The Arkhamverse is a rich tapestry of some of the most fascinating and rewarding antagonist depictions in any DC media. Mark Hamill and Troy Baker’s Joker is an obvious example of how synonymous the actors and the Clown Prince of Crime are, for instance, while Wally Wingert’s Riddler,Arleen Sorkin and Tara Strong’s Harley Quinn, and Troy Baker’s Harvey Dent/Two-Face are equally exceptional. Some antagonist character arcs haven’t been as strong as others, such as Thomas Elliot’s Hush being unsatisfying, though others’ stories are devastating.
Bane would’ve been perceived wholly as a naive and nearly vegetative brute in the Arkhamverse if not for how menacing and intelligent he’s depicted as inBatman: Arkham Origins. Indeed, as a prequel entry full of eponymous origin stories, Joker is also given an appropriately dark and subtle touch of backstory while speaking with an enamored Dr. Harleen Quinzel. Curiously, if it wasn’t forBatman: Arkham Origins’ Cold, Cold Heart DLC, Mr. Freeze’s depiction would be quite different afterBatman: Arkham Cityfirst introduced him to the Arkhamverse.
Batman: Arkham Origins’ Mr. Freeze DLC is Its Icy, Beating Heart
Part of the fun ofBatman: Arkham Origins’ Cold, Cold Heart DLCis Bruce Wayne’s discovery that Mr. Freeze isn’t the traditional type of ne’er-do-well that he’s grown accustomed to coming across in Gotham City while Ferris Boyle, a seemingly straight-laced humanitarian, is the shady one. Cold, Cold Heart ends abruptly, but while Mr. Freeze certainly does enough to earn himself jail time he’s never painted as villainous. Bruce is sympathetic toward Victor Fries after digitally reconstructing what happened to him via Detective Mode, setting his sights on Ferris from then on.
A lot should naturally occur betweenOriginsandCity, and it’d be interesting to witness if Mr. Freeze had ever crossed a line. It’s known that Victor had a suspended, isolated cell tailored to him in Arkham Asylum as addressed by its ice formations and a riddle associated with it in the Penitentiary, so seeing more of his exploits and how he’d continue to commit crimes via the excuse of saving his wife, Nora, would be alluring.
Batman and Mr. Freeze’s Relationship is Complicated in Batman: Arkham City
InBatman: Arkham City,Batman and Mr. Freeze’s relationship is quite hostilewith Batman treating him fairly reprehensibly considering Freeze is found in a completely vulnerable and helpless state. Thankfully, that behavior isn’t wholly undeserved as Mr. Freeze later destroys one of two cure vials. Bruce Wayne and Victor Fries are at least on amicable terms once Victor is defeated in the GCPD precinct’s forensics lab and especially once Batman has found Nora and reunited them, which is evidence that external factors are responsible for their animosity toward one another.
Bruce is obviously distressed by the fact that he and an unknowable number of people arepoisoned with Joker’s bloodand his pursuit of a cure is dire, though Victor of all antagonists seems the least likely or deserving for Bruce to threaten and mock—“think cold thoughts.”
No studio or game may ever go near Mr. Freeze in the Arkhamverse now thatBatman: Arkham Origins’ Cold, Cold Heart DLC told his origin story mystery so captivatingly andBatman: Arkham Knight’s “In From the Cold” Season of Infamy DLCput his story to bed so gracefully. Telling a prequel story about Mr. Freeze from years prior wouldn’t undo how lovely his and Nora’s farewell is in the series, but it would risk souring how redeemable and agreeable he has been in all three of his appearances thus far.
