Issue 101 – Two-Face – GonnaGeek – Geek Podcasts, Tech, Comics, Sci-Fi, Gaming & More

Flip a coin – heads, you listen to us analyze Two-Face. Tails, you listen to us analyze Harvey Dent. Either way, you’re getting a realistic discussion of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

SHOW NOTES:

Intro
- Mentioned in Podcast Magazine – “Under the Radar” section
- TeePublic sale – Nov. 4-6, 11-13, 17-20, 26-27, 29-30
Background (4:45)

Two-Face (Harvey Dent) created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane in Detective Comics #66 (August 1942)
In his first appearance, he’s Harvey Kent, later renamed to avoid confusion with Superman
He’s an attorney who gets acid thrown in his face during cross examination, and chooses to embrace the duality of his appearance – uses a coin flip to determine his actions
“Cured” due to plastic surgery

Crisis reinvented his past – grew up with abusive father, who would flip a coin to determine whether to beat him

- Diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, but he worked through them to become DA in Gotham – worked as an ally of Batman and Gordon, until he was attacked with acid by Sal Maroni
- No Man’s Land – Two-Face controls a portion of Gotham, but during the “trial” of Commissioner Gordon, he calls upon Harvey Dent to serve as his defense attorney, forcing Dent to “cross-examine” Two-Face, and he acquits Gordon
- Healed by Dr. Thomas Elliot, aka Hush, who attempted to blackmail Dent to help him against Batman, but Dent is “cured” of his bipolar – until murders pop up with Two-Face’s MO, implicating Dent, and the Two-Face persona resurfaces, causing him to re-scar himself
- New 52 – now his origin is that of a defense attorney whose clients try to kill Commissioner Gordon – he then becomes DA and prosecutes them – one of them disfigures him with acid – later battles Batman and reveals he knows his identity, before attempting suicide
- Rebirth – The attempt effectively destroyed the Dent persona, but convinced Batman “Harvey” was still in there, if only Batman would help him with the cure – Batman sedated Dent and forced the dual identities to remain
Issues (08:22)
- Bipolar – THAT’S NOT HOW IT WORKS
- Schizophrenia – THAT’S NOT HOW IT WORKS (15:32)
- Abusive childhood – OK, that’s fairly accurate (21:38)
Break (28:25)
- Plugs for Occultae Veritatis, We’re All Mad Here, and Meredith Finch
Treatment (30:12)
- In-universe – Treatment for recidivist activity stemming from trauma
- Out of universe – Work on assisting with decision fatigue, and use “coin flip” for small decisions while leaving thought and time for big ones (34:58)
Skit (44:30)
Ending (52:17)
- Recommended reading: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale
- Next episodes: Tim Drake, Luke Cage, Clones
- Plugs for social