I’m not sure if anyone else here is a fan of the show The Venture Bros. (Super Scientists and Victorianists meet occasionally, I’m sure!), but the episode on August 10th – ORB (spoilers) – had a lovely little Steampunk interlude. Not only were characters on an airship, being attacked by Nikola Tesla, but the group was a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen-esque group, composed of a lovely swath of Victoriana.

Of course, I’m a sucker for well-done League references, but I also rather liked the architecture of the airship itself. It’s in a similar vein as the Three Rings Design submarine-office, that we’ve discussed previously, as well as the sheer beauty of DisneySea’s Mysterious Island.

The Venture League — or whatever it may be called — has cameos by Fantômas (astute fans will recall he is one of Phantom Limb’s ancestors), Oscar Wilde, Aleister Crowley, and Mark Twain, with Colonel Venture and his bodyguard, Eugen Sandow. Fantastic!

As to the interior, you can see more of the detail here. Love the long lines, the girders, windows, and the filigree. Of course, it’s colored in sepia, but I would love to see it in full color. The idea of brass-colored girders appeals to me, and I would love jewel tones — that contrast of a richly appointed interior and the mechanical workings of a zeppelin is just perfect.

Here’s a shot of the Tesla-Zeppelin-battle in action: