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scans_daily... And all on the day I make my glorious return! *throws confetti at own entrance*
Let's go back to where it all started: August 1942, with DETECTIVE COMICS #66.
While Bob Kane gets too much credit for everything Batman, it seems that Two-Face was entirely his creation, taking the look from this poster of Spencer Tracy's JEKYLL & HYDE film, and giving him a coin-flipping gimmick originated by George Raft in (the original, superior) SCARFACE. Bill Finger then ran with the idea, and the two introduced a startling new villain for Batman's Rogues Gallery:
It's one of the earliest examples of a complete story arc told in multiple parts from the Golden Age (a trilogy, no less!), one that cemented Two-Face from the outset as one of Batman's greatest foes, not to mention his most tragic.
And I can pretty damn well guarantee you that the saga of Harvey Kent doesn't end the way you'd expect! As an epilogue, I've included a never-reprinted, little-known postscript to the life and career of Harvey Kent!
NOTE: Scans from DETECTIVE COMICS #66 (4 1/3 pages worth of a 13 page story), #68 (2 pages out of 12) and #80 (4 out of 12)
We're first introduced to our villain-to-be via an inset panel in the first page:
Now there's a nickname we rarely ever seen used for Harvey: "Apollo." I imagine it seemed kind random when it appeared briefly at the end of THE LONG HALLOWEEN, with many just taking it as a poetic term of endearment rather than a reference to the original Harvey's original nickname. Really, it's just one step away from calling him Gotham's White Knight.
Y'know, when I was about thirteen and first read this story, I thought the "Dr. Ekhart" bit was referenced with Lieutenant "Think about the future" Eckhardt in Burton's BATMAN. Of course, if they were to use "Dr. Ekhart" in comics today, I bet most people wouldn't remember this comic and think it was some other reference entirely...
... where did you get those mallets, Harvey? Did he just have random gavels in the house, in case a judge drops in for a visit?
It never fails to amuse me how he's wearing a split suit ever since the bandages came off. Colorist Fail? Or did the doctor say, "Okay, wear this, it'll ease you from the shock. Or make me laugh. Either way's good."
Man, why don't we ever see Two-Face commit acts of charity anymore? Losing that went a long way toward making him a more much simplistic, gimmick-based villain.
I wish Harvey Dent could be written more like Harvey Kent. Kent was purposely written to be Jekyll and Hyde, existing simultaneously. Dent is always just written as a Jekyll who became a Hyde, with occasional Jekyll moments. Which was already a cliche back in 1942!
The original Two-Face was written almost like a Lon Chaney movie monster, tormented with anger, desperation, and self-doubt. One of the all-time greatest Two-Face moments arrives after a botched heist, where Two-Face tries to have Batman killed, and one of his own men accidentally shoots another in the process:
... damn!
This is the earliest example of Two-Face displaying a particularly twisted sense of justice. What's more, even in this simplistic era where simply getting acid in the face is enough to drive a good man into a full-blown criminal mastermind, Two-Face is the rare villain to actually have a philosophy, a higher set of driving ideals than greed, power, or evil.
Furthermore, like any great classic movie monster, he still has a deep-seated longing to belong and to be loved:
Harvey proceeds to destroy the makeup seller's studio in revenge, and the merchant's son helps Batman to capture Two-Face.
At that point, the story seemingly abandons any hope of redemption for Harvey Kent, or of reconciliation with Gilda, and settles into another "Batman defeats the freakish criminal" story with a typically pat Golden Age conclusion:
BATMAN: "Now you're in jail, Two-Face! Your DOUBLE-LIFE is over!"
TWO-FACE: "Not for long! Something-something-number-two-pun, evil laugh!"
And thus, one would naturally assume that the Two-Face stories we all know kicked off from there, but no! Not quite! A year later, DETECTIVE COMICS #80 contained the appropriately titled finale, "The End of Two-Face!"
Our villain escapes jail, rounding up a gang and carrying on a new crime spree. Batman corners Two-Face, and makes one last desperate appeal to Harvey's sanity. It fails, and Two-Face fires.
