BATMAN: HARLEY QUINN

Comics never translated well to other media, somehow they always screwed it up. 'Till Batman The Animated Series premiered in 1992, it was a hit show, because it followed closely, but not exactly, the Batman mythos. One of the liberties taken with the mythos was the introduction of a `sidekick'/hench girl for the Joker, Harley Quinn. This character was created for the show: she never appeared in any DC publication before, There were characters named Harley Quinn before, but she was obviously not them and vice-versa.

These previous Harley Quinns included one from the Golden Age who became a Villain to get the attention of Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern. The second I know next to nothing about, except she had something to do with the Titans (she was in JLA/Titans mini). The cartoon Harley met with huge popularity and she was a fan hit. The fans of the comic wondered when she'd make her first appearance in the regular DCU . . . Well, they waited a long time. But I'll get into that later on in this.

In the cartoon, Harley was an over the top delusional psychotic character who was completely devoted to the Joker. He really doesn't care whether she lives or dies, which has occasionally caused her to go psycho on Joker, though she always forgave him. She also gained a long lasting friendship with Poison Ivy. This all made her a regular appearing character and quickly one of the favorite Bat-villains, even though she wasn't in the comics. It took a long time, but at long last, Harley Quinn became an official Bat villain in Batman: Harley Quinn.

Usually cartoons based on comics have no effect on the comics they were created from, but this character was such a hit, that she couldn't be ignored. So after years of whining, it happened. The one shot was writen by Paul Dini, the creator of the character for the cartoon series. Though the cartoon and comic origins are not exact, they are pretty damn close. Her origin is incorporated into the now Gotham, being destroyed by an earthquake and all.

Basically (this is the abridged abridged version, mind you,) Harlen Quinzel was an intern at Arkham. She got private sessions with the Joker because she eventually wanted to write a book about him. She falls for the Joker, he kinda pushes her slowly off the edge, she helps him escape, and she's caught and thrown in Arkham herself. 'Till the quake. She finds her cell door open one day and leaves, to find the Joker. That's just the start of the fun though.

She's completely psychotic, really off her rocker. The dialogue between the characters in this book is flat out hilarious. The story's great, Batman even makes a funny. My favorite page has gotta be page 32: Joker is badgering one of his henchmen about his personal life. When the hench guy starts to actually talk, Joker shoots him in the head simply saying "Too much info Ron". That's what you gotta love about this book: it captures all the characters, as they should be.

It also lays everything out, in this 48 page prestige issue you get Harley's origin, Poison Ivy's friendship, Joker at his best, Batman being hit over the head with a mallet, Harley's and Joker's love/hate relationship, death, Joker in blue jeans(hey it's a new one on me), and it throws Alfred in there too! At one or maybe two points, it seems a little forced, but that quickly disappears through all the laughs caused by Joker and Harley (better get used to hearing that). I'm telling you, get this book! It will be a important part on the Batman mythos for years to come.

Harley will quickly make herself known in the regular Bat-books, appearing soon in Batman # 570 and Detective Comics #737. And if you still aren't convinced, you just gotta see the Alex Ross painted cover.