Two Ways Batman The Animated Series Reinvented Two-Face

[@arionofotherworld]

I liked that he seemed a good friend of Bruce Waynes in one or two of the early episodes, once he became Two-Face it gave their confrontations a little more depth and made it tragic.

[@SerumLake]

I love the ending of Second Chance - "good old Bruce, never gives up me"

[@emperorsean1]

I always wondered what would Harvey Dent two-face do if he found out Bruce wayne his friend was batman?

[@Shenorai]

@@emperorsean1 With how Bruce deals with his own duality throughout the series? That would be an interesting confrontation to be sure, but something that may take a younger audience a bit of time to catch onto or fully understand.

[@riddlerthediddler4392]

It made his reaction to Hugo Strange leaking Batman's identity a lot more sad too when he can't see his best friend also being his enemy

[@michaelf9664]

I generally agree. But I always found it a little lacking that the relationship was barely even alluded to outside of the origin episodes and Second Chances (Strange Secret's nod was great, though). I was also a little annoyed that he was basically characterized as an arch enemy in Strange Secret and Almost Got 'Im before he even got any post-origin episodes of his own. Maybe I'm nitpicking though. Honestly the bigger problem is as SL concedes the simplification of dissociative identity disorder: yes, it's better than what was, but it can still be horribly stigmatizing for people that have the actual disorder or similar trauma- or dissociative- related symptoms. The split personality villain is an insensitive and typically inaccurate trope (DID folk are rarely criminals), and it's hurtful to an oft-struggling population. This doesn't invalidate SL's excellent points, however, and I agree that the personal relationship between Bruce and Harvey is a very good choice that fleshes out both characters very well. Wish I saw more of it on the show... if only there were a KZbinr with a deep appreciation for the two characters that could spotlight said relationship in another video... [cough, cough]...😉

[@Scrinwaipwr]

I thought how Harvey Dent (played by Aaron Eckhart) got scarred in The Dark Knight was a clever way of doing it.

[@SerumLake]

Yeah, it was entirely accidental, a random act of chance, which I guess partly explained his later fixation on flipping the coin.

[@VonWenk]

"Eye of the Beholder," with Harvey Dent having psychological problems before being disfigured, is probably my favorite post-Crisis reimagining.

[@SerumLake]

Same here, I think it’s great and I wish it hadn’t ever been retconned.

[@ryanmoore6259]

@@SerumLake It was indeed a great take

[@harveydent302]

It'll always be true for me , too. I feel H.D. , know where he's coming from... There's only so much you can endure. Luckily, duality is a nicely addictive thing. Helped me deal with PTSD (mostly...). T-F is my fave, at the same time, his inability to move on is SLIGHTLY borderline silly , sometimes -- he probably WOULD try to get healed (ex- and internally). But that's guesswork 😂

[@VonWenk]

@@harveydent302 He was healed originally. There were three stories, all reprinted in a 1973 Batman 100-Page Super Spectacular. Then, like Marvel did with the Green Goblin before introducing Hobgoblin, DC had other people take up the mantle of Two-Face. When Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams reintroduced Harvey Dent as Two-Face in 1971, he was rescarred intervening in a robbery attempt involving explosives.

[@scelonferdi]

Introducing and building up Harvey way ahead is definetly the go-to way for two-face! I guess that's why adaptions like to do it. He also serves as a great 3rd pole for the GOrdon-Batman duo.

[@MuriloAraújo-j2x]

This is proof that comic accurate doesnt always mean better.

[@lookinforthe70s]

The fact that he went to see a child phycologist before writing about a supporting character in the show. Shows how much these people put into this show, and how much they cared about it. And cared about the characters and the writing. It's why this show was so good. Nowadays it seems like people not only don't care about the characters they write about, but they actively hate the characters. And are lazy about their jobs.

[@zemox2534]

Sad but true.

[@karljohan2300]

love how in the series he seemed so happy when bruce took care of him "good old bruce always there for me"

[@daniexists6]

Honestly, it still amazes me that the writer that introduced Two-face to BTAS, Randy Rogel, was also the guy who wrote Yakko's World and a lot of the songs on Animaniacs. Almost like a double sided coin, ala what Harvey would use.

[@SerumLake]

I also hear that he is an amazing singer. He’s clearly a versatile man!

[@daniexists6]

@@SerumLake As someone who's seen his coverage of Singing in The Rain on youtube and met the man due to the Animaniacs Live concerts, I can confirm.

