At Last, Batman Just Corrected One of the New 52's Most Controversial Retcons -

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Absolute Batman #7!It took a while, but DC finally found the perfect way to update a particular Batman character that the New 52 failed to do. There were a lot of changes that came with DC’s most ambitious initiative, and one outright had fans’ blood boiling. But the Absolute Universe finally figured out the perfect way to update a classic Batman villain.

In Absolute Batman #7 by Scott Snyder and Marcos Martín, Batman is looking into the mysterious Ark M project and his investigation leads him to the cryo-tech company V-Core. Bruce makes his way into the company, where he meets V-Core representative, Victor Fries, Jr.

Absolute Batman Meets the Fries Family DC

Batman inquires if Jr.’s parents, Victor and Nora Fries, are still overseeing the company with their son. Fries reveals they are and opens a display that shows his parents are in suspended animation. Absolute Batman looks on in horror as he sees Victor and Nora frozen, but together, even holding hands in the ice.

The Absolute Universe’s Victor and Nora Fries Are Still Together

DC isn’t Repeating a Batman Mistake it Made During the New 52

For those who weren’t around for it, DC Comics completely rebooted its universe in 2011, leading to sweeping retcons that affected character relationships and personal histories. Among the changes to the new DCU was a shocking shake-up to Mr. Freeze’s backstory, which revealed that in the rebooted universe, Victor Fries and Nora were never married. Nora was just a preserved woman he had fallen for while studying cryogenics. The change was a bridge too far for many readers, who lambasted the decision, leading DC Comics to eventually restore Mr. Freeze’s backstory to the one fans vastly preferred.

Read Batman Annual #1 (2012) to see the controversial update to Mr. Freeze!

Interestingly enough, Scott Snyder, writer of Absolute Batman, is the same person who wrote that updated origin for Mr. Freeze in Batman Annual #1 all those years ago. Like with the New 52, Snyder was given the opportunity to completely reinvent Mr. Freeze (which he has with Fries’ nightmarish son, Victor Jr.). But the one thing he makes sure to keep this time around is Victor and Nora’s relationship. Granted, this issue doesn’t go too deeply into their relationship. But Absolute Batman recognizes that no matter what changes are made to Mr. Freeze, it can’t separate Nora and Victor.

The Absolute Universe is Keeping What Makes the DC Universe Work

Things Will Be Different, But Still Familiar

The New 52’s changes were about taking big swings and experimenting in unexpected ways. The Absolute Universe, on the other hand, is taking a more measured approach and finding ways to update these characters while remaining true to who they are. Removing Victor’s relationship with Nora was a miss, but Absolute Batman understands that it’s an integral part of his character. While this doesn’t undo the controversial change to Batman lore in the New 52, this does show that when it comes to the Absolute Universe, fans can expect more familiarity no matter what changes may come.

Absolute Batman #7 is available now from DC Comics.