That storyline, covered in "Did Robin Die Tonight?", "Just Another Kid on Crime Alley," "Two of a Kind," and "Second Chance," is the real meat of this collection, though Max Allan Collins' scripts are somewhat more juvenile than I remember, with a lot of on-the-nose dialogue (and too much talk in general). (Though, in fairness, I suppose these stories were meant to entertain 12-year-olds, the age I was when I first read them.) When he opened his eyes, he froze for a second. He was expecting to be in a hospital, smelling the familiar scent of antiseptic.

The real Batman responds to the Bat-Signal and swings over to GCPD Headquarters. Deputy Commissioner Barnes is waiting to arrest him for the murders, and the GCPD shoot at him as he escapes. Batman goes to visit the home of Jim Gordon, who explains that Barnes is trying to take over the department. A news report reveals that the two muggers killed were both murderers, previously released on a technicality. Batman tells Gordon to pretend to help with the manhunt so he can keep an eye on Barnes. Batman heads out to the abandoned building called the Half Moon Club to face Harvey's worst enemy… Two-Face himself. However, Two-Face’s thugs capture him and chain him to a crane connected to dynamite. Two-Face explains that he set himself up to be kidnapped because he would not let his other personality destroy him. As Two-Face flips his coin to decide whether to detonate the dynamite, it lands on edge. He tries again repeatedly, each time landing on edge, causing him to Freak Out Batman frees himself and takes out Two-Face’s thugs.Beyond that, the comics offer an interesting combination of classic silliness and more modern seriousness. On the one hand we have Two-Face, still committing numbered crimes and flipping coins; on the other hand we have stories like Starlin's "Victims" which could have come straight out of O'Neil's dark-and-gritty Question series. Overall, the stories are surprisingly well written and mature for the time period (and still good today). Ultimately, I enjoyed my time with Second Chances. I got what I paid for, which was early Post-Crisis Batman and Robin, but I'm still left wanting. I think any fan of Bronze Age Batman can have fun with this, but the only people who need this volume are completionists and like me they will disappointed by the glaring omissions. During the wide shot of Two-Face hanging from the ledge before losing his grip, his left hand opens fully. Doing so, however, would mean dropping his coin. However, it is still in his hand the next time his left hand is shown. Jason moved into the manor after the two youngest robins died. Jason took up the mantle of Batman and was CEO of the company. But the main reason why he moved in was to take care of Alfred. Did Jason Todd really deserve all that hatred? Based on the stories in this book: no. Max Allan Collins and Jim Starlin do a decent job making him an agreeable sort of fellow. I'm guessing it's the Jason Todd from 1983-86 that got on reader's nerves and sent the lad into an early grave.

The nurse helping Harvey Dent recover from his Two-Face personality is the same therapist from Part 1 of the villain's debut episode. Just before he is to undergo the operation that will restore his face, Harvey Dent is kidnapped by a mysterious villain. Batman and Robin split up to nab the criminal behind the scheme to abduct the Dark Knight's old friend. They suspect that either the Penguin or Rupert Thorne may be behind the kidnapping, but after doing their investigation, they come to realize there is an unsuspected third enemy in the scheme.In my excitement for James Gunn's upcoming DCU, I've decided to become more involved in my reading of DC Comics. And what a better place to start than the original jumping on point, Post-Crisis?