Victorian Masters of Evil

I did the first one of these years ago because I was sick of seeing half-arsed attempts at Victorian Science Fiction/Steampunk superhero projects on the Lead Adventure Forum, which were kind of the flavour of the month. What I wanted people to do was to put more thought into the concept than just gluing cogs on Iron Man and calling it a day, which was something that was happening quite a bit. Perhaps it was due to my background in Film and Literature, but I just thought there was way more to the concept than just "Bruce Waynesworth" donning a costume to battle "Jolly Jack the Joker". So I pulled out some of my Victorian Literature notes and Silver Age comics and got to work mashing together the JLA and various texts relevant to the era. 

Years later, my brain seems wired for this shit now, as I can't stop coming up with more ideas for the same concept. Is it because I just keep reading comics and Victorian Literature? Probably, but that's not going to stop me. Hopefully though, I'm coming to the end this time. I mean, I've dipped down to the B-list pretty hard to get some of this to work, what's next, mashing up Sam Weller and Wong? Actually, that's pretty good. Maybe a Victorian era, British take on SHIELD, with Samuel Pickwick as Nick Fury and Weller as Dum-Dum Dugan? Sam already has the bowler hat and mustache, so it kind of works, right? Anyway, let's just get going before I do even more of these.


Masters of the New World 
For all the heroes that the new age of reason, discovery and technology has brought, there has come with it those who would stand for the causes of destruction, ignorance and greed. Individually powerful, some of these self-styled "Masters" have whole armies at their beck and call, a few even ruling over entire countries. The nightmares of all right-thinking subjects of Her Glorious Majesty came to fruition when, one day, it was discovered that several of these foreign devils had banded together to battle against the Empire. May God save the Queen.

Adam (Ultron) 

Created by some deranged mind, a German, no less, "Adam" is a man-made monster, born of alchemy and other foul practices, it killed its creator and vanished into the icy North. Many thought that was the end of the macabre tale, until similar creations started to be discovered wandering the streets of major cities across the world. It transpired that neither Adam nor his creator's methods were truly lost and that Adam had begun creating his own "monsters" with which to gain his revenge upon the world. Just how many creatures Adam has created and how far his influence has spread cannot be determined, but armed polar expeditions are being formed to try and gauge the scope of the threat.


Fu Mandarin Chu (Mandarin) 

A veteran of the Opium Wars, the Mandarin sorcerer known alternatively as The Daemon, David Lo Pan and Fu Manchu has made it his life's mission to bring down the British Empire. Manipulating organised crime, drugs and prostitution rings, Fu has garnered a great deal of temporal power to go along with his mystical might, gathering allies and followers from around the world to build a veritable army of Evil. Operating from the shadows, few know that they even face the threat of Fu Mandarin Chu until it is far too late to do anything about it.


Helmut Robur-Zemo (Baron Zemo)

The eldest son of French and Prussian nobility, Hemlut Robur-Zemo embraced the technology of the new century with a gusto most young, wealthy men apply only to the pursuit of drink and women. Quickly becoming an accomplished areonaut and big game hunter, Helmut grew bored of the legal fun that could be had in Europe and moved out to the colonies, where less oversight would enable him to hunt the most dangerous game, Englishmen. Swooping down from the skies in his ornithopter, Helmut harried British troops and farmers across Africa and Asia for the mere sport of it, robbing where he had to to keep himself in fuel and ammunition. Helmut's skills attracted the attention of foreign warlords and he soon found himself a solider-for-hire, taking on British Colonial interests for the coin and challenge. 

Professor Lindenbrock (Mole Man)

Thought to have vanished into an Icelandic volcano on a misguided quest to find the Hollow Earth, Professor Lindenbrock survived his foolhardy escapade and found himself in a world he could have scarcely imagined. Inside the Earth, lit by a mysterious "internal sun", ancient creatures still survived and many terrestrial forms grew to incredible size, creating a veritable world of monsters. His mind gradually warped by the unearthly light and strange new foods he was forced to eat to survive, Lindenbrock became convinced that the life of the Hollow Earth was superior to that which dwelt on the surface, and that only he could correct this imbalance. Using his newfound affinity for the monsters with which he shared his subterranean world, Lindenbrock began raids on major surface cities, sowing destruction wherever he went, retreating to the Hollow Earth only when he was opposed by the heroes of the Empire. 