[@emperorsean1]

I remember that the writers didn't want to bring two-face into the adam west batman tv show because they didn't think they would do the character justice interms of makeup in the show. Also the character was quite dark. BTAS version will always be my favorite. I wish the writers couldve developed more episodes with him.

[@SerumLake]

I had heard that they wanted to cast Clint Eastwood as Two-Face. That would've been interesting

[@chojinkid]

yes though he was one of the very best characterized villains he still didn't get enough screentime, he basically had only 2 episodes where he was the main villain

[@emperorsean1]

@@SerumLake that's interesting. I wonder why William Shatner was picked in the adam west batman 60s animated movie to voice over Harvey Dent two-face

[@SerumLake]

@@emperorsean1 probably because the idea of casting Captain Kirk was too good an opportunity to pass up.

[@The_Phantasm]

Even though like you said it was unlikely for them to adapt a story as dark as Eye of the Beholder I still wish they had found a way to show what significance that specific coin had on Harvey in the show because in my opinion it was the only aspect of Two-Face's origin in BTAS that could have been explored a bit more. He just all of a sudden has a double-sided coin that he can't live without it's not explained why. While for me Eye of the Beholder is still for me a key part of the character's trauma and I love as an origin for his coin still there is no denying that BTAS redefined the character. Although I think it's still prefer how his body was scarred because of the acid by Sal Maroni instead of the explosion because I think it's a bit more iconic especially because of stories like The Long Halloween.

[@SerumLake]

To me, it doesn't (and will never) get better than this version of Two-Face. Although that probably isn't surprising

[@The_Phantasm]

@@SerumLake Me neither and Richard Moll will forever be my definitive Two-Face but still there are elements from the comics that weren't part of the BTAS version of the character I still consider part of his lore.

[@SerumLake]

@@The_Phantasm Oh yeah, they mentioned his abusive father and the flipping coin in Batman Gotham Adventures, so as far as I am concerned its canon.

[@freetoplayking7362]

It was actually somewhat adapted in the novelisation of the dark knight, which expanded on the movie by adding details like the backstory of his dad beating him if the coin landed on heads despite the coin being two headed

[@SuperCosmicMutantSquid]

Looking back as an adult, you eant to know what shocked me about the details of Harvey's accident? Not the face reveal. It was the brutality of his accident as it happened that took me as surprise because they actually show his body hit by the explosion, fly around like a rag doll and drop limp on the ground. It just did so well showing how violent and brutal the damage was to his body. Batman's heartbroken response when he finds him was just the topper. Bruce's face is hidden to create a shadowy appearance but still seeing and hearing the pain in his emotions was just... perfection.

[@SerumLake]

Very well put.

[@ShawnC.W-King]

I can still remember the line as he turns Dent's body over in utter grief and despair.. "Harvey.. nooooo."😣 Haunting

[@devinsauls9137]

The way Batman says "Harvey... NOOOOOOOOO!" was both chilling and unintentionally hilarious at the same time

[@cheezemonkeyeater]

A while ago, I bought the complete series collector's edition and my mom asked me why I wanted to spend so much money on a cartoon. In response, I showed her the Two-Face two-parter. I won't say it converted her, but it certainly gave her food for thought.

[@KnucklesxReala911]

I wish that just like nora, Harvey and Bruce friendship would have been a forever staple to the canon, it add so much having bruce having a real true friend like him, and it gives a big depth to two face as well, since sometimes he is written as just a corrupt politician or a lying lawyer when he is meant to be the real deal of justice before the accident

[@SerumLake]

More recent Batman comics have brought the friendship between Bruce and Harvey back into the spotlight. In the latest run of Detective Comics Harvey Dent told Two-Face who Batman was, and it made him feel very conflicted.

[@KnucklesxReala911]

@@SerumLake oh boy, which number and run? I don't usually keep with the long runs since they can be such a mix bag sometimes

[@SerumLake]

The storyline started in Detective Comics 1062. Harvey Dent has been cured of Two-Face, but he becomes entangled with a secret society that uses mind control on him to use him as their pawn. While Harvey Dent can be controlled, he gets around this by letting Two-Face out. It's quite a magic-focused storyline, which isn't really my favourite thing, but I like how Two-Face is being handled.

