Christopher McCulloch
Encyclopedia
Christopher McCulloch also known by the pseudonym
Jackson Publick, is an American comic book
and television writer, storyboard
artist, and voice actor
known for his work on several Tick properties and for the animated television series The Venture Bros.
He authored the comic book miniseries The Tick: Karma Tornado, a spin-off of The Tick
, and was a staff writer and storyboard artist on the 1994 Tick animated series. He also worked on storyboards for PB&J Otter
and Sheep in the Big City
and as a writer on the 2001 Tick live-action series. He created The Venture Bros. in the early 2000s and produced its 2003 pilot episode. He and Doc Hammer
are the series' co-creators, writers, editors, and directors, producing the show through their animation company Astro-Base Go. McCulloch voices over 20 characters in the series, including Hank Venture, The Monarch, and Sergeant Hatred.
, he had several comics published in the Rutgers Review and was a frequent writer for The Medium
. During this time, his employer published his superhero spoof Cement Shooz. When McCulloch promoted it at a comic book convention in New York, he caught the eye of Ben Edlund
, creator of The Tick, who offered McCulloch the chance to write for a Tick
spin-off comic while Edlund wrote for the animated series. The issues Chris wrote were Karma Tornado 1 through 4, and on issue 3 he tackled both writing and pencil duties. When FOX
increased their order, McCulloch was drafted as a regular staff writer of the series as well as a storyboard artist.
The Venture Bros. itself was conceived first as a short comic story for Monkeysuit Press, a comics anthology of which he is the editor. Working on The Tick (and listening to J.G. Thirlwell's first Steroid Maximus
album) helped McCulloch translate the story into cartoon form. He wrote the first draft in 2000 while he was attempting to pitch something else to Comedy Central
, which turned it down. At the time, he was also working as a storyboard artist for Mo Willems
's Sheep in the Big City
and for PB&J Otter
.
After this, The Tick was picked up in its live action form, and McCulloch moved to California. During this he met Patrick Warburton
, who later went on to voice Brock Samson. When The Tick was canceled, he moved back to New York City and pitched a revised version of The Venture Bros. to Comedy Central again. Though it was turned down again, he contacted Jeff Nodelman of Noodlesoup Productions (which became World Leaders Entertainment). Adult Swim
later picked up the series and the pilot was produced in 2003.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Jackson Publick, is an American comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
and television writer, storyboard
Storyboard
Storyboards are graphic organizers in the form of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of pre-visualizing a motion picture, animation, motion graphic or interactive media sequence....
artist, and voice actor
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
known for his work on several Tick properties and for the animated television series The Venture Bros.
The Venture Bros.
The Venture Bros. is an American animated television series that premiered on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim on February 16, 2003. The series mixes action and comedy together while it chronicles the adventures of the Venture family: well-meaning but incompetent teenagers Hank and Dean Venture; their...
He authored the comic book miniseries The Tick: Karma Tornado, a spin-off of The Tick
The Tick (comic book)
The Tick was a comic book series created by Ben Edlund in 1988 and originally published in black-and-white by the New England Comics store in Boston, Massachusetts. The series provided modest beginnings for its title character, who would later feature in his own television programs and merchandise...
, and was a staff writer and storyboard artist on the 1994 Tick animated series. He also worked on storyboards for PB&J Otter
PB&J Otter
PB&J Otter is an animated children's series which premiered on Playhouse Disney on March 15, 1998. A total of 65 episodes were produced during the course of its three season run, with the "farewell" episode airing on September 24, 2000. The series centered on the Otter family who lived in the rural...
and Sheep in the Big City
Sheep in the Big City
Sheep in the Big City is an American animated television series which ran on Cartoon Network for two seasons, from November 4, 2000 to April 7, 2002....
and as a writer on the 2001 Tick live-action series. He created The Venture Bros. in the early 2000s and produced its 2003 pilot episode. He and Doc Hammer
Doc Hammer
Eric A. "Doc" Hammer is an American musician, actor, film and television writer, voice actor, and painter. He performed in the gothic rock bands Requiem in White from 1985 to 1995 and Mors Syphilitica from 1995 to 2002, both with his then-wife Lisa Hammer...
are the series' co-creators, writers, editors, and directors, producing the show through their animation company Astro-Base Go. McCulloch voices over 20 characters in the series, including Hank Venture, The Monarch, and Sergeant Hatred.