Pharaoh En Sabah Nur - (Apocalypse)

When archaeologists and explorers first suggested that the process of Ancient Egyptian mummification was an attempt to prepare the body of the Pharaoh for a return to life, little did they know that it would work. A forgotten Pharaoh of a dynasty erased from history by those wanting to forget the horrors wrought by En Sabah Nur, the God-King, the Living Apocalypse. Awoken when his tomb was disturbed, En Sabah Nur began a rampage of death and destruction until military forces were able to take advantage of his weakened state and drive him into the desert. Swearing vengeance and his intention to conquer the new world he had awakened in, En Saba Nur began to gather fanatical followers to his banner, building an army with which to raid Egypt before turning his attention to the world.

From the Archives - 15

I was worried all of these would be repainted Heroclix, but looks like I've stumbled on the stash of metal at long last.

Bateu: Painted after his Stand Alone Complex design, I'm a little disappointed this member of Public Security Section 9 is without his "Standard Issue Big Gun", but the action pose is great. Converted Hasslefree. 

Mole Man: On day I realised I had a bunch of giant monsters, but no one to lead them. Thankfully I found Mole Man gathering dust in a box of spare miniatures. Heroclix. 

Conner MacLeod: I honestly forgot I had this miniature, I think I got him in a Kickstarter? Anyway, a sword-wielding immortal is certainly super enough for my games. Studio Miniatures. 
 

Punisher: Yes, there's better, metal, "not-" versions of this character available, but I love the posing on this one and the skull detailed vest is very cool. Heroclix. 

Mina Murray: I wish the dress were a little more modest, and the sword makes no sense, but finding a decent mini of Mina is pretty tricky, so this one will do for now. Ironclad. 

Captain Nemo: Ok, so I went with this "younger" Nemo because I had plans of doing a Nemo-theme army for the steampunk miniatures battle game GASLIGHT, but the player base died away and it never went anywhere. Still a nice model I feel no need to replace, though. Reaper. 

Team Ideas: Victorian X-Men

I keep thinking I'm done with this concept, but then I come up with more ideas. This one, I'm considering building, as I have most of the minis lying around for other projects. This is probably going to be one of those teams I end up selling on once I've played a few games, unless this idea of Victorian Age superheroes takes off at my local club and/or store. Anyway, you know the idea by now. This time, it's X-Men. 

Moreau's Menagerie 

Exiled and disgraced evolutionist, Doctor Charles Moreau, was once a respected colleague of Charles Darwin, until his own book, "On the Origin of Crypto-Species", was published, attracting derision and outright mockery from his peers. Moreau was obsessed with the idea that as-yet-undiscovered species would provide the "Missing Link" evidence of evolution between man and lower animal forms. To this end, Moreau funded lavish expeditions to the far reaches of the globe in search of creatures of myth and legend. After years of failed exploration and mounting debts, Moreau had exhausted his family fortune and was forced to flee to isolated Muir Island, where he began to collect his "Menagerie" himself, using clues gleaned from the failed expeditions he'd previously only financed. Be it through blind luck or some kind of twisted genius, Moreau found and gathered several "Crypto-Creatures", which he began to train and educate with plans of simultaneously proving his theories and gaining revenge on his enemies.


Doctor Moreau

(Eureka Miniatures Lucifer Hardlove in Steam Chair)

Often called "Professor M" by his collection of creatures, Moreau, despite his obsessive and delusional behaviour, possesses a unique and intuitive genius, not just for zoology, but also engineering and education. Though it seems impossible, Moreau has been able to educate he captured creatures beyond taming and training, even getting some of them to adopt a form of speech. This training has not been without risk, however, with one of Moraeu's failed attempts costing him the use of his legs and forcing him to design a Steam-Powered conveyance to continue his work. There was an unexpected upside to this turn of events however, with the strength and power of Moreau's new conveyance enabling the aging scientist to join his Menagerie on the "missions" he sent them on, leading them from the field, rather than with instructions from afar.


Armadillo

(Reaper Miniatures "Werearmadillo")

Found deep in the Sumatran jungles, this creature, called "Antonio" by Moreau, was thought to be nothing more than a giant species of Armadillo, but the truth was far more shocking. In isolation and away from any major human settlement, another intelligence had emerged from a different evolutionary path, that of Armadillo Sapiens! Although not terribly intelligent by human standards, Antonio was able to learn enough English to make himself understood, quickly becoming a fan of wrestling and other violent sporting pursuits. In a fight, Antonio, much like his less-evolved kin, relies upon his thick hide for protection, though his raking claws are capable of rending many foes asunder with a single swipe.


Sasquatch  

(Heroclix Sasquatch)

In the wilds of Canada's back-country woods, something not-quite human stalks the gloom. Is it a beast in the shape of a man, or a man who has the manner of a beast? None are quite sure as to the true nature of the creature, but Moreau was perhaps the first to capture one and return it to his Muir Island hideaway. Although the Sasquatch is clearly ape-descended, just how close the relationship to man is remains to be confirmed by hard science. In battle, the Sasquatch is a rampaging behemoth, battering aside all foes with swings of its massive arms, unleashing fearsome bellows of rage. Just how under control Moreau has the Sasquatch, which he has quizzically named "Alpha", is debatable, but few are willing to brave Muir Island long enough to find out.


