HARLEY QUINN #6 - WHO WANTS TO ROB A MILLIONAIRE
COVER DATE: May, 2001
WRITER: Karl Kesel
PENCILER(s): Terry Dodson
INKER(s): Rachel Dodson; Wayne Faucher
COLORS: Alex Sinclair
LETTERS: Ken Lopez
EDITOR(s): Matt Idelson
COVER: Rachel Dodson; Terry Dodson
Ahh, Harley Quinn issue 6... also famous for appearing in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back!
Wait, not that one...
There we go! To the top left behind Jay's sweet tresses. Of course, this being a movie I went to as a young teen not knowing it was mostly drug and dick jokes, I was not at that time a Harley Quinn fan. I became a Jay and Silent Bob fan though! Anyway, my point is it was a nice little Easter Egg for me as I was expanding my personal fan base.
Anyway, this issue opens up at stately Wayne Manor - where Brucie is hosting a benefit for the children's hospital that's themed around fools. Harley makes her way through the swath, apparently hitting every person holding a drink in the vicinity until she makes her way over to Bruce and attracts the attention of his bodyguard,
This is a really nice scene because you hardly ever see Bruce with a bodyguard, despite his social status and the fact that every heist or siege in Gotham takes place at an event of some kind. Of course, we know why he's confident without a body guard but for keeping up appearances...
That look on his face though - his two lives coming together as Harley brazenly introduces herself, and in her costume and mannerisms! He's not sure if she poses a threat herself or if her presence means that someone else has crashed the party. Harley takes this well, laughing a bit too hard though leaving an awkward silence. Bruce is commandeered by another guest despite his attempts to keep an eye on Harley, but she let's him know she'll be preoccupied elsewhere.
And that she is, finding her way into the command centre of Bruce's security team and cartoonishly taking out one of them. This time, the next panels are of a different scene so we aren't shown what this fool's fate is, but given that it's in Harley's cartoon state of mind it's probably not good.
Bruce's bodyguard can't find him (wonder why?) so she tries calling Bambi - a six star marker in Bruce's little black book. Instead of a random floozy, she gets Oracle, hamming it up by pretending to be a ditzy lover expecting Bruce to be along at any time.
Bonus points for Barbara's "Got Malk?" T-shirt, Bat logo earrings, the clock face shining through via the moonlight and her computer actually looking like a computer screen. There is a minor point taken away for the insertion of a pencil into her messy up do. Come on, that's not how you hair! Anyway, she's working on an obvious Riddler clue emailed to the GCPD.
Meanwhile back at the mansion - Sasha the bodyguard has been unable to raise any of the security team so she busts down their door and finds the Quinntets and Harley. She jumps to the same conclusion as Bruce and asks where the Joker is. Harley reiterates that it's her show, and her gang take out all the security staff. Their newest recruit, Margo, is a computer whizz and turns off the live security feed, leaving a dummy one in it's place.
The looting begins, and Harley finds herself coolly but firmly keeping some members in check. Lewis comments on this behaviour when he's alone with Harley - breaking into a locked door. They also discuss Bruce himself - with Harley mentioning she has noticed that Bruce has an intensity and a presence about him. You know, the type she's only ever seen with the Joker and Batman.
That conversation's put on hold when the Riddler's gang busts through the door and grab Lewis. The Quinntets face off - and can't understand why the Riddler has to leave a clue for his crimes and why he's hitting this joint. Time becomes more pressing when Oracle realises what Riddler's anagram means and calls for back up. Unfortunately, every operative is out of reach or otherwise occupied.
Harley and Buster have had a little thing going on this issue where she gives the punchline but Buster delivers (or throws it). In this case, he throws a large statue into the fray and both gangs scatter.
A shoot out breaks out and leaves Harley with new recruit Margo. Margo's good with computers, referring to herself in the third person and apparently backstabbing her leader. She's after the bounty of course. We're back in Harley's POV - she's been shot in the arm (appearing as a slight graze) but still crackin' wise to her opponent. Even injured, Harley's still nimble enough to dodge Margo's attacks, and get a hold of her gun.
She shoots into the wall, and a boom flag comes out which amuses Margo until the dynamite pops out. It explodes, leaving a slightly dishevelled Margo on the floor. Harley keeps talking to her as she leaves, like everything's okay. Unlike the security fool - we see Margo's fate and it's just as unlucky as her brand of cigarettes.
Harley looks for her gang but finds Edward Nygma instead. Things take a turn for the dramatic when Big Barda suddenly bursts in through the skylight. TO BE CONTINUED!
Another really fun issue with Harley meeting yet another Gotham based criminal and getting into trouble. It was a really good behind the scenes sort of issue where we got to see little bits of Bruce's and Barbara's life and operations as well as Harley's unique interactions with her gang and her foes.
The Riddler was on point in this issue, not cringe worthy but obsessed with smarts and puzzles. Oracle was hilarious as she pleaded for anyone but Plastic Man to attend (he's not that bad!)
