about_faces (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
about_faces) wrote2010-12-19 11:03 pm
about_faces) wrote2010-12-19 11:03 pm
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The troubling questions raised in Brad Desnoyer's story from BATMAN 80-PAGE GIANT 2010
I think it's safe to say that "Within the Walls of Dis"--Brad Desnoyer's story from Batman 80-Page Giant 2010--is the most (only?) interesting Two-Face story we've seen this year.
But since this issue is still in stores and should be properly purchased, I'm not going to post the story itself. Nor will I discuss the plot points, or even praise the way Desnoyer remembered that the former D.A. can still be a persuasive orator. Instead, this post is entirely focused on the questions it raises about Harvey's character, the possible nature of his madness, and the troubling implications either way.
Thing was, I wasn't expecting to even see Harvey, since the focus was on Humpty Dumpty: an Arkham inmate who isn't really a villain, and can really be considered the most innocent of the Rogues. If you're not familiar with him, he has a penchant for "fixing" things, which involves taking apart whatever he considers broken and putting it back together again as he sees fit. This often leads to gruesome (but well-intentioned) results, as evidenced by the stuffed cats sewn together in his den.
Because he's not really a villain, there haven't been many opportunities to use Humpty. That is, until Desnoyer came upon an inspired use by having Joker show up at Humpty's hideout, bringing with him a very special present:
It's not often you see a panel in the first couple pages that just makes you go "Oh no."
Yes, it turns out that the Joker is bringing Humpty "his very own game of Operation!" And when Harvey assumes that he's there to be given plastic surgery, Desnoyer throws in another twist by page three: "Why, Harvey... whoever said the scars were the problem? It's time we finish the job."
I'm actually a bit jealous of Desnoyer for tackling this idea before I got the chance to (y'know, after I finally make it big doing original projects so that DC will deign to employ me), but after all the times he's been healed and rescarred, no one's ever asked the question: what would happen if Harvey was completely consumed by his dark side?
The question also comes loaded with an important implication: that Harvey, even now as Two-Face, isn't a complete monster. Yet.
Now, I know that may seem obvious, that of course he's half-good, half-evil, duh. But how many times have we actually seen that in action? How many times have we actually seen him act nobly or heroically? How many times has the coin come up unscarred, and of those few times, in how many did he not find some way to twist the verdict and act in some evil way nonetheless?
For many writers, the idea of Two-Face becoming a "One-Face" would be a mere cosmetic formality. Many already depict Harvey as a monster who will occasionally not kill if the coin (or his mood) tells him not to, so becoming "One Face" really shouldn't change anything. Except maybe losing the coin gimmick, which should be more than a gimmick, but often isn't in the hands of those writers.
As such, the Joker's threat is a somewhat empty one, in terms of Harvey's character. Which, I think, is a sad statement on how misused the character is in comics.
But wait! It's ultimately revealed that a full-face scarring wasn't the Joker's plan. He sits back and watches while Harvey--strapped to a gurney and unable to flip his coin--persuades Humpty that the latter is the truly "broken" one in need of repair. Harvey even offers to help "fix" Humpty if Humpty lets him go.
Pleased as punch, the Joker congratulates Harvey on acting exactly as expected, releasing him just before Harv wallops him good. He goes for the coin, ready to flip for the Joker's fate, but the Joker pointed out how Harvey just proved he was capable of acting without the coin:
This raises a very troubling question. Indeed, it's a question that really is at the crux of Harvey's character: how much control does he have over his actions?
And that question just raises more questions. Is he actually capable of free will, and just uses the coin as an excuse to pretend otherwise and absolve himself of all responsibility? Is the Joker just messing with Harvey's head, prodding Harvey's sense of self-doubt until he finally pushes himself over that edge? If Harvey Dent has always been in control, then who or what is Two-Face?
I think that any answer entirely depends upon your interpretation of the character, which makes this all the more complicated since no two writers can seem to agree on how to write Two-Face. Me, I follow the reasons given in my favorite Two-Face story, Eye of the Beholder, but no one seems to follow the idea that he flips the coin as a tie-breaker between the warring halves of his mind. Thus, my opinions on this question will hardly apply to any of yours.
