We Believe in Harvey Dent

Like many or perhaps even most comics fans, there was a time when I naturally assumed that the giant penny in the Batcave was--alongside the robot T-Rex and the big Joker playing card--a trophy from some previous clash with Two-Face. Well, either that or the time the Joker dressed up as Simple Simon and used a giant penny to try busting open a bank vault, but more likely it HAD to have been from Two-Face.

Naturally, I was only half-right. It was from a past caper, but the villain was an almost-literally two-bit crook by the name of the Penny Plunderer.



Normally, I wouldn't think that it'd be important to look at a character whose legacy has been almost entirely overshadowed by a novelty weapon he used one time, but the character is surprisingly fun. Especially the first page of his origin. Do yourself a favor and read--no, perform it aloud, because every time I try, I can't get past the last two panels without cracking up.

( No, seriously! Read it! )

In the end, the giant penny's most memorable origin is the all-time-classic Batman: The Animated Series episode, Almost Got 'Im, which had it used in a deathtrap administered by--who else?--Two-Face. So whether it's by innocent mistake or just plain retconned out, the giant penny now seems largely associated with Two-Face, with pennies finally getting the last laugh on poor, forgotten Joe Whatsisname.

Reading the Golden Age Two-Face stories (half of which featured impostors in the role!), though, I've noticed a trend that carried through through those versions of the character. The more I noticed it, the funnier I thought it was. I'd actually intended to let that pattern unfold here with each post, rather than make it explicit, to see how many others would see the pattern too.

That was the plan, anyway. Until I neglected to do the IMPOSTORAMA posts in order, and one after the other in a week. So instead, let's treat this like a Gotham night sky and throw a great being spotlight on this pattern, which will hopefully amuse you guys as much as it does a geek like me.

All Golden Age Two-Faces find it absolutely hilarious and fitting to escape on bikes.

No, really. All of them.

First, we have original Two-Face, Harvey Kent, in DETECTIVE COMICS #68:





Then, Harvey Dent's butler, Willis, pretending to be Two-Face to frame Harvey in BATMAN #50:





Next, Paul Sloane, the method actor who went insane after getting scarred while playing Harvey Dent in a TV movie, from BATMAN #68:





I like how he seems to have more fun being Two-Face than Harvey Kent did. Maybe that has to do with the fact that he's using a bicycle, not a motorcycle. Lends itself much more to ringing the bell and going "wheeeeeee!" in your crime spree escapes.

But that's nothing compared to the next Two-Face, George Blake, another actor also trying to frame Dent, from DETECTIVE #187:





Because really, there's escaping on a bike, and then there's escaping on a bike while wielding an axe and laughing maniacally. Blake wasn't really crazy, but he was clearly having a blast.

By the time Harvey Dent returned as Two-Face in BATMAN #81, we were right in that era that would inspire whole episodes of the Adam West BATMAN show. We're on the cusp of the Silver Age (I'd even consider this story far more Silver than Golden in sensibilities and snazzy Dick Sprang art).

We never see him escape in this story, so perhaps this Two-Face would still use a bike. But considering what he goes on to actually commit crimes, I'm guessing that bikes would just be thinking too small for this Two-Face...

( Oh, NOW he uses a cut tag! )


On one hand, I hate this Two-Face for losing all the tragedy and character depth. On the other, wheeeeeee! Maybe they should bring back George Blake to be the fun, ridiculous Two-Face, and he can have team-ups with Impostor!Hatter in a Sprang-themed crime spree!

But for good or ill, this is the only Silver-Age-ish appearance of any Two-Face (save for Batman himself, long story). The character vanished from continuity for seventeen years until Denny O'Neil and Neil Adams brought him back at the birth of the Bronze Age. And thus, the love affair of Two-Faces and two-wheeled escape vehicles has been lost to time.

Clearly, if anyone wanted to cheer up Two-Face, they should buy him a bike. He'd be the happiest guy in Arkham. At least, until the Joker slashes the tires.