and the other henchmen are bored with the fact there was no one for them to fight. However, the henchmen do succeed in stealing a mask that Sergeant Hatred's voice on a loudspeaker says is worth a fortune.
In Faking Miracles, he is formally introduced when he and his fellow henchmen attack Hank Venture in the park for following Sirena Ong. However, they are ordered to release him by an irritated Sirena who angrily questions why they followed her again. Rocco and his teammates are soon tackled by Hank's bodyguard Brock Samson who they are forced to fight off-screen. Later on, Rocco and Sirena return to Tophet Tower where Rocco has to report about the incident at the park and the deaths of the two henchmen who accompanied him. When Wide Wale orders pizza for Sirena, she calls for Rocco to pay who upon arriving recognizes the delivery boy as Hank who in turn remembers Rocco from the park and runs away as Rocco pursues him. Eventually, Hank manages to elude Rocco and talks with Sirena on the balcony, the conversation is interrupted by Rocco who knocks on Sirena's bedroom door and after she doesn't answer he breaks it down (just as Hank jumps off the building). Rocco then comes in the room with his gun ready asking about Sirena's condition but is told that she was just getting fresh air causing him to leave while apologizing. Unbeknownst to him, Hank returns (in his hovercar) and asks Sirena on a date.
In It Happening One Night, Rocco is tracking Sirena through the park only to find Brock Samson. Remembering the latter and believing he did something to Sirena, the two come to blows which end up destroying half the park with both enjoying the fight before Rocco points out fighting is pointless due to still not knowing where the kids are. Rocco soon suggests a team-up in case the kids were in the same place. Rocco and Brock eventually find Sirena and Hank kissing, arriving to take them to their respective homes.
In The Rorqual Affair, he is in Wide Wale's office when the latter is confronted by The Blue Morpho who he captures after the latter fails to escape. He later has Sirena go to her room, as her father conducts business and she wastes no time insulting Rocco. Rocco is present when Morpho is tied up and remarks that he sounds like the Monarch and Wide Wale hopes that Morpho isn't Monarch and reveals his origins of how he and his brother Douglas were mutated before he threatens his captive who is revealed to be The Monarch who is shocked to learn Dr. Dugong was Wide Wale's brother and how he wants revenge. Rocco watches Wide Wale punch Monarch for what he did to his brother and proceeds to continue doing so.