From DC Comics Black Label imprint comes a stand-alone issue;
As Bruce Wayne is about to be born, there’s birthing difficulties. Thomas Wayne enlists the help of Victor Fries to aid Martha’s distress. To distract Thomas from his stress during her health treatment, Victor looks back and recounts his early life. His own father figures are from opposing camps: his father a Nazi, and another father figure a Jew.
It’s a tale of polar opposites, as we look at those figures during World War II. The Baron von Fries and Jacob Smithstein are scientists, bu their partnership evolves into chaos during the emergence of the Third Reich in Germany. The Baron appears to be forced to make difficult decisions and is changed by those choices.
While Batman puts in a cursory appearance, this story is about the origins of the Wayne Laboratories. It’s written by Sean Murphy, and illustrated by Klaus Janson, with colour by Matt Hollingsworth.
The story is a good one, perhaps not as earth-shaking as it being portrayed; we have all read and heard better (and true) stories of the mass Jewish genocide. It’s not breaking new ground, perhaps, but it is a well-composed and well-illlustrated tale.
In addition to the story, there are pencils by Klaus Janson and an explanation from Murphy on how the story came about.
DC Comics, Black Label, Batman White Knight Presents Von Freeze, $5.99 for 56 pages, Rated 17+
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