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| January 2002
Welcome to Metropolis
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When we last left off, gal pals Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn were making their road trip from Gotham City all the way to Metropolis in order to avoid the chaos gunning for our sweet little jester's head. This cover is great - while I don't believe that's the Harley Davidson that Harley stole in the last issue it's kitted out in perfect Harley Quinn colours and looks great.
I like that they even have a personalised plate, and that they stopped for a bit of random graffiti.
If you've ever watched the animated series, you'll know that Harley is a good, if somewhat erratic and dangerous driver.
Here she shows that with gusto, driving into head on traffic while Ivy chastises her for it.
Two things stick out here - Harley's defence that Metropolis has changed since she was here last (what, like amending basic road rules?) and the two country bumpkin tourists in the bottom panels.
Superhero sight seeing. They're distressed because they came all this way and didn't even see Superman or the Daily Planet, and now they're lost. They do, however get their map stolen by a certain criminal duo which makes Elmer and Arleen's (oh, I see what you did there) day complete.
This continues onto the next page with Arleen being overjoyed because she can now brag to her sister about meeting some super vixens while Elmer is outraged that Superman is too busy saving the universe to look out for the little man, damnit!
He's going to give the Chamber of Commerce a piece of his mind!
I'm personally not sure how much sway the CoC has over Supes but you know, points for trying.
Meanwhile a mysterious figure leaps from the rooftops...
Harley and Ivy pull over and while Harley comically reads the map and makes fun of Gotham - Ivy is entranced by how beautiful a nearby park is and runs off to have a look at it.
Ivy forgets about her doubts and decides she'll be very happy here but Thorn emerges from a nearby bush to make her think otherwise. Fortunately Harley realised Ivy was AWOL and came to look for her just in time to kick Thorn in the skull.
Harley is pleased that Thorn hasn't forgotten her since it's been so long since the slumber party issue and they face off. Harley is keen to delve into Thorn's psychological issues but while Thorn's distracted by her, Ivy snakes her vines around Thorn's legs and puts and end to the bout.
Poison Ivy is about to off Thorn but Harley encourages her not to, instead leaving Thorn bound and humiliated, hanging from the Superman and Eagle statue in one of the squares.
The gal pals have a laugh while they walk back to the bike but turns out their show down with Thorn bought some more unwanted attention - the Special Crimes Unit!
This leads into the spectacular flying leap we saw earlier in the book (if you read the book in order)
and follows with them landing on a train roof and riding to safety.
Ivy was going to recommend staying in the park but that's clearly out so they pick a nice penthouse to stay it. It's already occupied but the lady of the house isn't bothered by them and advises them to take what they want. This confuses the duo until they hear the unmistakable sound of someone hanging themselves.
If you thought you were reading about a fun girl's trip, this page should give you pause with the way our main characters watch someone kill herself - and don't help her out of that jam or when knowing that she's done it wrong and is going to endure several more moments of pain - don't help her end it faster.
Instead they rifle though her things calmly - well, until Harley finds a man drove her to end it through romantic despair and decides she can't let him get away with it.
Poison Ivy is on the opposite side of the coin - deciding this woman is pathetic on several levels for letting a man do this to her.
A stark reminder that our happy gal pals are criminals through and through and despite being good friends, are on two different wavelengths about love.
The next day Harley is ready to go out in a civilian disguise as most of the lady's clothes fit her. Ivy - being a bigger bust won't fit anything but sweatsuits but in any case she's staying right there to watch over her leafy babies in their new fertilised planter box.
Next - Harley happens to run into none other but Jimmy Olsen... photographer, funny guy and confident to Superman.
Here are twelve panels of two people in an elevator that is somehow not boring to look at. This comic's strength lies in it's character's interactions and visual humour and it really shows here.
Plus, the first page of Harley shutting down Jimmy's bragging rights is hilarious!
Via her connections with Jimmy along with a little super pheromoned resume courtesy of Ivy, "Holly Chance" obtains a small romance advice/therapy column at the Daily Planet.
Jimmy shows her around the office - casually concerned about how much trouble Clark Kent has with his perfect teeth as he introduces her to Lois Lane instead. A hardened journalist, Lois is understandably unimpressed with Holly's fluffy new role and tells her to enjoy it while it lasts. As they're walking away Jimmy overhears that Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy had been spotted in town.
Ever the opportunist - Holly questions Jimmy about it and what he did to anger 'harlequin'.
What's this? Harley visiting Metropolis before? Trying to kill Jimmy? What's going on??
Don't worry, I'll visit this in my next review.
For now, here's a look at our favourite gals on vacation. Both in their work clothes - even on holiday - they clearly feel more comfortable in them.
Ivy is still a bit unsure about going out - Harley wants to furnish the apartment a bit more to her taste and casually name drops the word topiary - highly effective.
Harley also wants to celebrate her new job by going out on the town.
Thorn: The only place I want to see you, Quinn... is behind bars!
Harley: Nah, I'd just serve drinks to underage minors! Though I do mix a mean straight jacket!
