Harley Quinn Annual #1 Review

Written by: Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
Art by: John Timms
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 29, 2014

Do You have the Rub 'N Smell?  It'd be alot cooler if You did

A little note before I get into my review. I get my books digitally and no matter how hard I rub my laptop's screen, the only thing I'm smelling is the chicken wing sauce I just smudged on it.  Luckily, even though the smells are designed to "Offend, Inform and Amuse", the issue is strong enough to work on it's own without resorting to gimmicks, even if it is a pretty cool one.

Harley Quinn is nothing but fun.  Laugh out loud, piss your pants fun...if that sort of thing is indeed fun.  Seriously, Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti have given fans of fun a place to meet twice a month and now they get an Annual that might be crazier than the regular book if that is possible.  They also get a large amount of artists and a story that may be a bit overlong, but when all is said and done, this issue is a winner.  

This Annual is all about a Harley and Poison Ivy "teamup" and some drug fueled dream sequences that are as crazy as they are hilarious.  The Poison Ivy bit starts from the get go as Harley get thrown in an Arkham cell and tells the reader how she got there. It all started with a phone call.

Poison Ivy is in big trouble for a little eco-terrorism and Harley is off to rescue her.  Of course, Harley doesn't get to Arkham without a few "distractions" and even when she arrives, things are a bit crazy.  Ivy doesn't remember her (even after a nice big kiss) and Harley goes a bit nuts.  When she lays some sweet chin music on a container of Cannibisylocibe 7-A, things go from regular Harley crazy to Scatman Crothers riding bikes with Einstein, dodging salamis crazy.  The rest of the issue is so much fun even if the whole thing seems like a cheap way to get the obligatory ton of artists in the book.  When all the drug filled madness is over, we are left with a few new characters moving into the apartment and hopefully the regular book.  If it turns out they aren't, I will be so upset. 

This issue has the same "highs" and lows of the regular run.  It's so much fun, the pacing is great, but the overall story is lite on any real substance.  Again, that is not a big deal for me because I love it for the zany fun, but if you are looking for a story that's thought provoking and meaningful, you may be let down.

Like I mentioned before, there were a ton of artists on this book.  John Timms was the main artists and like his guest spots on the regular book does a real good job.  The other artists are good as well and the hallucination storyline makes the transitions make more sense than usual.

Bits and Pieces:

Harley Quinn Annual #1 was pretty much what fans would expect...a zany, fun adventure with tons of jokes and the added bonus of the rub 'n smell gimmick thrown in for good measure.  Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti continue making this book the place to go for a good time and the art team lead by John Timms does a great job.   I hope the two guest stars stick around for the regular run because they both bring so much more fun to the book and I want more.  I guess we'll have to wait and see.  Smell ya later.

8.5/10