Marrina 

(Studio Miniatures "The Creature") 

 

The trek to the Black Lagoon is so arduous and filled with peril that few survive and return, but Moreau has the devil's own luck, returning not only with his life, but with a living specimen. After some "investigation" Moreau discovered that the creature he had captured was a female, and pregnant, ideal for a captive breeding programme. Making a "nest" in one of the stagnant pools around the island, the creature is fairly territorial of its eggs, not bothering the other inhabitants so much, but viciously attacking anyone else that comes near. Just how long the eggs will take to hatch is unknown, but Moreau is attempting to build trust with the creature so that he can steal a few spawnlings for vivisection.

Wolfsbane 

 

(Westwind Productions Jagerhund Rottweiler) 

The story of Rahne Sinclair, an ordinary girl from a small Scottish village, is a tragedy torn from the pages of a Gothic Penny Dreadful. Walking out on the moors one day, Rahne was attacked by a strange creature, but managed to escape with only minor injuries. A month later, on the night of the full moon, a change came over Rahne, she was transformed into the mythical werewolf, killing anyone who got in her way and escaping into the wilds. When Professor Moreau came to Rahne's village, posing as the headmaster of an exclusive school for special children, her parents were only too happy to hand Rahne over. Stuck on an isolated island with a madman experimenting on her is hardly Rahne's idea of a good life, but she hopes that one day a cure might be found and she can live among people once again. 

Miniatures Finished: 13/10/19

Wow, I think my backlog of getting these posts to a publishable state is actually catching up with my painting. Going to have to fix that. I have been painting a lot of Kill Team and Seven Years War on commission, but now maybe it's time to get back to supers.

Captain Marvel: So glad I already had one of these after the SHAZAM! film came out, he got shifted to the painting box pretty quickly after the DVD dropped. Heroclix. 

Medusa: Not a character I was ever really thinking about buying, but I got the Queen of the Inhumans in a job lot and she painted up quite nicely. Heroclix. 

John Carter: Another small expansion to the growing roster of Victorian Age Supers, John Carter will hopefully see play in a number of games. Tin Man Miniatures. 
 

Kroenen: This move-only Hellboy Villain was a must-buy as soon as I saw someone was making it. Assuming the long-promised 1949 Secrets of the Third Reich second edition rules ever materialise, he'll join my German forces as a character. Avolka Castings. 

Mojo: Another character that was a random pick out of the box to paint, I love the look of Mojo, but don't see him really being included in too many games. Maybe something in a "Contest of Champions" vein? Heroclix. 

Penguins: I was cutting up a Penguin (the Batman villain) to use in a commission project and noticed I had a few spare penguins (the animals) on his base. I like some bits and pieces scattered around tables for fun, so keeping these and painting them up was an easy decision. Heroclix. 
 

Superhero Media: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2004)

I was considering covering the various comics that make up The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen before talking about the infamous film, but I actually think the film is a better starting point for this whole thing. Much as I like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, the comics really are something of an acquired taste, being more about literary references than super heroics and featuring no small amount of graphically sexual and violent content. Most people that game the League tend to focus more on the idea of their being a more traditional superhero team, which makes sense for a tabletop game, as there is only so much space for something like a commentary on literary colonialism. In this, I've never found The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen film to be particularly objectionable, though it is certainly far from a great film. I really don't understand the argument that the film is a poor adaptation of the comic either, as a straight adaptation would be practically impossible with the content contained within the various comics. 

In terms of being a superhero film, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is pretty standard for a pre-MCU effort, being more of an action film with the dressings of Superheroes and Victorian Science Fiction, though the design work, especially of the Nautilus and Nemo's technology is excellent. The cast too, is brilliant, and having a person of South Asian descent playing Nemo is a nice touch, but I guess we have to talk about Sean Connery, right? The popular take is that Connery found LXG so bad that he quit acting, but the actual truth is that he and the director, Stephen Norrignton, had such a toxic working relationship that the great actor finally decided to retire after such an unpleasant filming experience. This is a bit of a sad note, as Connery has been decent to excellent over his long career, and is still missed as a presence in the landscape of cinema. 

