Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Harley Quinn #27 Review

   


Written by: Stephanie Phillips
Art by: Matteo Lolli, David BaldeĆ³n
Colors by: Rain Beredo
Letters by: AndWorld Design
Cover art by: Jonboy Meyers (cover A)
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: February 28, 2023

Harley Quinn #27 ends the multiversal adventure as Harley figures out how to stop the Harley Who Laughs is to give her the one thing she needs the most - Love.
Is It Good?

Harley Quinn #27 is an odd way for Stephanie Phillips to end her run with the titular character. It's odd that there's an authenticity... almost an honesty... to Phillips' narration that says more than the story can on its own.

When last we left Harley and her wacky doppelgangers, the Harley Who Laughs held Poison Ivy at gunpoint, threatening to kill Ivy if our Harley didn't hand over the rest of the Harleys to be killed. Now, our Harley engages in many 4th-wall-breaking shenanigans (admittedly better than the abysmal She-Hulk show) to pause the action and let the readers know what will happen and how it's going to happen, and how it's all going to end.


 

Phillips steps into Harley's narration to explain that Harley needs Ivy in every universe, just as we all need love wherever we are. It's hard not to imagine Phillips is speaking from a personal perspective and uses Harley's last hoorah to open up about love and the importance of finding your soulmate.

How does it end? It doesn't matter in a series reputed as a collection of poorly-written nonsense stories.  Still, in short - The Harleys visit the Harley Who Laughs's universe to beat up the Joker goons and rescue the kidnapped Ivy Who Laughs. Hugs. Kisses. Etc, etc.

Through the last act, Phillips continues her narration to explain how she intends to finish the story, then deviate from it, and then cap it all off with a soliloquy that serves as a mix of self-aware apology and a thank you and a reasonably sweet goodbye.




On a personal note, this was an awful run for Harley Quinn. More issues have been down than up by a wide margin, but it's over. While Phillips bears the responsibility for how badly this run turned out, reading Phillips's self-aware commentary over her mistakes in this run at least suggests there's hope.

Good luck, Stephanie Phillips. May you find a better fit in the future.

Now, on to Tini Howard. Oy!

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Bits and Pieces:

Harley Quinn #27 ends the series as it began - with contrived, nonsensical shenanigans. However, Phillips steps into Harley's narration to deliver a sincere message about love, express an odd self-awareness over her mistakes in this run, and cap the finale with a heartfelt goodbye.

6.5/10

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