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readerette's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The art is gorgeous. I need to find more illustrated by Steve Pugh. The art is 5+ stars; the story is 3-. Predictable twist and slim plot, but I think the point was more Harley Quinn learning about herself and the author having a platform for her views on race and class than providing a clever story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism and Racism
Minor: Cursing
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
OMG, Squeeeee! Haaarrrrlleey!
I will try to write a review, sorry if it is a bit chaotic.
I am a GIANT fan of Harley Quinn, there are a lot of stories about, lots of origin stories. Ones she was normal until the Joker popped up, ones in which she was batshit from the start, ones she was mostly normal/still crazy inside. I am always impressed with what things people come up with. I love how in some stories Harley loves Joker (and I guess he her), in some stories (as this one) she is unsure and hates him, in some stories they band together but nothing more.
My girl Harley is back and kickass in this new story about her. This time she is a teen who has moved to Gotham City to live with her Grandma, but finds out her grandma died. She can stay in the home as her grandma paid the rent for the apartment. Harley is now under the care of a drag queen named Mama.
And in this one though she is pretty bonkers, in the way she walks and talks, in the way she thinks. I have to say at times I was a tad annoyed with her, because it made her look like she was way younger than she actually is. But with each passing page I did see a kick-ass and intelligent girl who is caring and sweet beneath the whole bonkerness. Though don't cross her or the ones she cares about because this Harley will seriously set your motorcycle in flames if you dare to say crap.
We see her daily life at school, meet Ivy (EEEEEPPP!), see them become friends though they are so very different. Ivy is serious, Harley likes to mostly play around, but still these two have an intense bond and I was delighted. I was definitely hoping for a bit more, as I have seen enough Harley x Ivy art wandering around. ;) I also loved seeing the drag queens and the evenings that Harley spends with them.
I was delighted that we also saw some of her past. See her mom, see how Harley got in trouble A LOT of time, and yet her mom was seemingly always patient with her.
I loved seeing her pick up a baseball bat (in lieu of a sword and a crusade) and try to fix things. It is here that she meets with Joker. A guy who is proclaiming that he has big plans to bring down the corporations. Especially Kane. I loved this Joker. Really. He was brutal, mean, he had all the makings of a Joker. However, I knew right from the bat who this guy was. Who was hiding behind the mask. I am not sure if it was meant to be this simple or not, but it was a bit of a shame. I had hoped for a bit more mystery about him.
Things escalate as the story continues and we see Harley get more desperate and more willing to kick some serious corporate butt. Or well, I am not sure if she even knows what Joker's plans are, but she hears fire and destruction and I guess that is enough for her.
The ending was just HOLY crap wow, though I did feel sorry for Harley. Poor girl. Then again, with her records it wasn't a surprise, and it shouldn't be a surprise for her. But this is Harley Quinn, so I had quite a big grin at seeing what she was up to in that place. And what she did afterwards, oh my, this girl is on a mission. Joker run, run so so hard, because Harley will find you.
And there is someone that pops up near the end. Someone who has, from what I am guessing, been watching Harley for some time. Oh my.
Oh, and I love how Harley at times breaks fourth wall. That is something that I adore about her, and something I have seen happen in other stories about her as well (like DC Superhero Girls).
The art. OMG the art, it was just WOW and STUNNING and OMG and HOLY CRAP. And yes, all these words need to be in capslock because it is just that AMAZING. I loved seeing Harley in this art. I loved seeing the other characters. The backgrounds. WOW.
I read this one in ebook but I am so going to be buying the paperback as well as I need this one on my shelves. Highly recommended.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I will try to write a review, sorry if it is a bit chaotic.
I am a GIANT fan of Harley Quinn, there are a lot of stories about, lots of origin stories. Ones she was normal until the Joker popped up, ones in which she was batshit from the start, ones she was mostly normal/still crazy inside. I am always impressed with what things people come up with. I love how in some stories Harley loves Joker (and I guess he her), in some stories (as this one) she is unsure and hates him, in some stories they band together but nothing more.
