c. 2014: I try watching The Venture Bros. on Netflix. After barely making it through the "first" episode (the pilot), I do not continue.
Jan 21, 2023: I give The Venture Bros. another shot. Getting into the "real" episodes (and having developed a slightly meaner sense of humor over the past decade) I thoroughly enjoy even the first season of the show.
January 25: I post on Instagram that "I fear I will not be able to stop myself from doing a cosplay from [The Venture Bros.]" alongside a picture of Orpheus.
February 1: I tweet "dangerously close to deciding to con crunch Dr Orpheus for ECCC" - at this point, the con is less than 30 days away. I have not even started the third season of Venture Bros.
February 4: A quilting triangle and a variety of purple fabric purchased at Pacfic Fabrics.
February 7: I spend a couple days adjusting a secondhand dressing robe to have longer sleeves and black pockets to match the Doctor's look.
February 10: Cape process begins. I already had a cape/cloak McCall pattern for Ghostface.
February 18: Surveying my current progress, I tweet that "I may have gone too far in a few places". I resolve to use larger triangles for the center portions of the cape lining.
February 20: I purchase additional fabric - enough purple to finalize the lining, and the black for the exterior of the cape. This includes a lucky find of clearanced Halloween fabric with a skull pattern - fitting for a necromancer, and recalling the Venture Bros. logo.
February 23: Wig (purchased secondhand from Lumikha) styled.
February 25: I take a break to attend Chibi Chibi Con (though I work on the cape before and after going there).
February 26: "Order of the Triad" emblem stitched onto rear of capelet.
March 1: Dracula trophy created. First test fit and photos of the completed cape.
March 4: I cosplay Doctor Orpheus at ECCC, the first time wearing it out.
At some point after ECCC, I remake the collar to be larger and rest a bit better around my neck.
July 27:The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart is released on video. I dress up like Orpheus again and make pizza rolls for the viewing experience.
February 2024: I purchase a smoking jacket in a brighter red that more closely resembles the garment from the show.
Details and accessories
Business cards
Hidden "Order of the Triad" icon in cape lining
Potential future upgrades
Shoes: "Showdown at Cremation Creek (Part I)" has a line that suggests Orpheus wears golf shoes. He's typically depicted with black-and-gray dress shoes of some variety. Usually I just wear "dad shoes" for comfort (that I feel are character-appropriate enough).
Pants: Orpheus wears pretty tight pants (black, variously pinstriped or broad-striped with gray) that, curiously, seem to fit stirrup-style over the sides of his shoes and under the arch. I don't want to wear tights but maybe some slim-fit dress pants would be nicer.
Makeup: His age isn't explicitly given, but the graying hair and wrinkles (and teenage daughter) put Byron at well over a decade older than me. I'll probably try a bit of age makeup next time.