  |
This article's content is marked as Mature The page Dr. Orpheus contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, and/or graphic violent images which may be disturbing to some. Mature articles are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older. If you are 18 years or older or are comfortable with graphic material, you are free to view this page. Otherwise, you should close this page and view another page. |
| “ | But if you are after mere parlor tricks, you will be sorely disappointed. For if I reach behind your ear, it will not be a nickle I pull out, but your VERY SOUL! | „ |
| ~ Dr. Orpheus |
Dr. Byron Orpheus is a major supporting character on the Adult Swim show The Venture Bros, a necromancer who rents out part of the Venture Compound from Dr. Venture, along with his daughter Triana Orpheus.
He is voiced by Steven Rattazzi.
Personality[]
Dr. Orpheus is an expert necromancer, and, until recently, the only one of his kind seen on the show. He is head-strong, tends to be unaware of the perils of most situations, and is quite melodramatic even in everyday situations. He has quite a large, extensive vocabulary he freely uses, though his theatrics tend to spill over into his more everyday activities (such as offering a snack of pizza rolls with an unnecessarily dramatic flourish, or warning people away from the bathroom because he had Taco Bell for lunch). Orpheus' actions and speech are usually accompanied within the show by overly suspenseful string music which adds to his campy, over-the-top presentation. Unlike some more conventional characters, Dr. Orpheus sometimes uses his great powers in very mundane ways (he can be seen using telekinesis to help prepare dinner in the episode "Ghosts of the Sargasso"). He seems to be somewhat self-conscious of the fact that despite his abilities, he leads a rather ordinary life. Perhaps this is best illustrated by his proclamation that although he only holds a bachelor's degree in communications from a community college (with a minor in women's studies), he has been granted a doctorate from "a higher power than a mere college professor" - his master admits Orpheus is his "greatest student". Dr. Orpheus mentions in that he teaches "conjuring" at The New School.
Despite his initially imposing necromancer persona, Orpheus is actually one of the more benevolent and morally balanced characters in the series, as contrasted with the cynical and amoral Dr. Venture. He is helpful, pleasant, and genuinely cares about people. He also acknowledges his job is to help preserve the fabric of reality from supernatural forces, suggesting that he has given up a normal life (which he seems to desire) in order to serve others.
Story[]
Very few details of Dr. Orpheus' early life were revealed. What is known is that he was once an aspiring hero, studying under The Master to be an even more powerful magician, while going on adventures with his teammates The Alchemist and Jefferson Twilight under their team Order of the Triad. After he married Tatyana and had Triana, the Triad broke up, as Orpheus focused his full time on his tutelage under The Master. However, he overworked and focused too much on his magic and studies which caused him to neglect his family. That would lead to Tatyana leaving Orpheus for one of his students, another necromancer known as The Outrider. While he managed to keep custody of Triana, he lost his home and most of his possessions.
His first appearance on the show comes soon after he begins renting property from Dr. Thaddeus "Rusty" Venture on the Venture Compound. He moves into a remodeled section of the compound, previously unused since its days as an arachnidresearch wing. He intervenes in trying to rescue Brock and the boys from the Joy Can, but Dean's feelings for Triana prove the key to their freedom. Disgusted by the revelation that the machine is powered by an orphan's heart, he destroys it with bolts of mystic power.
In Ghosts of the Sargasso, he finds Jonas Venture's notes regarding Major Tom and puts the boys in contact with the pilot's widow, and Tag Sale – You're It!, in which he helps the Ventures with their yard sale. The original Team Venture briefly mistook Dr. Orpheus for a villain in Past Tense. When Action Man grazes his arm with a bullet and attempts to attack him again after learning that he is a friend, Orpheus predicts the elderly hero's death from a stroke in the near future.
Orpheus played a pivotal role in The Trial of the Monarch, using his powers to view the past in serve as a witness. Before he can testify to The Monarch's innocence, however, Guild agents led by the Phantom Limb immobilize everyone in the courtroom and erase their memories of the intrusion. Strangers inform Phantom Limb that memory wipes don't work on necromancers, but Limb says that necromancers take to subliminal messages "Like cancer to a prostate". Limb tells frozen Orpheus that if he claims that the Monarch is guilty then Orpheus will get an arch nemesis from the Guild much sooner. Orpheus complies and the Monarch is sent to jail.
In Return to Spider-Skull Island, Orpheus is asked to take care of Hank and Dean while Brock attends to their father during a medical emergency. When the boys run away in a mistaken fit of jealousy, Orpheus decides to watch over them from a distance and keep them out of trouble. Although he fails to prevent their arrest, he drives Dr. Venture and Brock to and from the prison to bail them out. Orpheus allows the boys to drive several hundred yards ahead of them to give them more freedom, but two of The Monarch's henchmen accidentally kill the boys in a fiery explosion. Orpheus is wracked with guilt and misery over his perceived role in their deaths, and finally resolves to resurrect them. He is unable to locate their souls in the astral plane, however, and is horrified to learn that the boys have been repeatedly cloned by their father. He and Dr. Venture then go into a debate over the merits of science versus magic which sets the tone for their relationship for the rest of the series.
Trivia[]
- He is a parody of Marvel's Doctor Strange, although his appearance also bears a striking resemblance to the DC Comics supervillain Ra's al Ghul.
[]
 Heroes
| ||
|
Brock Samson | Dean Venture | Dermott Fictel | Dr. Orpheus | H.E.L.P.eR. | Hank Venture | Jonas Venture Jr. | Lloyd Venture | Nikki Fictel | O.S.I. | Rusty Venture | S.P.H.I.N.X. | Shore Leave | Team Venture | The Alchemist | Pete White | Billy Quizboy | ||