Two-Face: Crime and Punishment

[cyberghostface]

 

I personally think J. M. DeMatteis is one of the most underrated comic writers out there. His most famous work is probably 'Kraven's Last Hunt' for obvious reasons but he was also responsible for 'Going Sane' with the Joker and this story, 'Crime and Punishment', featuring Two-Face.

Warning for child abuse and suicide.

The story was written in 1995 in part of DC's promotion for 'Batman Forever'. The less said about that the other but it is an interesting contrast to how the comics were handling the character at the time versus how Tommy Lee Jones played Two-Face.

As an aside I'm lifting these scans from 'About-Faces' analysis of the comic here as I don't have any other scans on me and Comixology has yet to make this available in digital format. If you're a fan of Two-Face you should give his blog a look.













In the present but flashing back Two-Face crashes a live TV broadcast of a Maury Povich style talk show, focusing on interviews with abused children.





When Two-Face asks him who told him that, the kid responds that his father did. "How do you like THAT, Gotham? Did that go down well with the chips and beer? His Daddy beats the CRAP out of him... and tells him it's HIS fault!"

Two-Face starts a crime spree that is linked to attacks connected to opposites; a poor neighborhood with a rich one, etc.







Batman eventually discovers that the attacks are circling around a wealthy district in Gotham where Harvey's dad lives.









We go back to the beginning with Two-Face jumping off the building. Batman grabs him.





"Let. Him. Die."