Review: "Heads or Tails," the Two-Face segment from Walt Simonson's "The Judas Coin" (2012)

[about_faces]

Four months have passed since the release of Walt Simonson's excellent new graphic novel, The Judas Coin, so I think it's finally time for me to examine the story's Two-Face segment, Heads or Tails, in full, exhaustive, spoilery, scan-heavy detail.

Comments

[vadvaro7]

Chalk up another view that leans towards henchgirl

[psychopathicus]

While I agree with you on the 'isn't how his life was supposed to be' part, I'm not sure I do with the 'judge, jury and executioner' bit. I mean, yes, he has offed many hoods during his time, but his primary occupation is working with them, not killing them - he's not a vigilante, he's a professional crook. The coin may serve as judge, jury and executioner (well, OK, he's the executioner; the coin itself doesn't kill anybody, but you know what I mean), but it's for anyone who he happens to think needs killing, not crooks specifically.

[about_faces]

The cordiality is a nice touch, yeah. It kinda speaks to their relationship as long-time frenemies, in an oddly poignant way. There's certainly a greater sense of mutual respect between them than they show to the likes of Sawney. With that in mind, I get the impression that the toss was entirely for Sawney himself, with Batman himself not part of the equation at all, even if we were led to believe that the flip was intended to be a choice between Bats and Sawney.

[1mercystreet]

I love Harvey and Batman's interaction here, but like your lovely Henchgirl I don't see this as Batman losing faith in Harvey completely. To me the "I was thinking of you" is more "It wasn't worth killing him" and the "I was thinking of you" was a comment on how Harvey would torment himself with remorse if, as Bruce hopes, he is one day rehabilitated.

Gorgeous art, too. Harvey hasn't looked so handsome for a long time! The background news reports put me in mind of Watchmen, and how the background texts in that give extra depth to the events and dialogue in the comic panels.

[about_faces]

I can't tell if I was really off with this one, or if it was just handled with skillful ambiguity, seeing as how some people have somewhat differing interpretations of this scene.

It really is a great look, isn't it? I was sad at first that this was going to be in B&W, but I think it really serves the way he's drawing Harvey with all those wonderful, expressive lines. Color might detract from that. As for the news reports, yeah, ever since Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns, the use of conveying information via the news has become such an overused cliche, so I'm seriously impressed with Simonson for finding a fresh, clever new use for it!

[napoleoncheese]

The only part of this that doesn't mesh for me is Bruce Wayne, multimillionaire playboy, just walking to an old and modest newsstand and buying the newspaper, and that's it. Is Gotham so dangerous not even paparazzi dare going there, fearing the Joker will show up to kill any rich man and kill everyone around the second the fat cat shows his nose up? Inquiring minds want to know.

[tungstencompton]

Well, it is raining in that first scene...