Batman: One Bad Day – Two-Face #1 is part of a series of one-shots published by DC Comics, written by Mariko Tamaki, art by Javier Fernandez, colours by Jordie Bellaire, and letters by Ariana Maher. Harvey Dent comes to Batman as someone threatens his father, leading to the Bat team to attend his birthday party.
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The plot of this story takes a while to get its footing, but that is fine, considering the large amount of space within the comic. A cold open sets up the moral quandary crucial for the rest of the story, based around Two-Face and his personalities. From there comes the case, as Dent goes to Batman for a favour and a mystery begins.
I personally don’t believe that the mystery is that deep or able to pull any kind of surprises. The pacing is slow but it builds in intensity as a threat becomes imminent. Warnings that come before are both foreshadowing what could happen but also increase the suspense. The ending is alarming and sudden, leading into a tragic final part that really does feel conclusive. Tamaki holds onto a theme throughout the one-shot, and even if it quietens for a period of time it is always present in a dangerous manner.
Like with the last issue of One Bad Day, the Two-Face story is brilliant at exploring the title character. But the different writer also brings a new perspective. Many stories involving this villain talk about the opposite sides of the coin—it’s an age-old tale. Harvey Dent and Two-Face, good and evil. But what this comic also explores is the fact that they are the same person and how that is inescapable. There are many parts of this comic where Harvey appears, and he is helpful and friendly. But Tamaki’s writing of Two-Face is terrifying, revealing why he is such a great Batman villain, showing perspectives of Dent from those that know him. For those like Jim Gordan and Bruce Wayne, he is a friend, which is why he has been given the benefit of the doubt multiple times. But there are others that have no trust in him at all and can’t see past the other side of his face. Batman is also brilliantly written, showing a true humanity to the Dark Knight. What he does in this book could be regarded as a mistake or a weakness, but it is due to his belief in someone. For a character so dark, this bathes him in life.
The art is superb and wonderfully distinctive. That change between the personas is emphasised through which side is most prevalent on each panel. It may not be a definitive alteration in the personality, but it’s a reminder of the possibility. Harvey is sincere and handsome whilst Two-Face is absolutely haunting. Each panel seems like a different attempt by Fernandez, so each time that scar tissue is visible it is shocking. Around him, Gotham is murky, shadowy, and dark, like Two-Face fits the world. Batman’s design is also tremendous, the scratches of stubble within the brief patch of skin covering more of an already busy panel.
The colours demonstrate why Bellaire is one of the most defining in the business. There are so many unique shades inside this comic. This is best demonstrated only a few pages in as Two-Face stands on a rooftop. Behind him is this incredibly powerful mix of green and yellow that covers everything, swirling together and instilling a dirty, dangerous atmosphere. There is just so much depth to every surface, perhaps even more than there is in real life. The damaged side of Two-Face has a fierce red hat means the eye is drawn to it, even if it doesn’t want to be. The lettering is really clever and brilliant for denoting a character’s voice, especially if that character has more than one personality.
Batman: One Bad Day – Two-Face #1 tries to delay the inevitable. It is a brilliant depiction of a tragic character, one that always seems close to reconciliation. Whilst the story sets up a mystery that isn’t a complicated one, it is as Tamaki created it as a beacon of false hope. This book strives to find positives within a world that is so far past dark it is pitch black. This is not a nice comic, it is frightening and horrifying. But it is also very difficult to look away.
Batman: One Bad Day – Two-Face #1 is available where comics are sold and with our ComiXology affiliate link.
Batman: One Bad Day - Two-Face #1
TL;DR
Batman: One Bad Day – Two-Face #1 tries to delay the inevitable. It is a brilliant depiction of a tragic character, one that always seems close to reconciliation. Whilst the story sets up a mystery that isn’t a complicated one, it is as Tamaki created it as a beacon of false hope. This book strives to find positives within a world that is so far past dark it is pitch black. This is not a nice comic, it is frightening and horrifying. But it is also very difficult to look away.
