Handsome Ransom
| "Handsome Ransom" |
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"Handsome Ransom" is the 41st episode of The Venture Bros..
Plot
When the Monarch attempts to hit Doctor Venture in the pocketbook by holding his sons for ransom, he's partially foiled by Captain Sunshine - who rescues only Hank.
Sunshine hopes to replace his lost sidekick Wonder Boy (who was killed by the Monarch) with Hank, who originally takes to the superhero lifestyle happily. Throughout the episode an inappropriate relationship between Sunshine and Wonder Boy is implied. Many times, the assumptions are wrong or due to inappropriate and un-self-aware actions on the part of Sunshine.
The Monarch eventually ransoms Hank and Dean - and then must go recover Hank to fulfill Guild policy. Concurrently, Doctor Venture and his allies are pursuing Hank as well. A showdown at Sunshine's "Sanctum Solarium" goes poorly for the Monarch, whose idea of destroying Sunshine with a sun ray only charges the light-powered hero, who subsequently destroys the Monarch's men. Hank realizes that Sunshine is using him to replace Wonder Boy, and bids the hero a heartfelt goodbye.
Connections to other episodes
- It is mentioned in Return to Spider-Skull Island that the Monarch killed Wonder Boy. He asked his henchmen to return his remains to Captain Sunshine. In this episode he blames his breakup with Doctor Girlfriend and drink for his actions.
- Dr. Venture's Shrink Ray makes its third appearance in the show: the first being in Tag Sale – You're It!, and Escape To The House of Mummies, Part II.
- Captain Sunshine spares The Monarch a beating upon the first encounter, saying that he knows he is invunerable. This is in reference to 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.
- When Hank confesses to Captain Sunshine he is not an orphan, Captain Sunshine asks if he lied about working at the circus too. This is a reference to Robin, who worked with his family of acrobats before becoming Robin.
- 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.
Production notes
- 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.