Capes On the Couch - Where Comics Get Counseling

Issue 12 - Mr. Freeze


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Anthony & Dr. Issues chill out while talking about Batman's coolest nemesis, Mr. Freeze! Plus dueling song references - Foreigner vs. Omarion, and yet another South Park reference...

SHOW NOTES:

  • Introduction
  • Background (06:33)
    • Created by Dave Wood & Sheldon Moldoff in Batman 121 (Feb. 1959) as Mr. Zero - rogue scientist who spilled cryogenic chemicals on himself
    • Renamed Mr. Freeze in 1960s TV series (real name was Dr. Art Schivel) - generic mad scientist
    • "Heart of Ice", Batman: The Animated Series episode from September 1992 revamped character and gave him tragic backstory (and redesign by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola)
      • Victor Fries was scientist working for GothCorp and invented a cryogenic chamber to preserve his terminally ill wife Nora until she could be cured - got chemicals spilled on him, and now needs a sub-zero suit to keep him alive
    • Comics adopted the animated backstory for their use
    • Teams with Nyssa al Ghul to use Lazarus Pit to revive Nora - but she comes back as Lazara and leaves him
    • New 52 reboot - Victor's mother fell through ice which kept her alive, and he became fascinated with cryonics as a result
    • Nora Fields was kept preserved for 20 years before Victor even heard of her, and he did his thesis on her - became obsessed with finding a way to bring her back, until Bruce Wayne shut down the project, and in a fit of rage ended up spilling chemicals on himself
    • Gets captured by the Red Hood and sent to Arkham, where he escapes - decides to kill Bruce Wayne and leave Gotham with Nora - stopped by Batman
  • Issues (16:48)
    • Obsession with Nora
    • Misanthropy
  • Treatment (32:57)
    • In-universe
    • Out-of-universe
  • Couch skit (44:00)
  • Ending (46:04)

 

References in the show:

  • "Cold as Ice" by Foreigner - Sung by Anthony & Dr. Issues in the intro
  • Came Back Wrong - TV Tropes discussion mentioned by Anthony at 13:34
  • Warm his icy heart with a hot island song - South Park, "Free Hat", mentioned by Anthony at 17:28
  • "Got an icebox where my heart used to be" - Omarion, "Ice Box", mentioned by Dr. Issues at 17:47
  • "First do no harm" - Hippocratic oath, mentioned by Anthony at 42:38

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Capes On the Couch - Where Comics Get CounselingBy Capes on the Couch: Where Comics Get Counseling

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