Top 10 Polar Vortex Inspired “Cold” Themed Comic Book Heroes & Villains

I think we can all agree that this week’s greatest super-villain is this freezing weather.

‘Polar Vortex’ sounds like a comic book villain name which got me thinking about my favorite “cold” themed comic book characters.

And since I have been forced to spend the last day and a half stuck inside with a bored and stir-crazy toddler, I decided to use this time to create my list of…

Geeky Daddy’s Top Ten “Cold” Themed Comic Book Heroes & Villains

10. Ice

As members of the Justice League International in the late 80’s and early 90’s, the Scandinavian Tora Olafsdotte, AKA Ice, was often teamed with the Brazilian Beatriz Bonilla da Costa, AKA Fire.

The sweet and innocent Ice was polar opposite in personality, as well as abilities, to the more vocal and vivacious Fire.

This, along with Ice’s romance with Guy Gardner, created some of the most entertaining storylines of the DeMatteis and Giffen run on the title. She was later killed by Ocean Master, but since this is comics, she will probably be brought back to life before this list is even published.

9. Weather Wizard

As with many of the Flash‘s rogues gallery members, Mark Mardon AKA Weather Wizard, has a bit of a convoluted past. He was a career criminal who acquired a wand that his scientist brother (who Mark may or may not have killed) that controls weather. Which I guess means he is not strictly a “cold themed” character.

When DC Comics relaunched themselves with their New 52 initiative, many character origins were updated to be more modern and ethically diverse. Mark Mardon was changed to Marco Mardon and is now Latino.

8. Blizzard

While there have been 3 different people to don the Blizzard’s costume in the Marvel comics, I prefer the first: Gregor Shapanka. After Shapanka was fired from Stark Industries for attempting to steal some tech, he created his own weather controlling suite. Because I guess it is just that easy…

After Shapanka was shattered by the Hulk, a criminal named Donald Gill acquired one of his suits and had many battles with various Marvel heroes, such as Spider-Man. Now there is a 3rd dude running around in the suit. I guess the suit is made from a one-size-fits-all material.

7. Captain Cold

Len Snart, AKA Captain Cold, has been terrorizing the Flash in the DC Comics for years, but has gained a ton of popularity recently with Wentworth Miller‘s portrayal of this villain with a moral code in the CW’s Arrowverse.

Miller’s Captain Cold was often paired with with Dominic Purcell‘s Heatwave in the Arrowverse, similar to the previously mentioned Fire and Ice. The two actors had a terrific on screen chemistry, dating back to their days on Fox’s hit show Prison Break.

6. Icicle

Another villain that has had multiple characters carry the mantle, Icicle II has always been one of my favorite villains.

The original Icicle character dates all the way back to 1947 when he took on the original Green Lantern with a freeze gun. The current Icicle, Cameron, is the son of the original Icicle who has been mutated due to prolonged exposure to the radiation from his dad’s freeze gun.

5. Storm

I am somewhat bending my own rules again here with another not strictly “cold themed” character by including the most famous former Egyptian orphan in comic book history: Storm.

With the mutant power to control weather, Storm has the ability to weaponize ice, snow or sleet against her enemies.

Though she began her super-hero career as an X-Man, Storm also spent time with the Avengers after she married fellow on-and-off again Avenger Black Panther

4. Iceman

Bobby Drake, AKA Iceman, was one of the original X-men who appeared in X-Men issue #1 back in 1963 and has been a staple of the Marvel Comics universe ever since.

Iceman has the mutant ability to manipulate water vapor around him to create ice and freezing cold.

3. Laufey (Frost Giants)

Laufey, who was the King of the Frost Giants and ruler of the frozen lands of Jotunheim, was slain by Thor’s father Odin.

He is was also the biological father of Loki, The Prince of Lies. After Odin killed Laufey (who has since been brought back to life because, you know, comics), he found the baby Loki, took him and raised him as his own.

2. Mr. Freeze

Batman has the strongest and most well developed rogues gallery of villains in all of comics and one of the top characters in the gallery is Victor Freeze.

Mr. Freeze has appeared in all forms of Batman media, included the campy 60’s T.V. show, the current hit Fox show Gotham and (my favorite) the 90’s Batman: The Animated Series.

Full disclosure: I pretend that the Arnold Schwarzenegger Mr. Freeze never happened.

1. Killer Frost

The third member of the Flash’s rogues gallery to appear on this list is the coolest and hottest: Killer Frost!

Also, like many characters on this list, multiple women in the DC universe have carried the persona of Killer Frost.

The most recent being S.T.A.R. Labs scientist Caitlin Snow, appearing in the CW TV series and the New 52 reboot in the DC comics.

Bonus Selection: Jack Frost

I hard a hard time deciding whether to include this character in my Top Ten or not. But then I remembered this is my list and I can do whatever I want, so I included Jack Frost as a bonus character.

Jack Frost was one of the late Stan “The Man” Lee’s first super-hero creations, first appearing in 1941. He was also the very first ‘cold’ themed comic book character.

Frost carried one of the tropes that Lee would later use on many of his most famous creations: An outcast misunderstood by society.

I first learned about Jack Frost when I picked up Captain America issue 384 as a kid, assuming it was the X-Men’s Iceman on the cover (pictured below). I enjoyed the story of Frost and Cap re-uniting and reminiscing about their WWII days fighting the Axis Powers.

What did you think of our list of “cold themed” comic book characters?

What characters did I miss that would have made your list?

Let me know in the comments below.