Tim Burton's Version of Two-Face Shows His Biggest Difference From Nolan's
Warning: spoilers for Batman '89 #6 ahead!
Although Two-Face never formally appeared in Tim Burton's Batman (1989), the comics set in the same universe give us a stellar rendition of this iconic villain while differentiating the character from his interpretation seen in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. Adapting comics from films (and vice-versa) is tricky, where past versions of characters are expected to inform their designs in different media to the point of leaving little room for interpretation. But Batman '89 manages to create a vision of Two-Face that feels authentic to the character and yet unique to his particular world, and it all comes down to the handling of his iconic coin.
Based on Billy Dee William's portrayal of Harvey Dent, this version of Two-Face manages to blend the character's menace with the actor's smooth charm. Having opposed Batman's spree of vigilante justice, Batman ’89reveals how «Billy Dee Williams» became Two-Face: he gained his iconic scars while trying to rescue a young man from a burning building. Growing increasingly erratic and dependent on his coin to make decisions, he goes on to pursue his own brand of cruel justice as Two-Face, using criminal means to pursue evidence about a conspiracy known as the «Lincoln Job.»
Related: Two-Face Deserves His Own DC Black Label Comic Series
In Batman '89 #6 by Sam Hamm, Joe Quinones, and Leonardo Ito, Two-Face's plan finally comes to fruition. Having obtained proof that the Lincoln Job was a fraud perpetrated by Gotham's political elite, he proceeds to call a meeting with City Hall, as well as crime boss Carmine Falcone. When Falcone refuses to submit, Two-Face decides Gotham’s future with a coin flip saying, «heads, I do something nice.
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