As much as I am a fan of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics, I really can't hate the film; yes, it's goofy and over the top, but it's all in good fun. Things like Mina Murray being an actual vampire, Dorian Grey and an Adult Tom Sawyer as a Secret Service agent I really like, as they're not too far out of the ethos of the League as seen through the lens of this film, though I am honestly sick of Edward Hyde being an Incredible Hulk stand-in, even if I do that in my own games; it's just lazy. In terms of putting together your own Victorian hero teams, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is far from the worst source material you could find, even if just for the visual elements of Nemo's technology and other super-science, I know I'd love a set of the armoured troopers with automatic rifles. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is not some undiscovered gem, or a maligned cult classic, it's a trashy, fun superhero action film in the vein of many similar efforts from the 1990s and early 2000s. I can't say I'll be going back to it anytime soon, but I do still find LXG to be a fun watch.

5 More Superhero Wargames Armies Ideas

Given that absolutely no one seemed interested in my last article about building superhero-themed miniature wargames armies, I decided I just had to do another one. Seriously, that article is probably one of my least viewed, it's crazy. The lack of interest, however, hasn't stopped my brain from coming up with more and more ideas for wargames armies inspired by superhero media, hell, I even built a Warhammer 40,000 Deathwatch army based on the Asgardians from Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Anyway, if you're superhero inclined and wargames inclined, here are some more ideas on combining the two in games other than SuperSystem and the like.

Wilderbots (Marvel)

(really wanted a better picture, sorry) 

Concept: On the distant planet of Sakaar, technology has regressed and society is slipping backwards into feudalism. Out in the wastelands, the dread "Wilderbots" roam free, terrorising the natives, destroying crops and raising villages. The Wilderbots are malfunctioning and broken robots that have gotten loose and exist only to destroy, a great wargames army concept if ever I heard one. Seriously, I've been tempted to build this army since I first read Planet Hulk. 

Army Building: What immediately springs to mind for me is that the Wilderbots would make a great "counts as" army for Tyranids for 40K. The army would be made up of rampaging robots off all shapes and sizes, so something that lets you build in more than just "standard infantry size" is a must. An alternative would be something like Chaos Daemons or even an army with plenty of cavalry and tanks. 

Models: There is such a wealth of robot, android and cyborg miniatures available that I would be doing a disservice to try and list them all. Add the number of toys and models that also fit the bill and you'll be spoiled for choice. If it were my army, I'd be looking at Star Wars, Heroclix and Horrorclix to fill out the bulk, as they're the only ranges in plastic that aren't GW Necrons.

GCPD (DC)

Concept: Making a wargames army of police may seem a little odd, but a quick look at Batman No Man's Land or Battle for Bludhaven and you'll see that Gotham PD is a force to be reckoned with. This isn't something that would be a huge army, but more of a platoon at most, with more of a focus on characters and interesting army building than ranks of troops. Sure, Jim Godon is your "General", but don't forget elite SWAT teams lead by Brandon or Petit, "scout squads" of tertiary Batman allies like Huntress and Spolier and, of course, Batman as your elite assassin or maybe orbital bombardment token. 

Army Building: I've covered this a bit above, but there really is no limit to this if you think about it a bit. I'm not going to make a political comment on militarised police forces (much), but surely Gotham has been issued with APCs and sonic canons from the Wayne Foundation, and we know that Gordon is happy to use the myth of Batman to his advantage, which could translate to the tabletop as some kind of punji pit or minefield thinning out the thugs. Hell, Clayface joins the force in one continuity! There's your Dreadnought/Giant/Mech right there! 

Miniatures: There is plenty available in the Knight Models range, but cost may be prohibitive, for a cheaper alternative, Heroclix and Modern Police are pretty widely available. Most of the characters (Gordon, Montoya, Bullock etc) are in the Heroclix range, not to mention there are plenty of great APCs, police vans and cars around in toy lines and even 3D prints. 


Africans (Tarzan)

Concept: Basically, what if The Legend of Tarzan had ended with a proper battle and not the cop-out we got? Seriously, that still bugs me. Natives, apes, lions, wildebeest, crocodiles and snakes, all led by Tarzan himself, that's a heck of a force to put on the table. I've already made something like this for Empire of the Dead, but there is plenty of scope for larger armies in games like GASLIGHT or Dragon Rampant.

Army Building: Obviously, Tarzan will be a combat-based leader, like a Space Marine Captain or Ork Warboss, but the rest of the army should be close-combat heavy as well, though the native tribes could have some mild ranged attacks to represent spears and bows. Large apes could form units of fast-moving shock troops, with crocodiles and snakes forming ambush units or trap counters. 

Miniatures: Plenty of companies make Tarzan, I bought the Tin Man one because it has a good size and presence, but the Reaper version is also pretty nice. When it comes to animals, I tend to shop at Eureka, because of the price and range, and also because I can drive there in around half an hour. Once again, Reaper and Wizkids do a decent range of affordable animals. 


