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Detective Comics # 1016 2020 Cold Dark World: Finale: In Cold Blood pg 14 by Doug Mahnke

Artists: Doug Mahnke (Penciller) , Peter Tomasi (Writer)

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Detective Comics # 1016 2020 Cold Dark World: Finale: In Cold Blood pg 14 by Doug Mahnke Comic Art

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Title:	Detective Comics # 1016 2020 Cold Dark World: Finale: In Cold Blood pg 14 by Doug Mahnke
Artist:	Doug Mahnke (Penciller)
Artist:	Peter Tomasi (Writer)
Media Type:	Pencil
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	226
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	7/30/2022
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Detective Comics # 1016 January 2020
Pencils on DC Comics 11 x 17 art board
"Cold Dark World: Finale: In Cold Blood" pg 14
Pencils: Doug Mahnke
Writer: Peter Tomasi

Defeating her now-estranged husband, Mr. Freeze, isn't enough to sate Nora Fries's bloodlust as she usurps his frozen throne, establishing herself as the first ice queen of Gotham. The Dark Knight will have his hands full as Nora unleashes an icy hell unlike any other on his city's streets.

Following Nora’s complete heel turn, Batman and Mr. Freeze have formed an uneasy alliance to try and bring her in. Batman, naturally, wants both the Fries’ to answer for their crimes, yet he’s still sympathetic to Victor’s love for Nora. That right there makes a great case for Tomasi being a great Batman writer: he knows that, in spite of Bruce’s drive to end crime, he still cares about people. In fact, you could go so far as to say that it’s caring for others that actually motivates him, as he doesn’t want the same tragedy that he experienced to befall others. That extends to a man he considers a foe, too: while he knows that Victor has made choices that have consequences, Bruce wants Fries to be able to restore Nora to the woman he loves. As much as both Bruce and Victor may want to play at it, neither man is truly cold and heartless.

All we know about Nora is the romanticized idea of their love as told through Victor’s point of view, so without knowing her as she truly was before, it’s not nearly as dramatic to see her become such a violent and remorseless killer. Luthor’s formula had some sort of corruption that caused her to break bad.

It is explained that the formula Luthor provided Victor was a derivation of that used for the “B-Zero Experiment” way back in Forever Evil. This provides a somewhat plausible, in-canon reason for why this supposedly “special formula” would cause Nora to start acting like this.

It also goes to show that even though Lex is positioning himself as an “apex predator” and an advanced and perfected human specimen, he’s still the same old devious Lex Luthor. Using something that will give somebody what they think they want without any thought of side effects or negative consequences is a total Luthor move. He got what he wanted, so why should he care what happens after the fact?

She shuns the perceived weakness of Victor’s unrequited love, which is emotionally devastating in itself, and she has a complete disregard for human life as well. Remember when Freeze froze a cop in the first issue of Gotham Central, then shattered the body? How utterly shocking and despicable that was? Well Nora takes it a step further by rearranging the remains of a dead, frozen police officer.

The best aspect of this issue– and perhaps even the entire arc– is the tragic role reversal the story ends on. Freeze wanted one thing: to be reunited with his wife, at any cost. He was given that gift, however fleeting, and ended up losing her in a completely different way. Tomasi emphasizes character over conflict, when necessary, but proves to be a master at both.

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	Michael Molinario ( 2 )
Joined:	November 2011
Last Login:	September 2025
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