Excessive happiness covering a pitch black inner core? Why, it's me in website form!
But seriously, it reminds me of that
happy mind control commercial from Serenity.
Ordinarily I'd be all about the full browser window image background, but I really like the faux-children's book aesthetic of your first design. It really helps highlight the discordant nature of what your selling (
happy joyous revenge). Go with that one. Man, that bug is so happy. Along with strongly establishing your concept, it's also a clean design that presents it's content well. The navigating is well placed and easy to follow in it's little banner, and there's plenty of room for text and objects in your large content area. The typography is also excellent. It works together with the layout, logo, and coloscheme to sell the totally wrong kids book aesthetic you are going for.
I'd mix in a few pictures in your about us section, 'cuz that's one hell of a wall of text. I'd also add just a little more detail and pattern to the images. Look at the art out of Miroslav Sasek's
"This is ..." books for inspiration.
An excellent idea! I'm excited to see you pull it off.