Space Knights (Marvel/IDW)

Concept: Rom has a complex history between the Marvel and IDW runs, but basically, the Space Knights are an alien race who have sacrificed their bodies to become the ultimate cyborg warriors to battle the Dire Wraith menace. Each Space Knight is the master of a particular martial skill or weapon, making them individually formidable and almost unstoppable en masse. Sent across the galaxy to hunt down and eliminate Dire Wraith Infiltrators, the Space Knights are a law unto themselves. 

Army Building: The Space Knights would be an ideal basis for any gaming army that focuses on a small number of elite troops, like Grey Knights, Deathwatch or Enforcers. There are characters like Rom, Starshine and Terminator for leadership roles, plus plenty of disposable background Space Knights to fill out your squads. One of the best parts of this concept is that each Space Knight is unique, so "counts as" weapons need not really be an issue, who's to say one can't have a Plasma Gun or Assault Canon? 

Miniatures: There are actually a few Space Knights in the Heroclix range to get you started as well as a few good "not-Roms" if you look around. More so than other armies on this list, Space Knights will require some conversion, fortunately the "generic" Space Knights in the Heroclix range are pretty easy to work with, especially if you have some plastic GW Eldar arms lying around. Space Knights tend not to use vehicles, but any suitably Kirby-esque space craft will probably suit the look just fine. 


Monster Society (One Punch Man)

Concept: Admittedly, this one isn't too different from either the Wilderbots above or the Abomi-Nation from last time, however, the visual aesthetic would be vastly different. A hidden collective of monsters set on eradicating humanity, the Monster Society operates on a brutal system of "survival of the strongest", with those who fail or get injured becoming food for the others. If you like big nasties and being evil, the Monster Society is right down your alley. 

Army Building: Again, the Monster Society offers a great deal of flexibility for a wide variety of games. From 40K Tyranids, to Warpath Plague and even Horizon Wars, just about any army with more of a close combat bent to it would work fine with this theme. I could honestly see it working brilliantly as an Age of Sigmar Gloomspire Gitz force if you have the player group that would let you get away with it. So long as there's a vague Anime vibe, just about any monster will fit this army pretty well. 

Miniatures: There are plenty of monsters around in a variety of scales, but I'm actually thinking of a toy line from another Manga series, MUSCLE. A little big for 28mm, but perfect for heroic scale games, MUSCLE are a hard rubber figurine line that features anime styled monsters and aliens. For bigger units, take a look at model ranges from Ban Dai and the like, there is a wealth of stuff available. 

Hope that gets you started, I know I'm trying to resist making more armies along superhero lines, but then, it's kind of a problem for me...

Team Ideas: More Victorian Avengers

I find it weird that these "Victorian Superhero" articles tend to some of my better performing posts, despite the fact that the first one began with a dismissal of the entire concept. I'm actually coming around on it a bit now that I've had so many ideas, but until I find regular opponents, I won't be starting on putting any miniatures together. This one's going to be a little different, in that I won't be doing so much "in-universe" writing, but more discussing the concept and inspiration. Also, I won't be suggesting too many miniatures or sticking to a rigid number this time.

For those not familiar with the concept, rather than just so "Steampunk Batman" for the millionth time, I try to combine existing superheroes with fictional, historical and folk characters associated with the Victorian era, or close to (such as "Captain America" being from the Napoleonic era as Richard Sharpe). The rules aren't strict, but I try and stick close to Victorian Science Fiction, Pulp and "Boys Own" stories as best I can. When considering a character, I look beyond the powers and image and into what they represent in their own era, meaning there's always more than just a costume change to be had. 

Spring-heeled Jack (Spider-Man) 

Name a recurring theme with Spider-Man. Was it that he constantly is assumed to be a criminal? Spring-heeled Jack was an Urban Legend in Victorian London, a black-clad horror often seen fleeing the scene of a grisly murder through impossible physical feats. Now imagine that Peter Parquet, a talented but unlucky engineer, decides to build a costume filled with devices to enhance his natural abilities, thinking he can use it to protect the innocent people of his borough from criminals. The Parquet luck kicks in and soon people are running screaming from "Spring-heeled Jack", and laying blame for murders at his feet. Driven by guilt, Parquet still dons his costume and does his best to fight crime.


John Henry (Luke Cage) 

Many think the legendary John Henry died after his famous defeat of the steam engine he was racing, but the real truth is that the authorities dragged him away for disturbing the peace and usurping the rule of white men. Instead of being quietly hanged, the judge, a KKK member, "volunteered" Henry for medical experiments, just to make sure he suffered. Whether through fate or his own strength, Henry survived, becoming somehow stronger and tougher, using his newfound power to escape. Since then, Henry has wandered the world, righting wrongs and striking a blow against colonial powers wherever he can, often in exchange for some payment, so that he can keep ahead of the law.


