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thespinnychair's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
unladylike's review
4.0
(Note that this reviews a 2015 collection that has ~200 pages, rather than the older version with a mere 45 pages)
This was a pretty solid and endearing look at Harley's comics representations over the years, starting with her first feature appearance (outside Batman the Animated Series), where Poison Ivy rescues her from the rubble after Joker has attempted to blow Harley up. This opening sequence highlights two very important things:
1. Ivy & HQ's relationship was canon from the beginning. "Red" immediately shows genuine concern for Harleen's desire to go back to her abuser, offers both the tenderness and strength that can be seen in their later romantic and sexual relationship.
2. In order for Harley to be in close proximity to Poison Ivy, she is given a serum that grant her immunity to the many plant toxins exuding from Ivy, *as well as quasi-superpowers*. That's right, somehow, over the years, I had never seen or noticed a good explanation of Harley Quinn's enhanced strength, speed, and agility. It's not just that she's a carefree cartoon character! Her future girlfriend gave her a booster way back when!
Thankfully, we don't have to see Joker throughout much of this collection. Sure, he's there in the shadows, and often serves as a motivation or narrator, but this book is about what Harley Quinn does when he's not in the same room, giving her googly-eyes.
The final issue was the most disappointing and cringe-worthy. I'm sad to say it was Matt Kindt (solo creator of the nearly flawless Dark Horse series Mind MGMT) who wrote Detective Comics 23.2, which occurs during that awful month or two where the villains take over all the DC comics in absence of the heroes or some rubbish like that. Here we see the revised Harley Quinn, shaped by the recent success of Batman: Arkham video games, with a much more sexualized character design. We also see some of the more graphic and triggering depictions of Joker forcibly kissing her and throwing her into a vat of acid (which the brand new Suicide Squad flick apparently lifted, much to the dismay of loyal HQ fans everywhere who hate seeing her agency taken away).
This was a pretty solid and endearing look at Harley's comics representations over the years, starting with her first feature appearance (outside Batman the Animated Series), where Poison Ivy rescues her from the rubble after Joker has attempted to blow Harley up. This opening sequence highlights two very important things:
1. Ivy & HQ's relationship was canon from the beginning. "Red" immediately shows genuine concern for Harleen's desire to go back to her abuser, offers both the tenderness and strength that can be seen in their later romantic and sexual relationship.
2. In order for Harley to be in close proximity to Poison Ivy, she is given a serum that grant her immunity to the many plant toxins exuding from Ivy, *as well as quasi-superpowers*. That's right, somehow, over the years, I had never seen or noticed a good explanation of Harley Quinn's enhanced strength, speed, and agility. It's not just that she's a carefree cartoon character! Her future girlfriend gave her a booster way back when!
Thankfully, we don't have to see Joker throughout much of this collection. Sure, he's there in the shadows, and often serves as a motivation or narrator, but this book is about what Harley Quinn does when he's not in the same room, giving her googly-eyes.
The final issue was the most disappointing and cringe-worthy. I'm sad to say it was Matt Kindt (solo creator of the nearly flawless Dark Horse series Mind MGMT) who wrote Detective Comics 23.2, which occurs during that awful month or two where the villains take over all the DC comics in absence of the heroes or some rubbish like that. Here we see the revised Harley Quinn, shaped by the recent success of Batman: Arkham video games, with a much more sexualized character design. We also see some of the more graphic and triggering depictions of Joker forcibly kissing her and throwing her into a vat of acid (which the brand new Suicide Squad flick apparently lifted, much to the dismay of loyal HQ fans everywhere who hate seeing her agency taken away).
tinynavajo's review
4.0
Harley Quinn
A girl after my own heart….well, mostly. Harley Quinn is one of my favorite DC characters and this anthology gives a bit more insight into who she is and who she was as Harleen.
A girl after my own heart….well, mostly. Harley Quinn is one of my favorite DC characters and this anthology gives a bit more insight into who she is and who she was as Harleen.
ogreart's review
5.0
This was a lot of fun. There were many different takes on the character. I have read graphic novels featuring her before, but after reading this one I feel I know the character better than ever.
antisxcialreader's review
3.0
I wanted to know more about Harley Quinn, so after doing some research on Internet I decided to start with this one-shot: it was a good way to get to know Harley's character.
belle_fiction's review
5.0
What can I say except...WOW!
This book was a real tour de force inside the lovable jester's chaotic mind and focuses on Harley Quinn as the protagonist. Trust me, this gal can really hold her own - she doesn't need her puddin' to ensure she's centre stage.
With her gal pal, Poison Ivy, the two of them wreak comical havoc wherever they go, resulting in one huge headache for The Dark Knight.
As with all of Harley Quinn's stories, these are fast-paced, full of humour and guaranteed to rouse a smile on even the grumpiest faces!
My favourites include 'Harley Quinn', 'The Bet', 'The Punchline' (which has no dialogue), 'Honor Among Thieves' 'Justice is Served' and 'Role Models', and goes to show that if you love all things HQ - this is a MUST READ and can be dipped into time and time again.
This book was a real tour de force inside the lovable jester's chaotic mind and focuses on Harley Quinn as the protagonist. Trust me, this gal can really hold her own - she doesn't need her puddin' to ensure she's centre stage.
With her gal pal, Poison Ivy, the two of them wreak comical havoc wherever they go, resulting in one huge headache for The Dark Knight.
As with all of Harley Quinn's stories, these are fast-paced, full of humour and guaranteed to rouse a smile on even the grumpiest faces!
My favourites include 'Harley Quinn', 'The Bet', 'The Punchline' (which has no dialogue), 'Honor Among Thieves' 'Justice is Served' and 'Role Models', and goes to show that if you love all things HQ - this is a MUST READ and can be dipped into time and time again.
thursday48's review
3.0
This is just a hodge podge of shorts that center around Harley. It's fun but nothing to write home about.
rdyourbookcase's review
1.0
I thought this was going to be the trade of an arc surrounding Harley Quinn, but really it was just a bunch of issues with her in it. I’m not a big enough Batman fan to read a bunch of random comics all at once. So I quit reading about half way though. I’m sure Batman fans will enjoy it, but it was too much at once for me.
bibliotecadepueblo's review
4.0
Este one-shot nos presenta la que es la primera aparición canon de Harley. Ahora sí.
En serio, Harley Quinn es uno de los mejores personajes que ha dado el universo DC. Divertida y loca a partes iguales, leer sus historias es siempre sinónimo de pasarlo bien.
Además el dibujo tiene un encanto especial. ¡Ojo! Me encanta el dibujo de muchos de los cómics más actuales de Harley, pero no se puede negar que la etapa de los 90 tenía un algo.
The peacekeepers hide in the madhouse while the lunatics rule the streets.
En serio, Harley Quinn es uno de los mejores personajes que ha dado el universo DC. Divertida y loca a partes iguales, leer sus historias es siempre sinónimo de pasarlo bien.
Además el dibujo tiene un encanto especial. ¡Ojo! Me encanta el dibujo de muchos de los cómics más actuales de Harley, pero no se puede negar que la etapa de los 90 tenía un algo.
The peacekeepers hide in the madhouse while the lunatics rule the streets.