- For the episode named after this character, see Harvey Dent (Episode).
- "I want what you want, Jim. I want to make this city a better place."
- —Harvey Dent to Jim Gordon[src]
Harvey Dent is a high-flying district attorney of Gotham City.
Biography
The Waynes' Murder
Harvey Dent was brought to James Gordon's attention by the two Major Crimes Unit Detectives (Montoya and Allen), as one of the few non-corrupt lawyers in Gotham City. After meeting with him concerning Jim's eye witness to the Thomas and Martha Wayne murder, Harvey proposed using the eye witness to go after corrupt billionaire, Dick Lovecraft, suggesting that they leak the story that the eye witness could in fact link Lovecraft to the murder of the Waynes without giving up any names or filing any paperwork. Betting that even if Lovecraft wasn't responsible for their murders, whoever was would be rattled and people would soon start talking, the plan proceeded.
Dent later called Lovecraft and several of his associates to his office, telling him the accusations he was going to attempt to get charged against him, and suggesting he consider his options. After Lovecraft threatened him, Dent snapped at him telling him that he would rip him to pieces, in a spur from his regular persona.[2]
After a group of assassins tried to eliminate Selina at Wayne Manor, Gordon visits Dent at his office to figure out how they knew the identity of the witness. Dent admits that, while he never told anyone about Selina, he did slip Gordon's name to a few trusted associates to give the plan credibility. Gordon is angry that, in doing so, Dent led the assassins to Selina, since Gordon regularly visits Wayne Manor and it wouldn't be hard for anyone to connect the dots. After the situation is resolved, Dent and Gordon are both called to the office of Mayor Aubrey James, who admonishes them separately and together for the way they handled the case. He wants to discipline them both, but since he can't punish two of the most honest civil servants in Gotham without raising flags, and Dent, unlike Gordon, knows where the lines are drawn, he transfers Gordon to work at Arkham Asylum.[3] However, Gordon later is reinstated at the G.C.P.D.
Dent revealed to Gordon and Sarah Essen that all charges against Arnold Flass committing murder and being involved in drug dealing were dropped. Gordon discovers from Gillian Loeb that he blackmailed Harvey Bullock into retracting his statement as he had dirt on him for killing a criminal many years before to "get with the program" with the mob (similar to how they tried to get Gordon to kill Oswald Cobblepot). Dent and Gordon question a former partner of Loeb's to try and uncover a secret of his.[4]
The Galavan situation
Dent arrives at the G.C.P.D. with Theo Galavan revealing that Oswald Cobblepot tried to have him killed and began to issue arrest warrants for his capture. Dent was later present when Theo was being sworn in as Mayor of Gotham City and was supportive of him, not knowing of his darker intentions.[5] Following Theo's arrest, he doesn't support him anymore. He serves as the prosecutor at Theo's trial, but he loses the case when ex-Mayor Aubrey James lies under oath saying that Cobblepot kidnapped him.[6]
After Theo is murdered, Dent questions Gordon over his actions when he along with Harvey Bullock, Alfred Pennyworth, Oswald Cobblepot and Selina Kyle led an ambush against the Order of St. Dumas in order to rescue Bruce Wayne. Gordon claimed that after Bruce was rescued Oswald and his men kidnapped Theo and Gordon himself left the crime scene due to having to attend to his pregnant girlfriend Leslie Thompkins. Dent and Captain Nathaniel Barnes aren't too convinced by his story. However, the charges are lifted due to lack of evidence.[7]
When Gordon was found guilty for the murder of Officer Carl Pinkney and presumably Theo Galavan while being sentenced to Blackgate Penitentiary, it was revealed on a news report that Dent could not be reached for a comment on the verdict.[8]
Upon learning that Gordon has been moved to Blackgate Penitentiary's F-Block, Harvey Bullock calls up Harvey Dent in an attempt to either get Gordon a retrial or have him transferred to another prison. Angered at the unheard response, Harvey Bullock states to Dent that he is good at doing what he does, which is nothing. While visiting Gordon, Harvey mentions that Dent is looking into getting the case reopened.[9]
Personality
- "Do not threaten me!... I will rip you apart!!.......it's good to see you, Dick."
- —Harvey to Dick Lovecraft[src]
For the most part, Dent comes off as friendly, principled and passionate about bringing justice to Gotham. However, as his meeting with Dick Lovecraft shows, he has a much darker side within him, one that has an immutable hatred of criminals, at least the thoroughly corrupt, such as Lovecraft. When this side comes out, he becomes aggressive, almost to the point of physical violence. [2]
Appearances
Season 1Season 2
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Notes
- The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger and he was introduced in Detective Comics #66 (August 1942). Harvey Dent was a district attorney and friend of Bruce Wayne who was prosecuting Sal Maroni when the mob boss threw a vial of acid on the left side of Harvey's face with one version having Sal commit the action despite Batman trying to stop Sal. The resulting scarring caused Harvey Dent to become Two-Face where he develops a darker side to him. In his autobiography, Bob Kane claims to have been inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, specifically the 1931 film version which he saw as a boy. Some inspiration was also derived from the pulp magazine character the Black Bat whose origin story included having acid splashed in his face. In later years, writers have portrayed his obsession with duality and fate as the result of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and multiple personality disorder.
Triva
- Harvey Dent has a two-headed coin that he often flips as part of a tactic to convince juvenile criminals to reform, asking them to wager their releases on the flip and to take it as a sign from God that they should change their lives. Because the coin is two headed and almost all teenagers call it heads, it seems to work most of the time. Which is an obvious reference to his other identity as the supervillain/crime boss Two-Face from the comic books.
References
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