Oberon (comics)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oberon is the name of two fictional comic book characters, both published by DC Comics.
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[edit] Oberon (Mister Miracle supporting character)
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The first Oberon to appear in the DC Comics universe is the diminutive manager of Mister Miracle, the world's greatest escape artist. He is named after the legendary king of the faeries (see below). Oberon was created by Jack Kirby.
According to Secret Origins #33, the dwarf Oberon is orphaned at a young age in a fire. He seeks work with a traveling circus and is made to perform menial labor under a verbally and physically abusive ringmaster. Oberon is eventually rescued by escape artist, Thaddeus Brown, the original Mister Miracle. He becomes Brown's assistant and protege, helping him plan his elaborate escapes.
Oberon later accompanies Brown to Vietnam to seek Brown's missing son. There, they become embroiled in the schemes of a criminal called Steel Hand. As a result, Brown is killed and his mysterious friend Scott Free (a member of the New Gods) becomes the new Mister Miracle, finally rescuing Brown's son. As he had with Brown, Oberon agrees to become Scott's partner and manager and plans his escape artistry performances.
Oberon shares a somewhat antagonistic relationship with Scott's wife, Big Barda. The two frequently tease and insult each other-- Oberon declaring that Barda is all legs and no brain, Barda mocking Oberon's diminutive stature. In truth, the two are indeed friends, however little they are willing to admit it.
When Mister Miracle becomes a member of the Justice League International, Oberon assumes the position of the right-hand man of Maxwell Lord. He is also briefly the paramour of Fire. Since their departure from that group, Oberon has resumed his role as Scott Free's manager and father figure.
[edit] Auberon (King of the Fay)
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The second Oberon, frequently spelled Auberon, is a character who appears primarily in DC Comics' adult-oriented Vertigo line. He is inspired by (and implied to be the same character as) the faerie king Oberon from William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Auberon first appears in The Sandman #19 by Neil Gaiman, where he is referred to as Auberon of Dom-Daniel. In this story, it is revealed that Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, made a pact with Shakespeare which resulted in the play's creation. Shakespeare and his troupe later perform the play for Auberon and the faeries themselves, much to the actors' unease.
As in Shakespeare, Auberon is married to Titania, the queen of the fay. However, their relationship is often tenuous at best, with both engaging in frequent extramarital affairs. Auberon is usually depicted as a regal blue-skinned being in Elizabethan garments and sporting a pair of horns on his head, perhaps signifying the fact that Titania has made him a cuckold.
Auberon and Titania are the rulers of the Twilight Realm of Faerie, a mystical plane of existence which is home to numerous faerie races, including the perpetually warring Seelie Court (Auberon's people, also called the Theena Sidhe) and Unseelie Court (the wild, primal faeries of darkness). The Faerie Realm is a world closely tied to myth and dreams where time moves differently and the landscape occasionally shifts and changes. Travelers are advised to stay on the path and never accept gifts or food or reveal their true name, lest they face terrible consequences. Faerie is a land of wondrous beauty and unsettling danger for unprepared mortals.
Auberon also appears in issues of the Books of Magic series, during which he is confronted by Timothy Hunter, a young human magician suspected of being Titania's son by another man. Auberon's ascent to the throne of the Twilight Realm is revealed in The Books of Faerie: Auberon's Tale.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Auberon possesses vast, undefined mystical abilities, greater than those of any faerie or mortal magician. He is able to cast enchantments, travel great distances in moments, and alter his appearance via an illusory glamour. As King of Faerie, countless fay, sprites, and other entities owe their allegiance to him and will follow his commands.
