Review: Victor and Nora: A Gotham Love Story
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Lauren Myracle
Artist: Isaac Goodhart
Colorist: Cris Peter
Letterer: Steve Wands
Reviewer: Tony Farina
Summary
Seventeen-year-old Victor Fries has a cold heart. After his brother died in a tragic house fire that Victor feels responsible for, his parents have isolated themselves, and Victor has dedicated his whole life to one thing: science.
Nora Kumar is full of life. She is suffering from an incurable illness that will slowly consume her, so she’s decided to live her last days to the fullest at her summer home in Gotham City until her birthday, the day she plans to take her own life.
When Victor and Nora meet one day at the cemetery outside of town, they are astonished to find the connection they’ve been missing in their lives. Their summer quickly spirals into a beautiful romance, and Victor’s cold heart is able to thaw, allowing him to begin to enjoy life just a little more. But when Victor learns of Nora’s illness, he’s driven to try to find a solution to keep from losing another person he loves…by whatever means he can.
Victor & Nora: A Gotham Love Story is a tragic tale about living life to the fullest and what it truly means to love…and to let go.
Positives
Victor & Nora: A Gotham Love Story bursts off the page with amazing art by Isaac Goodhart and colors by Cris Peter. While Goodhart does a spectacular job with the facial expressions and emotional resonance, it is Peter who seals the deal with the way the colors are so distinct, yet remain muted. It is important that the colors don’t jump off the page here. This is a close story that is closed to the rest of the world. The characters need to see the world through their own lenses and it is Peter’s colors that do that work.
There are a few pages where the art changes into a story within a story and those pages are simply delightful. Goodhart clearly is showing off.
Lauren Myracle is an amazing writer. I have been a fan for years. When I saw it was her writing this, I knew immediately we were going to be in good hands. The short chapters, with the clever headings were excellent. They gave readers a chance to break but they also begged us to keep reading. Her characterization of Victor and Nora was just perfect. This may be, hands down, the best version of Nora I have ever read and quite possibly top five versions of Victor.
Negatives
Victor & Nora: A Gotham Love Story officially has no downside. Unless, of course, you hate things that are good OR, you have disliked these teen reboots.
Verdict
Victor & Nora: A Gotham Love Story is lovely. Mr. Freeze has long been a tragic story and in the capable hands of Ms. Myracle, the tragedy drives home. If some reluctant teen needs something to read, hand him or her this book. If someone who has never read a comic before, but who is a sucker for a tragic love story, this one is for that person. The art is beautiful and the story telling is spot on. Nice work once again DC.
