Detective Comics #1014 is another big win for Tomasi, Mahnke and crew! The character work is excellent and it drives the story. You will feel yourself on the edge of your seat as you read this one. The solitary negative is fairly small in the grand scheme and not a reason to skip this or any issue of Detective Comics right now! Read Full Review

Mr. Freeze has always deserved better and with this storyline, hes finally gotten it. Peter J. Tomasi, Doug Mahnke and the rest of the creative team on this book have done an excellent job of crafting a refreshing and fulfilling chapter in the life of Mr. Freeze. This issue is the culmination of almost 30 years of characterization for one of Batmans most chilling foes. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this entire arc is worth reading for this issue alone. Read Full Review

The ending is a little bizarre but I loved it. The Freeze family is remaking Gotham. This part is beautifully illustrated by Doug Mahnke as is the whole issue really). The strong writing alongside the great art, make this another fine chapter in a great story. This creative team is making some of the best Batman stories currently being produced. Worth a look. Read Full Review

Doug Mahnke delivers some incredible art throughout this issue and everything from the characters to the backgrounds is filled with brilliant details. Read Full Review

Offering a chilling and though-provoking look at Mr. Freeze and co., Detective Comics #1014 is an exciting, must-read issue. Read Full Review

This issue is another classic Batman investigation story. The twist involving Freeze, his advanced use of technology, and his connection to the larger Year of the Villain storyline is interesting. The connections to Nora's past and her battle with cancer give the issue emotional depth. I recommend this book to fans of the classic Batman stories. Read Full Review

I really like this Mr. Freeze Year of the Villain spot. It finally liberates Freeze from the limitation of always having to protect. As the most proficient ice user in Gotham that was the largest handicap that he has officially turned into an asset. Read Full Review

Overall, this was another great Detective Comics issue. Read Full Review

I've been collecting this title for over three decades, and this run ranks amongst the very best in the series' history. Detective Comics #1014 continues to deliver high quality writing and art, and tales that feature engaging characters and thrilling action. Throughout the DC Universe the villains are winning, so I can't wait to see how the good-guys fight back! Read Full Review

DETECTIVE COMICS #1014 is another quality chapter in the ongoing YEAR OF THE VILLAIN event. Solid storytelling, back by excellent artwork. It's worth checking out. Read Full Review

I've been down on this arc because it's not given me a reason to care. We've been through all of this so many times... until just now. I actually liked this issue because Nora is finally back and it looks like she's ready to kick some ass right beside her husband. It finally moves the Fries' out of staleness and into some forward progress. Also, I really enjoyed the confrontation between them and Batmanless Bruce. Could Tomasi pull a reverse move and start a Detective story off disappointing only to end it with excitement? Read Full Review

The new dynamic of Mr. and Mrs. Freeze as a supervillain power couple is the status quo shift Detective Comics needs in order to regain importance. Lets hope the beauty of their reunion in this issue leads to greater stories between the two. Read Full Review

Reminds me a lot of what Snyder did with Riddler " just because something is a good evil plot doesn't mean it's a good evil plot for every villain. Read Full Review

This issue has a lot going for it, with quite a few strengths, yet it has one big weakness that keeps it from greatness. Read Full Review

When she awoke last issue, I was curious how she would look at her husband's attempt to preserve her until he could find a cure. The results were... well, they were a bit underwhelming. Read Full Review

Prelude:
After last issue's cliffhanger, this issue has a lot to deliver. I only hope Tomasi can land it.

The Good:
I absolutely love Victor and Nora in this issue. It shows how far Victor has gone for his wife and her adaption to this new Victor Fries.

Art is usually good in the issue. Some hiccups but overall, good.

The Bad:
Bruce is a bit of a side character this issue, but I'm mostly fine with that. This is Freeze's issue, not Bruce's.

Conclusion:
It's Mr. Freeze's issue and that's apparent. However, I believe this was done quite well and effectively. It will be interesting to see where Mr. and Mrs. Freeze go from here.

Mr. Freeze has always been one of my favourite villains ans his execution here falls short of his Animated counterpart, but I still feel so bad for him and wish Batman could do something besides lock him away lol

The opening was really good. The way Mrs. Freeze happens way too quickly brings the score down a bit.

