The Oracle Code (2020) (Manuel Preitano) - 10/10
I know the DC graphic novels have a bad rep, but I recommend this one. It was a great read and I'm really happy it was created. Here's what's great about this chair:
The Frame/Chair
It's not a stretch to say Barbara's family has access to money/resources, and this chair is made very well for a person with a spinal cord injury who will be using it full time. It is rigid, making it lighter/better for full time use. The footplate is solid and the casters are small, but not tiny, making them great for things like getting around a city or grassy patches. The push rims are close to the tires, she's got a thick cushion, and even the caster wheels branching out from the footplate is a good call. On an adult chair, the footplate would be lower - but for a pediatric chair, the footplate is higher, which means this artist had a great attention to detail!
The low back is also great - Babs still has full use of her upper body, so she needs less support, and can benefit from having her shoulders/arms freed up for stronger pushes.
The Decoration
Yes!!! She is making that chair her own. Full spoke covers like that are more expensive than most, if not all other decorations, but they have practical and decorative benefits. So often wheelchairs that are depicted in comics have no decorations. I know very few people who don't like a little something on their chair to make it their own. This was a great call.
The Attitude
She can manage! This whole novel does a great job, in my opinion, at depicting internalized ableism and the medical model of disability.
