Gods and Monsters: Twisted

Gods and Monsters: Twisted

So today I feel like having a chat about the Justice League Gods and Monster Chronicles featuring Harley Quinn in the episode 'Twisted'. This debuted back in 2015 and features little segments of an alternate reality (or I guess Elseworlds technically?) for DC's big three - Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman.

This episode features Batman and the woman gunning for Wonder Woman's spot in said big 3 -Harley Quinn. She is referred to in the credits as Harlequin though.

Being a short story, Batman has already detective'd his way over to where Harley Quinn is, which is clearly here because there is decapitated heads in the fridge/freezer along with some Grape Soder.
A slight Easter Egg for fans, as Harley enjoys her imitation bubblegum soda. I don't understand if this is a freezer or a fridge. I can understand heads being in the freezer, but putting soft drink in there is just dangerous.

We get our first look at Harley Quinn in this reality when she tries to wail on Batman and one of her captives with a mallet and all I can see is the Rugrats.

Look, it's mostly in the eyes and the movements of her mouth as opposed to her lingerie 'costume'. 

Maybe the pigtails. And sometimes the voice is very Angelica. 

"Heeeere's subtlety!"

Oh gosh, that costume though.

Positives - she's in the right colours. Heck, there's even in the right places on her body!
I kinda like how her neck looks 'stitched' - rag doll style.
The diamond tattoos look fine - enough of a throw back without being obnoxiously in your face Suicide Squad style.
Sensible shoes! Finally!

Negatives - We get it, she's crazy. In what reality though, would a barely functioning crazy person have the wherewithal to get a corset and suspenders on before beginning a rampage? Heck, I love wearing those as much as the next gal but I'm not going to pretend they're fun or easy to get on even with a clear head and if I'm not on the lam for being a mass murderer. At least she's wearing clean underwear, I guess?  
Also, that smudge or freckle on her chin really bugs me. Like, why is it not drowned in her clown make-up?

Everyone knows that while Bruce Timm is a respected name in Batman animation.. he's also a kind of cartoon pervert. He's done some weird half naked, or kind of rapey 'good girl' art works and some involving Harley and Mr J's sex life (WHOOPEE.. cushions) and then some are lesbian fan art between Harley and Ivy... but Harley either looks uncomfortable or is shown leaping towards Ivy's bush with a machete. All done in Timm's trademark style where his characters look almost prepubescent and strangely contorted.

So I read in an interview that when he was designing this costume he was under the assumption that change happens and if people want to recreate Harley they can. Sometimes it sucks, and sometimes it's skanky. This costume, is his parody of today's Harley. I think he just wanted to make another skanky Harley so we can uphold comic book traditions and make millions of people watch yet another half naked female lead while her male counterpart is only showing part of his face.

"Yeah, this looks good, I'mma go with this outfit!"

It just screams fetish for no reason. Who is she dressing up for? Is it not cold down there in the creepy warehouse basement or whatever? Yeah, she's taking photos with her 'family' but it's only her head in these shots, not the whole of her. Like, she just happens to be lounging around in her underwear when the action happens? Wish fulfilment much?

"Just hold that pose guys.... yeah, almost ready...."

It's not a bad story - but given how short it is, it feels like we spend the majority of our screen time watching Harley Quinn use a hammer or a chainsaw or something from varying angles and chase Batman around - while in her underpants.

"I call this the 'Superman'!"

Which is fine because she's the villain, they have to establish her as a threat yadda yadda but they don't. Sure, she's a crazy with a weapon but she is clearly no match for Batman. He puts a foot on her mallet, she can't even lift it. He evades her easily, and throws her over and through things. He just seems disinterested in her and has no desire to speed things up. He doesn't even shiv about sneaking into the warehouse and just waltzes right in.

Surprise - he's a vampire! Which makes his bat silhouette when he initially lands at the warehouse that much cooler, like he actually was a bat or something.
While it's not a bad little segment, I don't really think it had to be Harley Quinn in this as the villian, this could have any of Batman's killer enemies. There are a couple of clowney-jester bits at the very start but they're just props. Nothing else this Harley does is funny or jester-like, except for maybe when she pauses to clean her teeth in a smashed mirror.

At the end, the way she talks about being taken back to jail gives less water to the "she's crazy!' scenario because she seems pretty rational about it.

I can't fault the backgrounds or the music. The tone is pretty good and consistent too. It's hard to not hear the voice actor's previous roles though, like Batman as Dexter or Tara Strong as Toot from Drawn Together for example.

As with other DC animations, it's worth checking out. It is only like 5 min long though so you may not need much popcorn.