[@KnucklesxReala911]

@@SerumLake ah magic runs, can either be a charm or a curse, isn't it??? Ptff i will see myself out

[@onemoreminute0543]

Two Face has always been a core favourite Batman villain of mine ever since I read about his backstory. I always found it unique how Harvey actually started off on Batmans side in terms of fighting crime, but then such a horrific attack catalysed his personal struggles into the binary thinking monster that was Two Face. Those two aspects were so interesting to me - that, unlike the other villains, he actually started off on the same side as Batman and that he has such a binary way of viewing the world.

[@hetwitblad6544]

I always found it in interesting, that in hospital only his face appears to be disfigured, but after part two (and in later episodes) the entire left part of his body, or at least his hand is damaged as well. Someone made a mistake I guess

[@SerumLake]

Yeah, I think that's probably the case - it would also explain why he had a big white eyebrow in the hospital. If that wasn't the case then he must've decided to make the left side of his body match his face and burnt himself. Ouch.

[@jacktoma21]

I think two face part 1 and 2 and eye of the beholder have their different strengths and weaknesses. I think the father backstory is much stronger and the childhood bully story feels very flimsy. However I like the fact we see the immediate criminal aftermath of Two-Face, while the comic just really ends after the origin element.

[@SerumLake]

I gather that the censors were very clear that they couldn't reference child abuse, which is a shame because it makes Harvey so much more tragic. Having said that, I think I like the fact that the incident that traumatised him so much was so pedestrian and mundane. The New Batman Adventures tie in comic, Gotham Adventures, introduced Harvey's dad and disclosed that he used to beat Harvey, so I suppose we can tell ourselves that it's also his BTAS origin.

[@Xehanort10]

I feel like you could have that his dad's abuse caused his anger and other personality and the bullying made it worse until he snapped and beat up the bully.

[@raulbetancourt5795]

​@@Xehanort10 In comics it explained that his father abused and his repress anger, are why Harvey is like that.

[@DMMDestroyer]

Given what they had to work with in previous story for him, it shows once again how incredibly talented and creative they were to properly write him (and the best rendition of). Nearly all characters of BTAS are at their peak. The show will always be the definitive Batman and company.

[@CTSIX-eo9rj]

"You're talking to the wrong Harvey" always gets me every time

[@ianfinrir8724]

It was at this moment that Thorne knew he messed up.

[@jeremyseaton4898]

You may have missed it, but the early 90's Batman comic strip actually provided a portrayal of Two-Face that in many ways prefigured the cartoon. In fact, the climactic storyline in the comic strip involves Two-Face regaining his humanity as Harvey Dent and saving the Batman, who he has discovered is Bruce Wayne. Its too bad that comic strip flew so far under the radar. It had Marshall Rogers art and then, after that, Carmine Infantino as I recall.

[@SerumLake]

I am aware of this, but I could only find a few pages of the story. I would’ve loved to have read the whole thing!

[@GiratinaofFury]

One thing I've noticed is how it's Two Face's left side being scarred and his right side being in tact, which ties into the whole "sinister" and "righteous" dichotomy. However, it's supposedly said that it's the right hemisphere of the brain that controls the left hand side of the body, whilst the left hemisphere controls the right. Knowing that, which side of Two Face is truly the ruthless, and which is truly the merciful? In a normative society that places morality on aesthetics, we're automatically led to believe that it's the deformed side that is malicious, yet it could be the opposite, where it's the side that is intact that might actually be the cruel side, because it was spared agony, thus believes in retribution, whilst the deformed side may actually be the compassionate one, who, having known suffering, doesn't want to inflict it.

[@SWIFTO_SCYTHE]

04:58 yes exactly. Canon is not sacred. If they adapt and cherry pick the best parts together you make a superior product.

[@zemox2534]

I just wish Martin did not sound so dismissive of the comic book fans when he made his statement.

[@michaelandreipalon359]

A shame this method of storytelling is also a double edged sword, as I've experienced with Beast Machines: Transformers (which SHOULDN'T be a true sequel to Beast Wars) and more recently Dave Filoni's Star Wars: The Clone Wars 2008 damningly overshadowing what came before via the Clone Wars Multimedia Project, and this is even before the Disney takeover, for crud's sakes!

[@TheRainbowGoat]

I like that he has a distinct, memorable appearance in series. And not only his corrupted side of face but even his original face. In the comics he is "just a random guy with different sides of face".

[@Cobra_125]

The only thing here that I'd disagree with is that Two-Face was simple by the standards of 40's comic villains. While he definitely had a gimmick, he was also a uniquely conflicted foe torn between good and evil. If the coin landed on the good side, he'd even give to charity and help civilians, and the finale has him teaming up with Bats. That's pretty cool for a 40s villain, and I think those facets ought to be brought back. Agree with everything else tho, love your stuff!