Career
Christopher McCulloch worked in his hometown comic book shop as a teenager, and in his spare time he would write odd comic stories. While a student at RutgersRutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, he had several comics published in the Rutgers Review and was a frequent writer for The Medium
The Medium (Rutgers)
The Medium is the student-run weekly entertainment and comedy newspaper at Rutgers University. The paper refers to itself as "The Entertainment Weekly of Rutgers University."...
. During this time, his employer published his superhero spoof Cement Shooz. When McCulloch promoted it at a comic book convention in New York, he caught the eye of Ben Edlund
Ben Edlund
Ben Edlund is a comic book artist and writer and television screenwriter. Prior to his involvement in TV, he was best known as the creator of the satirical superhero character The Tick. He is currently an executive producer and staff writer for The CW series Supernatural.-Background:Edlund was...
, creator of The Tick, who offered McCulloch the chance to write for a Tick
The Tick (comic book)
The Tick was a comic book series created by Ben Edlund in 1988 and originally published in black-and-white by the New England Comics store in Boston, Massachusetts. The series provided modest beginnings for its title character, who would later feature in his own television programs and merchandise...
spin-off comic while Edlund wrote for the animated series. The issues Chris wrote were Karma Tornado 1 through 4, and on issue 3 he tackled both writing and pencil duties. When FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
increased their order, McCulloch was drafted as a regular staff writer of the series as well as a storyboard artist.
The Venture Bros. itself was conceived first as a short comic story for Monkeysuit Press, a comics anthology of which he is the editor. Working on The Tick (and listening to J.G. Thirlwell's first Steroid Maximus
Steroid Maximus
Steroid Maximus is an instrumental side project of J.G. Thirlwell. Thirlwell is best known for his main band, Foetus. Steroid Maximus contains elements of jazz, big band, avant-garde, soundtrack and exotica styles.-History:...
album) helped McCulloch translate the story into cartoon form. He wrote the first draft in 2000 while he was attempting to pitch something else to Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
, which turned it down. At the time, he was also working as a storyboard artist for Mo Willems
Mo Willems
Mo Willems is an American writer, animator, and children's books author/illustrator.-Early life:Willems was raised in New Orleans, where he graduated from Trinity Episcopal School and the Isidore Newman School. He graduated cum laude from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He married...
's Sheep in the Big City
Sheep in the Big City
Sheep in the Big City is an American animated television series which ran on Cartoon Network for two seasons, from November 4, 2000 to April 7, 2002....
and for PB&J Otter
PB&J Otter
PB&J Otter is an animated children's series which premiered on Playhouse Disney on March 15, 1998. A total of 65 episodes were produced during the course of its three season run, with the "farewell" episode airing on September 24, 2000. The series centered on the Otter family who lived in the rural...
.
After this, The Tick was picked up in its live action form, and McCulloch moved to California. During this he met Patrick Warburton
Patrick Warburton
Patrick John Warburton is an American actor of television, film, and voice. He is best known for his several TV roles, including the title role of The Tick, David Puddy on Seinfeld, the evil Johnny Johnson on NewsRadio, and anchorman Jeb Denton on Less Than Perfect...
, who later went on to voice Brock Samson. When The Tick was canceled, he moved back to New York City and pitched a revised version of The Venture Bros. to Comedy Central again. Though it was turned down again, he contacted Jeff Nodelman of Noodlesoup Productions (which became World Leaders Entertainment). Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
later picked up the series and the pilot was produced in 2003.