Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick are the creators, writers, and voice talent for the greatest show running on Cartoon Network, The Venture Bros., which will soon begin its 4th season. Toon Zone caught up with Hammer and Publick outside the convention hall right before The Venture Bros. convention panel. Questions asked by Toon Zone are marked Toon Zone or TZ:
Toon Zone: There seemed to be a developing affection last season between Dean and Triana, where now Triana might be returning Dean's affection. Might we see some more of that this season?
Doc Hammer: You're going to be seeing more of that in that you're going to be really disappointed.
Jackson Publick: Would those two people ever get together in real life? Would Triana ever be hot for Dean?
TZ: Yes.
DH: You're going to get a full on [expletive deleted]. Do not even think for a second those two are going to get married. You watch the show and tell me is it the exact course those people would take.
TZ: It definitely is.
DH: OK.
Is it going darker now? It seems whenever people come up with new ideas, its gets a little darker sometimes.
DH: We killed half of a comedy team. Do you want us to go darker than that?
JP: Its the usual level of darkness I would say. We don't go out of our way.
DH: Yeah.
JP: Dark is fun.
DH: Dark's actually hard because of the lighting changes and what you get is gray. So doing dark is difficult, so we keep it in the sun when terrible things happen.
TZ: You mentioned this season, we'll see some more maturing from Hank and Dean.
DH: Yeah, they're not clumsy anymore.
TZ: They'll have to grow up and take a little more responsibility. Can you give us any examples on how we'll see that.
JP: Well they physically age a little bit.
TZ: So has some time passed?
JP: Yeah. I think the premiere is 9 months out of the last episode of last season. But how do they develop? Doctor Venture takes a more active role in trying to train Dean to be a super scientist like himself.
TZ: And Hank will be more of a badass like Brock?
JP: Hank would love to be more of a badass, but no one loves him enough. Dermot loves him enough.
What about Dermot?
DH: Fortunately we're bringing Dermot back.
TZ: Will we see the woman that believes she is Hank and Dean's mom?
JP: Not in the next 8.
TZ: Is it possible she provided the X chromosome?
JP: Its possible. She's a candidate.
TZ: Did Hank and Dean need an X chromosome?
JP: They were born of a woman's womb.
TZ: Really?
JP: The original Hank and Dean were definitely born of a woman impregnated by Doctor Venture.
TZ: For Jackson Publick, do you have a favorite character you play on the show?
(CLICK TO LISTEN TO JACKSON PUBLICK'S ANSWER (mp3 format))
JP: The Monarch.
TZ: Favorite line as the Monarch?
JP: I usually do the Monarch's voice in my house saying things I see on TV.
TZ: Can you give us an example?
JP: When I'm flipping around, there's a channel called Sinovision, and that just suits the Monarch's nasal tone to go (in Monarch's voice) SINO-VISION! And my girlfriend can't stand it.
TZ: Do you guys have an end game planned or do you just do it as you go?
JP: A little of both. We have some stuff I'd like to see. I have some dream moments I'd like to see in the last episode ever. We don't know when we'll get to it. We don't know what will happen in season 4.
TZ: Mr. Hammer, who is the favorite character that you play?
(CLICK TO HEAR DOC HAMMER'S ANSWER (mp3 format))
DH: Favorite character that I do? I like doing 21's voice because its not really a voice.
TZ: Favorite line as 21?
DH: Pony tail! His excitement over his hair. Goggles! Yeah, that's my favorite line.
TZ: Thank you sir, and thank you for coming out to Con again.
DH: Thank you.
