Retro Review: Harley Quinn #11! Quintessence Pt 3

The Girl is Bats

Oct 2001

Last time we had two Batgirls - one is Harley Quinn in disguise as classic Batgirl and the other is Cassandra Cain, reformed assassin, woman of few words but needs no words to kick your butt - falling to their inevitable demise via the short walk, tall wall, flat street pizza method. 

 Even though the heroine/anti-heroine is in imminent danger, we open with a flash back of classic Batgirl Barbara Gordon in her hey-day, taking out Mad Hatter and his goons.

Speaking of goons, eagle eyed viewers (or every kind of viewer, now I'm pointing it out) may spot our jack of all henchmen Kenny Two-Bear!

Barbara flashes back to the fateful events of The Killing Joke but is brought back to present day by her beau in blue, Nightwing! I know I'm not alone in saying this was a popular OTP and this scene shows it with their flirty yet relaxed banter.

They're interrupted by Robin, asking for help from anyone but Nightwing, but Nightwing ain't taking that lying down (or standing up for that matter) and races out to help.

Meanwhile, Harley is saved by Batgirl snagging a flagpole and even though she's swung into traffic she absolutely nails a flip that saves her ass and would be amazing except she blocks the vision of the driver whose car she lands on, causing him to swerve into pedestrians.

Last minute saves from the Batgang and Nightwing arrives on the scene. His good natured wisecracking attitude vanishes at the sight of the imposter Batgirl. Wondering who would dare, Robin interjects that he has no idea but she enjoys messing with their heads and treating it like a joke...
.....and the penny drops.

The Batgang gang up on the Harleybat, telling her that things don't change just because she changes costumes (and especially that one) and things look dire for her until she steals Nightwing's ride.

Oracle cuts in once she hears a car engine - Dick has mobilised a nearby car for the purpose of chasing down Quinn - Nightwing has been pushed to recklessness via Harley's actions.

Batgirl and Robin try to intercept Harley from the rooftops while Nightwing has somehow hitched a lift on his own stolen bike - however Harley manages to give them all a lift... off the edge of the roof.

All survivable of course, but they've landed in the Stacked Deck.
Remember issue two? Harley entered via the roof that time too, scouting another head honcho to hench for.

Nightwing is still in the grip of rage but Robin calmly points out where they are... and where they are does not like heroes.

Harley, of course, does not help much in this situation.

Back at base, the Quinntets chill out and wait for Harley to return. Matches wants to go find her but Kenny has faith in Harley and wants to wait it out.

Nixon also isn't keen on Matches leaving...

Harley returns, not impressed with the evenings end. She wonders why they were so touchy about her wearing the outfit, as in her own words "no one else was usin' it!"

Lewis still wants her to leave town for her own safety, and Harley starts to agree but then gets a brilliant idea about her secret mission.

You'll notice Harley says Holy Hot Flash! and I don't call her out on it. Three reasons: she says it once, with good cause. Dressed as Batgirl - it's a call back to Batman's TV series. Three - it's not an overused bastardisation like her current iteration.

Holeeee something or otherolleeeeeee .... Barf.








Nightwing gets chewed out by Oracle for letting his emotions get in the way of apprehending Quinn. They have enough time to flesh out how Oracle feels about this situation before we're shipped off to Bo and Carrie - Man Bo looks like Richard Dean Anderson here (that's not a bad thing)

They're stepping up their trap for Quinn by posing as two lovey dovey people, even though Surley is starting to get ticked off by it. It works pretty fast, trap wise as Harley appears instantly and silly strings them into her own trap - kidnapping Carrie. 

Meanwhile the Quinntets manage to capture Jack and Di Happi and recruit a lot of new members. Nixon takes his brother aside breaks it to him gently that all of these new recruits work for him, including two that are meeting up with Matches.

It's Mr. Zed and Mr. Able! Two goons who worked for Two-Face - also appearing in Issue two (natch!) and meeting Harley in the Stacked Deck.

Matches sets his own trap - possibly the last in this issue at least - and questions the two goons about the plan Nixon has set.

He then sheds his disguise and gets back into his Batman costume.

He acknowledges that Harley isn't exactly a huge threat as a mob boss and is not planning anything with the Joker - so he will step in to spare some bloodshed.

One more Bat Cameo - this time it's Poison Ivy! 

Best Lines:

Nightwing: Hey! What's a guy have to do to get invited into a beautiful girl's high-tech communications centre these days?

Robin: Nightwing!

Nightwing: How could you tell? I'm wearing a mask.

Nightwing: QUINN!

Harley: Yeah? I mean, no! 

Harley: And we're gonna kick butt and drag you all downtown!

Stacked Deck thugs: Oh yeah?!

Robin: Oh, no...

Harley: Oh yeah!

Harley: Comfy, Carrie? I really wish we had more time together to discuss your FBI profilin', my psychiatric studies... y'know, girl talk!