Batman White Knight Presents Von Freeze
DC Black Label
Written by: Sean Murphy
Art by Klaus Janson
Colors by: Matt Hollingsworth
Letters by: Andworld Design
Victor Fries and his complicated personal history come to life when a potential tragedy brings both Fries and Thomas Wayne together.
Victor is working at Wayne Cryotech with a colleague named Nora when Martha Wayne collapses at the lab. After racing to stabilize her and using the technology he is working on to slow down her labor, Victor and Thomas have nothing to do but wait.
As they do, Thomas wants to learn more about Victor and his family. The Doctor tells him of growing up in Germany during the rise of the Nazis and how his father and his Jewish partner worked together on the technology that is keeping Martha Wayne alive. It is a story of triumph, tragedy, loss and regret that will define a bond and connection to both Thomas Wayne and Victor Fries that Bruce might need going forward.
This is a well told and interesting story. Murphy manages to flesh out the world he has created for the Dark Knight and tell a story that changes the perception of Victor Fries. The story isn’t particularly groundbreaking and many of the moments are familiar and similar to other works in the same genre, but the story is solid and well told. I enjoyed the thoughtful tone of this story and am glad that the ending found a way to connect to the current storyline Murphy is creating.
Klaus Janson’s art helps make this issue pop visually as well and engages the reader with panels filled with details and expressive characters.