Mr. Freeze is one of Batman’s greatest enemies, but which of his appearances on both the big and small screens stand out as the best?
Mr. Freeze has been a regular presence in the Batman mythology for over half a century. During that time, he has evolved more times than perhaps any of The Dark Knight’s villains. And yes, we mean evolved.
Originally a more gimmicky baddie by the name of Mr. Zero, the character debuted in DC Comics in 1959 before he was eventually renamed Mr. Freeze. Used in an abundance of outlandish and cartoonish storylines, it soon became clear that, outside of his unique appearance, he really wasn’t all that interesting. That is, until a ’90s reinvention changed everything.
Now a heartbroken husband attempting to cure his ill wife, Mr. Freeze is among the greatest and best-developed comic book villains of all time. A tragic but engaging character, fans fell in love with the troubled Victor Fries thanks to his portrayal in Batman: The Animated Series and it’s hard to imagine where he would be without that narrative revamp.
In fact, fans are hoping that the DC Universe’s Elseworlds saga will give Mr. Freeze the Joker treatment and produce a film focused on his tragic origins. It would certainly be awesome to see that happen, but even then, the icy villain has appeared on our screens quite a lot over the years.
From a recurring presence on the ’60s Batman TV show to that notorious big-screen adaptation, a lot of us are familiar with the famous Freezes, but which ones were truly worth remembering and which ones will we struggle to forget? As we continue to celebrate Batman Day, let’s take this opportunity to reflect on all of the Bat-foe’s most famous appearances and rank them.
Note: While there were multiple other actors to voice Mr. Freeze on TV and in video games, this list will take a look at the seven most famous (and best) to do so on the big-screen or small-screen.