Written by Katana Collins
Art by Matteo Scalera
Published by DC Comics
Buy it Digitally from comiXology
Ever wonder why Harley Quinn calls The Joker “Puddin?”
Katana Collins answers that question amid the investigation that comes off as a ‘day in the life’ tale.
It sounds bland for a White Knight comic book, but Collins makes it work.
Harley goes on her first official investigation for the GTO to find The Producer, Gotham’s first murder in years. Harley kicks up some rocks in her old hideout, where danger turns into a spot of tea.
Harley discovers a significant lead, but it kind of backfires since she’s working in a legal capacity.
We meet a new character in FBI agent Hector Quimby who is fascinated with Harley’s work with The Joker. Notably, a paper she published while in medical school chronicling Jack Napier’s personality disorder. Harley hates talking about the paper because she feels it’s what caused Napier to go insane.
Quimby seems like a nice person and acknowledges Harley’s pain. However, the jury is out on whether Quimby’s interests are professional or fanboy-ish.
Matteo Scalera is the MVP of this issue as excellent character work exudes a classic storybook romance during the good times and painful tragedy during the bad times.
In the present, Harley is still trying to get the mom thing down. She sees no problem bringing her pet hyenas to the park. Scalera’s one-page illustration of Harley’s kids wrestling with the hyenas while the other kids run away in fear is priceless. Harley is oblivious to the other moms in the park, staring daggers at her while discussing the case.
Collins puts Harley’s lack of interpersonal skills on display to highlight how damaged she is from the main White Knight storyline. It’s easy for Harley to talk about the bad stuff, but the good stuff is tough to discuss. Memories of days gone by have made her tough as nails, but she’s missing that tender touch. Perhaps, she needs the right person to bring that out of her, which could be Quimby, if things go well.
The investigation into The Producer takes a backseat to Harley’s personal story until the very end, where a nice callback to Batman: The Animated Series becomes the killer’s latest victim.
Two issues in, Collins and Scalera have created a series that feels like it shouldn’t work, only for it to perform exceptionally well.
Rating: B
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