Batman's Shocking Choice: Why He Trusts Two-Face to Protect Gotham!
The Dark Knight's Unexpected Ally: Two-Face Takes the Helm!
Batman. The ultimate crime-fighter, always battling Gotham's ridiculous villains! So, it seems unbelievably bizarre that he'd ever trust a villain to protect Gotham. But he actually did. It happened in Detective Comics #817 (James Robinson and Leonard Kirk), during DC's One Year Later arc. This period immediately followed Infinite Crisis, a major crossover, and shows a Gotham drastically changed!
Batman and Robin were gone training for a year after Jason Todd's return as Red Hood. This means Gotham needs a protector, but things were far worse than previously known! That means Batman's usual allies–Batgirl (shot by the Joker), Huntress (feuding with Batman), and Nightwing/Robin (they were with him)– were unavailable. That's why Two-Face gets the job! This absolutely shocking choice demonstrates some unique elements; that Batman might possibly believe even his archenemies could possibly make a turnaround; especially under unique circumstances that justify trusting even someone that he considered to be possibly not reformable in the long-term.
Two-Face's Redemption Arc: A Trust Built on a Shared Past
At this time, Harvey Dent had supposedly gotten better, this amazing character rehabilitation after recovering from his devastating transformation to Two-Face; through facial reconstruction surgery and some genuinely compelling efforts at doing some actual good! Batman knew and noted this himself! This really highlights the incredible strength Batman has and shows just how capable some individuals could really be.
Why is it no surprise? Batman always gives his villains chances if he truly believes they've changed! This happened before with Clayface (invited into the Bat-Family) and The Riddler (Batman supported him when the Riddler became a hero!). That very open-minded outlook regarding Batman’s belief system in second chances and demonstrates the unique moral capacity of the Batman character that has always seemed somewhat unconventional and makes him far more interesting to explore! Batman has a lot more knowledge and understanding of Harvey Dent's prior goodness compared to other villains.
Batman and Two-Face: A Childhood Bond Forged in Darkness
Many fans totally don’t know: Harvey Dent helped create Batman's no-kill rule! This actually shows up in All-Star Batman #3 (Scott Snyder and John Romita Jr.). Alfred sent Bruce to Arkham's summer home (after those dark thoughts concerning Joe Chill). Both Harvey and Bruce were there—planning to kill their abusers; Harvey's abusive father and Joe Chill. Then Harvey forgave his father! That inspired Bruce to see good, helping create his famous no-kill policy. It is extremely interesting how powerful the development of the Batman persona and moral considerations regarding killing actually occurred from those younger years of Batman’s life.
And their relationship was way bigger! In Batman: Dark Victory (Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale), Batman almost revealed his identity and created an alliance with Harvey Dent, before he became Two-Face. That failed; and that fact deeply hurts Batman. He trusted Harvey Dent so much that he even almost made that extremely high risk choice, for which few characters were given that very trust!
Two-Face's Crucial Role: Multiple Times Gotham Needed Help
This story from the One Year Later story arc isn't the only instance Batman used Two-Face. Ram V's Detective Comics shows Batman forced out of Gotham, relying on both Harvey Dent and Two-Face to keep the Orgham Family at bay! When he returns; it is Two-Face who is critical to defeat those villains!
That reveals Batman's absolute trust in Harvey; both good and bad sides; believing his capacity to become heroic. In emergencies, Batman clearly relies on Two-Face, making this really clear: that trusting Two-Face to actually make the hard choice when under the immense stress to help Gotham remains his greatest demonstration of trusting him. It showcases an incredibly deep and far-reaching trust only used for several key allies!
Conclusion: An Unlikely Bond Forged in Tragedy and Trust
Batman doesn't trust easily. He trusts his Bat-Family and Superman; and pretty much no one else. But his choice with Two-Face? A moment revealing that even a potentially irredeemable character can still retain a certain level of capacity for greatness. Their shared past, a childhood connection turned tragic; yet the events from later in the storyline showcases a different, and entirely powerful approach in believing even your fiercest foes!
This deep and unlikely connection deserves much more appreciation! That story reveals a great truth—a complex morality of Batman's world, revealing his own inner struggle to make a deeply human judgment involving individuals close to his own past! It emphasizes trust at the most profound, deepest level; a level shown rarely and only involving those closest to him and showing just how capable Harvey Dent might possibly have become! While it doesn’t ensure that the two will likely become actual allies— it does hint that Batman remains open, even desperately so for that chance to be true and the fact alone should emphasize just why this unique decision carries so much significance and meaning to explore and understand the nuances involved with these kinds of intense, close, but ultimately troubled characters within the Batman narrative.