Therefore, I'd like to open this question up to you guys. What do you think?
Note for special credits: the story was penciled by Lee Ferguson and inked by Marc Deering. Scans generously provided by the great![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
superfan1, because I'm lazy.
But since this issue is still in stores and should be properly purchased, I'm not going to post the story itself. Nor will I discuss the plot points, or even praise the way Desnoyer remembered that the former D.A. can still be a persuasive orator. Instead, this post is entirely focused on the questions it raises about Harvey's character, the possible nature of his madness, and the troubling implications either way.
Thing was, I wasn't expecting to even see Harvey, since the focus was on Humpty Dumpty: an Arkham inmate who isn't really a villain, and can really be considered the most innocent of the Rogues. If you're not familiar with him, he has a penchant for "fixing" things, which involves taking apart whatever he considers broken and putting it back together again as he sees fit. This often leads to gruesome (but well-intentioned) results, as evidenced by the stuffed cats sewn together in his den.
Because he's not really a villain, there haven't been many opportunities to use Humpty. That is, until Desnoyer came upon an inspired use by having Joker show up at Humpty's hideout, bringing with him a very special present:
It's not often you see a panel in the first couple pages that just makes you go "Oh no."
Yes, it turns out that the Joker is bringing Humpty "his very own game of Operation!" And when Harvey assumes that he's there to be given plastic surgery, Desnoyer throws in another twist by page three: "Why, Harvey... whoever said the scars were the problem? It's time we finish the job."
I'm actually a bit jealous of Desnoyer for tackling this idea before I got the chance to (y'know, after I finally make it big doing original projects so that DC will deign to employ me), but after all the times he's been healed and rescarred, no one's ever asked the question: what would happen if Harvey was completely consumed by his dark side?
The question also comes loaded with an important implication: that Harvey, even now as Two-Face, isn't a complete monster. Yet.
Now, I know that may seem obvious, that of course he's half-good, half-evil, duh. But how many times have we actually seen that in action? How many times have we actually seen him act nobly or heroically? How many times has the coin come up unscarred, and of those few times, in how many did he not find some way to twist the verdict and act in some evil way nonetheless?
For many writers, the idea of Two-Face becoming a "One-Face" would be a mere cosmetic formality. Many already depict Harvey as a monster who will occasionally not kill if the coin (or his mood) tells him not to, so becoming "One Face" really shouldn't change anything. Except maybe losing the coin gimmick, which should be more than a gimmick, but often isn't in the hands of those writers.
As such, the Joker's threat is a somewhat empty one, in terms of Harvey's character. Which, I think, is a sad statement on how misused the character is in comics.
But wait! It's ultimately revealed that a full-face scarring wasn't the Joker's plan. He sits back and watches while Harvey--strapped to a gurney and unable to flip his coin--persuades Humpty that the latter is the truly "broken" one in need of repair. Harvey even offers to help "fix" Humpty if Humpty lets him go.
Pleased as punch, the Joker congratulates Harvey on acting exactly as expected, releasing him just before Harv wallops him good. He goes for the coin, ready to flip for the Joker's fate, but the Joker pointed out how Harvey just proved he was capable of acting without the coin:
This raises a very troubling question. Indeed, it's a question that really is at the crux of Harvey's character: how much control does he have over his actions?
And that question just raises more questions. Is he actually capable of free will, and just uses the coin as an excuse to pretend otherwise and absolve himself of all responsibility? Is the Joker just messing with Harvey's head, prodding Harvey's sense of self-doubt until he finally pushes himself over that edge? If Harvey Dent has always been in control, then who or what is Two-Face?
I think that any answer entirely depends upon your interpretation of the character, which makes this all the more complicated since no two writers can seem to agree on how to write Two-Face. Me, I follow the reasons given in my favorite Two-Face story, Eye of the Beholder, but no one seems to follow the idea that he flips the coin as a tie-breaker between the warring halves of his mind. Thus, my opinions on this question will hardly apply to any of yours.
Therefore, I'd like to open this question up to you guys. What do you think?
Note for special credits: the story was penciled by Lee Ferguson and inked by Marc Deering. Scans generously provided by the great
superfan1, because I'm lazy.