But the most impressive part ofAll-Star Batman #6 is actually the art and the layout of the issue. It completely stands out from the majority of mainstream comics. The art is aptly like a blizzard that blows across the page, and whilst it times it almost feels disorientating – it adds to the disturbing nature of how Freeze uses his frozen victims to his advantage. You also won't find any speech bubbles in this issue either. The text floats around the characters as they snarl their lines across at each other. We were blown away by the first 5 issues, it looks like the latest instalment is going to change the game completely. If you're a comic book fan, let alone a fan of Batman, you need to be reading this series. Read Full Review

With a story that feels like the culmination of a story arc, I cannot wait to see where the rest of this story goes. Read Full Review

The Batman franchise really offers an embarrassment of riches these days. This issue succeeds in revitalizing a villain whose stock had plummeted in recent years, while also serving as a terrific reunion for Scott Snyder and his Detective Comics collaborators. It's just a shame Jock won't be sticking around longer. Read Full Review

Hands-down the best issue of this series so far. The oppressive mood, stylized visuals, and disconnected lettering create a truly haunting atmosphere. A goofy ending and “just” pretty good back-up keep the issue from perfection, but I loved this more than I thought I would. It makes me a little sad to know that Jock isn't doing this whole arc, though I'm sure interested in seeing how the disparate parts fit to make a whole. And really, “Batman versus ice zombies” practically writes itself. Pick this up. Read Full Review

Snyder's work with Freeze at the start of "ENDS OF THE EARTH, Part I" does a fantastic job at two things. First, Snyder is clearly open to shaking up the narrative stylings of the All-Star issues since from the start the narrative prose is far, far more dense than traditional comics that get released. Elements read as excerpts from a novel or a formal script, with much emphasis being paid to internal thoughts and motivations. This seems as far removed from the nature of the previous five issues of All-Star as you can get, but it is heightened further by the lack of formal speech bubbles. Read Full Review

Overall, this is the complete package. Snyder and team have bumped this issue up to another level entirely. A must-buy issue. Read Full Review

Backup Analysis: It was good to see Francesco Francavilla back doing Batman. I love his style, and I think that this may be some of his cleanest, smoothest work yet. His work is usually pretty loose, but he tightened things up here. I don't know if I like it more or less than what I've usually seen, but I still liked it. This story is seven pages long, and I wonder if it would have benefited by having another page or two, because I found Snyder's story lacking here. Again, it's tough to tell a story in such a limited amount of space, but it's even tougher to critique a story that is only seven pages long, so I may change my mind when I have the whole thing, but for now I am confused as to Daryl's involvement. Read Full Review

As the story comes to a close, we see that the World’s Greatest Detective was once again prepared for the worst, bringing in a heat-based virus to subdue Freeze. The dichotomy of heat versus ice is a beautiful reflection the poetic nature of the narrative, and further solidifies just how profound a story this is. The narration is an essential part of the issue, perhaps even more so than the dialogue, as it flows step for step alongside the art and lettering to form a complete and dynamic piece of literature that you can be proud to place in there longbox. The prose style of writing may not work for everyone, especially if you’re a new reader, but this is without a doubt one of the deepest Batman stories Snyder has delivered yet. Read Full Review

It would be one thing if this were a bad book, but Snyder is using a title he's already winning with and taking some serious risks to tell a very outside the box type of story. Ambitious, atmospheric, well paced"All Star Batman is topping the top of its game. Read Full Review

But aside from that (and the aforementioned POV issues), All-Star Batman is pretty much everything you want from a series like this: Great creators doing a fresh story with classic characters. Also, I can't go without giving my monthly props to the issue's backup story, “The Cursed Wheel”. Having Snyder and Francisco Francavilla creating any sort of Batman tale is cool, but the fact that it makes me"an unabashed Robin/Batman sidekick hater"like Duke more with every chapter is a pleasant and highly enjoyable surprise. Read Full Review

Overall, part one of the "Ends of the Earth" arc will satisfy those who are loving Snyder's deep exploration of Batman's popular villains, aside from the mad clown. Snyder completely changes his storytelling style for this installment, and it's both effective and entertaining. While it remains to be seen how the arc will conclude, it's the villain of the story, alongside Jock's captivating art, that makes this issue a must-read. Read Full Review

