Retro Review: Harley Quinn #15 Metropolis Mailbag

Feb 2002

A really nice cover here - Harley just layin' around... picking um, a lot more than a a few flowers. Is she playing Love me Love me not or just spelling out her name? Let's hope Poison Ivy doesn't see her doing whatever this is or it may just be convenient that she's in a graveyard. 

I really like that Harley Quinn carries a hand bag around. It adds a fun level of realism to these larger than life comics. 

This issue opens with someone sending in their mail to Chance@Love - Holly Chance's romance advice column at the Daily Planet. This is a recurring subject in this issue, so watch out for our our guest star later on. Meanwhile, Harley Quinn herself is out robbing a garden supplies store and mocking it's employees. 

She's having a bit of fun doing this and doesn't want to leave until Poison Ivy formally advises her that their business there is concluded and Harley can drive. There is apparently nothing more that Harley Quinn loves more than racing around erratically in a drop top. Yep, even more than puddin'.


But there is something else missing from her life.. she says it's Thorn but she pretty much just symbolises a challenge. 

After a hard night's larceny, Ivy goes out for a sun-bake but warns Harley not to be late for her new job. It's fine though! Harley assures Ivy that she has a built in clock and for her, oversleeping is a physical impossibility!

So naturally she's several hours late for work - Harley truly is all of us. 

Now finally at work Holly catches up with Jimmy Olsen but misses out on meeting Clark Kent for some mysterious reason. Jimmy suggests that he pick her up for work each morning as they live in the same building but Holly plays it coy, heavy on the Georgian side. 

Holly then notices some flowers on Jimmy's desk addressed to 'Freckles', which of course freaks Jimmy out as he recalls the events in Our Worlds At War.  Holly plays along, asking him what he did to make her threaten to kill him. 

Jimmy replies he doesn't know, that Harley just flew off the handle for no reason. Wrong answer. 

Of course, this is just what Harley would like to do... not what actually happens. 

Holly raises a good point. At least Jimmy isn't traumatised from her first visit to Metropolis or we'd be here a while putting him back together. Who has time for that? Not Holly. She has to help the lovelorn residents of Metropolis! 

So even if that entails inattentive partners, tired after work, crushes on Superman, alien pregnancies (don't judge, this IS Metropolis) cheating firemen, dating someone related to the Tattooed Man, idiots who cheat on newscaster, second chances in love with time travel and last but not least - confirming if your beau has been replaced by an evil twin. 

Naturally, Perry White is not impressed with this content and the fact that his Poison Ivy drugs are wearing off. Jimmy is concerned Holly might leave, but in fact she's more determined than ever. She decides to print more... socially acceptable letters and then answer some messages privately. 

Now this brings us back to the lady at the start. She's of the impression that her husband must be Superman - his longs hours, not telling her for her own safety, his vagueness...

She would have gone on more but Harley chooses this moment to break into their house dramatically. 

Gene - when called upon to defend house and home - asks Harley to leave. She calls his bluff and asks hypothetically if HE'S Superman.

I like the panels here, they're kinda annoying but at the same time they're pretty cinematic. You get the impression the camera is panning across the scene repeatedly.

She shoots at Gene - who ducks, fearing for his life. Fortunately, it's only silly string and just as well because it's covered Franka. 

This seems to be the push Franka needs, telling Gene to get out and close the door on their relationship.

I think it was just a really clever way to do this... Harley the cupid of crime bringing all of her roles together to help someone's romance.. even if that means ending it. It wasn't her trying to push her way in to fix it but doing what she was doing in Gotham - pulling the strings. 

It's also a good way to show that she's getting over her own relationship in her own way. Keeping up the guise of a robbery, Harley randomly grabs a clock. Franka asks her if Harley hadn't taken enough from her already. 

Returning back to Ivy, Harley explains her night and decides that there's not a hurtin' heart in Metropolis that she can't apply her diamond shaped band-aid to. Famous last words are written below her and sure enough we see her next subject... 

The Short End of the Jester Schtick

Another great issue in this series, doing a great job of setting up Metropolis as we know it but not throwing Superman or Lex Luthor in our faces. The sea change, or city change seems to doing our duo good but we know it can't last. 

This series showcases classic Harley - a well-intentioned comedic psychiatrist who pulls strings, plays head games and who just happens to be a criminal getting over heartbreak. 

You really do get the impression that she could walk away from this life and get a real job using her doctorates but she shows how much she enjoys that life - causing trouble and hanging out with larger than life characters. 

As usual, the art is great - my only issue was the crazy large bottle glasses Holly wears, but I know it's part of her act. 

Wotta Comedian!

Harley: Look out Metropolis! We got a stolen car, a tank full of gas, and we ain' usin' turn signals!

Harley: Not bad... ...in a post-modern decor sorta way. The sacks of fertiliser kinda comment on our lack of and longin' for cultural richness - don'tcha think, Ivy?

Clark Kent: Sorry, Jimmy, I just, uh... need new glasses and -  will you look at the time! I have an optometrist appointment right now!

Franka: You were faster than a speeding bullet, Gene - at least you didn't lie about that.

Ivy: Oh, I needed a few things, so I went out and I got them Harley. No crowds, no lines.... I don't know why anyone shops when the stores are open. 

Love Letters!