T'Chaka Zulu (Black Panther) 

Descended from the great king Shaka, T'Chaka Zulu has seen his ancestor's land taken from him by the hated English since childhood. Seeking advice from the witch doctors and clever-women of his council, T'Chaka was led to follow ancient myths into the last uncharted regions of the African continent, seeking new weapons to use in the fight for freedom. When the king finally returned to his people, he held two priceless treasures, the Heart-Shaped Herb, which grants strength and power, and Vibranium, a rare and deadly metal. Armed with these new secrets, T'Chaka led the Zulu on a bloody and successful campaign to reclaim parts of the great Shaka's territory. Taken by surprise, British forces in South Africa were immediately on the back-foot, but now they have time to prepare a counter-attack, how will T'Chaka's forces fare?


Sandow (Hercules)

Eugen Sandow is famous the world-over for his strength, physique and attitudes on personal fitness, but he has a secret that no one knows; Sandow is immortal. After his death, Hercules, having atoned for his misdeeds through the famous Twelve Labours, made his way to the fields of Elysium, where he engaged in games and feasting with the other notables of history. As society advanced, so did the influence of Olympus wane, and even mighty Zeus lost interest in protecting the world. When word reached the Lion of Olympus of the terrible wars, martian invasions and smog choked cities, he petitioned Hades for a short-term release. Wandering the world, Hercules, in the guise of Sandow, does his best to lift humanity back to a state of enlightenment and slay the monsters of the modern world.


The Haunted Writer (Ghost Rider)

Practically none does not know the name of Charles Dickens, but only a few know the price he paid for his talent. Although Dickens would be famous in later life for debunking Spirit Mediums, in his youth, he himself was a dabbler in the occult. Hoping to escape from the horrors of life in a blacking factory, the young Dickens made a deal with a mysterious entity for fame and fortune, but little did he know what the true cost would be. Dickens was granted the ability to see and hear the spirits around him, which soon drove him near mad in their constant requests and chatter; writing down their stories was the only way he could maintain his sanity. The stories of ghosts such as Oliver Twist and Martin Chuzzlewit threw Dickens into the public eye and gave him the influence to solve the dark mysteries of a bleak house and lay some ghosts to rest. Dickens may be cursed, but he has, through his own intellect and talent, turned the curse into a force for good.

Ned Kelly (Iron Man)

Going to drop the narrative voice on this one as it requires some explaining. In Australia, Ned Kelly is so tied into a culture that romanticises the colonial era, that separating the reality from the myth is incredibly difficult. Everybody knows that Ned Kelly was a brutal murderer, but the fact that he was charismatic and the police were just as corrupt and brutal help weave an ideal version of the man that Australians identify with. Probably one of the best takes on the mythology of Ned Kelly is a book by Robert Drewe entitled Our Sunshine, which was adapted into the film Ned Kelly starring Heath Ledger. The book takes place the night before the siege of Glenrowan, with Kelly and his gang holed up in the local Hotel, preparing for the police attack and winning over the locals. Spurred on by drink and camaraderie, Kelly's mind wanders to plans for after the siege is won; he wants to begin a popular revolt and turn Victoria into an independent state for the Irish. In literary and academic circles, Drewe's take on Kelly is referred to as being "futurist", meaning the character is a drunk futurist in a set of homemade armour; get it? Of course, Kelly had a very personal agenda, centered around his own background and ideals, but that too isn't all that far from many presentations of Tony Stark. 

Hope that fires some ideas up in people, if this is popular, I'll do some more when the ideas occur to me.

Superhero Media: War of the Worlds Goliath

Although War of the Worlds Goliath is on Netflix, you've probably only heard of it if you're big into Victorian Science Fiction and/or Steampunk, as I first became aware of it on the Lead Adventure Forum. War of the Worlds Goliath advertises itself as being "Teddy Roosevelt, Tesla and the Red Baron fight the martian invasion". Hell yes, sign me up for some of that please. The truth, however, is far more bland and generic. Taking place fifteen years after the Martian invasion depicted in The War of the Worlds, the world has united somewhat, though is teetering on the edge of the Great War, until the tripods return and I guess no one gives a fuck about the Baltics anymore. The story follows a group of generic soldiers that crew a human-made tripod, the titular "Goliath", as they fight in the new war, failing to make any real impression on me as I watched. Yeah, War of the Worlds Goliath is pretty bad, and probably not worth watching, to be honest. 