All-Star Batman retains the writer's patented cinematic style by going for broke in a gripping tale featuring Mr. Freeze. Read Full Review

The real MVP is letterer Steve Wands, who packs pages with text when needed but never makes the pages feel overwhelmed. He deftly works around Jock's penchant for not leaving enough negative space when Snyder's waxing poetic and really holds the book together. Read Full Review

If you decided to skip the beginning of this series or dropped it early in the series, now might be the time to jump back on board with All-Star Batman" because I think for this art, even if the story goes downhill from here, it'll at least look nice doing it. I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes. And it feels weird saying that about this series. Read Full Review

All-Star Batman kicks off its second story arc revolving around Mr Freeze in an exciting issue that keeps up the same high level of quality. Read Full Review

This is my favorite issue of All-Star Batman so far. Read Full Review

All-Star Batman #6 is a directional shift in every way, and one that works on every level. Teaming up with Jock for this story was a brilliant decision, recognizing eachothers' strengths and how to insure this story reaches its full potential. If you're a person who (somehow) didn't enjoy the first arc because of Romita's work, put your money where your mouth is. Plus, who doesn't love a great Mr. Freeze story? Read Full Review

I have to say that this installment to All-Star Batman is probably the most interesting it's been with not only the storytelling, but also the visuals that are depicting it......... Not to mention, it also brings us Mr. Freeze and who doesn't want more Mr. Freeze in their life?  We've got a really "cool" story with Freeze and probably the best chapter of the Cursed Wheel backup that we've gotten so far that seems to promise that we'll get some definitive answers about where Duke belongs in the Bat Family and what his name will be. Read Full Review

Overall, I think All Star Batman #6 is an improvement from the first arc (although I think that will read much better in trade). Some of the conventions fall a bit flat, I think, but at least Snyder and co try to push the envelope a bit. Read Full Review

This issue might not be enough to save a comic on everyone's drop list but Jock breathes a new sense of life to All-Star Batman. Despite missteps in the writing mostly stemming from narration rather than dialog driven this comic adds an interesting take on Mr. Freeze. If you are one for art overshadowing the writing then this issue is for you. Read Full Review

This issue was overall a little underwhelming coming right off of My Own Worst Enemy, but it shows a lot of potential. And since it is written by Scott Snyder, I have no doubt that this will be another widely successful arc for All Star Batman. Read Full Review

For whatever reason, it just didn't hit as hard as I expected, even after an excellent first half. Read Full Review

This story so far is probably one of my favorites of theseries and that's saying a lot since I've enjoyed almost every issue so far.But unfortunately it still isn't perfect and left me a little confused attimes. For example, the ending where Batman becomes that crazy looking firevirus bat thing. I want a bit more explanation on that please. And would thatchamber really survive that blast? Other than that I thought Mr. Freeze wasreally creepy and portrayed really well. The art fit the tone perfectly. I hopeto see more Jock on future issues. As for the cursed wheel, I did enjoy thisone more than past issues, but it still wasn't anything crazy exciting. Read Full Review

The title continues to hold my interest. Although it seems that Batman has thwarted Freeze's scheme, I am sure that there is more to the story yet. And I am eager to see how Duke will escape death from the explosion he and Batman have triggered. Read Full Review

All Star Batman #6 is a good, but not great, start to the next story arc in the series. Its tale is ambitious, haunting, and is a perfect example of Mr. Freeze's true villainous potential. While I find the book to be bogged down with text, it's still a quality issue. Batman is in the right hands. Read Full Review

I'm not sure how this issue will tie into what follows it, if at all, but so far Snyder is making great use of his own title. I love that I don't particularly need to be aware of events in Rebirth and I love that it's giving us a chance to see more of Snyder, especially as he flexes his writing muscles in new and interesting ways. To get great artists like Jock too? Well that's just the icing on the cake. Read Full Review

Like many great, bold, experiments, All-Star Batman #6 doesn't always succeed. But its ambition is a sight to see. However, I was strangely disconnected from the story by the end of the issue. I didn't really understand Batman's plan except in the broadest strokes and the sketchy dream-like and subjective quality of the storytelling meant that things came off as kind of undefined. Read Full Review

It's not brilliant. It wants to be, but it's skating on fake ice. Read Full Review

A very intersting experiment from Snyder for issue #6. I liked the concept, I loved the portrayal of Freeze. Really felt he was terrifying and truely threatening in his plan. Loved the art. Did not like the execution. I felt like it wanted to be a chapter of a novel with pictures but ended up missing a lot the mark.

