| Published by DC Comics
It’s that time of year when the Christmas/ Holiday/ Winter Solstice/Hanukkah/ Kwanzaa Specials come out. Not all different ones of course, but these days the books try and be inclusive and include all the above. DC have cleverly sidestepped the yearly outrage at using either Christmas or Holidays in the title. Life’s too short. I’ve been enjoying these seasonal specials in one shape or another for many years, going back to the late 70’s. I still have most of them and still read them every year in the run up to Christmas. Digital now means I don’t even have to fight my way into the correct comic storage box too, an annual tradition I’m pleased to let go. The stories are generally light and a bit of fun, but that’s the spirit of the season. A dash of snow, some goodwill to all men, and a gift or two is good enough for me, entertainment wise. This year’s effort is another 10 story, 80 page Giant, so I better get reviewing.
DC Dec 11, 2020 Web Exclusive By Jeremy Nissen
Does recasting the story of Mr. Freeze, the Batman nemesis, and his cryopreserved wife as a tragic teen romance give it more “oomph” than a similar story minus the Gotham mythos? Or does our preexisting knowledge of Victor Fries offer shortcuts into his character, perhaps allowing author Lauren Myracle to largely concentrate on the life of Nora instead?
This is a rich, sometimes chilling book whose most poignant and atmospheric moments are made on the strength of the illustrations by Isaac Goodheart. Have no doubt: Nora is the star here; Victor is given some interesting background, but he’s cardboard compared to soon-to-be-frozen love. It’s a charming tale with a dark underside: Victor still mourning a brother, and Nora, who has a fatal condition, bouncing between trying to live out her last days to the fullest and pre-mourning herself. It’s appropriate that Nora’s life is so rich and full of love and realized, be