Review/Analysis: James Owsley's "Faces" from BATMAN ANNUAL #13, and the state of Batman in 1989

[about_faces]

1989, from what I can tell, was a weird year of transition for DC Comics. Post-Crisis, Post-Watchmen, Post-Dark Knight Returns/Batman: Year One... they had entered a new era, but it seems like they weren't exactly sure what the hell that MEANT. Batman especially seemed to be affected, and we'll get to that in a moment, but he wasn't the only one

Comments

[1mercystreet]

Oh, I can definitely see Harvey in Santa Prisca, sitting on a crumbling balcony of a hotel that looks like the Oloffson in Port au Prince in a white suit and panama hat, torn between plotting something dastardly with a drug baron and an arms dealer or having another mojito then going to a merengue club.

And wow. Bats has become more of a dick than Superman. I wasn't sure that was even possible.

[about_faces]

Because sometimes, even Harvey Dent needs a relaxing vacations from all the angst! Of course, now I'm just trying to imagine some circumstance that would have him visit the local prison, and take notice of a certain bulked-up young man about to be turned into a guinea pig for a new kind of super-steroid...

Well, that's the thing: Superman is a dick in theory, but in practice, he's actually totally cool. Batman is a badass hero in theory, but in practice, he's a manipulative dick. THE WORLD'S FINEST.

[1mercystreet]

I've always thought that Harvey would have studied the Santa Prisca legal system while he was at university - if not in class then maybe for an event in the debating club.

I also wonder if when he was campaignng for DA, one of his constituents who was an immigrant came up to him and told him about her cousin back home, and how she'd just had a little boy who was doomed to serve out a life sentence and begged him to do something about it... not that he could, of course.

[bitemetechie]

OH MY GOD SO MUCH SLASHY SUBTEXT EVERYWHERE EVERYWHERE EVERYWHERE.

Ahem, and with that out of the way...

Hey, for once we get to see Jim leaving Batman in the lurch. Neato keen.

Also, nice little mirror to the story where Catwoman busts Two-Face, Joker and Pengers out. Except Batman's reasons weren't quite so...self centered and attention seeking. (Though I suppose one could argue that he was more motivated by his own guilt at having fucked up the investigation that put Freddie on death row, rather than any need to do The Right Thing...)

Another thought along those lines: is Harvey just Arkham's charity case? He's been busted out by Batman, visited by Nightwing, busted out by Catwoman, befriended by Renee...

The sentiments are similar to Neil Gaiman's "origin" for the Riddler, "When Is A Door?" from Secret Origins Special (which also came out that same year), where even the villains don't like the nasty, darker, crueler direction that the world is taking.So did I ever tell you about the fact that the first time I actually read

[yaseen101]

So did I ever tell you about the fact that the first time I actually read that story was when you linked me to it? ;D

Considering that half the Two Face I have read are from his posts......

[about_faces]

I provide a public service! (Selections from) comics for all!

[akselavshalom]

Oh, yes indeed-ee-doo! Sorry, by the way, for leaving you an assload of comments on years old posts. I don't really have anyone to discuss Batman and least of all Two-Face with here, so just bear with me. Like yaseen, you've probably given me pretty much all the Two-Face stories I've ever read.

Despite the dickery, it's nice to see a Batman who doesn't defy all the laws of physics and carries a restricted amount of tools and weapons alongside him, and few things so high tech that it's ridiculous.
Also, I like this Two-Face. Still, is it me, or does he seem very in control here?
Also also, a confession: I love the purple/yellow suit. I don't know why, but it's just so fitting. To me, anyway

[yaseen101]

I don't like Bat-Dick, I really don't. And maybe it's a bit of nostalgia seeping in since this and A Lonely Place of Dying were one of my first comics, here the dick-isness almost works because Bats is still human in both stories. It felt natural and understandable and that just maybe he might work out of his funk. You can see it where the trauma and heartache are just raw and in 'Lonely Place' where he has calmed down a bit. Unfortunately as someone described it, the bulk of the 90's were spent on story arcs where Bruce goes on an inner journey to reclaim himself only to y'know to go back to being a dick.

In a way we can actually thank Morrison and Dini for not plodding the old ground and in Morrison's case for doing his own radically different thing. Because as much as I don't like the majority of his work, the franchise probably needed something radically different at that point.

[lego_joker]

I still think that in this regard, the 90s are unfairly blamed. Most of the 90s Bat-comics I've read (particularly those by Dixon and Grant) featured a Batman who not only wasn't a dick, but actually had a sense of humor.

NML, though, tore through all that with a wrecking ball. That much can be vouched for. And once the 2000s rolled around... Oy. Vey.

[yaseen101]

The sentiments are similar to Neil Gaiman's "origin" for the Riddler, "When Is A Door?" from Secret Origins Special (which also came out that same year), where even the villains don't like the nasty, darker, crueler direction that the world is taking.

btw, I feel the need to ask. Did Neil Gaimen ever really do a fun light hearted story for either DC or Marvel? 'Cause it annoys me if a writer brings forth an issue but doesn't really do anything about it.

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I FINALLY got a chance to read your Dent novel. It was wonderful and I left a comment in Part 5. I'll post a more in-depth review there soon.

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Shameless self promotion time: Have you seen this?

I have a laughably small knowledge when it comes live action pop culture but I would love to hear your opinions on this.

[lego_joker]

I suppose that the Batman: Black and White one-shot he did could count. The whole thing is also a commentary of sorts on comic books as a whole, but it is rather hilarious - basically, it depicts Batman and Joker "off the set" of a comic book, acting like, well, actors off the set.

It might be a bit too cynical for your tastes, but I still recommend it.

[yaseen101]

I have heard about it and I remember reading it a long time ago. I can't recall the detail so I'm going to have to check it out again.

Actually I love cynicism, god knows there is bucket loads of angst in the stuff I write, it's more that cynicism is either not done well or it starts to spill over on everything including stuff that doesn't quite fit that mold. I like balance in things with one side (either hope or cynicism) weighing slightly more than the other. Full Metal Alchemist (manga and the FMA: Brotherhood anime adaptation) and Bendis's Daredevil are good examples of cynicism that I like.

[about_faces]

I'm really trying to figure out if Gaiman has written anything light and fun. Oh, wait, duh! His Metamorpho feature with Mike Allred for Wednesday Comics was pure glorious delightfulness from start to finish! A lot of people didn't care for it, which strikes me as absolutely bonkers. It was pure wacky fun! But I think that was the only instance.

Thanks! I will read and respond! Means a lot to me! :)

I did see that post, and totally forgot to comment! Glover as Hugo, ohhhhh, me like. I love Levine, and I think he could make a great Jim, but I just too strongly associate him with Buffallo Bill, Sinestro, and Rusty Nail that I can't entirely wrap my brain around him. Roth would be cool to see, but physically, he's all wrong. He just seems so short. He'd be such a teeny weeny adorable Scarecrow! As for the rest... shit, you may have a "small knowledge," but it must be better than me because I don't know ANY of those actors. I am officially OLD.

[surrealname]

was 1989 also when the star sapphire did that totally femdom thingy with arisia that was hot and i made you laugh by bringing it up that one time?

[about_faces]

Hahaha, oh no, that either happened directly before or shortly after Crisis, either in the proper GL title or later when it became GLC! Yeah, that was even BEFORE Hal's stuff went totally downhill, and by that point, they were already doing things like Ch'p and Arisia!

[surrealname]

that cover raised unclean interests in me.

[about_faces]

The cover, and not what actually happens in the issue?