**Update**

So after reading the next 2 issues in this arc I went back and read this issue again and my first review couldn't of been more wrong! I don't think I was in the correct mindset to really appreciate what Snyder was trying to do with this book. Now that I see what Snyder is trying to do with this book I found this issue phenomenal! Even if not all of his ideas hit, its fantastic to see creators trying such different ideas in the comic medium with such important and established characters! more

Mr. Freeze is one of the greatest comic book villains (when written properly). This is a perfect example of what to do with him. Amazing!

This was a very good issue, and I was caught unawares by Scott Synder's POV trick in the final pages of the book. Jock's art is absolutely great, as I felt transported to the sub-zero world of Mr. Freeze.

Excellent art, excellent storyline... The First part about the childhood of Victor Fries is fantastic... Really!!! Don't miss this issue!!!

Mr. Freeze is a villain I have always enjoyed, but I have never seen used as often as the rest of Batman's rogues. The format of the comics can take some time to get used to, but overall I think it is written and drawn very well. I will have to see with the next issue, but I think I might end up enjoying this arc better than the Two-Face arc.

Holy cow, I was expecting sub-par at best after that earlier drivel, but this is actually a chilly, atmospheric read. Snyder writes Mr. Freeze very well from what I've seen, and it seems like this could pan out to be one of Freeze's best stories, of the few there are.

I liked the story, however the art kept this from being a 10...I also rate my issues on quality. Being in Canada this title runs you $6.75 after taxes and the usd conversion rate...7 dollars for a single issue comic is ridiculous and unless I really feel the art is worth the cover fee I will continue to read comics online. I work hard 40 hours a week and will not justify paying almost $30 for 4 premier titles of 30 pages of material. I want to support the comic industry but I have real life priorities...

SCORE: 6.9

Comic Book Review (7/10) “Good”
*Great jumping on point as this is the start of a new story arc.*
All-Star Batman #6 “Ends of the Earth Part 1”/ “The Cursed Wheel Part 5”
Writer: Scott Snyder
Penciller: Jock/ Francesco Francavilla
Plot: Batman is on the hunt for Victor Fries aka Mr. Freeze, and must stop him before Freeze releases a virus onto Gotham City.
This is a very artistic issue, and the first thing you will notice is the absence of word bubbles. The whole story is told through black and light blue word squares, and in a way it fits the aesthetic of the weird premise of the book. The minions that Freeze brings back from cryogenic sleep are eerie and gives this issue a bit of a sci-fi edge that I appreciated in the book. The mindless minions that attack Batman gives it a unique feel for a Freeze story. Not a lot happens in the first story, but the artistic style of the book made it enjoyable for me.
The supplemental story is the weakest link of this story as it has Batman and Duke chasing Riddler and trying to solve a word puzzle. It feels like an unnecessary story, and probably would read better in a collected version.
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This issue has "meh" written all over it. However, Jock's art is vastly better than John Romita, Jr.'s so the book looks a lot nicer.

Snyder reaches a whole new level of boring with his prose. Different art but I didn't care for it.

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Ssnyder1835 - Jan 18, 2017

Sorry it didn't do it for you but appreciate the read anyway

Mister Bungle - Jan 18, 2017

Why are you pretending to be Scott Snyder? He's too busy eating lobster to be on this site.

Ssnyder1835 - Jan 18, 2017

I do like lobster. But it is really me

Ssnyder1835 - Jan 18, 2017

Tag me on Twitter or something if you don't believe me

Mister Bungle - Jan 26, 2017

Does it honestly matter? The Twitter not the lobster. Lobster always matters.

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