Comic Review: Matt Wagner's "Batman: Faces" (1992)

[about_faces]

Preface: This story deals with sensitive subjects, mainly concerning circus sideshow performers, and I'm not quite sure what the protocol is when it comes to discussing such people. Google didn't yield much in the way of help, so if I end up saying anything incorrect, inappropriate, or offensive, please let me know and I shall change the review

Comments

[about_faces]

***BONUS HALF OF A LETTERS COLUMN WHICH I HAVE FOR SOME REASON***

Back when I started planning this review over a year ago, I scanned the letters page of Legends of the Dark Knight #35, which featured rave responses for Faces from readers (including future comics writer and Oni Comics EIC Jamie S. Rich)! Why did I do this? Heck if I know! It's been so long that I've forgotten what I'd hoped to gain from these observations! But since I still have it on hand anyway, here, have half a letters page with four glowing appraisals of Faces!

[about_faces]

Also, I've found several scans (of varying quality) of original artwork from places like ComicArtFans.com, a must-visit treasure trove of rare original comics art. So for comparison's sake, here's all that I've found so far!

[psychopathicus]

You know, I've always thought that the Yin-Yang was a silly choice for a Two-Face 'emblem' when it's used that way, but it actually works pretty well here. Why? Simple - it's not a symbol of duality, it's a symbol of integration, which is Harvey's theoretical goal in this story. He wants a place of equality and harmony for those who haven't received it - you could do worse than a Yin-Yang for something like that.
That reaction of Wren's is just a wee bit over the top, all round. I can't pretend that I know how I'd react in such a situation, but I'm reasonably certain that panicked screaming would not be on the agenda.
Why exactly was Harvey killing those plastic surgeons? Did we ever get a reason, or was he just taking out his frustrations on them while carrying out his other plan?
I think the idea is that at least some of the assembled were actually fine with the idea of going to the island; it's just that it wasn't the unanimous decision that Harvey was trying to present it as. It's implied that Manon probably is, given

[about_faces]

You know, I've always thought that the Yin-Yang was a silly choice for a Two-Face 'emblem' when it's used that way, but it actually works pretty well here. Why? Simple - it's not a symbol of duality, it's a symbol of integration, which is Harvey's theoretical goal in this story. He wants a place of equality and harmony for those who haven't received it - you could do worse than a Yin-Yang for something like that.

Yeah, I was wondering if I should try touching upon that always-tricky topic of whether or not Yin-Yang and Taoism is appropriate for Harvey, how often that symbol has been used for him, etc. Ultimately, I didn't feel up to the task, so I'm glad you've brought it up. It honestly never occurred to me that its use here may have been appropriate, even if it's in a manner that's somewhat muddled by the fact that Wagner has Harvey outright describe it as being related to duality.

Why exactly was Harvey killing those plastic surgeons? Did we ever get a reason, or was he just taking out his frustrations on them while carrying out

[psychopathicus]

The ironic thing about his killing of the "beauty merchants" is that they're the very people who could help him - in fact, have indeed done so in various different versions of his story. After all, mental issues aside, his malformation is only skin deep; a good plastic surgeon could fix him right up, were he to let them (unless, of course, we're talking about the stories where the scarring is 'too extensive' or some such). One could therefore view his killing them off as a conscious abnegation of his own potential normality; by wiping out those who could fix his scarring and de-Two Face him (at least on the outside), he's insisting that he's (as BR Penguin put it) "a genuine freak", and therefore has a place as part of the group that he's gathered around himself, and deserves his spot as their leader. Otherwise, the shallowness of his motivation is revealed to him, and he cannot and will not face up to it.
So, have a good Turkey Day?

[psychopathicus]

...Whoops, replied as an Anonymous; sorry about that.

[akselavshalom]

I read this as a good story, but I find Harvey off almost whenever he opens his mouth. In the opening scene and the ending scene he shuts up, so mood all the way. Well, I suppose I liked the breakdown, though, warts and all.
Everything else has been said by you and psychopathicus. *tips hat*

For some reason I think that pretty much anyone of the bigger villains could have worked with this story with a bit of mending and molding if it was purely based on visual aesthetics. At least Scarecrow and Poison Ivy, besides Crockers and Pengy. I mean, Scarecrow could make sense if you think about the constant bullying for his scrawny appearance and his general demeanor, although the story would most likely have suffered for using someone who's just a bit skinny, although that might give him a bit of humanity. Possibly. Maybe (...not). Ivy has as far as I know made two isolated paradises, so one for people who's been shunned for their looks could perhaps work as a fun-house mirror of herself

[lego_joker]

You didn't utterly despise Daniel's Joker in RIP? Blasphemer! Judas! [Insert more creative insults here that I can't be bothered to think up right now]!

:P

[akselavshalom]

You forgot Quisling! *HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHUUUURGH* [insert silly anger-gif here]

Oh, I despise his Joker, in hindsight at least. Even at the time he seemed a little un-Joker in demeanor and appearance.
Everything else worked, in my opinon.

[mothy_van_cleer]

I liked Tony Daniel's artwork in R.I.P. because it showed there was actually someone who cared even less about the story than I did.

I did feel a little crestfallen afterwards when I learned that the quality was unintentional, and not some meta-comment Grant was making about the declining standards of the industry. Still, I never dreamed that DC would actually try to polish and market Daniel's turds, much less tout them as a style future artists should aspire to.

[lego_joker]

Happy 22nd, Hef

[about_faces]

Happy 23rd to you now!

Damn. At this rate, how many stories starring Harvey are there left to review? The DCAU stuff might keep this blog floating 'til the end of next year, but after that...

Mainly, it's down to DCAU and Elseworlds. I still have a dozen or so Elseworlds to go! Besides that... I dunno what else there is. The Moench/Balent Catwoman story? Tony Daniel's return of Gilda? Oh, definitely Gotham Central: Half a Life, that's a huge one I've been thinking about a lot but have been afraid to write. Oh, and there's that wacky Bronze Age Joker/Harvey team up by Haney and Aparo. Is that it? That might be it.

Better get cracking on that TLH mass review, then!

I suppose that now would be a good time, since my small history lesson on LotDK does serve as a good intro to my own intro on TLH, but... ehhhhhhh. Later. Meh. *flops* And really, if I do that, then I'll have to do Dark Victory as well, and I think I'd have even LESS to say!

Unfortunately, I don't own the Bronze Age issue that covers the whole "Maroni wasn't REALLY

[psychopathicus]

There's always that Basil Karlo Clayface retrospective you were talking about. And posting some of Ozzie's finer moments.

[about_faces]

Oh, I definitely have no shortage of posts! I'm just running out of Two-Face comic reviews is all, but I have way more Rogues-centric stuff planned out!