"Harvey Dent: Gotham's White Knight" - The Novel

[Society Outkast]

Hey guys, I've started working on a full novel on the life of Harvey Dent. This is more so my own take of the story. I am starting the story all the way from the beginning(hence a novel), so for some it might start off slow. But my intention of this novel was to make it so that even people who dont know anything about Harvey Dent or the Batman universe can still follow the story smoothly. I will be giving you guys a preview here before I submit it. I will be uploading at least 1 chapter of the story every day and I would like any and all comments you can give me on it. Constructive criticism, harsh words, serious suggestions, i welcome it all.


So....

Here's Chapter 1 below. Hope you guys enjoy the story

[Society Outkast]

CHAPTER 1: WHY?

As a 12-year old Harvey Dent looks at two 16-year old kids bullying a younger kid, Harvey stares and wonders, “What posses a person to cause pain to someone else for no reason. Aren’t there people capable of standing up for themselves? Like I do”? As he starts to walk away, he can hear the shrieks and calls for “help” from the kid. He tries to ignore it and continue walking, but he is finally overwhelmed. He rushes back, hits one kid in the face with his book-filled backpack, and with one solid blow, knocks the other kid on his ass with a fist to the face. As the bullied kid rises, he looks Harvey in the eye and silently says “Thanks”. Harvey nods but doesn’t say anything. As people start coming to see the commotion, Harvey slips away quickly and unnoticed. He doesn’t want to be seen fighting, as he knows he could get in trouble. Even for helping. From a distance, Harvey looks back and sees the other kids cheering the bullied kids as if he was the one who laid out the high school giants. With no sense of jealousy, he looks back and smiles.

* * *

As he chews into the leftover pork chops from the night before at the dinner table, Harvey’s dad, with a mouth full of food, asks “So Harv, how was school today”? “Chew your food first honey.”, says Mrs. Dent. “It was good. Pretty boring” lies Harvey. He knows, regardless of reason, neither of his parents like fighting. “Can I ask you a question? Why do people really hurt people?” “That’s a complicated question, son” chuckles his dad. “Some people have their own reasons. Their own agenda or problems”. The look on Harvey’s face showed he still didn’t understand. His mom notices and tries to cheer him up. “But… for as many people who are bad at heart and just want to hurt people, there are those who want to help. Like the Wayne’s. They are always doing charity work and helping someone. Just look at the money they gave to build that rail systems that helps everyone in Gotham get around. So don’t get down about the bad. There is always more good”. As he looks on, he realizes his mother is right. There is AS much good as there is bad....

[Society Outkast]

The next day at school, as Harvey is on his way to class, he sees the bullied kid at his locker. They catch eyes and Harvey nods his head, not really wanting to stop. He goes to his locker, soon followed by the kid. “Thanks for helping me yesterday.” He says as Harvey tries to hurry his books into his locker. “Don’t mention it” says Harvey in a soft, serious tone. “My name’s Ed. Ed Nygma” he says. “Harvey”, he mutters. Ed, sounding ecstatic, asks “Why did you run off yesterday? I was trying to tell everyone that you were the one who helped me, but everyone was cheering on like I was the hero. Now I can tell everyone who really helped me”. “NO!!” demands Harvey. “Don’t tell anyone. As far as im concerned, it was two on two. Fair. But Ed, I gotta get to class.” Harvey hurries away to his debate course, his favorite class. As he enters the class, late, he catches an open seat between two of the most popular kids in school, Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. While Bruce was more popular because he was born a millionaire, Selina was popular because she was physically all grown up in every part of her body. She could rival women twice her age in beauty. “You know Judge Dent, you can’t be late to your own courtroom.” Selina jokes. “I know”, Harvey says. “Otherwise, this team would crash and burn”. “Well what about Bruce?” Selina asks as Bruce looks over. “Cant the prince of Gotham save us?” she laughs. Bruce smiles “I’d save us as long as you would come save me from the ballet tonight. I hate ballet.” “But doesn’t your family own the theater, Bruce?” asks Harvey. “Yea, and we always have to go when they have big shows. My dad says it’s to show we care about what goes on in our city” says Bruce. “Well, at least someone does” Harvey says as he smiles.

Later that night, as Harvey is at home staring at the television watching a program on gang violence, he gets a call from Selina. “Harvey, turn on the news. QUICK!!!” she yells into the phone. As Harvey turns on the channel, he sees the flashing headline: THOMAS & MARTHA WAYNE SHOT DEAD IN ROBBERY!!! Harvey sits in shock as his mother walks in and sees the headline. “Oh God, Honey, come see this” she yells to her husband. As he comes in the room, the reported begins to comment. “That’s right Tom, I’ve been told that EMTs rushed Thomas and Martha Wayne to the hospital where they were pronounced dead about 10 minutes ago. Authorities say they were robbed and shot while leaving their newly purchased Wayne Theater. I was told their son, Bruce, was with them when this happened but appears to be unharmed. He did see the attacker and gave a description to the department’s sketch artist. Gotham Police has released this photo and asks if anyone has seen this man, please contact Gotham Police. Our prayers go out to the Wayne family as the city grieves over this heinous crime”… As the news cuts to commercial, Harvey looks at his mom as his father wanders off. As they lock eyes, they could tell that the other was thinking the same thing: Who will save Gotham now?

[Society Outkast]

Cmon guys. Can I get any comments on the first 2 chapters? I got Chapter 3 ready to put on here but I want to get comments on these first. Thanks

[iambatman]

i liked it. could use some more events in between others to make it longer. some added detail. other than that i don't have any complaints.

[Society Outkast]

i liked it. could use some more events in between others to make it longer. some added detail. other than that i don't have any complaints.

Thanks. I kinda figured the first 2 chapters would be kinda boring. But I got a good amount of events that take place after.these first 2 chapters. Plus, I dont wanna put too much and make it sound cheesy. But it does need a little more detail. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Society Outkast]

I see that alot of people are reading it but not really alot of comments. If you guys want me to put some more chapters on here, let me know. I got chapter 3 ready. Thanks.

[Greg Anderson]

Oh nice! A Harvey Dent story! :cool:

I'll get to this as soon as a can!