... sorry to interrupt this heartrending scene, but seriously, even Gilda refers to Harvey by his last name? How many wives do that? I guess that's just what happens when you give your character two first names.
But Harvey's reformation is interrupted by his own gang, who "save" him and take him back to their hideout, so they can get on with whatever next big heist he has planned.
And so, Batman, Robin, and Harvey have an awesome team-up, taking down the gang at the train station:
The gang's captured, and thanks to Batman's testimony, which still holds up in court, Harvey receives a reduced sentence of just one year in jail.
Ultimately, it wasn't his belief in the law--or the abstract concepts of good or justice or anything like that--that proved to his Harvey's salvation. It was love. His love for Gilda, and hers for him. And sure, Gilda's something of a non-character here: the eternally-suffering good wife who will die for her husband, or die without him. But that's to be expected of the era.
What isn't to be expected is that a villain could be saved and redeemed. Back then, the criminals were either killed off, or send to jail, possibly to threaten Gotham again in a future story. But in giving himself over to the system and serving his time, Harvey Kent got the one thing that most criminals in Gotham never do, the one thing that Harvey Dent will likely never have: a happy ending.
And here's the thing. It actually stuck. Depending on how you look at it.
You see, this wasn't the only Two-Face story of the Golden Age. But it was the last time he was ever referred to as Harvey Kent. By his next appearance, his name was changed to Dent, and he was framed for crimes by another Two-Face (which happened again in yet another story after that), but he stayed healed and sane. That is, until Harvey Dent became Two-Face again, and the saga continued from there.
HOWEVER, DC eventually decided that Harvey Kent never became Two-Face again, by having them continue to exist on Earth-2, the alternate Earth where the Golden Age heroes lived, Batman married Catwoman, and so on. In fact, it was at that very wedding that--in 1981's SUPERMAN FAMILY #211, "The Kill Kent Contract!"--we saw the sole other appearance of Harvey and Gilda Kent.
Lois Lane overhears a plot to have a certain "Kent" murdered at the wedding of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, and thus both she and Clark naturally assume the target is Clark Kent. So at the reception, they have their eyes out, when this scene unfolds:
Way to go, Clark! Give the poor guy a Kryptonian nerve pinch and freak out his wife, that's a good hero! Gotta love classic Superdickery! Man, even when Two-Face can have a happy ending, it still sucks for him!
But aside from that moment, we can safely assume that at least this Harvey and Gilda had their happy ending. Well, at least up until their universe was wiped out of existence in the Crisis. Hey, it's comics. Sometimes, that's about the happiest ending one can hope for.
That said, who knows? Perhaps now that we have the 52 alternate universes, who's to say that the Kents are still around in some form, defying the odds and enjoying their happily ever after? That's certainly what I choose to believe.
Let's go back to where it all started: August 1942, with DETECTIVE COMICS #66.
While Bob Kane gets too much credit for everything Batman, it seems that Two-Face was entirely his creation, taking the look from this poster of Spencer Tracy's JEKYLL & HYDE film, and giving him a coin-flipping gimmick originated by George Raft in (the original, superior) SCARFACE. Bill Finger then ran with the idea, and the two introduced a startling new villain for Batman's Rogues Gallery:
It's one of the earliest examples of a complete story arc told in multiple parts from the Golden Age (a trilogy, no less!), one that cemented Two-Face from the outset as one of Batman's greatest foes, not to mention his most tragic.
And I can pretty damn well guarantee you that the saga of Harvey Kent doesn't end the way you'd expect! As an epilogue, I've included a never-reprinted, little-known postscript to the life and career of Harvey Kent!
NOTE: Scans from DETECTIVE COMICS #66 (4 1/3 pages worth of a 13 page story), #68 (2 pages out of 12) and #80 (4 out of 12)
We're first introduced to our villain-to-be via an inset panel in the first page:
Now there's a nickname we rarely ever seen used for Harvey: "Apollo." I imagine it seemed kind random when it appeared briefly at the end of THE LONG HALLOWEEN, with many just taking it as a poetic term of endearment rather than a reference to the original Harvey's original nickname. Really, it's just one step away from calling him Gotham's White Knight.
