Two-Face

Character Bio

ORIGIN: There are two basic origins as to the creation of Two-Face, one dealing with the Batman comics (as touched upon in the movie Batman Forever) and the other involving the story told in Batman: The Animated Series. In both versions, Harvey Dent was Gotham City's dedicated, successful district attorney. Often working with Batman, no one was better at convicting criminals. As time went by, though, Harvey became edgy and started to lack self-control.

The comic origin details Harvey's childhood, featuring his abusive father. He had to suppress the emotional pain he was feeling in order to make it through the rest of his life peacefully. He succeeded in this until a horrific event occurred during his questioning of gangster Boss Maroni in front of a jury. Visualized both in numerous comic books and the movie Batman Forever, Maroni maliciously threw acid into the young D.A.'s face. The result would not only monstrously scar the left side of his face but would also release the inner demons Harvey had suppressed for so long.

In the animated series telling, District Attorney Harvey Dent was being blackmailed by gangster Rupert Thorne, who had recently discovered that he was undergoing psychiatric help for his recent volatility. Harvey, determined to keep it from the press, was at Thorne's mercy for a time but eventually could not take it anymore. The result was a fight with Thorne's men culminating in a horrible electrical explosion near the left side of Harvey's face. His face was scarred severely, but his psyche was damaged even further.

The result of both versions was a criminal called Two-Face. In a fit of rage, he mutilated one side of an old two-headed coin, allowing it to become his personal judge, jury and executioner. By flipping his coin, Two-Face would decide whether or not to act in a criminal manner. If the coin landed good side up (unscarred), he would refrain from a chance before him to break the law. If the evil (scarred) side came up, though, the result would often mean less money in a bank's safe...or even less living people in Gotham City.

Obsessed with duality, Two-Face's crimes often involve the number two. As a brilliant detective, Batman is usually able to track him down in such hideouts as the Half Moon Club, but always with a degree of regret. After all, his friend Harvey is in there somewhere, and he prays that someday he might return.

EDUCATION: Spent many years in college, especially in law school.

OCCUPATION: Former district attorney, now professional criminal

FAMILY: Grace Dent (ex-wife, sometimes known as Gilda)

QUOTES: "'Opposition,' William Blake wrote, 'is true friendship.' I beg to differ."

"This is my world now -- a dichotomy of order and chaos. Just like me."

"Here's the only law. The law of averages. The great equalizer."

GAME APPEARANCES: Batman: The Animated Series

The Adventures of Batman & Robin (Sega Genesis and SNES versions)

Batman Forever

Batman Forever - The Arcade Game

OTHER MEDIA: Besides video games, comics, movies and animated series, Two-Face is available as an action figure in several different toy lines.

RELATED CHARACTERS APPEARING IN VIDEO GAMES ENEMIES: Batman and Robin

FELLOW SUPERVILLAINS: Joker

Riddler (Edward Nigma)

Catwoman (Selina Kyle)

Penguin (Oswald Cobblepot)

Scarecrow (Jonathan Crane)

Poison Ivy (Pamela Isley)

Clayface (Matt Hagen)

Rupert Thorne

Mr. Freeze (Victor Fries)

Harley Quinn (Harleen Quinzel)

Mad Hatter (Jervis Tetch)

Man-Bat

Appears In

Batman: The Animated Series (Game Boy), The Adventures of Batman & Robin (Sega CD), The Adventures of Batman & Robin (Sega Genesis), Batman Forever (Sega Genesis), Batman Forever (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), Batman Forever (IBM PC Compatible), Batman Forever: The Arcade Game (IBM PC Compatible), Batman Forever: The Arcade Game (Sega Saturn), Batman Forever: The Arcade Game (PlayStation), The Adventures of Batman & Robin (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), Batman Forever (Game Boy), The Adventures of Batman and Robin Activity Center (Hybrid Windows/Mac), Batman Forever (Sega Game Gear), Batman Forever (Sega Genesis), Batman Forever (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), Batman: Gotham City Racer (PlayStation), LEGO Batman: The Videogame (PlayStation 3), LEGO Batman: The Videogame (IBM PC Compatible), LEGO Batman: The Videogame [Wal-mart Exclusive] (PlayStation 3), LEGO Batman: The Videogame [Wal-mart Exclusive] (Wii), LEGO Batman: The Videogame (Xbox 360)

two face