[@kfajo27]

RIP Richard Moll, the voice of Harvey Dent/Two-Face

[@mechajay3358]

They did a good job of also have him be one of Batman's best friends before he became Two-Face so it give more emotional weight towards Batman over his regret not saving him.

[@ethribin4188]

The one 2 face backstory I like just as much, is the dark knight one. A harvey dent, who looses all faith in humanity and the ability to change and impact life, and thus leaves everything to the duality of pure chance. I like that even more then the 2 personality 2 face. A 2 face who gave up, existing in a mix of "nothing matters" and fighting it with a "Ill do something, anything, just to creature random purpose" all symbolized in the coinflip.

[@BatQuinn]

One incredibly important thing to note is the story of Eye of Beholder was somewhat referenced with DCAU Dent! In Batman Adventures issue #2 iirc, Harveys father won a game show and is about to be made a millionaire when Dent hijacks yhe broadcast but before Batman and Batgirl can catch up, Dent reveals on national television that his father would beat him and his mother depending on how his coin would be flipped after coming home drunk near nightly; it even being mentioned that his "mother wasnt as lucky" as Dent, alluding to that his mother possibly died due to it all

[@SerumLake]

Very true! For a long time Gotham Adventures was the best Batman comic being published. Some of those stories were great.

[@BatQuinn]

@@SerumLake honestly yeah; while the shows and such stopped showing Bruce's more caring side and made him a bit more..how do I put it..they showed why by the point of Beyond, he's lost everyone, Gotham Adventures did such an amazing job of showing Bruce was still a kind hearted man doing his best. One of my absolute favorite examples being issue #59 with him firing Dirk illegally knowing he'll be sued by him because while Dirk screwing the employees was legal, it wasn't right, although issue #26 also is very high up for me with Bruce risking his identity to the CIA to ensure the baby had a normal life

[@disclaimer4211]

and later Batman the Darknight movie would take from this show and form the character around the way they reinvented the character and just made it darker and more groundedly real and you can actually thank the Animated series for making this fundamental for the character as a whole within its design.

[@maxacorn]

probably one of the best things they did was make harvey and bruce best friends. in other series, dent and wayne just know of each other. but in BTAS, we see in early eps that bruce and harvey were buddies. so in the second part of "two face", we see bruce struggle with the guilt and remorse of not being able to save his best friend from a life of insanity and crime. and while two-face hates batman, he always cared for bruce. when hugo strange said that bruce was batman, two face shuts it down, stating that bruce was his friend.

[@Coralskipper]

Relatively shortly after this, we then got The Long Halloween which set up the Harvey/Batman/Gordon trifecta of allies that has become the default origin for their relationship, even in stories that don't directly use the Long Halloween as cannon. You can see how it borrows from this origin by showing that there's already a dark side to Harvey before he goes bad. While they tell different stories, I also don't view them as being in conflict. Pardon the pun, they show different sides of the same basic character.

[@seeleunit2000]

I honestly found Two-Face's origin in BTAS very compelling and if other writers would not only expound upon it for a new generation of readers there could be so many interesting stories to be told. I've always enjoyed the psychological aspect of Batman and sometimes wish more animated adaptations would go that route, especially for the Villains.

[@XalLord]

Its rather interesting that Harvey's suit is gray before the accident, before changing into the icconic black and white split suit. Nice little attention to detail that gray is the combination of black and white to show Harvey's conflicting feelings on justice.

[@foodmanelman]

Your voice just works extraordinarily well with comics!

[@triggeredcat120]

If Tommy Lee Jones didn’t have to ham it up and try to top Jim Carrey, he would have been a PERFECT Harvey.

[@DoctorInk20]

The build-up of Two-Face in _B:TAS_ is one of my favourite things in the whole series. Just seeing Harvey flipping his coin a few episodes before was a nice touch. Agreed, it's his best origin story, too. However, when it comes to *Two-Face's motives and intentions as a criminal,* I actually sort of like the direction _The Dark Knight_ took. As Gotham's District Attorney, he has to be an example of law and order and work within the system. However, there's that dark side of him that just wants to say "screw the law, I'm doing this my way!" and just brutalise (or kill) some of the more difficult criminals. What he _has to do_ versus what he _wants to do_ is burning him up inside, but he has to keep that latter side hidden, always. Until the scarring changes that. It's a great way to reflect that aspect of Bruce's duality with the Batman persona; Bruce can put on a scary mask to fight crime, take it off and live fairly normally. Harvey, or rather Two-Face, _can't._ He literally has the scary, angry, dangerous side of him permanently externalised and he can't switch it off.