Y'know, when I was about thirteen and first read this story, I thought the "Dr. Ekhart" bit was referenced with Lieutenant "Think about the future" Eckhardt in Burton's BATMAN. Of course, if they were to use "Dr. Ekhart" in comics today, I bet most people wouldn't remember this comic and think it was some other reference entirely...
... where did you get those mallets, Harvey? Did he just have random gavels in the house, in case a judge drops in for a visit?
It never fails to amuse me how he's wearing a split suit ever since the bandages came off. Colorist Fail? Or did the doctor say, "Okay, wear this, it'll ease you from the shock. Or make me laugh. Either way's good."
Man, why don't we ever see Two-Face commit acts of charity anymore? Losing that went a long way toward making him a more much simplistic, gimmick-based villain.
I wish Harvey Dent could be written more like Harvey Kent. Kent was purposely written to be Jekyll and Hyde, existing simultaneously. Dent is always just written as a Jekyll who became a Hyde, with occasional Jekyll moments. Which was already a cliche back in 1942!
The original Two-Face was written almost like a Lon Chaney movie monster, tormented with anger, desperation, and self-doubt. One of the all-time greatest Two-Face moments arrives after a botched heist, where Two-Face tries to have Batman killed, and one of his own men accidentally shoots another in the process:
... damn!
This is the earliest example of Two-Face displaying a particularly twisted sense of justice. What's more, even in this simplistic era where simply getting acid in the face is enough to drive a good man into a full-blown criminal mastermind, Two-Face is the rare villain to actually have a philosophy, a higher set of driving ideals than greed, power, or evil.
Furthermore, like any great classic movie monster, he still has a deep-seated longing to belong and to be loved:
Harvey proceeds to destroy the makeup seller's studio in revenge, and the merchant's son helps Batman to capture Two-Face.
At that point, the story seemingly abandons any hope of redemption for Harvey Kent, or of reconciliation with Gilda, and settles into another "Batman defeats the freakish criminal" story with a typically pat Golden Age conclusion:
BATMAN: "Now you're in jail, Two-Face! Your DOUBLE-LIFE is over!"
TWO-FACE: "Not for long! Something-something-number-two-pun, evil laugh!"
And thus, one would naturally assume that the Two-Face stories we all know kicked off from there, but no! Not quite! A year later, DETECTIVE COMICS #80 contained the appropriately titled finale, "The End of Two-Face!"
Our villain escapes jail, rounding up a gang and carrying on a new crime spree. Batman corners Two-Face, and makes one last desperate appeal to Harvey's sanity. It fails, and Two-Face fires.
... sorry to interrupt this heartrending scene, but seriously, even Gilda refers to Harvey by his last name? How many wives do that? I guess that's just what happens when you give your character two first names.
But Harvey's reformation is interrupted by his own gang, who "save" him and take him back to their hideout, so they can get on with whatever next big heist he has planned.
And so, Batman, Robin, and Harvey have an awesome team-up, taking down the gang at the train station:
The gang's captured, and thanks to Batman's testimony, which still holds up in court, Harvey receives a reduced sentence of just one year in jail.
Ultimately, it wasn't his belief in the law--or the abstract concepts of good or justice or anything like that--that proved to his Harvey's salvation. It was love. His love for Gilda, and hers for him. And sure, Gilda's something of a non-character here: the eternally-suffering good wife who will die for her husband, or die without him. But that's to be expected of the era.
What isn't to be expected is that a villain could be saved and redeemed. Back then, the criminals were either killed off, or send to jail, possibly to threaten Gotham again in a future story. But in giving himself over to the system and serving his time, Harvey Kent got the one thing that most criminals in Gotham never do, the one thing that Harvey Dent will likely never have: a happy ending.
And here's the thing. It actually stuck. Depending on how you look at it.
You see, this wasn't the only Two-Face story of the Golden Age. But it was the last time he was ever referred to as Harvey Kent. By his next appearance, his name was changed to Dent, and he was framed for crimes by another Two-Face (which happened again in yet another story after that), but he stayed healed and sane. That is, until Harvey Dent became Two-Face again, and the saga continued from there.