I found it great that while Harley was just there to loot the joint and The Riddler was there to investigate rumours of hidden chamber, Oracle is stuck with the dilemma that they could uncover the Batcave and is therefore unable to call for regular police back up.
The letters page is hilarious, looking back on it now. One reader comments how Harley didn't seem the kind of character that needed their own series and another said that it was weird how Harley isn't as murderous as she is in the Batman books etc. If these readers could have only imagined how many books and versions of her (murdering children and then ignoring those plots) there are now!
Anyway, this issue opens up at stately Wayne Manor - where Brucie is hosting a benefit for the children's hospital that's themed around fools. Harley makes her way through the swath, apparently hitting every person holding a drink in the vicinity until she makes her way over to Bruce and attracts the attention of his bodyguard,
This is a really nice scene because you hardly ever see Bruce with a bodyguard, despite his social status and the fact that every heist or siege in Gotham takes place at an event of some kind. Of course, we know why he's confident without a body guard but for keeping up appearances...
That look on his face though - his two lives coming together as Harley brazenly introduces herself, and in her costume and mannerisms! He's not sure if she poses a threat herself or if her presence means that someone else has crashed the party. Harley takes this well, laughing a bit too hard though leaving an awkward silence. Bruce is commandeered by another guest despite his attempts to keep an eye on Harley, but she let's him know she'll be preoccupied elsewhere.
And that she is, finding her way into the command centre of Bruce's security team and cartoonishly taking out one of them. This time, the next panels are of a different scene so we aren't shown what this fool's fate is, but given that it's in Harley's cartoon state of mind it's probably not good.
Bruce's bodyguard can't find him (wonder why?) so she tries calling Bambi - a six star marker in Bruce's little black book. Instead of a random floozy, she gets Oracle, hamming it up by pretending to be a ditzy lover expecting Bruce to be along at any time.
Bonus points for Barbara's "Got Malk?" T-shirt, Bat logo earrings, the clock face shining through via the moonlight and her computer actually looking like a computer screen. There is a minor point taken away for the insertion of a pencil into her messy up do. Come on, that's not how you hair! Anyway, she's working on an obvious Riddler clue emailed to the GCPD.
Meanwhile back at the mansion - Sasha the bodyguard has been unable to raise any of the security team so she busts down their door and finds the Quinntets and Harley. She jumps to the same conclusion as Bruce and asks where the Joker is. Harley reiterates that it's her show, and her gang take out all the security staff. Their newest recruit, Margo, is a computer whizz and turns off the live security feed, leaving a dummy one in it's place.
The looting begins, and Harley finds herself coolly but firmly keeping some members in check. Lewis comments on this behaviour when he's alone with Harley - breaking into a locked door. They also discuss Bruce himself - with Harley mentioning she has noticed that Bruce has an intensity and a presence about him. You know, the type she's only ever seen with the Joker and Batman.
That conversation's put on hold when the Riddler's gang busts through the door and grab Lewis. The Quinntets face off - and can't understand why the Riddler has to leave a clue for his crimes and why he's hitting this joint. Time becomes more pressing when Oracle realises what Riddler's anagram means and calls for back up. Unfortunately, every operative is out of reach or otherwise occupied.
Harley and Buster have had a little thing going on this issue where she gives the punchline but Buster delivers (or throws it). In this case, he throws a large statue into the fray and both gangs scatter.
A shoot out breaks out and leaves Harley with new recruit Margo. Margo's good with computers, referring to herself in the third person and apparently backstabbing her leader. She's after the bounty of course. We're back in Harley's POV - she's been shot in the arm (appearing as a slight graze) but still crackin' wise to her opponent. Even injured, Harley's still nimble enough to dodge Margo's attacks, and get a hold of her gun.
She shoots into the wall, and a boom flag comes out which amuses Margo until the dynamite pops out. It explodes, leaving a slightly dishevelled Margo on the floor. Harley keeps talking to her as she leaves, like everything's okay. Unlike the security fool - we see Margo's fate and it's just as unlucky as her brand of cigarettes.
Harley looks for her gang but finds Edward Nygma instead. Things take a turn for the dramatic when Big Barda suddenly bursts in through the skylight. TO BE CONTINUED!
Another really fun issue with Harley meeting yet another Gotham based criminal and getting into trouble. It was a really good behind the scenes sort of issue where we got to see little bits of Bruce's and Barbara's life and operations as well as Harley's unique interactions with her gang and her foes.
The Riddler was on point in this issue, not cringe worthy but obsessed with smarts and puzzles. Oracle was hilarious as she pleaded for anyone but Plastic Man to attend (he's not that bad!)
I found it great that while Harley was just there to loot the joint and The Riddler was there to investigate rumours of hidden chamber, Oracle is stuck with the dilemma that they could uncover the Batcave and is therefore unable to call for regular police back up.
The letters page is hilarious, looking back on it now. One reader comments how Harley didn't seem the kind of character that needed their own series and another said that it was weird how Harley isn't as murderous as she is in the Batman books etc. If these readers could have only imagined how many books and versions of her (murdering children and then ignoring those plots) there are now!
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