Two-Face

Origin

Born and raised in Gotham, Harvey Dent was brought up in a lower-class and violent household. His father was an abusive alcoholic who repeatedly beat the boy, often using a double-headed coin to give the child a "chance" to escape a beating. Dent spent much of his early life suffering from various mental issues, notably bipolar disorder and paranoia. Despite his early hardships, he was a good student and able to obtain a law degree. Deciding that he wished to make Gotham a better place, he ran for and won the position of District Attorney in Gotham. He was noted for his dedication to justice, and his seeming untouchability. About six months after he first assumed office, Batman appeared on the scene. Far from condemning the vigilante, Dent became one of his first supporters on the side of the law. During the trial of Sal Maroni, the mobster threw acid at Dent. The acid horribly scarred half of Dent's face, and Dent soon lost his mind, descending into criminality and an obsession with duality.

Creation

Two-Face was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. Elements of his history were rewritten for the Modern Age by Andrew Helfer.

Character Evolution

Golden Age

In his original appearance, the character who would become Harvey Dent was known as Harvey Kent. He was disfigured by Sal Maroni, and obtained his double-headed coin from Maroni. He only appeared a few times during this period, and had his sanity and facial features restored.

Silver Age

The true Harvey Dent made very few appearances in the Silver Age. Several impostor Two-Faces appeared during this period.

Bronze Age

Dent reappeared as Two-Face during this period. Little about his origin was changed, but he did become a much more important Batman villain during this time.

Modern Age

Dent's origin was rewritten following the Crisis on Infinite Earths. He was given a more tragic backstory to make his character more sympathetic, and his early connection to Batman was added. His character also took on the typical symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder at this time; that is, his two identities lost their awareness of what the other was doing.

Major Story Arcs

Year One

Dent, the District Attorney, becomes the first member of the established justice system to act as an ally to the newly-appeared Batman. Dent is later instrumental in helping to eliminate some of the corruption that is rife in the Gotham City Police Department.

The Long Halloween

Dent, Batman and James Gordon begin to work together on the Holiday killer case, though Dent begins to estrange his allies with his blunt disregard for the lives of criminals. After joining Batman in burning a warehouse full of Carmine Falcone's money, Dent and his wife are almost killed by a bomb that has been planted in their house. Dent's investigations into the Holiday killer lead him to suspect that Bruce Wayne is involved, though his theory is later proven incorrect. At trial, Sal Maroni disfigures Dent by throwing acid in his face. Taken to the hospital, Dent flees after stabbing a doctor, going into hiding in the sewers of Gotham. There, he encounters Solomon Grundy, who attacks him, though Dent manages to calm Grundy and escape. On the surface, his former allies begin to suspect that he is Holiday. On Halloween, shortly after the alleged real Holiday is captured, Dent, now going by Two-Face, resurfaces and frees most of the inmates of Arkham Asylum. He leads the other villains to the home of Falcone, and murders the man despite Batman's attempts to stop him. He kills his former assistant, who had aided Maroni in disfiguring him, and then turns himself in to the police. As he is taken away, he reveals that there were two Holiday killers.

No Man's Land

Dent takes up residence in Gotham City Hall following the massive earthquake that destroyed much of Gotham. His living arrangements there are destroyed by the arrival of Bane. He later abducts Gordon and puts him on trial for his actions during the crisis. Two-Face acts as both the prosecuting attorney and judge during the proceedings. Gordon insists on having Harvey Dent as his defence lawyer, and Dent is able to successfully argue against his Two-Face persona, resulting in Gordon being acquitted.

Gotham Central

Around the time of the earthquake in Gotham, Two-Face becomes acquainted with Renee Montoya. She is kind to him, and he falls in love with her, though she rejects him. Enraged, he outs her as a lesbian and frames her for murder, in the hope that once she has lost everything she will be forced to turn to him. She fights him, and he is ultimately recaptured by Batman, who sends him back to Arkham.

Hush

Two-Face's scarred face is repaired by neurosurgeon Dr Thomas Elliot. As a result of regaining his normal appearance, Two-Face reverts to his Dent persona, with Two-Face seemingly gone for good. He turns on Elliot, who is secretly the supervillain Hush, and shoots him, leaving the body in the Gotham River. He uses his knowledge of the legal system to secure the release of the Joker, as well as to avoid prosecution for the murder of Elliot.

