Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The Mighty Monarch

All images this page copyright Cartoon Network. Please don't sue me.

Speaking of men in pointy crowns, who doesn't love the Mighty Monarch?

  • Character: The Monarch
  • Actor: Bruce McCulloch/Jackson Publick (born 1971)
  • TV show: The Venture Brothers
  • Occupation: Arch-villain
  • Arch-nemesis: Dr. Venture
  • Marital status: Married to Dr. Mrs. The Monarch
  • Hobbies: Maniacal speeches. arching Dr. Venture
  • Special Powers: functional costume wings, wrist darts of varying toxicity
  • Pros: Trust fund baby, owns flying ship shaped like a cocoon, with an escape pod also ingeniously designed like a cocoon
  • Cons: Incompetent henchmen
  • Best quote: "Gentlemen, I like my ass!"

A young Monarch sans headgear

The Monarch is the most frequently featured villain on the Adult Swim show "The Venture Brothers." His rich parents were killed in an airplance crash; he survived and tried to emulate the monarch butterflies that "adopted" him. For reasons unknown at this time*, he targeted Rusty Venture from college and has never given up his obsession with getting Dr. Venture. A trust fund inherited from his parents enabled him to build a cocoon ship and hire henchmen. His long-time girlfriend Dr. Girlfriend (now Dr. Mrs. The Monarch) designed the Monarch's costume, ship, weapons, and is the true intelligence behind his operations.

Classic Monarch rant is interrupted by a medical condition.

Writers McCulloch and Eric Hammer must have some fun with the Monarch although McCulloch has said he doesn't enjoy all the whininess involved in voicing the character.

*Possible spoiler: I'm pretty sure that The Monarch is Dr. Venture's half-brother. I base this on the following: Venture's father was known for being a lady's man and probably sowed a lot of wild oats in his youth; both the Monarch and Rusty Venture are skinny guys with red hair and pointy noses; the name of the show; and the first episode having Monarch "go all creepy uncle" on Hank and Dean.

No comments:

Post a Comment