HARLEY QUINN VOL. 2: JOKER LOVES HARLEY (REBIRTH) by Amanda
Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti is the most cohesive collection
of Harley stories I've read so far. The bulk of this book
deals with Harley's emotional state after the last few
books. With her BFF Poison Ivy away, Harley wears her
loneliness like a shroud and battles some lingering demons.
Harley's gang, friends, and Red Tool brighten her day and
add some humor to all the supervillain angst.
After her major violent and cathartic dustup with the Joker
in HARLEY QUINN VOL. 5: THE JOKER'S LAST LAUGH, Harley has
been haunted by odd occurrences that trigger memories from
her time with the Joker. It's almost as if somebody was
trying to gaslight the normally bubbly antihero. For me,
this collection could have been titled "The Haunting of
Harley Quinn". Every time she tries to put her past with the
Joker behind her, he pops up like a bad penny. In HARLEY
QUINN VOL. 2: JOKER LOVES HARLEY (REBIRTH), the Joker's
presence seems to permeate the atmosphere until he finally
shows up at Harley's apartment like the ghost of psychotic
relationships past. Her friends rally around her and Red
Tool makes an amusing, and surprisingly sweet, protector.
Ultimately, even with all her support, it's Harley alone
who has to lay the past to rest. As she lays out retribution
and dishes out some hard truths, Harley shows how she is not
a woman to mess with. I like that Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda
Conner have Harley settle things at the end, rather than
allow other characters to take care of the problem for her.
As always, the artwork is amazing and scenes are set up, and
the characters posed, in fabulously appetizing ways.
HARLEY QUINN VOL. 2: JOKER LOVES HARLEY (REBIRTH) has Harley
throwing punches, busting some teeth in, and generally
kicking ass as she works out her melancholy woes. "Egg
Noggin" - the Christmas-themed romp with Red Tool, and final
story, is a fun palate cleanser for all the violence in the
previous story. I look forward to reading Harley's next
adventure written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner.
Harley Quinn's punk-rock epic concludes with a BANG. Too
deep and not covered enough, their undercover mission
comes to an end as the gang takes on thieves and
murderers. All the laughs and some of the quacks are all
here.
Taking a break comes with unexpected woes when Harley and
Ivy head to the Bahamas for sun-kissed beaches and ice-
cold drinks.
Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti continue their mammoth
run on this New York Times best-selling title in HARLEY
QUINN VOL. 2! Collects issues #7-12.
Rebirth honors the richest history in comics, while
continuing to look towards the future. These are the most
innovative and modern stories featuring the world's
greatest superheroes, told by some of the finest
storytellers in the business.
Honoring the past, protecting our present, and looking
towards the future, this is the next chapter in the
ongoing saga of the DC Universe. The legacy continues.