Face the Face

While Batman vanishes from Gotham, Dent becomes a vigilante at the hero's urging. He undertakes these duties as a form of atonement, and though initially reluctant he soon finds he enjoys his work as a vigilante, though he lacks Batman's finesse. When Batman returns, Dent begins to feel useless, and when Batman confronts him about a series of murders involving minor villains, Dent refuses to say whether he is responsible or not, blowing up his apartment and fleeing. After flipping a coin, the Two-Face persona reemerges, and Two-Face releases most of the animals in the zoo, as well as killing four police officers. He is defeated by Batman and Robin, who later discover that the Great White Shark was responsible for the murders of the minor villains.

Long Shadows

Following the apparent death of Batman, Two-Face realizes that a new person has assumed the cowl. He infiltrates the Batcave with the assistance of a teleporter and ambushes Batman when he arrives to investigate this invasion, shooting him with tranquilizer darts. His torture of the new Batman is halted by the intervention of Alfred Pennyworth. Batman is then able to convince Two-Face that he is the original Batman.

Streets of Gotham

Two-Face comes into conflict with Kate Spencer, also known as the vigilante Manhunter, culminating in the pair facing off against one another in court, with Two-Face acting in his own defence. Two-Face nearly manages to out-talk his opponent, but his plan to kill her in court goes awry. Nonetheless, he is able to escape custody. Following the arrest of Black Mask, Two-Face is apparently betrayed by his own henchmen and dumped in a river.

Knight Terrors

For more information see: Batman: The Dark Knight: Knight Terrors

Two-Face, while being held at Arkham Asylum, is injected with a combination Fear Toxin and Venom. The Fear Toxin makes him fearless and the venom makes him super strong. He demands that Batman calls him One-face, and almost kills Batman. Lucky as the drug wares off Two-face starts bleeding out his eye sockets and passes out. He is then taken into custody again but wouldn't stop screaming from the pain long enough to explain who did this to him.

Powers and Abilities

Two-Face has no exceptional personal powers or abilities. He is of average strength and fitness for a man of his age, with some skill in armed and unarmed combat; he was trained in marksmanship by Deathstroke the Terminator. He possesses above-average intelligence, especially in areas pertaining to the law, and is notable as a charismatic and persuasive speaker. He is also a capable detective. His mental faculties are hampered by his mental issues, especially his dissociated identities and his inability to make decisions without the aid of a coin toss.

Alternate Versions

Earth-Two

On the original Earth-Two, the Golden Age Harvey Kent remained cured following the initial restoration of his face and sanity. On Earth-2 Joker tries to create a new Two-Face by scarring a man named Harry; the fate of Kent is unknown.

Earth-Three

His heroic Earth-Three counterpart is Evelyn "Eve" Dent, who goes by "Three Face" due to her three distinct personalities. Unlike the original Dent, she is unscarred.

The Dark Knight Returns

Dent receives plastic surgery that completely repairs his face. However, his Dent personality is completely destroyed, and Two-Face takes complete control of their shared body. He is imprisoned in Arkham following an attempt to destroy the Gotham Twin Towers.

Gotham by Gaslight

On Earth-19, Dent is a serial killer going by the name "The Double Man"

The Batman Adventures

Dent is nearly cured, but descends into dangerous insanity when the Joker convinces him that his fiancée is cheating on him with Bruce Wayne.

In Darkest Knight

Gotham's District Attorney, Dent is wary of the new Green Lantern, Bruce Wayne. He is attacked and scarred by Sinestro and given powers that resemble those of Eclipso. He takes the name "Binary Star" and takes to working alongside Star Sapphire, Selina Kyle.

Black and White

Dent receives plastic surgery and is nearly cured. However, the psychotic twin sister of his fiancée kills her and forces a relapse into Two-Face.

Batman/Daredevil

Two-Face teams up with Mr Hyde in order to grow a microchip in Hyde's body. Though he is aware that this will ultimately kill Hyde, he does not make any attempt to save the man. He is prevented from killing Hyde by Matt Murdock, who he is revealed to have been friends with when they were younger.

Masque

In this pastiche with the Phantom of the Opera, Two-Face plays the role of the titular Phantom.

Thrillkiller

Detective Duall is a corrupt police officer who has his face scarred. Harvey Dent is the District Attorney and later mayor of Gotham.

Tangent

Harvey Dent is his universe's Superman. He is African-American, and possesses psionic powers.

Crimson Mist

Two-Face initially joins with Gordon and Alfred to defeat the vampire Batman. When this is apparently done, he turns on his erstwhile allies. He is killed by the restored Batman.

