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asparkofc's review against another edition
5.0
I adored this one. It was super fun and easy to read, while it got serious in the right places.
emmaj_xo's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-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? No
4.0
Perhaps the best of the DC YA line of books. Great entry point for young readers who want to get into comics, and introduces them to social issues in an accessible way. Love the art and the pops of colour throughout. Great cast of original characters and this young socially conscious Ivy is so spot-on to her character. Loved it.
leonix's review against another edition
4.0
4.5. Such a fun book. Loved the story, the side characters and the art is superb. It brings out the fun and wild sides of Harley Quinn to a YA audience without losing the spark of the character. Just a little bit heavy handed on some dialogue, but nothing cringe worthy. Great graphic novel and I totally recommend to Harley fans.
endpaper's review against another edition
This book was not for me. Beautiful art though.
darkandsteamylit's review against another edition
4.0
Only took a month to finish....
That is in no way because it wasn’t good, I really enjoyed it.
The art is absolutely amazing and the story had so many fun and great messages! The only thing I just wish there was a relationship between Harley and Bruce... you’ll know why once you read it.
I was a little disappointed with the Joker or at least who the Joker was, but other than that it was a fun goofy read!
That is in no way because it wasn’t good, I really enjoyed it.
The art is absolutely amazing and the story had so many fun and great messages! The only thing I just wish there was a relationship between Harley and Bruce... you’ll know why once you read it.
I was a little disappointed with the Joker or at least who the Joker was, but other than that it was a fun goofy read!
kelleemoye's review against another edition
Finished reading the ALA preview from the publisher and Netgalley, and I AM INTRIGUED! What they shared is just the exposition, so I’m not sure of the main conflict yet, but I love the characters and the set up.
renees's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I bought it for my 11 year old daughter and read it after her at her insistence. It's great as a YA book - the drag queens are a wonderful introduction to a well-rounded, diverse world view while keeping the tone light and as an adult, some of the other issues that are touched on - feminism, gentrification - feel a bit heavy-handed but are just right for tweens.
perilous1's review against another edition
2.0
At least one whole star is just for the artwork, which Steve Pugh does a really decent job of--with a striking, moody use of varied duo-chromatics, consistent characterization, and effective emotional conveyance.
The story itself? Sadly did nothing for me. But then again, I'm clearly not the intended audience...
Here we have an alternate-universe variant on the Harley Quinn origin story.
VERY alternate.
So much so, I can't see any pre-existing Harley fans being happy about this reinvention. So I presume the target audience are in the middle grade range, and completely unfamiliar with the Harley/Joker mythos and dynamic. (Which makes some sense, at least. That pair and their famously dysfunctional relationship aren't well suited for the PG crowd.) I don't know if the intention was to re-write and "update" the character to suit the current social climate, or jump on the DC movie bandwagon and act as a gateway to pull the younger generation into other parts of the DC universe. Either way... it smacks of cash-grab.
In this universe, Harley as a 15-year-old is some kind of manic pixie dream girl. (Although, she behaves and sounds a lot younger than 15. Not just verbally, but mentally/internally.) She's perky, erratic, and painfully naïve--daft, even. Which is apparently related to the fact that she grew up in a trailer park? *cringe* In her, readers will find no sign of the makings for the brilliant future psychologist of DC lore. None of the nuanced sometimes-villainess, sometimes-anti-heroine with so much potential. Add to that, the twist is predictable and the Joker's depiction is... weirdly aimless and bland.
What this book seems to spend most of its energy on instead is checking a lot of political and social-issue boxes. It crams in so many, none are really done much justice. You end up with a bunch of stereotype-reinforcement and ham-fisted soap-boxing. Which... to my mind... doesn't give young readers enough credit for intelligence.
I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed. :(
The story itself? Sadly did nothing for me. But then again, I'm clearly not the intended audience...
Here we have an alternate-universe variant on the Harley Quinn origin story.
VERY alternate.
So much so, I can't see any pre-existing Harley fans being happy about this reinvention. So I presume the target audience are in the middle grade range, and completely unfamiliar with the Harley/Joker mythos and dynamic. (Which makes some sense, at least. That pair and their famously dysfunctional relationship aren't well suited for the PG crowd.) I don't know if the intention was to re-write and "update" the character to suit the current social climate, or jump on the DC movie bandwagon and act as a gateway to pull the younger generation into other parts of the DC universe. Either way... it smacks of cash-grab.
In this universe, Harley as a 15-year-old is some kind of manic pixie dream girl. (Although, she behaves and sounds a lot younger than 15. Not just verbally, but mentally/internally.) She's perky, erratic, and painfully naïve--daft, even. Which is apparently related to the fact that she grew up in a trailer park? *cringe* In her, readers will find no sign of the makings for the brilliant future psychologist of DC lore. None of the nuanced sometimes-villainess, sometimes-anti-heroine with so much potential. Add to that, the twist is predictable and the Joker's depiction is... weirdly aimless and bland.
What this book seems to spend most of its energy on instead is checking a lot of political and social-issue boxes. It crams in so many, none are really done much justice. You end up with a bunch of stereotype-reinforcement and ham-fisted soap-boxing. Which... to my mind... doesn't give young readers enough credit for intelligence.
I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed. :(