Oracle à la Steampunk

Oracle: An oracle was a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinion, predictions or precognition of the future, inspired by the gods. As such, it is a form of divination. (Wikipedia)

Oracle, as a proper name, can also be any number of things. For example, it is the name of my alma mater’s (USF) student news- paper. It is also the nom de guerre of Barbara “Babs” Gordon, fka Batgirl.

Babs’ Batgirl persona was rather ignominiously retired in 1988, when the Joker shoots Barbara through the spinal cord, leaving her a para- plegic. The character was subsequently given a new lease on life as a computer expert and information broker code-named Oracle, provid- ing intelligence and computer hacking services to assist other super- heroes. The formerly caped-and-cowled crusader continued to wreak havoc on crime from her wheelchair as the founding head of the Birds of Prey.

So much for the background. . .

It is currently somewhat fashionable to cast modern superheroes in alternate realities: one of the favorite settings is the Victorian/ Gaslight periods, bka “Steampunk” (Earth-19 in the DC Multi-verse). In the course of thoroughly reviewing the Smart Max catalog, I spent a considerable amount of time examining Miss Liddell, London's most renowned medium—by both coiled and unwound.

Sculpted by Edgar Skomorowski, who regrettably appears to have sculpted his last free-lance figure for the foreseeable future, this figure bears the manufacturer’s caveat: “DESIGNED FOR EXPERT MODELLERS!” Looking at his multi-media “grey” (cf. the original spoked wheels with the final production variants!), I can well see why. However, in all honesty, a simple assembly diagram would in all probability make such a statement unnecessary.

One of the very few shortcomings of Smart Max miniatures is that not only do they not provide an assembly diagram or a parts list, but there is no virtual aid—save for images of variable quality of the painted prototype--to turn to either. Here’s an excellent example: the Reverend Dudley kit provides four handles for the coffin, yet they are nowhere to be found in any published image of the painted prototype! To make matters worse, there are no locating holes on the sides of the coffin, or pegs on the handholds! Personally, I am of the opinion that they are extraneous; but if they are not to be used per the manufacturers’ build-up, why then provide them?

But I digress. . . The kit may be relatively complex, but with the images available on line, it is nothing a few familiarization and dry-fitting sessions wouldn’t suss out. Eight of the 29 (30, if you include the planked-floor plinth) mostly crisply-cast pieces will not be used. Actually, more time will be spent correcting the few minor casting flaws (air bubbles on one wheel and half a missing lens on the pince-nez (I was thinking of replacing these with some more stylish sunglasses even before the figure arrived!) than will be figuring out the what’s, where’s, and how’s.

And so we have a kit of a crippled spiritualist who is on-call to Scotland Yard: save for her advanced age, this is essentially Barbara Gordon in a Victorian setting! Her appearance can be changed, whether via replacement part/s, modification, or sculpting. And the rest? How would a paraplegic, high-profile crimefighter get about in a Steampunk world. . . ??

Stay tuned!