Comic Review: Batman Annual #1

Usually, Annual issues are a big spectacular book that releases every year that is a one-shot story that always manages to tie into the current ongoing stories in that book. Scott Snyder’s Batman is no different. Snyder introduces Mr. Freeze officially into the New 52, who we first saw in the last issue of Red Hood and The Outlaws as he was getting attacked by the Court of Owls’ assassins called the Talons. This book will finally reveal his ties to the owls as well as his new and improved origin. Mr. Freeze lovers I promise you will not be pissed! This annual issue is not a miss folks, as it packs in a complete and great Batman story while giving it importance to the current Night of The Owls storyline and the best thing is that Night of The Owls knowledge is NOT needed.

Open up the book and on the first page we indulged into a glimpse of Mr. Freeze’s childhood but not only do we get a good start to the story but we also get the credits of the writers and creators of the book in a cinematic style that is subtle and doesn’t take away from the art at all. The first three pages of the book will introduce us to what seems like a emotional scarring moment in Mr. Freeze’s life that may have first triggered his psychotic urges.

What I love about comic books in this day and age is that it’s no longer the Golden Age and we can actually witness killing and extremely edgy material without any fucks being given by the publishers. Snyder made sure we knew Freeze was a threat in this (even without his Freeze Ray and suit!) and we get to see some killing. In past versions of Mr. Freeze you may be familiar with (Hopefully it’s not the Batman and Robin version…) Mr. Freeze doesn’t seem sinister enough or meniacal. Comics aren’t for 12 year olds anymore and there isn’t any “Holy cheesecake, Batman!” anymore.

I may be wrong, but I think Snyder has never written for Mr. Freeze before and if this is the case then he has excellently taken great material that was invented by Paul Dini [Fun Fact: Batman: The Animated Series created the amazing origin for Mr. Freeze where he was looking and caring and finding a cure for Nora and how he became a popsicle. Check it out sometime!] and made it his own to fit the reinvention of characters in the New 52. Mr. Freeze actually has only been the villain we know him as for only six years in this new continuity.

The artwork here is amazingly done by the wonderful Jason Fabok who deserves tons of praise on this book. I was really hesistant when I heard that Greg Capullo wouldn’t be working on this book but after reading this book all of my doubts are gone. Fabok completely creates wonderful atmospheres with his content and there are plenty of scenes that take place within a cold laboratory and it clearly shows what exactly the enviroment the characters are in can feel like. Fight scenes can be a small bit unclear as some punches or kicks look awkward but in the end, it all feels like you’re watching a good ol’ fashioned Batman movie. Fabok needs to get mention from every person who reviews this amazing book.

Mr. Freeze as depicted in Batman: The Animated Series. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For anyone who has never picked up a Scott Snyder or Batman New 52 book, go out and buy this immediately. Not only will it introduce you to how wonderful Scott Snyder is, but it will also introduce you to the wonderful world of Mr. Freeze who is being first introduced in this issue and also gives you a great 38 page story with wonderful art for only the price of 4.99$.

I give this book a 4.5/5 stars because Scott Snyder is fucking awesome.