# Dark Knight: Did they ever explain why Two-Face isn't in horrible, screaming pain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 23, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219 "2011-12-23T22:27:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/1 "2011-12-23T22:27:56Z")
Other than perhaps he was really really mad? Looking at the extend of his injuries, the guy should have been hooked up 24 hours a day to machines trying to keep him alive, not walking around committing crimes. Its something that I took for granted in other, less realistic versions of Batman I guess. Saying that being horribly injured makes you a supervillain is like saying the burn ward is filled with criminal masterminds. He should be doubled over in pain every second for the rest of his life. I get a sunburn and I can barely touch that part of the skin and this guy’s walking around kidnapping people ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/2 "2011-12-23T23:19:55Z")
Maybe that whole side of his face is numb. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/3 "2011-12-23T23:23:36Z")
Burn scars can be horribly disfiguring and terrible to look at, discolored, and may distort features or restrict movement, but once healed past a certain point they may very well not cause pain to the person scarred. Or they might still be painful. It varies from person to person. My take was always that Two-Face was horribly disfigured, but his scars weren’t actually painful to him. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/4 "2011-12-24T00:03:00Z")
“The doctor says you’re agonizing pain but you won’t accept medication, that you’re refusing skin grafts.” Gordon So yeah, I guess the idea is that it’s pure rage keeping him going. Sort of like Darth Scion. That being said, remember that third degree burns are painless, it’s the first and second degree edges around those burns that hurt. So the majority of the area on his face probably isn’t going to have any feeling at all. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/5 "2011-12-24T00:16:28Z")
Never mind Two-Face, what about Darkman? Something tells me the medical science in that movie was less than realistic. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/6 "2011-12-24T00:20:50Z")
And what’s the deal with Supergirl, yo? Is she gonna be a virgin, like, forever? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/7 "2011-12-24T00:26:55Z")
Nope. I’m sure she and Mon-El, Ultra Boy and a few others in the Legion have gotten their freak on. Or she took a little jaunt to Kandor for Spring Break. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/8 "2011-12-24T00:51:51Z")
My question is concerning how he keeps that eyeball on that side from drying out, with no eyelids or tear ducts to aid in that. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/9 "2011-12-24T01:10:25Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > Never mind Two-Face, what about Darkman? Something tells me the medical science in that movie was less than realistic. Yeah, but in that movie they specifically said that either an injury or the doctor severed the part of his brain that felt pain - > [@](#): > > Ten years ago, pain from the burns would have been intolerable. He would have spent his life screaming. Now we use the Rangeveritz Technique. > > Quite simply, we sever the nerves within the spino-thalamic tract, there… which, as you know, transmits neural impulses of pain and vibratory sense to the brain. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/10 "2011-12-24T01:38:47Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > My question is concerning how he keeps that eyeball on that side from drying out, with no eyelids or tear ducts to aid in that. That is exactly what I wondered when I saw the movie. I try to always remind myself that it is _just a movie_, but that bit bothered me most of all. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/11 "2011-12-24T01:44:58Z")
I have to admit that Two Face took me out of The Dark Knight somewhat. I really wish they hadn’t overdone the damage to his face the way they did. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/12 "2011-12-24T01:56:40Z")
I’m to lazy to look it up, but Cracked recently mentioned the eye thing and pointed out that there have been animals (they mentioned a pet cat, I believe) that live without eyelids, requiring only eyedrops twice a day and a dark room to sleep in. So, maybe not that far fetched? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/13 "2011-12-24T17:22:05Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > I have to admit that Two Face took me out of The Dark Knight somewhat. I really wish they hadn’t overdone the damage to his face the way they did. Well, it IS a comic book movie. They “overdone” a lot of stuff: Bruce Wayne’s wealth, Batman’s gadgets/fighting prowess/tactics, heck, even the laws of physics get “overdone”. [and, yes, I’ve been a Batman fan since '59, and a “Dark Knight” fan since Frank Miller --although some might say Roger Stern and Marshall Rodgers beat him to it…] ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/14 "2011-12-24T17:50:32Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > My question is concerning how he keeps that eyeball on that side from drying out, with no eyelids or tear ducts to aid in that. I came across this yesterday when trying to find an image of Two-Face, since I hadn’t seen the movie. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/15 "2011-12-24T18:24:05Z")
Murine? Visine? ---
**Author:** ![UFC\_Is\_Sux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/46a35a/32.png) [@UFC\_Is\_Sux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UFC_Is_Sux)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/16 "2011-12-24T18:48:10Z")
Is there something in Two-Face’s backstory that says his “exposed” eye couldn’t be a fake one? I’m more a Marvel person than a DC person so I wouldn’t really know. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/17 "2011-12-24T19:07:15Z")
It was so artificial-looking that it didn’t wig me out at all (and I’m pretty easily wigged out by things like that). No willing suspension of disbelief there. ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/18 "2011-12-24T19:08:48Z")
> [@UFC\_Is\_Sux](#): > > Is there something in Two-Face’s backstory that says his “exposed” eye couldn’t be a fake one? I’m more a Marvel person than a DC person so I wouldn’t really know. Nothing in his backstory no. It’s certainly not implausible, but I don’t think it’s ever been addressed. Generally in comics and other media that portray Two-Face it’s understood that it’s supposed to be his real eye. Of course if it was fake that would raise the question as to why he would do that, but not get a skin graft. Harvey knows his appearance intimidates most people and I would think if he were missing an eye he’d just emphasize it as part of his ‘dual’ nature. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/19 "2011-12-24T19:32:15Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > My question is concerning how he keeps that eyeball on that side from drying out, with no eyelids or tear ducts to aid in that. In the movie, at least, there’s not that much time for it to dry. Joker busts him out of the hospital during the day, and he’s dead by that evening. Probably less than eight hours. Not long enough, I think, for drying to become a serious issue. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-knight-did-they-ever-explain-why-two-face-isnt-in-horrible-screaming-pain/607219/20 "2011-12-25T03:25:33Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > I came across this yesterday when trying to find an image of Two-Face, since I hadn’t seen the movie. [You link is missing part of the URL. This link fixes it.](http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/01/is-dark-knights-two-face-realistic.html)