Harley Quinn is a fun character, totally insane yes, madly in love with Joker, oh yes!

This short comic gives us the back story of her meeting Poison Ivy, Joker and Batman. It’s a fun short read how totally dedicated she is to Joker, how she will do anything for him. Breaking him out of the Arkham Asylum, fixing him a hiding place and taking sweet revenge on him when he tries to get rid of her (because he is the Joker of course he doesn’t do relationship and stuff so well)
Why only 3 stars? Well, it was entertaining to read, but not that special, I just didn’t go wow after I was finished.  I think it’s mostly because I already read Mad Love that also explains Harley Quinn’s back story and although I love back stories, one is often enough.
The writing style was ok, loving the cover btw!    ( )

The introduction of Harley Quinn is a quick, fun read. Harley matches the Joker for insanity, and the technicolour campness of the villains is a nice counterpoint to Batman's brooding, almost humourless, determination. The writing is workmanlike, and the art good if not spectacular; bright and energetic with the focus - as it should be - on Harley, who is cute-sexy and mad as a blue fish, the ultimate nightmare crazy girlfriend. ( )

Harley Quinn is a fun character, totally insane yes, madly in love with Joker, oh yes!

This short comic gives us the back story of her meeting Poison Ivy, Joker and Batman. It’s a fun short read how totally dedicated she is to Joker, how she will do anything for him. Breaking him out of the Arkham Asylum, fixing him a hiding place and taking sweet revenge on him when he tries to get rid of her (because he is the Joker of course he doesn’t do relationship and stuff so well)
Why only 3 stars? Well, it was entertaining to read, but not that special, I just didn’t go wow after I was finished.  I think it’s mostly because I already read Mad Love that also explains Harley Quinn’s back story and although I love back stories, one is often enough.
The writing style was ok, loving the cover btw!    ( )

I have always been fascinated by Harley Quinn. I have seen plenty of cosplay in her likeness and snippets of comics with her and information about her on my Tumblr dash. I wasn't sure where to start to become more familiar with her story and character but when I saw this little anthology in a comic book store in Los Angeles on my vacation I decided it was as good a place as any.

It's a good introduction for sure with the first issue the aftermath of the Joker trying to blow her up and how she got her powers from a concoction by Poison Ivy. I had a few favorite issues in the book. I enjoyed the issue where Poison Ivy bets Harley Quinn she can get a kiss from every single guard and patient in the asylum. I really enjoyed the issue where Harley Quinn is attempting to reform herself and is staying at a women's empowerment center meditating and enjoying healing magic whirlpools.

As someone not familiar with Harley Quinn or the Batman comics in general - since I've seen the movies but not yet gotten deep into the comics - I learned a few things. I learned that Harley Quinn is not, as one might assume as they brace for disappointment, simply the companion of the Joker. She is very much her own character who at times shows surprising self-awareness. I loved her relationship with Poison Ivy and how they're basically best friends. I learned that Harley got out of a bad family situation with her smarts and was so intelligent that she had her choice of jobs after she graduated medical school. I love the weird insanity of her wanting a challenge and how she walked the line between inmate and staff member before finally going overboard and falling in love with the Joker.

In general, I loved seeing all of the Batman villains. Both ones that I'm familiar with and ones I've never heard of before. I love seeing how some of the villains when through periods of being 'rehabilitated' before turning back to crime. I found the comic a lot less cheesy than some comics that I've read though that might just be because Harley Quinn was aware of her puns and they fit her character and persona so well.

I'm sure a lot of people have written about and talked about their takes on Harley Quinn but I like at the end of the anthology there's an issue about her post- Suicide Squad basically talking about herself and how she is a collection of all of her history. How the old her is in there still somewhere and useful for certain things and talking about ideas of freedom and rules.

This book was very entertaining and it made me really want more. More Harley Quinn, more Joker, more Poison Ivy, more Batman. Just more everything and I will be seeking out additional comics about these characters now that I've had a little introduction. ( )

A fun Harley comic, her origin story, set sometime during the Batman: Cataclysm/No Man's Land storyline (after No Man's Land Vol. 1 at least.) Not meaty, light and fun, good for fans. ( )