The animation quality is poor, looking like it was made in Flash, the voice acting is weak and the CGI vehicles don't blend well with the hand-drawn style. There are a few decent sequences, but all are heavily borrowed from better films, like the Red Baron dogfigting Martian ships in a canyon, almost shot-for-shot from Independence Day, or Teddy Roosevelt getting into a bar fight, but the whole package is still bland at best. I don't really understand how the concept got boiled down to so much cliche beyond just having bad writers behind it all, there are good ideas, but they're buried like diamonds in a septic tank. Why take such a brilliant and iconic novel and strip away the personal horror, techofear and hubris? Do people not get The War of the Worlds? H.G. Wells isn't all that deep an author in the grand scheme of things, he wrote a book about the horrors of mechanised warfare and it seems we can't get past ideas of it being a fun excuse for a scrap. I enjoy the Martians turning up in a game as much as anyone else, but they're really not the generic antagonist people seem to want them to be. 

Another bugbear of mine that pops up a lot in this revisionist nerd media, what the hell do Americans think globalisation looks like? Seems to me that when American authors imagine a united world, that world works basically the same as the USA does now. This really irks me, as the USA doesn't even have the metric system or a decent version of democracy, a Northern European Parliamentary approach would be my pick for world government (other than technologically-supported communalist anarchy, but that's a whole different article). Hell, in the 1960s, British science fiction envisaged a more European system for global governance. I don't think when the world unites that it will be behind the USA as it has ever presented itself. There we go, War of the Worlds Goliath is so bad, it set me off on a political rant. Why do they have infantry if they have no effect on the tripods? Why do they have man-portable Machine Guns? It doesn't even make sense if they're the product of cannibalized Martian technology, Martians don't have machine guns! I'm going to go watch something better.

Superhero Media: Wild Wild West

I saw this one on Netflix and decided it was worth a go, I remembered liking it and it's not like there are a lot of good pulp/steampunk films anyway. In the years since I last watch Wild Wild West, I've seen a number of reviews that really tear into the film, rating it very poorly and steering people away from it; that's not fair. Sure, Wild Wild West is silly, but it's a fun silly and is also possibly the most subversive Hollywood film I have seen in years. No, really. For starters, Kevin Kline's Artemus Gordon is pretty heavily trans-coded and not in a negative way. The name "Artemus" reads like a masculine Artemis, Hellenic Goddess of war and the hunt, indicating a transition from female to male, this is corroborated by the character's comfort in female clothing and lack of self-judgment for wearing it. Artemus is fixated on his skill in creating things (typically read as female in literature) being seen as the equal to Jim West's strength, agility and combat prowess (typically male traits). Finally, Artemus' prosthetic breasts are under-sexualised, as if he has an active distaste or them, which is undercut by his attraction to Rita. Not great evidence, but it's there. 

The big twist I wasn't expecting when watching this film again was the epiphany that Dr Loveless is, in fact, the good guy. Unless, like Jim West and President Grant, you happen to be in favour of genocide and American colonialism. You see, Loveless' plan involves dissolving the United States and handing land back to France, the British Empire, Mexico and the Native Americans, as well as carving out a chunk of the Pacific Northwest for himself. That's right, the "bad guy" of the film plans to return Manhattan to the native tribes, complete with diplomatic recognition by and protection from Europe. Sure, more power to "Imperial" Europe isn't great, but that'll get fixed come 1914. Many of Loveless' henchmen are wounded Civil War veterans who fought for the South and were left to rot by the victors; Loveless made sure they got the best medical treatment and prosthesis available at his own expense. Despite his many, debasing sexual comments, Loveless employs several women in positions of authority, most of which require an education not available to many women at the time, in contrast Rita is shown to be incompetent and only able to follow the men around, the same men that constantly treat her as an object.

Finally, even though Loveless fought for the South in the war, he holds shockingly little racial prejudice (don't at me, apologists, the South fought for the right to own slaves, deal with it). When funding his scheme, Loveless milks money from rich Southern landowners who are funding a second rebellion, then turns around and guns down General McGrath's soldiers to prevent an uprising in the name of the Confederacy. And although Loveless throws more than a few racial slurs at Jim West, he works fine with other African-Americans and Native Americans, he only dislikes Jim West because Jim West is directly responsible for crippling him. Also the film has a steampunk spider mech and rail tank? Man, I didn't even talk about the assassins hiding in the paintings, which was pretty cool too. I wonder how many films actually have the protagonists working to take down the "real good guy"? I need to go back and watch some stuff again.

