Batman Annual #14

[cyberghostface]

 

Inspired by icon_uk 's comments on today being 22/2/22... here is a classic Two-Face story.

'Eye of the Beholder' from Batman Annual #14 is probably the most important (and underrated) modern Two-Face story ever written. This was the issue that fleshed out Harvey Dent's origins and redefined his characterization as someone who was already struggling with his psyche before the acid hit. A lot of the material here was later used in 'The Long Halloween', the animated series and The Dark Knight.







Removed is a fairly extensive bit involving a killer who targets senior citizens. The killer, who also functions as a respected doctor, manages to escape justice in court. Harvey asks him how he did it and the doctor says that there are two him; one is the surgeon, the other being the murderous 'Rudy' who comes out whenever the need arises. He sees a similar duality in Harvey and tells him his advice is to not to mix business with pleasure. That night, Harvey calls him up and tells him that he's taken his advice. The doctor's house explodes.









Of course this is all in Harvey's head.

Comments

[tripodeca113]

There are some Batman villains who's gimmicks lend themselves more easily to tragic backstory's than others. Thankfully Two Face lucked out with his coin flipping gimmick.

[mazway_75]

FINALLY! I couldn't believe the lack of blogs doing Two-Face stuff on the perfect day for him!

[llordllama]

The timing of this post :) #ChefsKiss

[dragontail]

One of my earliest US-released Batman comics. Still own, and love, it to this day.

[lordultimus]

Wait, Chris Sprouse drew this? Man, his art really evolved over time.

[john_drake1964]

The faces of some of the characters do seem to be kinda similar in some of these panels. If it is early on in the career, that might be an explanation of an artist still finding themself artistically before developing variances in facial structure and the like so as to differentiate characters more.

[starwolf_oakley]

When did "Harvey Dent was one of Bruce Wayne's best friends" start? I think it was the animated series but I am not sure.

[tinygaylaura]

That's the first time I can remember it being a thing

I didn't realise that so much of The Long Halloween backstory for Two Face actually predated that story.

Poor Harvey

There is nothing more evil than a parent who abuses their child like this. Nothing

[lego_joker]

Technically, it started with a newspaper strip they put out in the wake of the '89 movie - About-Faces archived all of it on both his LJ and Tumblr.

[lbd_nytetrayn]

Four weeks ago, Dent gave Batman his number.

Two?

[scorntx]

Wait, so...
In the time it takes Gordon to walk from the doctor's office to his car, which can't surely be more than a few minutes, Harvey goes insane again and is able to rip off half his own face before anyone in Arkham can stop him.
(and, uh, apparently do something to his hair as well.)

... even by Arkham's low standards, that's pretty awful.