HOWEVER, DC eventually decided that Harvey Kent never became Two-Face again, by having them continue to exist on Earth-2, the alternate Earth where the Golden Age heroes lived, Batman married Catwoman, and so on. In fact, it was at that very wedding that--in 1981's SUPERMAN FAMILY #211, "The Kill Kent Contract!"--we saw the sole other appearance of Harvey and Gilda Kent.
Lois Lane overhears a plot to have a certain "Kent" murdered at the wedding of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, and thus both she and Clark naturally assume the target is Clark Kent. So at the reception, they have their eyes out, when this scene unfolds:
Way to go, Clark! Give the poor guy a Kryptonian nerve pinch and freak out his wife, that's a good hero! Gotta love classic Superdickery! Man, even when Two-Face can have a happy ending, it still sucks for him!
But aside from that moment, we can safely assume that at least this Harvey and Gilda had their happy ending. Well, at least up until their universe was wiped out of existence in the Crisis. Hey, it's comics. Sometimes, that's about the happiest ending one can hope for.
That said, who knows? Perhaps now that we have the 52 alternate universes, who's to say that the Kents are still around in some form, defying the odds and enjoying their happily ever after? That's certainly what I choose to believe.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 04:58 am (UTC)" I, Mr. Apollo/I, Mr. Dionsyus.. "
no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 07:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 05:07 am (UTC)As I've often said, Two-Face works best for me as the Punisher with a coin fetish. Even most Two-Face origin stories have him going "murderous vigilante," including the first Two-Face story in B:TAS and in The Long Halloween. THE DARK KNIGHT had Two-Face as a vigilante until his big "kill Gordon's son" moment, which I'm sure Nolan and Co. tossed in to make Dent less sympathetic.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 07:28 am (UTC)For those who haven't seen it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La9fBFNpfTY
But yeah, I'd love to see another major appearance in the show. It's refreshing to see a fun Silver Age style Two-Face (who only had pretty much one Silver Age appearance!), that balances both his insanity and tragedy while still being fun.
Exactly, he should be an anti-hero. I feel like Jason as Red Hood was doing a lot of what Harvey should be doing as a character, only more inconsistent between what he keeps and what he gives away, as well as who he goes after.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 02:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 06:33 pm (UTC)Indeed. They never really made Two-Face a homicidal maniac, just a crook/thief/mobster who specialized in crimes based on the number two. Yes, he wanted to kill Batman, but hey , who didn't?
The next animated Two-Face being an anti-hero makes the most sense.
He'd go after the "untouchables" of Gotham City that he was unable to prosecute. Batman will be torn between knowing Harvey is actually doing some good against the mobs and stopping him "before he goes too far."
no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 05:58 am (UTC)This story is basically Two-Face at his finest, now if only the current crop of writers would use it.
Y'know I was never really sold on the idea of Bruce being a deputized peace officer of Gotham. Wouldn't 'Police Consultant' fit him better? Since he is a Detective as well.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 07:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 08:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 06:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 03:37 pm (UTC)I was actually thinking of Monk when I suggested the Consultant idea. I actually want it to happen since Batman's detective side is something that's so often ignored by writers these days.
I'm now thinking that Ted Levin (Stollemeyer) will probably make a great VA or actor for Jim Gordon. If a Gotham Central series is ever considered to be made, Levin number 1 on the list imo.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 07:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 07:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 02:52 pm (UTC)Earth-2 love! Bat/Cat OTP!
And Helena is conceived a few hours later...no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 03:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-08 06:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-07 10:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-08 05:35 am (UTC)As Gilda is a sculptress, I'm guessing that the mallets are supposed to be sculptor's tools that she uses. Presumably, she works in rather hard stones, instead of soft marble.
I'm guessing that Harvey's loss of ambiguity over the years has something to do with the Comics Code. They were very strict about the villain never winning and good always triumphing - presumably, someone at DC was concerned that someone who was BOTH good and evil might not fit the requirements.