Review by Ian Keogh

Snow takes place early in Batman’s career and begins with a near fatal encounter for Batman, who only just makes it back to the Batcave after being shot. The following morning he’s not in the mood to compromise regarding errors made, and while Bruce Wayne argues with Alfred the scene switches to research scientist Victor Fries and his ailing wife Nora. He’s working on cryogenic technology and is appalled to learn the company intend to exploit it for military applications.

Collaborating writers Dan Curtis Johnson and J.H. Williams III are revisiting and expanding on the origin of Mister Freeze, a regular Gotham villain. The classic version’s motivation for exploring cryogenic technology is to save his wife’s life, and while adding more sympathy for a tragic situation and extra medical detail, Johnson and Williams pretty well stick to the established version. We see Fries driven to despair, assuming his costumed identity and unleashing extreme climate change on Gotham.

Surprisingly, the departure from formula concerns Batman, who decides that eighteen months into his career he’s not as effective as he could be, and so approaches individuals with specialist talents as helpers. The two conjoining plots have depth and interesting characters, with Fries captivating not only for his altruistic motives, but for being far from the confident menace that emerges.

An already fascinating plot is lifted higher via Seth Fisher’s art. In his own field Fisher is a maverick as talented as Fries, and with an equally offbeat methodology. Detail is what first catches the eye, an excess of it, particularly where technology or rubble is concerned. Fisher’s Batman is unconventional, but engaging, hiding in bushes, hanging from girders or framed in a window, while Bruce Wayne seems almost middle-aged with bags under the eyes and wrinkles. Other characters can be exaggerated with personal quirks, hair a speciality, but they all look different and always look interesting. At times the poses cross a line, such as Batman accompanied by bats, but this is notable artwork.

For all the concentration on personalities and detection, spectacle is also provided, with the final chapter being a showdown matching expectations. Also pleasing is the way the supporting cast are dealt with due to the obvious route being swerved. There’s no shortage of Batman graphic novels, but Snow still manages to stand out.