[@nathanweast4397]

The casting of Clancy Brown as the voice of Harvey Dent/Two Face is PERFECT. Hearing his voice change when Big Bad Harv comes out always gave me chills.

[@facelessnobody8113]

Clancy Brown didn't play Two-Face. Richard Moll did.

[@nathanweast4397]

@@facelessnobody8113 I stand corrected. Had to look up both IMBd accounts to verify (only did 2 episodes shockingly enough, but fitting for Dent). Well done.

[@vitoldwisniewski]

I always felt Two-Face should have been on Batman Beyond. I mean not as Harvey Dent but as someone to carry on the Mantle of the coin and the title of Duke of Duality. Yes, I'm aware that they were purposely not bringing in old Batman foes for Batman Beyond, besides Mr. Freeze, Bane, Ra's Al Ghul in his Daughter's body, and eventually Joker (but only because they developed great stories/reasons to use them). But to me, I felt Two-Face's story was not justified and left a lot more to be desired. Besides The writers left out 1 key piece of information that batman was more afraid of Two-Face than any of his Rogues. And that was something I used for my own take on Two-Face for a Batman Beyond story to the point where Terry McGinnis is afraid of him and I mean psychologically.

[@KenTheMan407]

BTAS two face is the defintive two-face . Alpha and Omega . No other representation come close . The other dont exist 😅( im talking you batman forever .)

[@hannahmabbott7370]

Fun fact! Two face was supposed to be in the 60s version of batman with Clint eastwood playing him but because of either the fact that they couldn't get the make-up to look right or because of how goofy the 60s version was he never appeared. There is a character called noface though who was an original villian i think.

[@SerumLake]

I had read that they considered Two-Face too gruesome for the show, much like how the Scarecrow was considered too frightening. I think No Face appeared in the comics first - there was a time where they were just coming up with villains to be adapted for the show. That’s why they created Poison Ivy, for instance.

[@biguy617]

RIP Richard Moll voice of Harvey Dent. He played the Bull on Night Court.

[@sjmhadsock4586]

To think the two parter and eye of the beholder was being made at the same time

[@zemox2534]

The older I get, the more I relate to Harvey.

[@paulc1553]

RIP Richard Moll. Best Harvey Dent/Two-Face ever.

[@Buggy-su4oy]

Richard was spectacular as Two-Face...Rest well sir.😊😊😢😢😊😊

[@mrefromninjago7665]

Well I remember from the comics that two-faced I mean Harvey dent got abused by his dad so technically his father is responsible for the creation of Two-Face.

[@jordanloux3883]

Guy Gardner was abused too, but he still became a hero

[@ScrambledAndBenedict]

It's funny they brought up not caring about being canon to the comics. As far as I'm concerned, BTAS is the definitive main Batman canon, and everything else is alternate or expanded universe. I don't care what came first, before, or after.

[@frankiefriedman6158]

Richard Moll rest in peace.

[@GigalassII]

As someone with Dissociative Identity Disorder, I must disagree with one point. Over the years; Harvey Dent, Big Bad Harv, Two-Face, Janice, and the Judge have become a more and more accurate representation of the Disorder. Not to mention, no ones' mind breaks clean the same way twice.

[@felixfarside1210]

Did you ever see the Batman fan film Batman: Broken Promise? It's a really good Two-Face story. Shockingly good, in fact. You might like it.

[@tannerbruning868]

I’ve heard how the show reinvented mr freeze and created Harley Quinn, the introduction of DID is interesting, although by modern standards it’s kinda insensitive

[@SerumLake]

The writers were coming from a good place though, so it’s hard to hold it against them.

[@tannerbruning868]

@@SerumLake oh absolutely, it’s still pretty respectful aside from the generic “the alter is evil” cliche, otherwise it’s not all that different then it’s portrayal in say the better moon knight or hulk comics, like immortal hulk which was is generally praised for its portrayal despite the fantasy elements added in

[@breaderikthegreat3224]

Nowadays, it's insane to me that prior to BTAS Two-Face was a very niche Batman villain (admitatly TDK also played a role in this)

[@camerondodge2070]

While I would like DC to actually do more with Two-Face (make more interesting stories, stop doing the whole 'we fixed your face' bit, etc.), I'm starting to just accept it will only happen occasionally, and only for a short while. I'm glad for the stories we do get, whether they be fun throwbacks (the Batman '66 'Lost Episode' comic), or attempting to do something new with the character (All-Star Batman's use of his DA past).

