10 Things Only DC Comics Fans Know About Two-Face

Supernatural’s Misha Collins will play Harvey Dent, the villain comic fans know as Two-Face, in the upcoming CW Gotham Knights series. Comic book fans know Two-Face is one of the greatest villains in Batman history, a major pillar of the character’s mythos in every medium, and it’s likely the Gotham Knights version will draw on some of the character’s considerable comic history.

It’s also likely that upcoming sequels or spin-offs of The Batman will feature the character. They may take inspiration from some of the best Batman comic book stories, many of which star Two-Face, but not as many as fans might think. Two-Face is a towering figure in Batman lore, but his early history is one of huge gaps and odd turns that many fans may not be aware of.

Harvey Kent

When Two-Face first appears in Detective Comics #66 in 1942, much of the character’s attributes are established in the first few panels, with one major exception. In his first appearance, his name is Harvey Kent, instead of Harvey Dent.

The change was made to avoid association with Clark Kent, but Harvey Kent did persist in DC Comics. A version of that character would continue in Earth-Two, an alternate reality that has come in and out of DC Comics continuity in the last forty years.

Tragic Origin

Two-Face is part of one of the greatest Rogue’s Galleries in comic book history and like his peers the Joker and Catwoman, much of who Tw0-Face is was present from the beginning. Harvey Dent was a District Attorney in Gotham when a criminal threw acid in his face at a trial in one of the more tragic villain origin stories.

Batman was unable to stop it, leading to a spiraling rivalry between the two. This basic origin story has been in place throughout most of the character’s subsequent appearances in comics, animation, and movies as well, especially Batman Forever.

Evolving Backstory

Though the foundation of Two-Face was in place from the beginning, comic book fans know the villain evolved considerably over the last 80 years. Subsequent updates to the origin of Harvey Dent embellished the character, making him a friend and ally to Bruce Wayne.

This aspect of his character was developed in the iconic storyline Batman: Year One from 1986 and the corresponding Batman Annual #14. Their friendship made the rivalry between Batman and Two-Face all the more bitter and tragic.

The Long Halloween

Much of the modern conception of Two-Face in DC Comics emerged out of one of the best Batman comic book storylines ever, The Long Halloween. Harvey Dent is front and center of this epic murder mystery that adds new layers to his backstory.

The storyline draws in most of Gotham’s villains and its major crime family players like Moroni and Falcone. The true villain of the story is revealed to be someone very close to Two-Face, another tragedy that leaves the character changed forever.

Limited Appearances

Despite the significance of Two-Face in the history of Batman comic books, the character actually made very few appearances early on. Unlike the Joker, who routinely appeared in Golden Age comics, Two-Face made only a handful deep into the Silver Age.

It’s not until 1971 when writer Denny O’Neill and artist Neal Adams revitalize the character in Batman #234 that he truly becomes the major villain he is today. That story presents a more sinister and complex Two-Face than had been seen before.

Other Versions

As with most major comic book characters in DC and Marvel Comics, there are numerous versions of Two-Face. He is somewhat unique in that several major versions of him are actually other people impersonating the character in early Batman lore.

One of the most significant versions is Paul Sloane, who first appeared in Batman #68 in 1951 and Harvey Dent was initially “cured.” Sloane was an actor who was disfigured and became Two-Face. He would remain part of different iterations of DC continuity into the 21st century.

Batman Trained Two-Face

Two-Face doesn’t have any superpowers, but he’s not without advantages when it comes to Batman. In an ironic twist, it’s actually Batman who trains Harvey Dent in many forms of hand-to-hand combat, making him one of the best martial artists in DC Comics.

Batman trains his friend Harvey Dent before becoming Batman, as told in the story arc Batman: Face the Face. Two-Face also became a highly skilled marksman and master of different weapons thanks to training by the villain Deathstroke.

Relationship With Renee Montoya

Two-Face is inherently conflicted and he’s made several attempts to reform in the comics. One of the most sustained efforts, and ultimately one of the most tragic, is his relationship with Renee Montoya, a key figure in the larger world of Gotham.

Montoya’s kindness toward Two-Face motivated him to try and reform, but he fell in love with her. When she didn’t return his advances, he systematically destroyed her life, including publically outing her as a lesbian. His despicable behavior reflected once and for all his villainy and also her inherent goodness. Montoya would eventually continue to treat Two-Face with some measure of sympathy.

The Dark Knight Returns

Two-Face plays a key role in the origin of the Batman mythos and he does as well in what’s ostensibly the end of one of the greatest Batman comic books ever, The Dark Knight Returns. In one of the darkest future timelines in DC Comics, Two-Face has no redeeming qualities.

Though he seems like he’s cured and has had plastic surgery to repair his injuries, the truth is the dark side of Two-Face is entirely in control. Now known as Face, he sets about trying to destroy Gotham once and for all.

Jessica Dent

The Batman seemingly opens the door to Harvey Dent by vacating the District Attorney position in Gotham. Future sequels may take a different tack with the character, perhaps best on Jessica Dent from Batman: Earth One, given some context clues in the new movie.

In this iteration of the story, Jessica becomes Two-Face when Harvey is killed. The Penguin comes to power, eventually becoming mayor, in a series of events that echo somewhat the movie. That could lead to the rise of Jessica Dent in live-action for the first time.

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