Reviewed by Chris Fenn
I know last week I really praised Batman and Two-Face but I’m finding it difficult to word how much I enjoyed this issue. This issue just seemed to have everything; action, drama, suspense. I think I can say, without lying or exaggerating, this is probably one of the best comics I have ever read.
This is the closing issue of the Two-Face story arc and it begins with a courthouse inferno. The interesting thing is, despite this being a highly tense action scene; complete with fire and guns, the main focus is on the dialogue between Two-Face and Batman.
Harvey reveals he knows it is Bruce under the cowl. This is almost underwhelming compared to the heart to heart the two characters have. It seems to take the same route as the arguments posed in The Dark Knight, but it just feels more meaningful on the pages – especially knowing Harvey knows who Batman is. One thing that really seems touching is the fact that Harvey has fought to not kill Batman over the years, and he accepts that he earned his scars.
Later on we get to see Harvey interact with Jim Gordon. I love the use of the colour scheme here; the use of blue and red is brilliant. The way I read it the colours don’t represent each aspect of Two-Face’s personality, but they do really show the internal conflict he has and the struggles he goes through to make decisions; especially towards Gordon someone who would have been a close friend then became a hated enemy.
The most memorable part of this book has to be the closing panels of Harvey Dent. It struck me as quite poetic that after years of using the coin, Harvey speaks about luck and then makes the first significant decision of his own accord. We won’t know if this is a permanent death, a comic book death or some sort of red herring but in my mind this is the end of Mr. Dent.
One of my favourite parts of this book is the emphasis on the coin. For once it isn’t used as some sort of ploy to delay or confuse Harvey, but it’s used in a way that I don’t think I’ve seen before. Instead of focusing on the duality of the coin, Batman forces Harvey to think of the edge; a compromise and joining of both sides. It is perhaps through this why we see Harvey act independently – it is in the interest of both sides of his personality to see Gilda again.
I can’t stress how much I enjoyed this issue. I hope that Tomasi continues to deliver such quality that he has done since I started to read his work.
For more comic views and reviews follow Chris on Twitter at @fenneth1989
Posted on February 24th, 2014
Category: OUT OF THE LONG BOX, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman, Batman and Two-Face #28 Review, Bruce Wayne, Chris Fenn, Comic Blog, Comic Reviews, DC Comics, Jim Gordon, Patrick Gleason, Peter Tomasi