About the Book
-
Authors:
- Lauren Myracle
- Isaac Goodhart
- Genre:
- Graphic Novels
- Voices:
- Cis Boy
- Cis Girl
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: Snow Globe
BFF Charm: Heck No, Meh
Talky Talk: Fumble
Arty Art: Good (H)Art
Anti-Bonus Factor: Paranormal Creature
Relationship Status: Missed Connection
Content Warning: Victor and Nora features a character with a terminal illness, an attempted suicide, and a bit of emotional abuse at the hands of a significant other that might be triggering for some readers.
Cover Story: Snow Globe
This cover is very fitting, given the things we know about Victor Fries’s—and Nora’s—future, but it doesn’t tie in with the story, which takes place in summer. I do like how it “matches” Myracle and Goodhart’s first DC graphic novel—Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale—however; the round globe echoes the moon and the silhouettes of the buildings look very similar.
The Deal:
Victor Fries’s life is a simple one, filled with science and little connection, especially since his brother died (and he blames himself). He’s got an internship that allows him to work on his cryogenic experiments, and his lack of social life only gives him more time to perfect his work.
Nora Faria doesn’t have long to live, but she’s set on making the little time she has left count. And when she meets Victor, he becomes part of her plan.
But time is running out, and Victor thinks he can help Nora with more than just her final summer plans.
BFF Charms: Hell No, Meh
Victor is a decent dude, but his single-mindedness on, first, his scientific endeavors and, second, his drive to save Nora’s life, would make him a hard guy to hang out with. Plus, even though this is a story that takes place outside of “standard” Mr. Freeze canon, it’s unnerving knowing who he might become.
I would have liked to have met Nora before her terminal diagnosis because it would be interesting to know her without the threat of death hanging over her head. She’s a bit of a manic pixie dream girl in this book, and although I get the reason behind her “gotta celebrate life” mentality, I don’t know if I could deal with it. And yes, I know this makes me sound like a callous b*tch, but I’m just being honest; 2020 has taken a lot of the little patience I had.
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Given the subtitle of this book—and if you know anything about Batman villains—you can assume that Victor and Nora are going to get together in this book, and that assumption would be correct. But their relationship is, unfortunately, more instalove than swoony, and Victor’s light obsession with freezing things and then bringing them back to life puts a damper on what little swoon there is when you think about where that plotline is heading.
Talky Talk: Fumble
I liked Myracle’s take on Selina Kyle a whole lot, but her second go at writing a new origin story for a known Batman villain falls a bit flat. Victor’s not a compelling character, and his single-mindedness—something that actually ties really nicely into the larger Batman ‘verse character—isn’t a great look in a story in which he’s supposed to be the hero/love interest. I suppose it would have been strange to read about a grey Victor Fries, as he’s pretty much always an actual villain (unlike Selina), but a little more personality outside of his scientific endeavors would have been nice.
Arty Art: Good (H)Art
Goodhart’s art is the star of this book. It’s detailed without being overly complex, and he infuses so much life into the action moments. He also has a killer eye for hair; Nora’s is filled with secrets huge and often seems to have a life of its own, but it looks so healthy and shiny and like something out of a shampoo commercial that I’m jealous.
Anti-Bonus Factor: Paranormal Creature
There aren’t any paranormal or magical elements in this book, other than a very strange bird with monkey hands that terrorizes Nora. I think it’s a hallucination and/or figment of her diseased imagination, but it’s very strange and the hands are super unnerving.
Relationship Status: Missed Connection
I wasn’t sure what to expect from our time together, Book, but I know that we just didn’t click. You’ve got a lot on your plate, though, so I’m guessing you won’t mind that we go our separate ways. Good luck in the future?
Literary Matchmaking
Be sure to check out the first Myracle/Goodhart collaboration, Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale.
If you’re in the mood for another original orgin story about a Batman villain/antihero, try Mariko Tamaki and Steve Pugh’s Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass.
And for an all-new take on Bruce himself, (and a couple more familiar names), read Melissa de la Cruz and Thomas Pitilli’s Gotham High.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from DC Comics / Warner Bros., but got neither a private dance party with Tom Hiddleston nor money in exchange for this review. Victor and Nora: A Gotham Love Story is available now.
