Harley Quinn: Black + White + Redder #2 // Review
Harley has taken her work home with her...just like her girlfriend Ivy specifically told her to do. (Or maybe she told her NOT to do that. Yeah--that would make a lot more sense. ) Anyway...her work is a powerful stage magician superhero named Zatanna. Harley has a special request for her in Harley Quinn: Black + White + Redder #2. Writer Kelly Thompson tells a cleverly amusing story wittily drawn to the page by Annie Wu. Also, in this anthology issue, a pet-based comedy by writer Ro Stein and artist Ted Brandt and Harley have a sit-down conversation with Jim Gordon in a story by writer Ryan Parrott and artist Luana Vecchio. All of this and Harley’s favorite type of pie make it into another issue of a thoroughly enjoyable three-color anthology.
Harley wants Zatanna to give her Batman’s origin story. Zatanna is reluctant, but Harley is serious: she doesn’t want to have the Joker anywhere in her past and feels like Batman’s origin would be better. When that doesn’t work out, she tries a few more. Elsewhere, Harley challenges the League of Super-Pets with the Legion of Doominals. And finally...Harley is handcuffed at a diner, waiting for the police with Commissioner Gordon. There’s a reason why she’s there that might not be obvious to someone who isn’t listening.
Thompson is great fun with any script. The simple idea of crossing Harley with Batman at her request is much more fun than it sounds. As are the rest of the transformations in a story that’s rendered with some of the funniest writing on the comics rack this month. Stein’s contribution makes an endearing impression simply by presenting supervillain animals. The Squiddler? Barkseid? Funny stuff. Parrott closes out the issue with a sweet, little dramatic exploration into the deeper aspects of Harley’s personality.
Wu’s art has a stylish, free-from sense of whimsy that bursts off the page in clever angles with remarkably crisp bits of characterization in both posture and expressions. Wu doesn’t stop there...she emotes with the entire panel. Brandy gives each of the Doominals its distinct personality...making for a visually sharp Laff-A-Lympics-style excursion with some cutely humorous animals. Barkseid makes a distinctly powerful impression on the page. Vecchio closes-out the issue with a touchingly nuanced portrayal of the young clown girl in cuffs talking to a man she clearly respects. Sharp work is done there that adds visual depth to Harley’s emotions.
Once again, an anthology issue proves that you only need three colors and three stories to fill a fully satisfying comic between the covers. Harley’s personality works well in bite-sized jokes, even if they have no coherent punchline. She’s a lawless person who makes three stories come to life even if she isn’t the center of every level in the issue.