Team Ideas: Victorian Avengers

Well, after playing a fair amount of Empire of the Dead at club, the question of Victorian Superheroes reared its ugly head again. Just to reiterate, I'm not against the concept of Superheroes in a Victorian/Gothic Horror/VSF setting, but I do, however, have several issues with the execution: 
1. I am an avid reader of both Victorian Literature and (surprise surprise) Superhero Comics, so when I see them combined, I like it to be with sensitivity for the tropes and traditions of each. 
2. Most people get lazy with the idea. "Wouldn't it be cool to have Steampunk Batman?" Yeah? But all you did was put Batman on your Victorian table, nothing really changed, he's still the same character playing in the same way. We may as well have kept playing normal Batman games. If you're going to do it, go the whole way. 
3. How is this different to what we normally do? If we're playing SuperSystem, how is the game changed by being in Victorian London? The terrain has changed, but do we really need a new set of minis to use it? Supers gaming can happen anywhere; time travel is just as good an excuse as a new era to break out the cobblestones. 
4. I have to make a new era's worth of heroes? I already have Modern Age, Silver Age and French Revolution Supers under development (plus plans for Future/Cyberpunk), now I have to do Victorian age as well? Ok, maybe, I'm a bit tempted... very tempted... 

The Avenging Sons 
Unlike the League of Justice, not every extraordinary individual in the world is looked kindly upon. Often ostracised from civilised society, these "freaks and monsters" have nonetheless taken it upon themselves to use their extraordinary abilities to defend the innocent and battle evil. Though they began individually, a team formed on a day unlike any other and they battled a threat over which no hero could triumph alone. That day were born The Avenging Sons!

Son of Frankenstein's Monster (The Vision) 
The living-dead abomination created by Victor Frankenstein escaped into the Arctic after its creator's death, spawning speculation and myth about a "Reanimated Empire" poised to invade Europe from the North. These fears are well-founded, as The Monster has been busy trying to replicate its "father's" work. The greatest success, so far, is The Monster's "Son", his "Vision of the Future". Sent to spy on humanity, this Vision has instead embraced it, becoming one of its most stalwart defenders.
Miniature: Rebel Minis have a couple of "Franken Gangers" that would make an ideal "perfected" Frankenstien's Monster.

The Elephant Man (Beast)
Many who have met the unfortunate fellow known as "The Elephant Man" make the assumption that he is naught but a simpleton, taken in as they are by his grotesque visage; how mistaken a person can be. The Elephant man is not only possessed of a fine intelligence, a gregarious and loquacious manner, but is also an accomplished scholar, athlete and combatant. To feed his growing thirst for adventure, The Elephant Man has taken to disguising his face and abounding at night, aiding those he can and punishing the evildoers he encounters. If the public knew the truth behind this nocturnal "Beast", many a monocle would be lost due to shocked dismay.
Miniature: West Wind do a slightly comical "Freak" with a hidden face that is currently the best approximation out there. 

Richard Sharpe (Captain America) 
Once thought lost overboard and drowned during the battle of Trafalgar, the great British Hero, Richard Sharpe, was, in fact, preserved by the ice-cold water and lost for decades. Close to the dawn of the new century, a whaling ship recovered the legend and, once he was thawed, the Ministry of Intelligence put him to work fighting enemies of the empire. Sharpe has taken to the "world of the future" (as he calls it) with trepidation, but has proven repeatedly that there is no task he cannot accomplish or inspire those he leads to accomplish, in the Queen's name! 
Miniature: Any era-appropriate British Rifleman will do, but there are plenty of "Sharpe" figures available. 

Lady Hyde (She-Hulk) 
Not all of Doctor Henry Jekyll's ill-fated chemical formula was destroyed when he burned down his laboratory, unbeknown to the good doctor, his cleaning lady, the mousey and overlooked Jennifer, had taken a bottle for herself, dreaming of revenge against a world that had slighted her. The formula had an unexpected affect on the female form, granting Jennifer increased size, power and confidence. In her transformed state, Jennifer had lost her desire for revenge, but not her taste for adventure; deciding to live the kind of life she had only dreamed of when reading stolen "Boys' Own". 
Miniature: Plenty of scope for cool ideas here, but I'd consider one of the Warmachine "Staxis" character minis for the right combination of flesh, monstrosity and size, just paint her green. 

Clint "Hawkeye" Bumppo (Hawkeye) 
Orphaned of a Mohawk mother and white trapper father, Clint Bumppo, called "Hawkeye" by his mother's family, led a nomadic existence growing up, honing his skills as an archer and tracker. Feeling out of place among the full-blooded Mohawk, Clint left to find his fortune, eventually joining Buffalo Bill's Wild West show and traveling to Europe. 
Miniature: Any late-period "Old West" Native would suit with a blonde head of hair and portable arsenel. These Black Scorpion ones have the right look. 

Well, there you go. Now get out there and start saving London!