Gotham City Sirens #4

Another lovely cover - Harley's baby blues are striking. Ivy's her usual cheery self and so is Catwoman. Not sure why Ivy's hair is constantly standing on end these days but all the better to see your butt with my dear. I do like her lacy looking vine arm thingies. So chic. 

Remember this bit that's been teased over the last few issues?

Yes, we'e finally going to see what Harley Quinn's been up to.
Also, this TMZ for superheroes/villains is terrible. What sort of cow cheers when a superhero like Power Girl is decked one? That's when you go 'oh crap - this could be the end of my existence too!'

Still, it's a refreshing change from the ass kissing we normally get on real life celebrity shows.

And wow, Ultra Humanite? There's a blast from the past!

But I digress.

Now who do we know who owns a purple extend-o-gloves (and who also can't watch their favourite tv shows anymore) and has two white thumbs?? 

This guy!

Still, he's got a lot of Harley photos (including the couple photo we've seen in a previous BTAS comic) and a life size replica. Also a lot of clownish paraphernalia - this hideout certainly looks lived in! It's kinda funny that the Joker would be watching this entertainment show.. but I guess it kinda makes sense. If you want to check where the heroes are at before your next killing spree - just watch this show! 

He sends his goons to off Harley. Ivy meanwhile is putting her tendrils out - literally, while Catwoman sasses her for being slow and methodical. Ivy can't figure out why Hush is flaunting Harley around town instead of hiding her away. Hush wants to off Harley, but wants witnesses around. 

Hush - in his disguise as Bruce Wayne - takes Harley up to an exclusive rooftop bar (even bribing the door man to overlook her street wear) and tries to get her over to a more secluded dark area.

Harley flirts with 'Bruce' - acting all shy and coy while Hush plans to push her over the edge of the balcony.

I love their straightforward mockery of Bludhaven. Harley is worried about getting into a relationship with Bruce in case Joker kills him but thinks about how she'd be his beneficiary if something were to happen to the billionaire.

Or would she?  She remembers about Bruce's kids and whips around to question him - inadvertently saving her life. Harley decides she's not really the soccer mom type and decides to leave the scene. 

Hush tries to win her back by explaining his 'kids' are all grown up and he's living in the Elliot estate (Hush's family home) and this changes things. Harley is enticed back into his arms but they've been spotted by Joker's goons. 

One thing I really like about Dini's writing is that he just seems to get villains. He doesn't write like Gail Simone - who takes bad guys to a whole other level, rather he seems to understand that villains are people like everyone else. They question their bosses and the schemes they get dragged into, they reform, they don't just spout cliches. 

They do use a giant Joker headed blimp to attack Harley and Hush though and Joker discusses their relationship via loudspeaker.

Why shouldn't Harley move on? After all, what can he offer her apart from a cell for two in an asylum? Well, Joker doesn't work that way, even if he is being more self aware than normal.

The blimp opens fire and Harley shows her extreme flexibility in both avoiding the bullets and in how she solves relationship issues.

Poison Ivy brings the planty cavalry to task out the blimp while Catwoman detains 'Mr. Wayne' but when security arrives he plays them against the sirens. The sirens flee the scene even though they didn't do anything wrong and Hush toys with the idea of shooting them but decides against it and aims at the blimp instead. 

He knows as Hush he could do it, but while acting as Mr Wayne, he can't shoot three women even if they are criminals. Maintaining his hero status is better. Hush vows revenge against Catwoman though. Joker vows revenge against Bruce Wayne but post pones it to tangle with Harley instead. 

Back at their lair, the other sirens explain to Harley that she can't be Mrs Wayne because he's actually Hush and she has no patience for the complicated explanations as to why. She's more concerned with Mr. J wanting her back. Ivy points out that he tried to kill her, but that just reassures Harley that he does really want her back. 

                                                     

Remember gals, if he tries to kill you to get you back it's true love! #relationshipgoals! 

This next panel is the stuff of nightmares. 

Harley gesticulates wildly while expressing her excitement that her Puddin' is using all of his old gags and that he really loves her. 

All the while... this happens. I have to assume that both Ivy and Selina were either ignoring her or rolling their eyes too hard for them to not see this and mention something just a tad sooner.

Look at that nightmare fuel!

I mean, damn. Sirens be trippin' balls or something to not think to mention 'there's a car made entirely of the Joker's face coming right towards you and oh yeah it's not stopping so you may want to move'. 

The next page shows Ivy was sitting facing away from her but what's Selina's excuse?

I hope their insurance covers impact by comedy schtick car. 

As it happens, it's a robot Joker who only has beef with Harley - not the other two but as they've become pals with her they might as well twist in the wind too. On that note, Joker-bot blows itself up along with some of the siren's hangout and the sirens themselves but is able to broadcast his laughter. 

Another solid Sirens issue. Harley is clearly not over the Joker, even as she turns her attentions to another older, domineering man with issues (albeit not the one she thought she was pursuing) and her villainous side peeks out when she calmly thinks about what she'd do with all of his millions if something surely tragic, and accidental were to happen to him. 

We've already seen in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker that Harley was never really into having kids (even though she likes other people's children fine) and the idea of playing at being a mom or guardian is a deal breaker for her. 

She's completely in character. Selina and Pamela are somewhat sidelined in this issue but it does show that they're never going to be besties - Harley is definitely the glue that sticks them together.

Joker is acting a little strangely though.. 

It's nice how the series is clearly attuned and tied in to other Batman books of the same time period. We're reminded of Hush's beef with Selina, how the Sirens teamed up earlier to rip off Hush afterwards, Hush's current dual life as Bruce Wayne. Damian is even brought up as someone who can't be explained easily. Too right!