WARNING: Contains potential spoilers for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #6!Mister Frozen has always been one of from Batman most iconic enemies, but he is often overshadowed by Joker chaotic reign of carnage, leaving him lower on the villain ladder than the Clown Prince of Crime. Now, however, Gotham's stone-cold rogue has revealed a chilling feat so brutal that it officially surpasses the Joker's body count, cementing his place in infamy.
Jay Kristoff, Tirso Cons, and Wes Abbott's Deathstroke-Centered High Fantasy Dark Knights Steel: All Winter the series comes to an end in issue #6, ending with an epic confrontation between Long-Sword Slade Wilson and the Sorcerer Victor Fries. Previous issues revealed how Victor cursed the Kingdom with eternal winter after Deathstroke accidentally killed Nora with a shot meant solely for King Maxwell Lord.
This curse drained the land of color and freed a legion of bloodthirsty and mindless slaves. However, issue #6 twists established lore to reveal that VIctor's curse didn't just freeze the land - it claimed the lives of an entire kingdom.
Sorry, Joker: but Mr. Freeze killed an entire kingdom with one spell
“I killed a kingdom to spare my death Nora.” - Mr. Freeze in Black Knights of Steel #6 (2024)
Among the twists of issue #6, it is revealed that Nora is not actually dead, but rather in a state of stasis, encapsulated in a giant piece of ice that leaves her suspended between life and death. This revelation sheds light on the true purpose of Freeze's eternal winter curse. As Slade notes, “Is that what this is about? You froze a kingdom to death just to keep it alive?” It becomes clear that Victor's freezing of the Kingdom was not just an act of petty revenge - it was his desperate attempt to preserve his wife's life.
As the exchange between Slade and Victor continues, Victor confesses: “I killed a kingdom to spare my death, Nora. This admission confirms that the sorcerer willingly killed the entire population of a kingdom. Although the Joker's body count in conventional continuity reaches thousands, an entire kingdom's worth of lives far exceeds the Clown Prince of Crime's count. The severity of this body count is amplified by the revelation that the eternal curse of winter didn't simply kill the Kingdom's inhabitants - it turned them into mindless, bloodthirsty slaves who now roam its frozen wasteland.
It is also revealed that Slade's own sons, Joey and Grant, were among those who were turned into slaves - a fate many would consider worse than death. This horrific act cements Victor's highest body count in any continuity, even making some of Joker's most infamous atrocities pale in comparison. However, One fundamental difference separates Freeze from the Joker: Victor's carnage and devastation (in this case) were reversible. Alex “Swamp Thing” The Netherlands finally broke the curse, restoring the people of the Kingdom to their original state. Without Alec's intervention, however, this reversal would not have been possible and highlights how far Victor was willing to go in his quest to save Nora.
How does Mr. Freeze's classic origin story compare to Black Knights of Steel Version?
Even on Earth-118, Victor Fries' motivation comes down to love for his wife.
Dark Knights Steel: All Winter wasn't just packed with plot twists - it also offered an incredibly unique look at Mr.'s origin story. As most fans, both longtime and casual, know, Freeze's most iconic origin in mainstream continuity revolves around his wife , Nora. Traditionally, he is portrayed as a PhD scientist who became meta after a laboratory accident during his attempt to cryogenically preserve a terminally ill Nora. His career and crimes as a Rogue of Gotham revolve around his quest to cure her.serving as his main motivator and a defining aspect of his character.
Black Knights of Steel mirrors this classic origin story but adds a high fantasy twist. Instead of being a PhD scientist researching cryonics to save his terminally ill wife, Victor is reimagined as a sorcerer with mastery over ice magic, which he uses to freeze Nora and keep her alive after she is hit in the chest by an arrow. Furthermore, instead of wreaking havoc on Gotham City, Freeze unleashes the destruction of an entire kingdom. Kristoff's brilliance lies in how he preserves the essence of Freeze's origin story while reimagining it in a completely new and epic way.mixing familiar elements with the grandeur of high fantasy.
Mr. Freeze gets subtle but epic 'power' upgrade in Black Knights of Steel
Victor Fries' most iconic trick becomes a true superpower
Kristoff's high fantasy twist on Mr. Freeze is particularly intriguing because it reimagines one of his defining characteristics. "powers" in a subtle but powerful way. Through continuities, Freeze is best known for keeping his wife in a state between life and death—generally by technological means. In Black Knights of Steelthis concept becomes a true power as Victor achieves this balance between life and death with magic. Furthermore, Victor not only keeps Nora in a dying state; he extends this power to an entire kingdom, transforming its inhabitants into undead slaves who also exist in a liminal state between life and death.
Breaking it down further, Mr. Freeze's character is fundamentally defined by his inability to fully restore Nora's life despite preventing her death. This theme takes into Black Knights of Steelwhere Victor himself admits, “I killed a kingdom to spare my death Nora. But it was beyond my power to give him life.” In this context, Victor's ability to suspend Nora - and now an entire kingdom - in a state between life and death further highlights this as his signature "power." That's why, This magical upgrade adds a fascinating and powerful twist to Victor's iconic trick.
Mr. Freeze gets his most drastic makeover in Black Knights of Steel Sequel
Tirso Cons main cover by Mr. Freeze for Dark Knights Steel: All Winter #6 (2024)
Lastly, Victor's visual redesign in this comic is a major update for the character, giving him a break from his oversized, astronaut-like cryogenic suit. Instead, Victor dons furs, cloaks, and a cape that perfectly fits the high fantasy setting, providing a radical change from his usual attire. He also wears a headdress adorned with a delicate snowflake on the front, in honor of his winter powers. Despite these significant changes, Mr. Freeze remains instantly recognizable as the villain fans know and love, thanks to his signature red-tinted glasses. With this stunning redesign and a new twist on its classic tradition, Black Knights of Steel stands out as one of the coolest reimaginings of Mister Frozen the date.
Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #6 is now available from DC Comics!