A classic chapter from the Emmy-Winning BATMAN Animated Series adventures reveals a feature-length tale that puts one of the Caped Crusader’s most complicated villains in the spotlight!
One of the best things that came out of the release of the 1989 blockbuster motion picture Batman directed by Tim Burton was the winning animated series that inspired a darkly more interesting take of the Dark Knight. Batman: The Animated Series could have played in primetime and benefitted from the success of its big screen counterpart to also carve its own path and introduced a very colorful cadre of super villains that challenged the Caped Crusader in all new ways. Featuring the voice talent of Kevin Conroy, Batman was vengeance!
The unlikely pairing of Batman & Mr. Freeze on the “Subzero” actually delivers one of the most compelling adventures in the Caped Crusaders animated arsenal.
Among all those very complex characters in the Batman’s rogues gallery that translated so beautifully to the medium, none was more interesting than Mr. Freeze (voiced by Michael Ansera) who was always the most tragic of figures. Victor Fries is motivated by the love of his life, his wife Nora has succumb to a fatal affliction, and in his haste to keep her preserved using cryogenics, Fries ends up becoming a victim of his own science, the frigidly frightening Mr. Freeze! When the feature-length Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero begins Fries has exiled himself away from Gotham.
As is often the case (and can ruin anyone’s day) a nuclear submarine on a research mission accidentally penetrates Fries’ hidden lair where the scientist is living happily while tending to his wife’s frozen body, and hopefully — for the crew of the sub — puts Nora in jeopardy! Victor must act quickly, and kidnaps Batgirl the only compatible candidate for an organ transplant that can save Nora’s wife! It’s up to Batman and Robin to rescue Barbara Gordon who becomes determined to save Nora and Mr. Freeze from himself.
On Blu-ray
Following on the success of the premiere release of Mask of the Phantasm on Bu-ray, Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero was a properly positioned sequel to that film’s success that went straight to video and was supported within the continuity of the Batman: Animated Series. Up-rezzed for hi-def presentation on Blu-ray, the animation translates beautifully and is truly a feast for the senses. The series itself has always had a stylized look that revitalized the art deco shine of the grit popularized in the live-action film’s design.
Subzero looks wonderful in this freshly minted hi-def presentation that will delight diehard fans and includes bonus episodes that elaborate on The Saga of Mr. Freeze with episodes from the animated series including the epilogue that appeared in Batman Beyond. It’s a complete package; the only thing missing would have been a Digital HD download copy so that you can take the action with you anywhere.
Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero is available now on Blu-ray.