Claws of the Catwoman

Finnegan Dent is an adventurer and thief who raids an ancient African city, Mnemnom. His thievery is uncovered by Tarzan and Batman, who attempt to stop him. He is mauled by a lion, which heavily disfigures half of his face. Because of his wound he decides to remain in Mnemnom and become a ruler. He is sealed in a tomb by the inhabitants of Mnemnom and presumably left to die.

Guardian of Gotham

Darcy Dent is a model who has half her face disfigured by sabotaged face cream. She seeks revenge on those who she blames for her disfigurement.

Flashpoint

In the Flashpoint alternate universe, Dent never became Two-Face, and is instead employed as a judge and living happily with his wife and children. His children are kidnapped by the Joker, and he seeks Thomas Wayne's assistance in recovering them. He manages to save them, though Dent's daughter is shot and nearly killed.

Other Media

Animation

The DCAU

Two-Face features as a recurring character in Batman: the Animated Series and its successor The New Batman Adventures. He makes appearances both as pre-disfiguration Harvey Dent and as Two-Face. He also made a cameo appearance in the Justice League episode "A Better World". He is voiced in his appearances by Richard Moll.

Batman: Black and White

Two-Face appears in the episode "Two of a Kind". He is voiced by James Remar.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Two-Face makes his first appearance in the episode "Legends of the Dark Mite!". He makes his first speaking appearance in the opening of the episode "The Fate of Equinox!". He is voiced in two appearances by James Remar, and in one appearance by Richard Moll.

Film

Batman

Dent, the DA for Gotham, appears as a minor character in this film. The intention was originally for this version of the character to return as Two-Face in sequels, but this never panned out. He is played by Billy Dee Williams.

Batman Forever

Two-Face appears as one of the major villains in this film, alongside the Riddler. He blames Batman for failing to prevent his scarring, and is shown to be responsible for the death of Dick Grayson's parents. He is played by Tommy Lee Jones.

The Dark Knight

Dent appears as the newly-elected District Attorney of Gotham who is one of the early supporters of the Batman. When he and his fiancée Rachel Dawes are targeted by the Joker, Dent becomes increasingly unhinged, culminating in his being horribly scarred in a murder attempt that claims Dawes' life. Becoming Two-Face, he begins to take revenge on those who he believes are responsible, killing several people before being stopped by Batman. He is played by Aaron Eckhart.

Batman: Year One

Dent appears as a minor character in this film adaptation of the comic of the same name. He is voiced Robin Atkin Downes.

The Dark Knight Returns

Two-Face appears in this film. He is voiced by Wade Williams

Video Games

Batman: The Animated Series

Dent appears as a character who must be rescued from Poison Ivy. The game is set prior to his disfigurement.

The Adventures of Batman & Robin

Two-Face appears as a boss.

Batman Forever

Two-Face appears as a boss in this adaptation of the film.

Batman: Chaos in Gotham

Two-Face appears as the final boss.

Lego Batman: The Video Game

Two-Face appears as an antagonist. He is voiced by Steven Blum.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Two-Face does not appear as a major character. However, numerous flyers reading " VOTE DENT" can be found around the island, and his prison cell (Also littered with "VOTE DENT" flyers) can be scanned, unlocking his bio and solving a riddler challenge.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold-- The Videogame

Two-Face appears as an antagonist.

DC Universe Online

Two-Face appears as a villain. He is voiced by Edwin Neal.

Batman: Arkham City

Two-Face appears as a fairly major antagonist in this game. In the Catwoman DLC, Catwoman is breaking into a safe, but captured by Two-Face. Batman then overhears Catwoman is being held captive in the courthouse. Catwoman is showed tied up, hanging above a vat acid, with a group of Two-Face's goons as a jury and Two-Face as the Judge. Batman defeats his goons, saves Catwoman and then hangs Two-Face over the acid in her place. After the main plot (still in the catwoman DLC), Catwoman decides to get the rest of her loot and leave Arkham City. She attempts to egt to her apartment, but finds it rigged to explode. After surviving and defeating his goons, Catwoman learns Dent has taken most of her treasure and is hold up at the local museum (former base for Penguin). After defeating him, Catwoman learns most of her loot has been split up amongst numerous ghenchman around the city.

Batman: Arkham City Lockdown

Two-Face appears in this game.

Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes

Two-Face appears as a villain in the opening level of the game and you can also track down and defeat him in Gotham City. He is voiced by Troy Baker.