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"SPHINX Rising"
The Venture Bros. episode
The New S.P.H.I.N.X
The "New" New S.P.H.I.N.X. team led by Gary
Episode no. Season 5
Episode 3
Directed by Jackson Publick
Written by Doc Hammer
Production code 502
Original air date June 16th, 2013
Episode Chronology
← Previous
"Venture Libre"
Next →
"Spanakopita!"
List of The Venture Bros. episodes

SPHINX Rising is the third episode of Season 5 and the overall fifty-eighth episode of The Venture Bros.

Synopsis

After accidentally thwarting an O.S.I. sting operation, Gary posts a request on Guildlist to recruit new members into S.P.H.I.N.X. However, his posting attracts the attention of three of S.P.H.I.N.X.'s original members: the ninja Wind Song, snake and fire expert Diamond Backdraft, and the original S.P.H.I.N.X. Commander, who is trying to reunite with his old lover The Countess, whose strengthsuit is now used by Hank. Hank chooses the codename "Destiny" (which Dr. Venture and Hatred both think is a stripper Hank has fallen in love with).

The three original S.P.H.I.N.X. members are trying to go out in a blaze of glory knowing that the cyanide chips in their brains will soon activate. Meanwhile, the Monarch and Dr. Mrs. the Monarch infiltrate the Venture compound posing as "Beaver Inspectors" who are there to to prevent an infestation of beavers, while planting explosives, but afterwards the Monarch discovers a photo in one of Venture's scrapbooks of himself as a child playing with Dr. Venture, a meeting he cannot remember. Hatred has a heart to heart with Dean, who he suspects is cutting himself, and Dean alludes that he has discovered the truth about his cloning.

Finally, S.P.H.I.N.X. headquarters on the Venture Compound is destroyed, along with the flying base, leaving Gary homeless and without an organization.

Episode Cast

First Appearances

Guildslist ad

Henchman 21, as the new head of S.P.H.I.N.X., places a recruitment advertisement on Guildslist (an antagonist-centric version of Craigslist) to attract new members:

Guildslist Ad - SPHINX Rising

Ex B guy ISO Good Guys

Guildslist > personal > strictly platonic

Please report suspected exploitation of minors immediately.

Ex B guy ISO Good Guys

Reply to: viceroy@guildslist.org

Tired of henching for a bad-guy that doesn't appreciate you? Then join me in Sphinx...

This is your chance to make a change in the world!

SPHINX is the premier Intermediate Villainy Deactivating Service--we fight super villains before they become super villains!

Are you ready to join SPHINX and make a change in the world?

No attitudes. 420 friendly (but only in off time!) Drama-free.

Reply if interested

Thanks

• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with commercial solicitations

PostingNo: 6985632555

Connections to Other Episodes

The Invisible Hand of Fate

Home is Where the Hate is

Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel

What Color is Your Cleansuit?

Cultural References

Backdraft (1991)

ChapStick (lip balm)

  • Wind Song warns his wife to remove a tube of ChapStick from their baby's mouth to prevent him from getting diarrhea.

Children of the Corn

Criss Angel

David Crosby

Diamondback snakes

Dune

Eskimo/Inuit

  • The Monarch complains that he is dressed "like an Eskimo" in his winter coat, which his wife corrects by telling him "they're called Inuits".

Furby

G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero (1983-1986)

Jim Carrey

Patton (1970)

  • The scene of Hunter Gathers giving a forceful speech to an audience of the O.S.I.'s new recruits from a spotlit stage is a reference to the award winning 1970 film Patton starring George C. Scott, where General Patton similarly addressed the troops directly.

Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy

Rambo

Robin Williams

Rock of Love with Bret Michaels (2007-2009)

Scooby-Doo

Shake Weight

  • Gary tells Shore Leave that he thinks a S.P.H.I.N.X. gadget he found might actually be a Shake Weight , which is a modified dumbbell that oscillates, purportedly increasing the effects of exercise.

Shōgun (1975)

  • Dean is seen reading a copy of the bestselling 1975 James Clavell novel Shōgun. The book gives an account of the rise of a daimyō (feudal lord) in 1600s Japan, similar to the rise of Gary as leader of S.P.H.I.N.X. in this episode.

Snickers (candy bar)

Star Wars

  • Brock takes his crossbow away from Gary, causing Gary to lament that it made him feel like a Wookiee. When Brock gives it back to him at the end of the episode, he tells him "...You work it like a Wookiee.", which makes Gary smile.

That's So Raven (2003-2007)

The Cosby Show (1984-1992)

The Cure, "Kyoto Song" (1985)

  • When The Monarch comments on the texture of his mask, he quotes lyrics from the chorus of "Kyoto Song" by The Cure: "It's so smooth, it even feels like skin! It tells me how it feels to be new."

Wind Song perfume by Prince Matchabelli

Zach Galifianakis

Production Notes

  • One of the animation directors (Kimson Albert) usually has a "nickname" inserted into his credits. There is no such credit in this episode.

Trivia

  • The character of S.P.H.I.N.X. Commander, a clear parody of Cobra Commander from G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero, was modeled on somebody show co-creator Jackson Publick knew: "I based his civilian look on a customer that we used to have at the comic shop I worked at when I was in high school. He was a skinny guy who thought he was super cool but was clearly a nerd dressing up as a nerd's idea of what a cool guy is--slicked hair, a tight Members Only jacket, and all black. Just a geek wearing the costume of an imagined cool guy."
  • On the DVD commentary track Doc Hammer says that Short Division's design was based on an actual cigarette-smoking child soldier he'd seen footage or photos of--possibly from the Vietnam War--but he couldn't remember his name.
  • Dr. Venture serves Red Mocho Koolers to the "Beaver Inspectors".
Preceded by:
"Venture Libre"
The Venture Bros. episodes
Original Airdate:
June 16th, 2013
Followed by:
"Spanakopita!"
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