[@SkyTheRebirth]

So, Big Bad Harv and Two Face evil side is not a same personality? Wow

[@jonothanthrace1530]

3:36 that looks like Peter Parker trying out Two-Face cosplay.

[@livanbard]

It's hard to believe black and white was not the first design 2 face had. Like who wouldn't think of that.

[@Scrinwaipwr]

Two-Face is my favourite Batman villain too (though he isn't hard character to write well so he often isn't.) I also have a suit like 3:52 and another suit with the colours swapped (they were made out of a black suit and a white suit. I use the accurate one for cosplay and the inverted one for swanky events.) Also well done for pronouncing Llandudno so close to correctly (close enough to be acceptable); much better than most English people bother to try.

[@SerumLake]

Whoops, I hadn't realised I was mispronouncing it, sorry about that! I went to Llandudno fairly regularly as a kid, in fact I found a near complete set of the first wave of BTAS action figures on a market stand in one of the indoor shopping centres, near where Woolworths used to be, in 1998, if I remember rightly. I still have them all, unopened, of course :)

[@Scrinwaipwr]

@@SerumLake it's *so* slightly wrong that it's pretty much negligible, so I want to be clear it's acceptable and appreciated. If pronounced proper properly like a Welsh speaker would say, the o at the end needs to be shorter and harder like the o in got, rather long and soft like the o in goat. Told you it was minor AF!

[@Scrinwaipwr]

@@SerumLake anyway, great video; keep up the good work!

[@SerumLake]

@@Scrinwaipwr got it, thanks for the tip!

[@Scrinwaipwr]

@@SerumLake you got the LL sound spot on which is the hardest bit for non-Welsh people as it is unique to Welsh AFAIK. You did good.

[@shelbybayer200]

I love btas I also like the use of Harvey Dent I also like a certain Batman game's version of Two-face as well The Enemy within Where Dent doesn't have a split personality until the traumatic Accident that happens to him due to Cobblepot's attack on a Debate for Gotham City mayor

[@SerumLake]

I also enjoyed the Telltale games and went out of my way to make sure Harvey wouldn't be injured. It didn't turn out well for either of us though!

[@AngryNerdBird]

*Sees video title* I get it.

[@dynosgarcia7645]

Is it vain he tho? If things such as people stop talking to you, you lose tour job and your wife leaves you because "now you are gruesome" happened to you already just a few years ago Can we really call it vain to jump to conclusions the second time?

[@SerumLake]

I see where you're coming from, but I've always felt he could've worn a cool mask, like the Phantom of the Opera. He has been doing that recently in some of the comics. Yeah, it's true that his fiancee left him, but he deliberately chose to give up everything else to pursue a life of crime.

[@akiraeatsguitarpicks491]

1:49 wow that is just straight up Right Wing and Radical Left’s house from Venture Bros.

[@michaelandreipalon359]

Not bad, the fact that he's instantly a fan favorite sympathetic foe even when his Harvey -Kent- Dent personage only appeared in a few episodes pre-Two-Face. Heck, same goes for the Year One+The Dark Knight Returns iteration, in which the Dent identity only appears in some panels for both combined.

[@charlesdeleo4608]

I don’t know about BTAS having the definitive Two-Face origin story. The Long Halloween comes in close for second place.

[@SerumLake]

The Long Halloween is pretty good, definitely the best thing Jeph Loeb has ever written (perhaps because he was heavily inspired by The Godfather?)

[@webvader3006]

The Long Halloween came close though 8:53

[@PKMN37]

Hollywood in the 90s: We're gonna pick the best stuff from the source material! Hollywood now: Screw the fans! Let’s turn this into bad fanfiction!

