Author: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Riley Rossmo, Laura Braga, David Lafuente, Marco Failla, Jon Sommariya
Colorist: Ivan Plascencia, Arif Prianto, Miguel Muerto
Letterer: Deron Bennet, AndWorld Design
Publisher: DC Comics
Released: October 10, 2023
Issues: Harley Quinn #7-12, 2021 Annual
Find it on Storygraph | More DC Comics | Graphic Novels
Summary:
Harley Quinn is determined to make a solid effort to become a good person. No! More than that, she’s going to become a hero, and she’s even got Batman on her side. Sort of. Being a hero in Gotham means stepping up and taking care of the people, no matter the cost.
Naturally, this pits Harley Quinn against Hugo Strange, a villain who’s lately taken to kidnapping clowns and turning them into his new villain army. You can see why Harley might take this one a little personally.
Review:
Before I dive into my review, I just want to say that I had previously read through most of the Hugo Strange arc when the comics were first released. So most of Harley Quinn Vol. 2 isn’t new to me, and honestly, I’m tired of the Hugo arc.
The good: Harley needs allies; it’s where her stories have always shone brightest. People like Ivy and the Gang of Harleys help bring Harley back to Earth and give her a reason to care about the present. So, obviously, Kevin’s presence is critical. The same goes for the reappearance of the Gardener and Poison Ivy.
The less-stellar: I don’t like Hugo Strange as a villain, at least not in the Harley Quinn comics. On the surface, the connection should make sense, but I’m just not digging it. The whole thing feels shallow and contrived.
Side note: the first half of Harley Quinn Vol. 2 ties into the Fear State event. I’d advise reading Catwoman’s series, at least until then, if you want a better idea of what is happening.
Artwork:
The artwork in Harley Quinn Vol. 2 did a fantastic job of capturing the manic energy that Harley Quinn runs on. I cannot emphasize that fact enough. It may not be my favorite style, but it does match the character very well.
Highlights:
- Superhero Comics
- Batman Adjacent Storytelling
- Harley Quinn Chaos
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