For forever now, I’ve wanted to blog-transcribe my favorite passage from my favorite graphic novel, Frank Miller’s “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns”.

Since I’m reminded that today would have been the 92nd birthday of the Caped Crusader’s creator, Bob Kane, this seems like as good a time as any:

Batman: …Harvey…

Harvey Dent/Two-Face: …What are you so mad about, Bats? I’ve… been a sport… You have to admit that — I played along. And you… you took your joke about as far as it could go…

Harvey Dent/Two-Face: …Got the whole world to smile at me… Got them all to keep their lunches down when they saw my… my face… Saying I was cured… Saying I was fixed…

Batman/Narrative: [The scars go deep, too deep…]

Harvey Dent/Two-Face: Take a look… Have your laugh. I’m fixed all right. At least… both sides match…

Batman/Narrative: [I close my eyes and listen. Not fooled by sight, I see him…]

Harvey Dent/Two-Face: Have your laugh, Batman — Take a look!

Batman/Narrative: […As he is.]

Harvey Dent/Two-Face: (softly) …Take a look…

Batman/Narrative: [I see him. I see…]

Batman: …I see… A reflection, Harvey.

Batman: A reflection.

Even more powerful with the pictures that go along with those words. I’ve often read just the first issue/chapter of “Dark Knight Returns”, because that closing scene is so succinct in depicting the core characterization of duality that informs the rest of the book.

Fellow Traveler: I met her outside Lucky Cheng’s. She was having her smoke break.
Me: Lucky Cheng’s? You’re sure she was a “she”?
FT: Yeah yeah, no question. Asian, hot.
Me: Okay, if you say so.
FT: I started talking to her, asked her what she was doing after work. She was interested, definitely interested.
Me: Good.
FT: Then, I said to her, “Just so you know up front: I’m just divorced, and I don’t have a dime to my name.” And just like that, like a switch, she shut down. It was over.
Me: Uh…?
FT: So that’s a sure-fire way to turn them off, just tell them you’re broke.
Me: A stage dancer at Lucky Cheng’s? Probably not representative of the general woman population.
FT: I just know that now, I know how to keep them away.
Me: I think you’re mis-directing your energy. No one’s looking for extra ways to repel the ladies. It’s not like I’m lacking in ways to get shot down!
FT: I’m just sayin’.
Me: Well, thanks for that advice…