BATMAN AND ROBIN (TWO-FACE) #28 (REVIEW)

Batman And Robin Two-Face #28
Writer: Peter Tomasi

Artist: Patrick Gleason
          Mick Gray

Cover: Patrick Gleason
           Mick Gray





The Rundown:
Story begins with Batman and Erin McKillen (handcuffed) in the Batmobile racing across town to save Harvey Dent from his captors as they broadcast his "execuation" on television sets across Gotham City. We see panels of various villains tuning in to watch the events on fold (The Penguin, Killer Croc, and Man-Bat). Erin tells Batman that Harvey is being held captive at a courthouse. She appears to be telling the truth as we see Two-Face being put on the witness stand as his enemies set it ablaze. Batman quickly realizes that McKillen has been lying about Harvey's location and has taken him across town in the wrong direction. He ejects her seat from the Batmobile and she lands atop a police cruiser as cops drawn their guns and move in for the arrest. Like a typical mobster, she immediately asks for her lawyer. 
Batman discovers that Harvey is being held at an old abandoned Gotham studio across the city. When he arrives the studio is engulfed in flames, and as he gets to him, quickly reminds Two-Face that rescuing him is becoming a habit. To which Dent fires back a comment on Batman failing to capture McKillen after she snuffed out Gilda and created Two-Face. We see The Penguin is pumped up watching from his television. Apparently, Harvey knows that Batman is Bruce Wayne. Calls Batman "Bruce" as he grills him further for his part in all of this, even for being the one who pushed Harvey to go after the District Attorney position in the first place. Two-Face also exclaims that "Harvey Dent" has been dead and gone for awhile now. Batman replies with a deep speech about how Harvey's coin actually has three sides. With the edge, where both sides (good and bad) meet being the third in perfect unification. Two-Face gets a hold of the flamethrower that his captors were using, and begins to use it on them looking to return the favor. Luckily there is a water silo up above, which Batman uses to put out the flames burning the bad guys bodies.
We flashback to the end of their college years, as Bruce is throwing a Grad Party (even though he didn't) at Wayne Manor. We see that Bruce and Harvey's friendship even goes back that far, as well as that it was Bruce who introduced and set-up Harvey Dent with Gilda Gold. Harvey and Gilda hit it off immediately, with a kiss happening within moments of being alone (Bruce went off to break up a fight between the McKillen twins). Back to the present we see Jim Gordon joining the action approaching the entrance. He is attacked from behind by Two-Face. Jim tells Harvey that he was the best of them, to which Harvey replies that it was in fact Jim who was the only one deserving of those words. Because of that, Harvey gives Gordon the choice to take him in or let him go. Of course there isn't a choice for Jim, and the decision goes to the "coin". Coin flipped, but he misses the catch. Ironically it lands on its edge, which infuriates Two-Face because of what Batman said earlier. He opts to shoot Gordon, but a batarang stops that, but Harvey escapes while Batman tends to an injured Jim Gordon.
We see McKillen in prison attempting to inspire other inmates, and seems to be embracing the new ways of Gothams underworld, with her scar courtesy of Dent. We catch up with Two-Face as he is getting himself cleaned up and dressed. He's talking to a picture of Gilda as he spins his coin in front of it. He then loads his gun and says "Feels like my lucky day Gilda" as he points it to his temple. We see blood spatter on to the picture as the coin falls to the ground spinning once again and lands on....black out panel. We're taken to GCPD as Batman is delivering and installing a new Bat-Signal on the roof. He tells Gordon how there has been no leads on Harvey and appears to have gone deep underground. Switch flipped. Story ends.



The Review:
Wow. Did we just see Harvey Dent aka Two-Face just commit or attempt suicide? Or did he possibly shoot someone else who we simply didn't see in the panels? Both are possible. Perhaps DC Comics was seeing if anyone would say a peep if it was a man in the situation and not a female like it was with just a hint in Harley Quinn's monthly titles. More likely it was him shooting someone they didn't reveal, presented like in a similar way as The Joker "exiting" at the end of "Death Of The Family". Is he dead? Is he alive?
 
It was a good ending to the arc that was happening the last few issues of "Batman And Robin". I really liked seeing Harvey Dent's updated origin story, and thought the addition to that in this issue was a nice touch as we see how he and Gilda came to be, and that Bruce was the one who set it all up. I may have missed it mind you, but when did Two-Face join the list of people who know Batman's secret identity? It is possible that Bruce was finding this out at the same time we were (based on his expression somewhat), but thought there would be a little more revealed about that story. Did Bruce tell him? Was it figured out by Harvey on his own? Accidentally discovered? Perhaps when Two-Face makes his return (dead or not, this is comics remember), we will learn more about this. Other than that small detail, the writing has been up to par and possibly the reason this title survived being merged into the upcoming "Batman Eternal" weekly title (Batman: The Dark Knight is done soon).

In the art department, although it did its job, just wasn't feeling it (just my opinion). It feels as though it is lacking something, can't put my finger on it though. Perhaps it is the coloring more than the drawing. Not sure. But like I said this is just my opinion and clearly the artist is good (they're doing it, I'm not). And more importantly, it did the job in telling the story to the point where I only find my issues when analyzing the work instead of getting lost into it.
Overall it was a pretty decent issue, nice job ending what was a good story arc the last few issues. Definitely left wondering what is to become of Two-Face. And of course looking forward to what is coming next as it is back to searching for Damian. I am on the "bring him back" bus by the way.

Stay Nerdy!