What happened to H.E.L.P.eR.? 'Venture Bros.' creators weigh in
For seven seasons, a beeping robot called H.E.L.P.eR. (aka Helper) was ride-or-die for Team Venture. He's traversed the globe, hurtled through space, and survived all kinds of catastrophes. But in the series finale film, The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart, this robo-buddy took a hit that has some fans asking: Is Helper dead?
Mashable took this question to The Venture Bros. creators, Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick, during an interview — ahead of the SAG/AFTRA strike — that dug into the final chapter's obstacles, cut scenes, and its deeper meanings. But when it came to Helper, canonically he is alive.
Did H.E.L.P.eR. die in Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart?
In the earth-rattling climax of The Venture Bros. finale, Helper joins forces with Doc Venture, Sergeant Hatred, The Monarch, and 21 to bring down the HelperPods that have lifted Venture Tower into the stratosphere. He's locked and loaded with a rifle in his hand. But the electromagnetism generated by these dangerous doo-dads rips him to pieces as soon as he rolls onto the scene.
While we see the rest of this rescue crew kick into action in the Voltron-like device J.J. built, Helper is out of the action, down but not out. Asked he is dead, Publick responded firmly, "No."
"I mean, we tore him apart, but he's a robot," Publick said. "That's happened to him before. His head was in Brock's chest for a while but he's —"
"Walking eye!" Doc Hammer interjected, recalling the time Rusty had retrofitted the bot into a flashy monstrosity. Hammer then added, "He was a walking eye. He was in Brock's chest. We beat him up so many times."
Publick noted that Helper does re-appear in Radiant Blood, after being torn to bits. "He's in the last scene. He's not flapping his little mouth or anything like that. But he's there."
It's true. But amid the motley crew gathered in the living room of Ben's rustic cabin, even eagle-eyed friends might have overlooked him. Look again. While The Monarch and his Mrs. chat in the bedroom, Jefferson Twilight, Dr. Orpheus, Rusty Venture, Dean Venture, Brock Samson, Henchman 21, and Sergeant Hatred sit near a blazing fire —with what remains of Helper.
The robot's decapitated head is nestled in the beefy arm of Sergeant Hatred. Sure, he's not beeping and bubbly, but he's come back from worse. Rusty, Dean, or Ben can surely get him back on his wheels again.
So, fret not Venture fans. Helper lives!
The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart will be released on July 21 on digital and July 25 on Blu-ray.
This interview was conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.