[@MoonPhantom]

I gotta say, I actually think them NOT going with the. "I was beaten as a child." storyline plays in their favor. I actually think a lot of the time the censorship of Batman Tas forcing the writers to be more creative helped them. And the fact that It's Harvey's guilt that created his separate personality because he has deliberately been pushing down his own anger so he wouldn't have another moment of rage, which allowed the rage to accumulate and create a different person beneath the surface, feels so much more nuanced and compelling, I would even dare say real. Yes child abuse happens, but it feels like such an easy out for writers and is not really as complex. I don't think it added anything to Bruce Banners characters either when they decided that oh yes, btw, he was an abuse victim. Here that's just... it's a story of this could happen to anyone! We ALL have moments of rage, it happens to the best of us. But Harvey, because he's genuinely such a good person, chose the wrong path and not deal with his rage or even have an outlet for it, and it created the fertile soul for Two-face to emerge... And that it all came from such a good place on his part just make it that more tragic.

[@ianfinrir8724]

It really annoys me when abuse is part of a character's backstory because it takes something horrible and makes it cliché.

[@MoonPhantom]

@@ianfinrir8724 it has to be done well and with subtlety. Implied not focused on. Zuko from avatar the last Airbender is obviously a child abuse victim. His dad legit burned his face off and Azula did who knows what to him But while his past is a part of his character the story doesn't dwell on it. And Zuko is so much more than that as a character. It doesn't become a fallback to excuse his actions. He still has to face up to his own actions and move forward. We don't spend two hours talking about how bad he had it. It's plenty implied by the story and we can move on. That's doing it right

[@harveydent302]

Original T-F was quite the gimmick for a while, forgetting it sometimes 😅

[@Interfaune]

One thing I did find interesting about his debut in the comics was that Two-Face also were a coin flip away from doing actual good with the loot. He could give it to charity, aid people in legal cases and save them from bankruptcy. It made Gotham just as divided as himself on what kind of a person he really was. I've never really seen that take in other media. You could really make an interesting story about a polarized Gotham with that.

[@scelonferdi]

Honestly, if I were to reinvent two face, I'd move away from DID and instead make him bipolar. He'd probably have methods of dealing with it before the accident, but being constantly hindered by Gotham's corruption would continously build up frustration. This culminates in the accident and in him breaking and loosing faith, pursuing his own justice. BTW, two writers embracing childhood trauma as a root cause is just down to how and when DID forms.

[@kaylaturnis9486]

It is IRRONIC to find out that the man who played the bold night guard in the original Night Court voiced Two Face in BTAS!!!

[@Stormkrow280]

I think the name change was to avoid any possible association with Superman’s alter ego Clark Kent

[@usamazahid3882]

For those who read and seen the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde must have gotten the Two-Face treatment.

[@sulgrave_]

Thank you for specifying that you were in Wales so I didn't just assume you were drunk and slurring your speech with that town name

[@doujinloverXD]

The original Long Halloween stiry was very good

[@JuliusSeizureOfficial]

Two-face was ultimately nihilistic, the reliance on chance as nothing has any inherent meaning and thats why hes my favourite.

[@steelersguy74]

I thought the first version was actor Harvey Apollo who got attacked and scarred on the witness stand to prevent a testimony-and that was the reference to Gilda’s Apollo nickname for him in The Long Halloween.

[@Alicat0314]

I really adore this origin of two face and love the 2 parts I just honestly think that the mental disorder needs to be removed because of how poorly portrayed it always is in media and how people take that and make it fact. I’d like to clarify to people Two face is a extremely incorrect and over dramatic interpretation of DID(dissociative identity disorder) and this isn’t how someone with this disorder would act nor if I remember my research how it would form. I will say as silly as the show is in showing this disorder it is quite enjoyable and easy to see when you read up on DID how much this doesn’t relate to what we’ve learned about it with research today. I love Two-Face from BTAS and always will he’s a wonderful villain I just think with the disorder he’s a little rough around the edges

[@discordlexia2429]

um um um so its um very simple to simple the alter thingys but its ok because its about how feelings. i feel very sad when i make mind mommy sleep or go away like harvy feels very sad when he make harvey sleep i think

[@jackster9775]

I think Batman should have scolded his fiancé

[@insertusername7253]

I KNEW you would talk about eye of the beholder

[@SaiyanDemon]

He loves Bruce but hate Batman

[@1heKing]

absolutly great taste

[@SerumLake]

you know it :D

[@The_Phantasm]

Have you seen some of the fan edited character models for some BTAS villains by @Davefranciosaart ? They look really amazing and I especially love his model for Two-Face, Hugo Strange, Killer Croc, Bane and Penguin.

[@SerumLake]

Yes, I've seen his stuff before. It's really good!

[@The_Phantasm]

@@SerumLake His Killer Croc and Bane especially is how I wish they had looked like in the actual show.