My girl Harley is back and kickass in this new story about her. This time she is a teen who has moved to Gotham City to live with her Grandma, but finds out her grandma died. She can stay in the home as her grandma paid the rent for the apartment. Harley is now under the care of a drag queen named Mama.
And in this one though she is pretty bonkers, in the way she walks and talks, in the way she thinks. I have to say at times I was a tad annoyed with her, because it made her look like she was way younger than she actually is. But with each passing page I did see a kick-ass and intelligent girl who is caring and sweet beneath the whole bonkerness. Though don't cross her or the ones she cares about because this Harley will seriously set your motorcycle in flames if you dare to say crap.
We see her daily life at school, meet Ivy (EEEEEPPP!), see them become friends though they are so very different. Ivy is serious, Harley likes to mostly play around, but still these two have an intense bond and I was delighted. I was definitely hoping for a bit more, as I have seen enough Harley x Ivy art wandering around. ;) I also loved seeing the drag queens and the evenings that Harley spends with them.
I was delighted that we also saw some of her past. See her mom, see how Harley got in trouble A LOT of time, and yet her mom was seemingly always patient with her.
I loved seeing her pick up a baseball bat (in lieu of a sword and a crusade) and try to fix things. It is here that she meets with Joker. A guy who is proclaiming that he has big plans to bring down the corporations. Especially Kane. I loved this Joker. Really. He was brutal, mean, he had all the makings of a Joker. However, I knew right from the bat who this guy was. Who was hiding behind the mask. I am not sure if it was meant to be this simple or not, but it was a bit of a shame. I had hoped for a bit more mystery about him.
Things escalate as the story continues and we see Harley get more desperate and more willing to kick some serious corporate butt. Or well, I am not sure if she even knows what Joker's plans are, but she hears fire and destruction and I guess that is enough for her.
The ending was just HOLY crap wow, though I did feel sorry for Harley. Poor girl. Then again, with her records it wasn't a surprise, and it shouldn't be a surprise for her. But this is Harley Quinn, so I had quite a big grin at seeing what she was up to in that place. And what she did afterwards, oh my, this girl is on a mission. Joker run, run so so hard, because Harley will find you.
And there is someone that pops up near the end. Someone who has, from what I am guessing, been watching Harley for some time. Oh my.
Oh, and I love how Harley at times breaks fourth wall. That is something that I adore about her, and something I have seen happen in other stories about her as well (like DC Superhero Girls).
The art. OMG the art, it was just WOW and STUNNING and OMG and HOLY CRAP. And yes, all these words need to be in capslock because it is just that AMAZING. I loved seeing Harley in this art. I loved seeing the other characters. The backgrounds. WOW.
I read this one in ebook but I am so going to be buying the paperback as well as I need this one on my shelves. Highly recommended.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
rosiereading's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ellytheskelly's review against another edition
1.0
I've really enjoyed everything else I've read from Mariko Tamaki, so I had high hopes after picking this one up. Obviously, I was left very disappointed.
First off, I'm not a huge comics person. However, I will always make space to read comics with cool female leads, and I was absolutely willing to add Harley Quinn to my short list of comics I read and enjoy.
I am not big into DC or Batman, but I still felt really insulted by the way that Harley is molded into a manic pixie dream girl, thinking of things in absolutes, not caring at all about school, her studies, or even learning anything at all. She also sits on her hands and doesn't care when her friend is clearly being disrespected just because she is black. ( and that thread never gets addressed again? why? why include it at that point?) I've always had a lingering curiosity about Harley because she was known as super smart and intelligent, and just as powerful as the men surrounding her. But here, she just seems really ditzy? I don't see what it does for her story to make her so oblivious and uncaring about some things but when it comes to gentrification, that's when she cares all of a sudden, for real?
This is an easy skip, if you want to read Mariko Tamaki's work read Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me or This One Summer.
First off, I'm not a huge comics person. However, I will always make space to read comics with cool female leads, and I was absolutely willing to add Harley Quinn to my short list of comics I read and enjoy.
