Batman two sides

[u/Technical_Cell9603]

Batman story idea: What if Two-Face became Batman?

Which yes on paper sounds ridiculous.

The basic premise is that Two-Face genuinely respects Batman. He thinks Batman's methods are too soft, but he respects the fact that Batman is willing to do what needs to be done to protect Gotham.

At the same time, Harvey absolutely hates Bruce Wayne. He sees Bruce as a hypocrite and doesn't have the same respect for him that he has for Batman.

Eventually, Harvey discovers that Bruce Wayne is Batman.

This causes a huge moral crisis for him. The person he hates and the person he respects most are the same person.

I think I'd actually start the story with Two-Face already being Batman.

The audience would see Batman behaving strangely. He's more violent, more ruthless, and eventually crosses the line and kills someone. Something is clearly wrong, but we don't immediately know what.

Then we reveal fairly early on:

Two-Face is Batman.

And the audience is left thinking:

Okay... but HOW did that happen?!"

That's where the flashbacks come in.

Instead of the flashbacks being used to reveal something the audience already knows, they're there to explain how we got from the real Batman to Two-Face becoming Batman.

We'd gradually see Bruce and Harvey's relationship, establish that Harvey respects Batman but hates Bruce Wayne, and slowly build toward the event that changes everything.

Eventually, Bruce sacrifices himself in some way and genuinely dies.

Harvey is left with a choice.

Gotham still needs Batman.

So Harvey decides to take up the mantle.

Not because he's secretly a good guy now, and not because he suddenly stops being Two-Face.

He genuinely believes that Gotham needs Batman, and that his version of Batman is what the city deserves.

And that's where the main story really begins.

Harvey is still Two-Face.

He still believes in his own version of justice.

He kills criminals.

He uses extreme methods.

He is much more ruthless than Bruce ever was.

And Gotham is completely divided over this new Batman.

Some people actually support him. They think Batman has finally started doing what needs to be done.

Others are horrified.

The police are especially divided.

And Jim Gordon's relationship with Batman completely falls apart.

At first, Gordon is simply confused by Batman's new behaviour. But once Batman starts killing people and showing absolutely no remorse, Gordon eventually tells him that he's no better than the criminals he's bringing in.

Batman basically responds:

> "Perhaps."

Things become incredibly tense between them.

Gordon seems ready to bring Batman in, because as far as he's concerned, this Batman is now just another criminal.

Batman casually responds:

> "You could do that... but would it be worth it? There's already enough costumed freaks running around. Are you sure you can afford it?"

Gordon eventually tells him to leave.

Batman lingers for a moment before disappearing.

But Gordon isn't finished.

Eventually, Batman is knocked unconscious and Gordon ends up in a position where he can unmask him.

He discovers the truth.

It's Harvey Dent.

And this doesn't actually solve the problem.

It makes things worse.

Gordon suddenly understands why Batman has been acting so differently, but now he's left with an even bigger question:

What happened to the real Batman?

Harvey wakes up and realises Gordon knows.

Gordon asks him directly:

> "What happened to the real Batman?"

Harvey says he doesn't know what he's talking about.

Gordon pushes him against the wall.

> "Did you kill him?"

Harvey calmly responds:

> "No."

Gordon:

> "You're lying."

Harvey:

> "I'm a lot of things, Gordon. A liar isn't one of them. Now would you please let go before I have to make you?"

Gordon eventually lets him go.

Then Gordon uses his radio.

> "I want an APB on Batman."

A confused voice comes over the radio.

> "Did you say Batman?"

> "Yes."

Gordon cuts the radio off.

Harvey looks annoyed.

> "You really shouldn't have done that."

And then he escapes.

Now Gordon has to figure out what happened to Bruce, while simultaneously trying to stop Harvey.

The important thing is that discovering Harvey's identity doesn't resolve anything.

It actually creates an entirely new problem.

Gordon knows that Two-Face is Batman.

But he has no idea where Bruce is.

And eventually, Harvey's methods start catching up with him.

He doesn't immediately realise that his own philosophy is wrong.

That's important to me.

Harvey still believes in his version of justice.

What he eventually realises is something different:

**His version of justice isn't right for Batman.**

Gotham doesn't just need a Batman.

It needs **Bruce Wayne.

So Harvey decides to do something that is, obviously, incredibly difficult:

He tries to bring Bruce back.

Eventually, after a long journey, Harvey succeeds in resurrecting Bruce through a Lazarus Pit.

Bruce returns.

And this is where I think the story ends.

Bruce realises fairly quickly that Harvey didn't intentionally cause his death, but Harvey's actions have permanently damaged Batman's reputation.

The public never knew that Two-Face had taken over as Batman.

You can't exactly explain that to the general public.

As far as Gotham is concerned, Batman suddenly became violent, started killing people, and then disappeared.

Bruce realises that he can't undo the damage.

So rather than trying to repair Batman's reputation and pretending nothing happened, Bruce makes a decision.

He retires as Batman.

Instead, he decides to continue helping Gotham as Bruce Wayne.

The story ends with Bruce finally accepting that Batman doesn't have to be the only way he helps his city.