[@justjackson7152]

Ok let’s be real Long Halloween is clearly the real definitive Two-Face origin 8:45

[@SerumLake]

It’s a great Harvey Dent story, but I don’t think it’s a particularly good Two-Face origin.

[@Is_mail22]

outro name...?

[@srstriker6420]

6:47 wow these split personality things are complicated so he got this due to a misunderstanding that he thought he killed the bully but he was in the hospital for a appendicitis appointment? I wonder what his whole body looks like we only see his face and hand being blue while his hair is white for some reason which is he half man half mutant because I know this is supposed to be based on Jekyll and Hyde concept but he seems quite strong for an average man especially when he was the Judge which you should talk about that Well I thought this would be inspired from the Long Halloween where Harvey was trying to get a crime Lord off the street that being here Rupert Throne which I wonder why they never used Carmine Falcone or Sal Maroni because I didn’t told you about TheComixkidd2099 he did a review on Batman TAS which you can find on his playlist?

[@SerumLake]

I think they used Rupert Thorne because they were big fans of the late 1970s Batman comics written by Dennis O'Neil, Steve Englehart, and Len Wein In that era the big gangster boss was Rupert Thorne. Carmine Falcone wasn't introduced until the mid 1980s in Year One.

[@srstriker6420]

@@SerumLake I thought it was the 40’s

[@SerumLake]

@@srstriker6420 I think Maroni was introduced in the 40s. I'd have to re-read the first Two-Face story to be sure though.

[@srstriker6420]

@@SerumLake right well you should do a video on the Judge and Rupert Throne.

[@SerumLake]

Maybe!

[@dougwalker8068]

I personally still think that Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale made the best Two-Face origin with Long Halloween. Also, you seemed to completely skim passed the bronze age handling of the character.

[@SerumLake]

Broadly speaking I'm not really a fan of Jeph Loeb's writing, but I will say that The Long Halloween is the best thing that Jeph Loeb has ever written. Regarding Bronze age Two-Face, I didn't really find much of it particularly inspiring, outside of that first Denny O'Neil/Neal Adams story, but maybe I missed some good stuff. Do you have any recommendations?

[@dougwalker8068]

@@SerumLake Double Jeopardy and Twice the Batman Dies is a solid Two-Parter from Batman issues 328 and 329. Batman issue 346 and Detective Comics issue 513 make up a really good two-parter called Half a Hero is Better than None. I would also recommend checking out the top 22 Two-Face stories by Mr. Rogues on his KZbin channel. I usually watch his content to find some of the hidden gems found in the back issues. As for Jeph Loeb, I will admit I'm most familiar with him through his work on Hulk after the World War Hulk event. In fact, his run on Hulk was how I got into comics. So I probably have more of a fondness for his work than most.

[@SerumLake]

I used to watch his videos as well. I may even have watched that Top 22 Two-Face stories, come to think of it. I did all of my research on the DC Infinite app. It's so convenient to have access to thousands of comics on your phone (and great for snapping screenshots to put in videos!)

[@dougwalker8068]

@@SerumLake out of curiosity, what're your thoughts on Batman: The Brave & The Bold and how it celebrates the campy side of Batman? I for one love it personally. It was one of the first Batman cartoons I watched regularly as it was airing. That show, plus Lego Batman 3 is why I have such a fondness for the more outlandish side of Batman and why I love it just as much as the dark and gothic side. Also, on the subject of Mr. Rogues, I do miss his content. He doesn't upload much anymore.

[@SerumLake]

@@dougwalker8068 I think it's great. Very well written, bold character designs, and often very funny.

[@The_Phantasm]

I've been meaning to ask, what's with the yellow bar at the bottom of the thumbnails?

[@SerumLake]

I have a friend that worked in social media and he suggested it as a little design tweak. It seems to be encouraging people to click on the videos.

[@barriolimbas]

Only to a degree, Long Halloween by Loeb and Sale would be the greater influence to modern Two Face.

[@SerumLake]

Yeah, I suppose that's fair to say. Although modern Batman comics have really played up the friendship between Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent, as well as the childhood psychological trauma. I don't recall The Long Halloween delving into Harvey's childhood, but maybe I'm misremembering. It's been a while since I last read it.

[@barriolimbas]

@@SerumLake crazy Dad who gave him the coin on his Father's day visit.

[@SerumLake]

@@barriolimbas Ah yes, that's right! Thanks for the reminder.

[@transopticon13]

also Richard Moll's excellent performance. he was so underrated