ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth: Harley Quinn vol 3 Red Meat

Harley Quinn

Vol 3 Red Meat

DC Universe Rebirth

Issues: #14-16 and the lead stories from issues #17-21.

By Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner

Art by: Khari Evans, John Timms, Various, Joseph Michael Linser, Amanda Conner

Story: Do you remember that door that Red Tool was supposed to seal after Harley and he had their little adventure down in the tunnels under the building? Well Giant bugs have brought the cocoon out into the light of day and what comes out isn’t pleasant. That’s where issues 14-16, Nether Regions, starts us off at. With the help of another underworld dweller Atlee and Power Girl they manage to subdue Zorcrom, well not as much as the rabid squirrel. Along with the megalomaniac who has decided that Power Girl will be his queen we also learn that the mayor’s aid has hired a bunch of cannibals to eat the homeless population (hence the name Red Meat), Harley Sin is out of Arkham and out for revenge, and in the distant possible future a young woman works her way to the top of the battle royal so she can go back in time to kill Harley Quinn. After the defeat of Zorcrom Harley is approached by the Chief of Police to look into the disappearing homeless problem only to be kidnapped herself, it’s a good thing she can talk to the dead and that she is completely insane. Red Tool revealed! WHAT!?!?

Review: Just keeps getting better, I loved the progression of the stories how they all were all set up and then fell one by one like dominos well except for Harley Sin’s her part isn’t done yet. These four story arcs fit well in with each other it’s an easy transition from one to the next. Harley has some real sane moments only to be followed up by batshit crazy.  I love Red Tools part of the story. I think it's funny how Harley's hair changes length with each artist. Overall, this was a great one, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  

ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Harley's Little Black Book

Harley’s Little Black Book

DC Universe Rebirth

Story by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti

Art by: John Timms, Amanda Conner, Simon Bisley, William Tucci, Joseph Michael Linser, Dave Johnson, Neal Adams, Mauricet, Amanda Conner, Flaviano

Story: This is yet another collection of Harley hijinks. It includes Harley impersonating Wonder Woman, talking to the dead with Zatanna, gaining Lantern powers and fighting the Green Lantern, fighting an epic battle royal with Superman, working the Bombshells to defeat Hitler, and getting lost in space with Lobo. It is 258 pages if Harley being Harley, trying hard to be good but often her actions get misinterpreted.

Art: The art is all on par with what I expect from Amanda Conner, John Timms, and Dave Johnson. Mauricet works the Green Lantern story with John Timms for some pretty impressive Lantern action. Joseph Michael Linser does the art for Dispirited Spirits, a beautiful Zatanna and the eerie supernatural. Billy Tucci shares the Bombshells with Joseph Michael Linser and Flaviano with plenty of that outstanding Bombshell style and double the Harley. No Pain No Sane features the art of Neal Adams it’s a riot of activity and color (Paul Mounts) the amount of detail is impressive. Bare-assed and Belligerent is probably the only one I didn’t like both art and story, I’m just not a fan of Simon Bisley’s art.

Characters: Harley and her Gang, Wonder Woman, Zatanna, The London Legion: Double Decker, Tiffany Terror, Pub Crawler, Big Bad Ben; Green Lantern, A trio of unlucky ghosts and the demon that binds them to Earth, The Bombshells: Batwoman, Amanda Waller, Zatanna, Big Barta, Catwoman, Harley Quinn; Superman, Lois, Jimmy, and an unsuspecting Aliens looking for a fight, and Lobo

Review: Overall it was fun as are most of Harley’s adventures, silly and very, very not politically correct. Lobo’s story was the only one I really didn’t like, but I really don’t care for Lobo anyways.  

ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Harley Quinn vol 2: Joker Loves Harley

Harley Quinn

Vol 2: Joker Loves Harley
DC Universe Rebirth
Issue #7-12

Story by: Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti

Art by: John Timms, Chad Hardin, Brandon Peterson, Moritat, Bret Belvins, Joseph Michael Linsner, Michael Kaluta, Inaki Miranda, Andrew Robinson, Alex Sinclair, HI-FI

