The 30 best cartoons even adults can enjoy
By Shawn Lealos
15. The Venture Bros.
In 2003, Cartoon Network premiered The Venture Bros. in their Adult Swim lineup, giving them yet another huge hit when it comes to their adult cartoons. The show teeters between being an action series and a family drama and has remained critically acclaimed and popular with the fans since its release over 15 years ago.
This adult cartoon focuses on the Venture family, which includes teenagers Hanka and Dean, their unethical father Dr. Thaddeus “Rusty” Venture, bodyguard Brock Samson and a reformed villain Sergeant Hatred. There is also their chief nemesis, The Monarch.
Overall, The Venture Bros. was a show that grew over time, starting out as a typical adult cartoon relying on pop culture gags before developing into a very smart, meta-conscious, and quite brilliant take on society’s norms. On one level, the show is almost like what would happen if Johnny Quest grew up and became a man. There is also absurd notions of heroes and villains, such as when a villain has to stop fighting because the hero has a doctor’s note. Things like this put this cartoon a step above the rest.
The one thing that makes it tough to follow The Venture Bros. is its production schedule. There have been five seasons and 71 episodes, with them hitting in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2016. According to reports, the seventh season will hit Adult Swim in 2018.