Two-Face vs. a Werewolf. Okay, then!

[about_faces]

I was all ready to finally write about the Two-Face story from Batman 80-Page Giant 2010 when I remembered that the author, Brad Desnoyer, had actually written *another* Harvey short story for another anthology: THE 2008 DC UNIVERSE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL.

You know... the story where Harvey fights a werewolf. Yeah, that one

Comments

[ext_360169]

Well, I'm glad to see someone actually read some of my stories. Zsasz won't conform to your "society" and it's rules about "pants."
Yeah, I'm way more proud of the recent stories in the 80-Page Giant and the 'Tec Annual. Hopefully, you guys enjoy them. It got some decent reviews, i.e. http://www.comicvine.com/detective-comics-annual-all-the-rage-part-one-of-two-marked-woman-the-night-runner/37-248431/.
Just know how much I really do love these characters!

[lady_vaguely]

Just so you know, the most recent 80 Page Giant is officially my first comic book purchase. :) Looking forward to having the time to get elbow deep in it over the holidays.

[thehefner]

What, your very first? Egad! Well then, any ideas for the next one you might get?

[lady_vaguely]

I know, I know. *shame* I just walk into the comic store and get overwhelmed by the 80 kazillion Batman titles to choose from. And I don't want to be that annoying girl that doesn't know anything pestering the store clerk for his guidance. Any suggestions for someone just get started?

[thehefner]

It's understandable! And hey, we all have to start somewhere.

Well, then! *puts on comic shop clerk hat* What's your interest? I'm assuming Batman is one, so let's start there. Most people would recommend starting Batman with Miller's Batman: Year One (a wonderful, wonderful book), or Loeb/Sale's The Long Halloween (BOOOOOOOO, heck no, not for your first).

Me, I strongly recommend Batman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told. These "greatest ever told" collections are often mixed bags, particularly the recent Joker volume. But this one is pretty well stellar throughout, and it gives what few others can offer: a well-rounded sampling of great Batman tales from every decade and comics era.

I'm gonna stop there, otherwise I will go into full detail of other possibilities and why they're good, etc. So for now, I'd day definitely start with Greatest Stories Ever Told Vol. 1, and if you can, also Year OneI absolutely adore recommending books to people based on their interests, especially if it means turning them onto great stories that are

[lego_joker]

And from there, I'd ask, is there a certain villain you're interested in? Or a certain type of personality for a villain?

[lady_vaguely]

Oooh, well. I like Two Face (shocker!) and Clayface (I'm only really familiar with the one in the cartoon) and some portrayals of the Mad Hatter. I tend to like tragic and unhappy villains.

I am really curious if there are any well done stories about Croc or Bane. I want to like them, for some reason, but they both seem like they could be poorly used.

[lady_vaguely]

Gosh, thanks for being so helpful! That kind of welcoming into fandom is just lovely.

Maybe I should give a little summarization of how I am a Batman fan who is comic-ignorant. I've loved the animated series since I was a kid, so that's my real frame of reference. I borrowed and read all the "Blank Adventures" comic books drawing from the series and liked quite a few of them. I've read the novelizations of Knightfall and, due to the adorkable excerpts you posted here, No Man's Land. Good stuff, but I liked No Man's Land better. And since I'm primarily a video game nerd, I loved Arkham Asylum.

I'm not saying I'd be adverse to portrayals that don't link up with the above, just that that's what I'm most familiar with (and gaga over.)

I tend to like villain teamups that go south, things that get into the backstory and motivations of characters, and tragic themes. I guess that's pretty general, sorry.

For now, Greatest Stories Ever Told and Year One are on my list!!

[thehefner]

TAS is the perfect framework for any Batman fandom, in my opinion. It's the distillation of everything that's great, and comics enjoyment grows out of that foundation splendidly. I think those two books will therefore serve you well. Let me know what you think if/when you read 'em!

The traits you specified are somewhat general, and yet they're far from universal. Sad, because those are what I love too. Until TAS, very few writers were ever interesting in giving fleshed-out motivations and backstories to the villains.

[thehefner]

Only the "mindless zombies" wear pants!

Seriously, though: hi! :)

As a long-time Two-Face fan who started this blog to showcase the entire history of the character, I very much appreciate both this story and Within the Walls of Dis. As I mentioned, I've been planning to look at the latter story for a couple weeks now, but I'm still trying to formulate my thoughts. The story ultimately raised an issue that could ultimately change the whole dynamic of the character, so I want to actually examine what that means.

I know this is a question you probably can't answer, since to do so might take away from the ambiguity of the finale, but I'm gonna ask it anyway: do you think the Joker's right? Or is he just saying that to further screw with Harvey's head and get him to that point anyway? That's ultimately the crux of the question I'll be asking folks here when I write about DisEither way, I'm glad to see you back for the one-two punch of stories. What I particularly enjoy about both is how they're very much based in character interaction

[lego_joker]

Speaking of pants, ever notice how most, if not all, of Batman's (male) enemies wear them? Even Zsasz, in his first appearance, donned a top hat and tailcoat when he went outside.

For all the ranting and raving about the Bat-Rogues being crazy, at least they're sane enough to wear their underwear on the ''inside''!

Also, disturbing image of the day: every Bat-Villain, ever, forced to wear form-fitting spandex costumes.