Dr. Victor Fries, or as he is better known, Mr. Freeze, has had quite the evolution over the years. He started out as a relatively simple villainous scientist with a freeze gun, but took a dive into the deep end of Batman’s rogues gallery after Batman: The Animated Series reapproached his character and backstory. Essentially, he went from a one-dimensional character to a fully fleshed-out being with depth and layers. He was reborn as a brilliant scientist in a desperate race to cure his cryogenically preserved beloved wife, Nora. It doesn’t stop there. He also fell victim to a tragic accident that left him unable to exist outside of subzero temperatures. The very thing he wishes to free his wife from is the same thing that shackles him with each passing day. His chilling presence and the depth of his emotional burden are what make him such an integral part of the Batman series and a fan favorite.
MEZCO BRINGS MR. FREEZE TO THE ONE:12 COLLECTIVE
Thanks to Mezco, we now have a 1:12 scale figure in a premium format. Mezco has firmly established itself as a key player in the collectibles market. The company started in 2000 and launched its One:12 line in 2016, providing realistic proportions, incredible details and premium materials at a reasonably affordable price. I personally like to refer to them as the Hot Toys of the 6-inch or 1:12 scale toy line.
Mezco has secured licenses to some big names like DC, Marvel and various others over the years, bringing life to iconic characters from the heavy hitters like Batman, Superman, Wolverine, Blade and Hellboy. They’ve also tackled iconic film characters of old like Frankenstein‘s monster and Nosferatu, as well as pulp characters like Doc Savage, and even a sailor named Popeye, among many others. If you like attention to detail, articulation, character accuracy and clothed goods with your figures, Mezco is a solid source.
Mezco’s One:12 Collective line scratches an itch for many collectors with limited shelf space, as the figures stand at 1:12 scale, or 6 inches. Personally, I could use an alternative to my 1:6 scale collection, and Mezco hits that mark for me. Mr. Freeze stands at 6.5 inches tall and matches the same scale as G.I. Joe Classified and Marvel Legends, among others. This scale and size allow for the intricate details needed on a character like this.
Some of those details include textured fabric, paint applications and, my favorite part, the frost that collects on various spots of his suit, gear, equipment and weapons. The placement of this frost makes so much sense and brings a bit more realism to the figure.
THE DETAILS ARE IN THE FABRIC
One of Mezco’s signature innovations is its use of fabric with its figures. The way the fabric folds, flexes and stretches as you change the figure’s poses is something entirely unique when compared to the standard figures found on store shelves. Sure, you can get some immensely sharp, crisp details on plastic figures, but once they’re molded, that’s it. You won’t get the same realistic display when you shift an arm, bend a knee or elbow, or crunch or twist a torso like you would with fabric. There’s also the matter of detail seen in the surface textures of the wide range of fabrics used with these figures.
The combination of professionally tailored soft goods over precision-engineered plastic figures is a chef’s kiss. It’s a factor that I would say elevates the figure from a toy to a true collectible.
ACCESSORIES AND DISPLAY OPTIONS
Mr. Freeze comes with a bevy of accessories, from static pieces to electronic features, to enhance the display and, if you must, playability of the figure. There are several interchangeable hands to allow for plenty of posing options, along with his iconic freeze ray handgun and a larger freeze ray cannon with amazing frost effects and lighting features.
You also get several freeze effects to capture a victim, either by the foot or with a blast to the wrist or face, and more. The figure even has light-up features that illuminate several tubes on his back, with lighting that reaches up to his face from the inside base of his helmet seal.
The package includes two head sculpts, a transparent dome with an optional breathing apparatus, a wired hose to connect his freeze gun to his pack, a base and stand, and the always-present signature zipper-sealed baggie for his small loose pieces.
All of this, along with the figure, comes in a nifty collectible tin cylinder container with some fantastic rendered graphics.
ARTICULATION AND POSING
The articulation is pretty solid, with 30 points of articulation. The joints are firm and absolutely hold up when posed. I found that the shoulders were a bit stiff, and I was a little concerned about their range of movement until I watched someone else tinkering with theirs before venturing deeper.
There’s a ball-jointed barbell setup in the neck for some good range of movement, which can be opened up even more when removing the helmet’s clear dome shell. There’s a waist swivel without an ab crunch, but that’s probably due to the bulky gear on the figure.
There’s about 90 degrees of movement in the shoulders, a bicep swivel, and the elbows have some good bend. I suspect they may not be double-jointed elbows. There’s also wrist rotation, about 90 degrees of movement in the hips, knee bends, a thigh swivel and limited ankle movement due to the boot swivel.
FINAL WORD
When I look at this figure on my shelf, I can clearly see the tragic, chilling presence it commands. It’s one that I absolutely love and take quite a bit of pride in owning.
Now that I’m all choked up, let’s grab some Flintstones Push Pops and watch an episode or two of Batman: The Animated Series.
Oh, do you know what killed the dinosaurs?
