Batman: One Bad Day – Two-Face #1 Review: The Duality of Man
Two-Face has long been one of my record-breaking most loved Batman villains, even in spite of an overall absence of value stories. Regardless of the many misses in the past, Harvey Gouge is a person who remains so obviously loaded up with emotional potential and thematic profundity. Whether it’s his origins attached to regulation and request in Gotham City or the wonderful simplicity of a theme designed to address wrongdoing, punishment, and visual similitude, Two-Face is an obvious member of the Elite and that makes any capable interpretation of the person merit anticipation. Essayist Mariko Tamaki, artist Javier Fernandez, and colorist Jordie Bellaire are all amongst the best creators working in their respective fields at DC Comics today, which makes their collaboration on Batman: One Bad Day – Two-Face a seeming must-get; it meets the promotion.
The second excursion of the One Bad Day title focuses more strictly on its eponymous premise as the events of this story focus upon a single day in Harvey Imprint’s life – the celebration of his father’s 88th birthday party. Yet again harvey has been released from Arkham and been named to his previous job as District Attorney, sticking closely to late continuity in the Batman line (and leaving it muddled whether or not One Bad Day is quickly considered canon). Batman and his allies struggle to find threats made against Harvey’s father, while Harvey focuses on his re-visitation of society. A drawing in premise successfully builds upon peruser expectations.
What’s most fascinating about the plot is the different perspectives others hold about Harvey. For Batman he remains a companion needing saving, while Batgirls like Stephanie Brown give substantially different takes on the transformed lawbreaker. Tamaki emphasizes the gendered distinction in how individuals see Harvey with Steph insisting that there’s only one Harvey responsible for all he’s done, both good and bad. This feminist lens proves most uncovering by the finish of One Bad Day – Two-Face as it provides a new take on Two-Face, yet Batman and their long-lasting friendship, as well.
While the story does offer new perspectives on the iconic antagonist, it’s the presentation of his “one bad day” by Fernandez and Bellaire that transforms the issue from an interesting concept into must-peruse Batman comics. Keeping Two-Face’s grisly visage, even as he is changed, makes each board he inhabits an open door. Following their decisions and struggles is educated by how their face is presented on the page, with no hesitation to make the stripped back lips or one wide eye more agreeable. Fernandez adjusts his style all through the comic, presenting a number of backgrounds and panels with more noteworthy degrees of abstraction. In addition to always understanding the quick physicality of a scenario, he and Bellaire infuse most splash panels with a powerful emotional reality, too.
Batman: One Bad Day – Two-Face reassures readers of this series’ tremendous potential with an (suitable) second installment that sheds new light on an old bad guy from some of the most skilled creators working with DC Comics today. Each tool is honed in fostering a single, satisfying Two-Face story, including machinations that expand upon his simple theme and images that will wait long after the last page. Two-Face is permitted to be more mind boggling than a simple duality of good and insidiousness, and Tamaki makes it clear the intricacy of a single person should be sufficiently terrifying. With Fernandez and Bellaire conveying dim notes in amazing style, this is one issue no fan of Two-Face or Gotham villainy should consider missing.
