You know what’s not fair? I’ve been stiffing you guys. I teased info about three of the most must-see panels at NYCC (New York Comic Con) and while I delivered on one of them (Robot Chicken, see here) I’ve yet to tell you about the others. And I already seem to be getting traffic from people in search of info on Doc Hammer and Michael Sinterniklaas so it’s about time I give them something to see/read.
If you’re not already familiar with The Venture Bros. then, to use Adult Swim’s old tagline, get out of the pool. What’s to follow is full of cursing, tomfoolery, and general insanity. Also sarcasm. Actually, lots of sarcasm.
One of the few good shots I got of the panel. From left to right: Doc Hammer, Jackson Publick, Michael Sinterniklaas
NYCC didn’t schedule The Venture Bros. panel to start until a quarter to seven. At 5:30 p.m. the masses were already piling into the cavernous room (the same one used for the Robot Chicken panel) for the chance to see the minds and voices behind their favorite characters. Doc Hammer, Jackson Publick, and surprise guest Michael Sinterniklaas filed onto the stage and while they brought no new clips of Season 4, they did share a few deleted extras from the yet-to-be-released third season DVD. They also showed off what one of the panelists called their “annoying DVD menu” that shows an Atari-quality spaceship repeatedly shooting enemies. It truly was annoying.
With the tease for the DVD drop taken care of, the panelists opened the floor to audience members for questions. That’s when things got interesting. Doc Hammer in his self-proclaimed 118-pound glory — with “eight-inch” guns — took the lead with playful answers, sarcastic responses, and Bob Fosse impressions. When someone asked if he had ever tried to take steroids to bulk up his frame — something he had described as boyish and which required small shirts to be tailored to fit him — he responded, “I tried. All I got was angry and back hair.”
Talk then turned to David Bowie, repeatedly, and Doc Hammer confessed that he would walk through “glass and dog shit” to get to Bowie, though he admitted it would be hard to explain being covered in both upon meeting him.
Other highlights included a random female fan asking Michael out; Doc Hammer negotiating second base for Michael – though, he confessed that he wasn’t sure what second base was anymore (he hazarded a guess at reshaking hands and then debated over vs. under the bra); and Michael coyly not giving a definite answer.
Interspersed with all this, unfortunately, were less than brotherly moments care of some of the fans gathered. I’m from NYC, boo capital of the world, and even I found their reactions deplorable. People yelled at others who had the floor for Q&A, cosplayers relentlessly nitpicked others’ costumes, and the woman next to me bitched about a guy’s pants. Just some guy’s pants. And he was a nice guy.
What the hell?
Anyway, I miraculously made the cut for autographs when the panel ended (albeit with a pounding headache from a day full of loud screenings* and panels**) and got to meet two of my favorite writers in quick succession. (All right, so I didn’t really get to meet Jackson Publick because the guy in front of me was talking to him but we did smile at each other.) I did, however, get to tell Doc Hammer how much I love his paintings and exchanged a quick word with Michael.
And then I took off to Wendys because I was starving.
The end.
*Loud screenings? Yeah, Terminator Salvation. Director McG specifically requested that they pump up the speakers for the clips.
**Loud panels? Yeah, Robot Chicken. Seth Green encouraged us to get into a screaming match with the panel next door. I don’t argue with Seth Green.
