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Oracle has been one of my favorite super heroes ever since I got introduced to her. I also think she fills a niche in DC superhero lineup that is pretty hard to fill. For one obvious reason, she's physically disabled in a way that one might be in real life (whereas other characters, like Cyborg and Militia, are inarguably physically disabled but have enhancements which mean they don't always face the same challenges as physically disabled people in real life - though obviously, they still face some, ie: from social perceptions)

When she's physically in danger, it always strikes me as more immediate and relatable than the other heroes (though... that could be my crippledness talking ) But for example: it's always a little hard for me to imagine even badass normal heroes (Ie: No powers) in a ton of danger just because of the enhanced reality rules of superhero universe: you can jump off a building, dodge bullets, get hit by superman or punch invulnerable guys and you're fine. But Oracle doesn't really have that luxury. Despite the fact that she's physically disabled (you know, and a large portion of the population isn't) she always strikes me as the person you'd likely act like in a superhero brawl - trying to avoid the fight and be smart about it, not punching people head on.

She has a really good scene in Birds of Prey (1998) where she has to defend her base like this and it's awesome by the way.

Another part of her likeability for me is: Yeah, she's in a wheelchair So am I. I'm allowed to like that. But more importantly, she doesn't sit on the sidelines. She was a superhero before she got injured, and she's still a superhero after. Probably a more useful superhero now, since no one else fills Oracle's superheroic information broker/hacker niche, whereas gotham was always crawling with badass normals (don't be sad badass normals i still love you)

Third - she just is written in some cases very believably in a way that rings true to me, whether it's unconventional ways of dealing with trauma or the realization that being disabled doesn't make your life any less . It's a real shame DC has ditched this part of her character, and besides - I think it speaks well to the part when she was Batgirl too- in Batgirl year one, we saw how much she hated the idea of people putting her on the sidelines, out of danger, and telling her what she could and couldn't do. As Oracle, she's pretty much got the ultimate "you can't tell me what to do" thing - not many people would expect a wheelchair user to be a superhero.

I also like her establishing her own identity, away from the Batfam. it feels like she gets to (metaphorically) stand on her own two feet and define herself as her own person.

Ref used: link

More Top 10 Superheroes:

#1 - Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes)

#2 - Thunder

#3 - Robin (Damian Wayne)

#5 - Artemis (Young Justice)

#6 - Aqualad (Young Justice)

#7 - Raven (Teen Titans)

#8 - Grace Choi (outsiders)

#9 - John Stewart
#10 - Hawkgirl

Description

Oracle has been one of my favorite super heroes ever since I got introduced to her. I also think she fills a niche in DC superhero lineup that is pretty hard to fill. For one obvious reason, she's physically disabled in a way that one might be in real life (whereas other characters, like Cyborg and Militia, are inarguably physically disabled but have enhancements which mean they don't always face the same challenges as physically disabled people in real life - though obviously, they still face some, ie: from social perceptions)

When she's physically in danger, it always strikes me as more immediate and relatable than the other heroes (though... that could be my crippledness talking ) But for example: it's always a little hard for me to imagine even badass normal heroes (Ie: No powers) in a ton of danger just because of the enhanced reality rules of superhero universe: you can jump off a building, dodge bullets, get hit by superman or punch invulnerable guys and you're fine. But Oracle doesn't really have that luxury. Despite the fact that she's physically disabled (you know, and a large portion of the population isn't) she always strikes me as the person you'd likely act like in a superhero brawl - trying to avoid the fight and be smart about it, not punching people head on.

She has a really good scene in Birds of Prey (1998) where she has to defend her base like this and it's awesome by the way.

Another part of her likeability for me is: Yeah, she's in a wheelchair So am I. I'm allowed to like that. But more importantly, she doesn't sit on the sidelines. She was a superhero before she got injured, and she's still a superhero after. Probably a more useful superhero now, since no one else fills Oracle's superheroic information broker/hacker niche, whereas gotham was always crawling with badass normals (don't be sad badass normals i still love you)

Third - she just is written in some cases very believably in a way that rings true to me, whether it's unconventional ways of dealing with trauma or the realization that being disabled doesn't make your life any less . It's a real shame DC has ditched this part of her character, and besides - I think it speaks well to the part when she was Batgirl too- in Batgirl year one, we saw how much she hated the idea of people putting her on the sidelines, out of danger, and telling her what she could and couldn't do. As Oracle, she's pretty much got the ultimate "you can't tell me what to do" thing - not many people would expect a wheelchair user to be a superhero.

I also like her establishing her own identity, away from the Batfam. it feels like she gets to (metaphorically) stand on her own two feet and define herself as her own person.

Ref used: link

More Top 10 Superheroes:

#1 - Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes)

#2 - Thunder

#3 - Robin (Damian Wayne)

#5 - Artemis (Young Justice)

#6 - Aqualad (Young Justice)

#7 - Raven (Teen Titans)

#8 - Grace Choi (outsiders)

#9 - John Stewart
#10 - Hawkgirl