Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Harley Quinn #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti
Art By: Chad Hardin
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 18, 2013



New Home Same Crazy


We here are with the first issue after that breaking the fourth wall extravaganza we had with issue 0.  But don't think you'll be getting that here, no.  Here we have a kooky straight forward story, showing us the day to day life of super criminal extraordinaire Harley Quinn, as she tries to get settled in a new area, and new home.  Let's see how she does.

Explain It!:

Harley and her stuffed beaver make their way to Coney Island, to see what property was left to her from one of her patients from Arkham.  Now you might be used to the dark, Suicide Squad Harley that we've seen since the beginning of the New 52, but if your looking for that Harley you won't find her here.  This is a more cartoony, lighthearted Harley.  Don't get me wrong the violence, and the craziness is still there, only in a more zany kind of way.

So Harley has packed her bags and tied them to the back of her motorcycle, in a huge comical bundle, and is making her way to her new home.  But what she doesn't know is that a hit has been put out on her, and someone looking to collect is following close behind.  But that's no match for Harley, especially Harley with a over sized mallet.  She knocks the guy off his bike, then knocks his head off his shoulders.  See zany!

When Harley finally reaches her destination she finds that the property is a freak show, and it also rents out to certain people with physical ailments.  Well to put it bluntly, the tenants are the circus freaks that work the business.  One of the tenants is Big Tony, a Italian midget with a tendency to call Harley, Peaches.  Tony shows the building to Harley, and takes her to the top floor which will be her living area.  But there's a snag.  With everything she makes from the business, and the tenants, she still needs more money to afford the property.  So it's job hunting time for Harley.  You'd think with her past endeavors, she'd knock off a bank, or a jewelry store, but no Harley's going legit.

First off she goes to a private hospital, and tries to put her psychology degree to work, but with no real answer to whether the job is hers she tries another area of employment; the roller derby.  Killing the competition in the tryouts, thankfully not literally, Harley gets the job, and plans on working at both jobs if she gets the hospital gig.

In the end, after a long day of interviews, Harley lays on the roof, basking in the moonlight.  But her night plans are ruined, when another assassin tries to make good on the contract.  Luckily Big Tony was there either peeping on Harley in a bathing suit, or just coming up to say hi, because before the assassin can strike he puts a bunch of bullets through her, saving Harley's life.  Now Harley knows whats up, since the killer hand a reward poster in her pocket, I guess life just got a little more interesting for our favorite nut job.

Bits and Pieces:

This title is very strange, and I think I'm going to have to read a few more issues to get the real feel of it.  In a DCU that is filled with dark, miserable characters, this is certainly contrast.  A funny book to brighten your day from your melancholy heroes.  Chad Hardin's artwork is truly a sight to be seen, and compliments Harley beautifully, and even if you can't get behind the book yet, it is worth the price to simply look at the pictures.  So get this weird title, and enjoy the zany fun.

7/10


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