S.C.U Inspector Turpin: The S.C.U's handled major metas like Metallo, remember. These two costumed creampuffs don't stand a chance! If I was them -- well, I'd be a whole lot better lookin'... and I'd high tail it right back to Gotham!
Harley: The glasses are so no one knows who you are!
Ivy: That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
He's going to give the Chamber of Commerce a piece of his mind!
I'm personally not sure how much sway the CoC has over Supes but you know, points for trying.
Meanwhile a mysterious figure leaps from the rooftops...
Harley and Ivy pull over and while Harley comically reads the map and makes fun of Gotham - Ivy is entranced by how beautiful a nearby park is and runs off to have a look at it.
Ivy forgets about her doubts and decides she'll be very happy here but Thorn emerges from a nearby bush to make her think otherwise. Fortunately Harley realised Ivy was AWOL and came to look for her just in time to kick Thorn in the skull.
Harley is pleased that Thorn hasn't forgotten her since it's been so long since the slumber party issue and they face off. Harley is keen to delve into Thorn's psychological issues but while Thorn's distracted by her, Ivy snakes her vines around Thorn's legs and puts and end to the bout.
Poison Ivy is about to off Thorn but Harley encourages her not to, instead leaving Thorn bound and humiliated, hanging from the Superman and Eagle statue in one of the squares.
The gal pals have a laugh while they walk back to the bike but turns out their show down with Thorn bought some more unwanted attention - the Special Crimes Unit!
This leads into the spectacular flying leap we saw earlier in the book (if you read the book in order)
and follows with them landing on a train roof and riding to safety.
Ivy was going to recommend staying in the park but that's clearly out so they pick a nice penthouse to stay it. It's already occupied but the lady of the house isn't bothered by them and advises them to take what they want. This confuses the duo until they hear the unmistakable sound of someone hanging themselves.
Instead they rifle though her things calmly - well, until Harley finds a man drove her to end it through romantic despair and decides she can't let him get away with it.
Poison Ivy is on the opposite side of the coin - deciding this woman is pathetic on several levels for letting a man do this to her.
A stark reminder that our happy gal pals are criminals through and through and despite being good friends, are on two different wavelengths about love.
The next day Harley is ready to go out in a civilian disguise as most of the lady's clothes fit her. Ivy - being a bigger bust won't fit anything but sweatsuits but in any case she's staying right there to watch over her leafy babies in their new fertilised planter box.
Next - Harley happens to run into none other but Jimmy Olsen... photographer, funny guy and confident to Superman.
Here are twelve panels of two people in an elevator that is somehow not boring to look at. This comic's strength lies in it's character's interactions and visual humour and it really shows here.
Plus, the first page of Harley shutting down Jimmy's bragging rights is hilarious!
Via her connections with Jimmy along with a little super pheromoned resume courtesy of Ivy, "Holly Chance" obtains a small romance advice/therapy column at the Daily Planet.
Jimmy shows her around the office - casually concerned about how much trouble Clark Kent has with his perfect teeth as he introduces her to Lois Lane instead. A hardened journalist, Lois is understandably unimpressed with Holly's fluffy new role and tells her to enjoy it while it lasts. As they're walking away Jimmy overhears that Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy had been spotted in town.
Ever the opportunist - Holly questions Jimmy about it and what he did to anger 'harlequin'.
What's this? Harley visiting Metropolis before? Trying to kill Jimmy? What's going on??
Don't worry, I'll visit this in my next review.
Ivy is still a bit unsure about going out - Harley wants to furnish the apartment a bit more to her taste and casually name drops the word topiary - highly effective.
Harley also wants to celebrate her new job by going out on the town.
The Short End of the Jester Schtick
Another good issue - setting up everything perfectly. Thorn is going to want a rematch, the girls are still on the run from the S.C.U, Harley Quinn establishing an alter-ego with glasses (Holly Chance) and getting a job at Daily Planet, Poison Ivy already showing her usual preference for hanging out with flora not fauna and the last words of this issue being about leaving their troubles behind.
Yet with all of this, everything still feels natural (y'know, for a comic) that this is how they would naturally behave in this setting. None of the cameos feel forced. Jimmy Olsen is the perfect introduction to the world of Superman as the majority of readers will know him (or know OF him) enough to get the idea.
The art still amazes me, and holds up. The amount of detail with Ivy's hair for example, and little things in the background (putting the glass door they broke back up) or the effort put into single character's reactions is great. The only flaw I had was sometimes Jimmy Olsen's eyes went a little.. cartoony. So did Holly's eyes but you understand it's because she's wearing glasses she doesn't need.
Love Letters!
Wotta Comedian!
Thorn: The only place I want to see you, Quinn... is behind bars!
Harley: Nah, I'd just serve drinks to underage minors! Though I do mix a mean straight jacket!
S.C.U Inspector Turpin: The S.C.U's handled major metas like Metallo, remember. These two costumed creampuffs don't stand a chance! If I was them -- well, I'd be a whole lot better lookin'... and I'd high tail it right back to Gotham!
Harley: The glasses are so no one knows who you are!
Ivy: That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
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