"I would do anything for love"

I am enjoying this arc. But this issue was dragged down by the inconsistent art and some of the story choices that I'm not sure I'm fine with.

My knowledge about Nora Fries, outside of being Victor's source of motivation, is practically naught. But I always thought she wouldn't be ok with what Victor did to save her and definitely wouldn't be with freezing an entire theater full of people just so she could dance.

Another thing that bugged me pertains to Mr. Freeze's origin. Did Pete Tomasi just made Bruce Wayne responsible for Victor's transformation? So, it's no longer GothCorp and Ferris Boyle? Why do writers feel the need to tweak or mess (I'm looking at you Scott) with his origin? What Paul Dini did in The Animated Series was perfect. There is absolutely no need to change that.

Still, I'm curious to see what Mr. and Mrs. Freeze will do next. more

Aside from the fact I generally love to write, and take pleasure from doing it, I regularly review comics because it's a great way to interact with other fans of the medium, exchange opinions, and learn from them. We recently had a great discussion with myconius and Darkseid24 regarding bi-weekly comic releases, and how this tight schedule hurts DC's flagship series. We all know (or should) how divisive and loathed Tom King's Batman is, but Detective Comics seems to suffer from the consequences of keeping such tempo as well. Naturally, not to this extreme degree, but still, Tomasi's writing in the series is a far cry from what he's proven he can do, and what established his name as one of DC's best writers.
Surely, this issue is NOT on a par with Super Sons, Batman and Robin or his take on Green Lantern Corps. It's not bad, not really, but feels... cold, heartless. Maybe not as much as Snyder's disastrous Batman Annual #1 from New-52, which completely butchered the character of Mr. Freeze, as well as his back story, but it's hardly a tale capturing what makes him such a fascinating character.

Nora was resurrected, again, and this time turned into a copy of Victor. Okay, so be it, it's not the most original plot device, but I'd be all for it, if it was used in an interesting way. Sorry, but I don't think Nora having a ballet performance in the middle of frozen theater, with icy corpses all around, is interesting in any way. It just doubles down on New 52/Dark Nights Metal idea of Victor being a murderous maniac, inctead of a tragic anti-hero he once was. And suddenly, Nora is as well.

It may feel like a nitpick, but to me, it isn't. What made Mr. Freeze one of my favourites is the fact he's not evil to begin with. His actions may cross legal lines, yes, but that's the beauty of it - it puts Batman in the awkward position of enforcing the law, or doing the right thing, preferably ensuring it doesn't endanger anyone in the process.
Now, have you seen any real conflict like that in this comic? I haven't - all I've read was a tale of a generic bad guy who is crazy and evil, and so is his wife. There's no heart, no spirit, no tragedy to be found here.

Yet more proof there's not one story with the character that could top Dini's Heart of Ice. more

+ Like • Comments (3)

• Likes (6)

• Quinn
• myconius
• Darkseid24
• Anotherfan
• Linkush
• drwasheewashee

Show all comments

Quinn - Oct 23, 2019

The thing you have to remember about Mr. Freeze is that the back story given to him in Batman the Animated Series made him a one-shot villain. He only appeared in five Timmverse Batman stories. And that includes Batman Beyond and his own movie. There's only so much you can do with the character. He is, in the end, a gimmick villain. The backstory only stretches so far. You can only go "but my wife" so often. And then it gets repetitive and he's a frozen villain gimmick. Or I could be wrong.

Darkseid24 - Oct 23, 2019

Nah Freeze had some good stories Pre52.

myconius - Oct 30, 2019

thank you for the nod, Nihilist. ...hopefully someone at DC decides to do the right thing, and stop milking us fans for extra money each month and go back to putting the necessary time and effort into telling great stories again. ...this nickle and diming of the customers has no real longevity.

Sign in to comment

This didn’t really do it for me. I think it was a combination of the dialogue and the pacing and the art.

This issue should have been two issues and go in more detail about Noras heel turn because that is completely forced and out of nowhere. Highly recommend someone to just skip this issue! The moments with Nora and Victor should make me feel something but none of them do.