Story: Harley is having some issues, she has been dreaming really weird dreams and a friend suggests taking a vacation. So Harley and Poison Ivy take off to the Bahamas for a week but after a week Harley doesn’t feel any better she kind of feels worse because Ivy is still picking her cause over Harley not to mention the weird things Harley has been getting in the mail that are supposedly coming from the Joker. Wanting to vent her frustrations Harley goes back to the Roller Derby. Once there she learns someone who she previously wiped the rink with, Big Bertha, is back and out for vengeance and is in the process of kicking Harley’s butt when someone shoots Big Bertha in the head. Harley gets back to her place only to find The Joker sitting in her living room. Flabbergasted she kicks him out but only after she agrees to meet him again tomorrow on the boardwalk. Until then Harley is still restless so Red Tool and her go to the underground tunnels where they previously found a room of doors, one in particular caught her fancy, it’s all chained up. After Red Tool and Harley find what was in there and kick it butt, or should I say blow it the fuck up, Harley goes to bed to catch some much needed sleep. In Red Tools misguided need to protect Harley he sets her clock back so he can meet the Joker and deal with him himself.

Art: It’s so funny how long Harley’s hair grows in the span of one comic to the other. It was short Mohawk for her Punk Rocker undercover gig and her and Ivy’s vacation and in the next one it’s back to the long length again. The art is what I have come to expect with a Harley comic humorous and graphic. Very well done.

Characters: Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Red Tool, Frankie, The Joker, Eggy, Sy and Zena Borgman, Summer Daze, Sky Scrapper, Big Bertha and the whole Quinn crew.

Review: This was a real emotional story for Harley between her feelings for Ivy and the Joker she feels like she has so many unresolved issues and is pretty stagnate where she is in her life right now. The appearance of the Joker throws her off her game even more. Harley isn’t quite Harley in these issues she’s depressed and angry and the Joker seems to be the right outlet. As sad as this was it kept with the silly and morbid humor. The Christmas special at the end was perfect Christmas special cheese, very funny.  

ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Harley Quinn Vol. 1: Die Laughing

DC Universe ReBirth Harley Quinn Vol. 1 Die Laughing

Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Connor

Art by Amanda Connor, John Timms, Chad Hardin, Bret Belvins, Joseph Michael Linser, Jill Thompson

Includes Issues: Rebirth and 1-6

Story: I think this one was started right because they basically have Harley give you all the poignant information and reintroduce everyone. So if you haven’t read the Harley Quinn series that this continues you are all caught up. The first three issues Afterbirth, Coney Island of the Dammed, and Goin’ for Takeout follow one story arc which I had problems getting into, Coney Island gets overrun by zombie/not zombies and I personally am very tired of zombies but I did like the twist they put on the zombies. Then we have 108 Million Ways to Die!  Harley and Bolly Quinn travel to India to take down an evil call center from swindling money from the unsuspecting. Undercover Punker is the next story arc which is in three parts Eat This Beat, The Skull Bags’ Big Snag, and Satin Underground. In these Harley is asked to help track down and take down a band of thieves stealing mail. This leads to Harley forming a punk band and getting a new look.  It goes from performing on stage, horribly singing and abusing her audience, to an underground superhero cosplay club. Harley takes down the gang and also discovers who really was behind it all.

Art: It’s good it’s your typical Harley Quinn. It has some really fantastic cover art and variant cover art. This group is pretty consistently good. The tool shaped dialogue bubbles/speech balloons for Red Tool was a nice touch; although a few of the hand saw one look like a weird unicorn. The New 52 Harley took some getting used to when it first came out, but I like what Conner did with Harley when she got her own comic, I love the roller derby Harley. Poison Ivy is so beautifully done. The backgrounds and the coloring are outstanding.   

   

Characters: Harley is joined by her usual band of misfits, specifically Big Tony, Eggy, Bolly Quinn, and Red Tool who is a not funny parody of Deadpool, and Poison Ivy. I have been in love with Harley since her first appearance in Batman: The Animated series. She was funny, cute, pun-tastic, and no matter how hard she tried things never went her way and she always ended up back in Arkham.

Review: Overall, it was a funny as hell read as soon as I got through the first three issues, the funniest part from the first story arc was when Harley cut off Red Tool’s arm and the hospital transplanted a replacement arm from a notorious masturbator. Harley Quinn is as lovably crazy as always as she should be.  Her cohorts are a nice balance to her insanity. I quite enjoy the silly humor, bad jokes, and outrageous side characters. Harley is pretty out there herself so of course she would surround herself with like minded individuals, even if she is too crazy for them sometimes.