Letters to GG17

Just like that we're in the middle of the action once again, and what action it is. The long-teased and promised encounter between Batgirl and Two-Face is here, and I for one could not be more excited. Once again the red eye becomes the central focus and defining feature, but equally cool is the notion that you have Two-Face even MOVE differently than Harvey does, with a bit more show and swagger. I really liked that notion - once again separating Harvey from the darker personality that shares his body.

Equally fascinating is the idea of Renee, now forced into an enclosed space and how that affects her battles. It really didn't dawn on me as a reader that we have only seen Renee fight in predominantly open spaces up to now, so watching her assess this very close space was pretty cool. She's fairly athletic, and tends to move around, both things aren't particularly favored here, which only increases the tension and excitement of the forthcoming fight.

And what a fight it is. Two Face is quite the force, which is something we haven't really seen in this series so far (aside perhaps from the OMAC in Issue #13). Expanding upon the fact that Harvey and Two Face move differently, is the notion that Two Face CAN fight while Harvey can't. That makes him dangerous to Renee, Ivy and the rest of the cast in a way that no one else really is - take away their props and the best Crane and the Joker can do (albeit very effectively) is throw words at them, but Two Face? He's got a lot more in his arsenal and this fight shows it here.

Topping things off it's as much a psychological fight as it is a physical one, with Harvey, Renee and Two-Face all locked in a battle of wills. Harvey trying to gain control of the fight, even if he doesn't know Renee is Batgirl, he recognizes her as a friend and someone that can help save him and put a stop to things, Renee trying to save Harvey from himself, needing to stop Two Face without hurting her friend and Two Face, just wanting to plow over Renee

The bit with the coin was absolute genius. Total inversion of what we'd be expecting and Renee's reaction is great, and I loved the way you depicted both Harvey and Two-Face's reactions as well.

Once you let Two Face start to get really confidant, you are able to give the reader some further insight into how Harvey finds himself in this predicament and the fact that it goes way beyond just his accident. You make that origin element your own, as you have with everything else you've done with him, once again reinforcing this notion of a character that's both familiar, yet successfully "ultimized".

In the end to save herself, and Harvey, Renee makes a move I don't think the reader would have expected, it's huge and bound to have enormous ramifications down the line. I'm not sure if it's the sort of thing Batman would approve of, but honestly, that's what makes Renee different, she's got her own style and I can't imagine a reader by now that wouldn't have come to appreciate that.

Loved the glib radio report that lets you provide a bit of wrapping-up exposition, very well done and perfectly captures the sort of thing you'd expect to see from shock jocks.


Another nice thing that you pick back up on, that I'd forgotten about in all the excitement was the aftermath of the riot at Poison Ivy's place. Interesting to see how life keeps conspiring against her and forcing her to do the right thing, whether or not it's for wrong or entirely selfish reasons. But of course, this is contrasted by her actions as she plants deadlier things to guard the property and conspires to steal what they need to restock the house. After such an action-packed issue, it's great to come back to the character moments, Harley and Ivy play off one another so well.

Batgirl and Ivy too continue to have this fascinating chemistry. It gives you a lot to play around with and it's going to be fascinating to watch develop.

Once again, another top-tier effort. Catch wait to see what the next issue brings.