Harley Quinn #2 - DC Comics

HARLEY QUINN No. 2, June 2021

Setting aside some significant time to better develop the background to the titular character’s “new sidekick, Kevin”, Stephanie Phillips narrative for Issue Two of “Harley Quinn” certainly seems to have made a concerted effort to push the Joker’s ex-girlfriend even further along her personal road to redemption. In fact, at one point the former super-villain’s tubby clown even spirals into a deep depression when he ashamedly recalls burning “down a tacky strip mall” and starts questioning his colourfully-costumed leader as to why a hero like her would even want to work alongside a non-deserving bad guy such as himself.

Happily however, such a dialogue-heavy discourse is incredibly well-penned by the American author, and demonstrates a touching side to Harleen Frances Quinzel as she gently ushers her enormous friend around by the arm, whilst reassuring him that “if I can go good, there’s definitely hope for you, Kev.” Such a genuinely emotional scene concerning the trained psychiatrist is rarely seen on the printed page, and arguably would cause even the most hard-hearted of readers to significantly soften their attitude towards the pair of wannabe vigilantes.

In addition, the discussion ends on a super-funny high-note as Quinn is shown to still be somewhat struggling with her own felonious behaviour, as she subsequently helps her ‘partner-in-crime-fighting’ break into the aforementioned boarded up shop simply to “see if there’s anythin’ good left in this old thrift store.” This blatant burglary, whose unlawfulness seems to be totally overlooked by the hopeless Harley, also sets up an excellent opportunity for artist Riley Rossmo to pencil a stunningly dynamic action sequence involving the Gotham City Siren fighting off a pair of “deranged hospital orderlies [armed] with electrified cattle prods” who have been sent to detain her “for mandatory therapy sessions”.

Equally as successfully written is the establishment of Hugo Strange as this storyline’s central antagonist. Seemingly supported by the metropolis’ Mayor Nakano as the head of the municipal’s S.A.F.E. program, the supposedly reformed doctor is quickly shown to be as evil as ever when he embraces the paranoia of its population, and starts treating everyone accused of being a clown, even when he knows the innocent patient has been wrongly condemned; “That is what’s wrong with Gotham City. Mask… No mask… Honestly it makes no difference to me. This entire city needs to take a good long look in the mirror.”

The regular cover art of "HARLEY QUINN" #2 by Riley Rossmo