I am not big into DC or Batman, but I still felt really insulted by the way that Harley is molded into a manic pixie dream girl, thinking of things in absolutes, not caring at all about school, her studies, or even learning anything at all. She also sits on her hands and doesn't care when her friend is clearly being disrespected just because she is black. ( and that thread never gets addressed again? why? why include it at that point?) I've always had a lingering curiosity about Harley because she was known as super smart and intelligent, and just as powerful as the men surrounding her. But here, she just seems really ditzy? I don't see what it does for her story to make her so oblivious and uncaring about some things but when it comes to gentrification, that's when she cares all of a sudden, for real?
This is an easy skip, if you want to read Mariko Tamaki's work read Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me or This One Summer.
celtic_oracle's review against another edition
4.0
The characterizations were true, and oh, the art! Recommended.
historybowler's review against another edition
3.0
Probably closer to 3 1/2 stars. The art is so striking.
kathran's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fun fun fun perfect comic awesomeness!
labunnywtf's review against another edition
3.0
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review
Man, this seemed like such a good idea.
Take Harley Quinn, everyone's favorite lovable psychopath, and send her back to her high school days. There, she meets Ivy, a vegetarian fighting for human rights, and John Kane, a rich asshole who desperately needs a mallet to the face. Harley lives with drag queens and eats nothing but chocolate and peanut butter bars. She's the perfect YA unvillain.
As the book spells out for you, this is basically a fairy tale retelling, without the fairy tale part.
This seems like SUCH a good idea. But there's a problem.
Harley's brand of psychotic is not meant for YA. She's utterly and completely damaged, and while in her solo comics she's lovably so, that doesn't work in this arena.
Props to Tamaki for not making the relationship between Harley and the Joker into a romance, but we were tilting towards that direction before she self corrected, and I'll take it.
I don't know if this is going to be a one off, but I really hope so. Leave Harley to the adults. Let kids find it on their own, without dumbing it down. Even if it is done with beautiful art.
Man, this seemed like such a good idea.
Take Harley Quinn, everyone's favorite lovable psychopath, and send her back to her high school days. There, she meets Ivy, a vegetarian fighting for human rights, and John Kane, a rich asshole who desperately needs a mallet to the face. Harley lives with drag queens and eats nothing but chocolate and peanut butter bars. She's the perfect YA unvillain.
As the book spells out for you, this is basically a fairy tale retelling, without the fairy tale part.
This seems like SUCH a good idea. But there's a problem.
Harley's brand of psychotic is not meant for YA. She's utterly and completely damaged, and while in her solo comics she's lovably so, that doesn't work in this arena.
Props to Tamaki for not making the relationship between Harley and the Joker into a romance, but we were tilting towards that direction before she self corrected, and I'll take it.
I don't know if this is going to be a one off, but I really hope so. Leave Harley to the adults. Let kids find it on their own, without dumbing it down. Even if it is done with beautiful art.
geekwayne's review against another edition
5.0
'Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass' by Mariko Tamaki with art by Steve Pugh is part of the DC Ink line of reimagined graphic novels for young adults. This is the best of the series so far in content and scope.
Harleen Quinn's mother sends her off to her grandmother's house to live when she gets a new job. Harleen has $5 in her pocket and discovers that her grandmother has been deceased for quite a few months. She is taken in by Queen, a large cross-dresser. Harleen starts school and makes friends with Ivy, a girl who likes plants. Harleen finds out that a program of gentrification is happening in the neighborhood and her friends' lives may be forced to change.
I really loved this story and art. The character feels like the one I know. There are some other characters in different forms in this. I loved this version of Harley more than others I've read. The art by Steve Pugh is so good. I kept just looking at the way he composed pages.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Ink and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Harleen Quinn's mother sends her off to her grandmother's house to live when she gets a new job. Harleen has $5 in her pocket and discovers that her grandmother has been deceased for quite a few months. She is taken in by Queen, a large cross-dresser. Harleen starts school and makes friends with Ivy, a girl who likes plants. Harleen finds out that a program of gentrification is happening in the neighborhood and her friends' lives may be forced to change.
I really loved this story and art. The character feels like the one I know. There are some other characters in different forms in this. I loved this version of Harley more than others I've read. The art by Steve Pugh is so good. I kept just looking at the way he composed pages.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Ink and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.