I just re-read my last post and realised I had more questions about what I initially thought was the problem with the comic.
Particularly when I read the dialogue in this screen cap.
Harley states that she never "felt right"doing the things they did. Note there are no specific examples of what it was they did. Now, considering the New52 reboot essentially scrapped their previous history.. this was a bit of stupid because we can only really look to the past to see what things they did.
Are they talking about the chaos they spread in No Man's Land? Was it the Joker Fish from the Animated Series? Joker's Last Laugh? That time they took a holiday to Metropolis and doused everyone in gas? Brainwashing Robin in Batman Beyond?
I guess so, but at the same time.. by DC's own logic, it can't be.
I've bought this up a few times but one more time.. DC failed to show us what this new relationship actually entailed and how long it was for. You would assume from Harley's speech that they were together for a while but later on in Detective Comics 23.2 we find out that Joker basically dumped her the second he got out of Arkham. Suicide Squad itself only really shows a few psychiatric sessions, a vat dumping and then a sad flashback of a clown themed bedroom.
I... I'm not corrupt enough (surprisingly!) to picture New52 Harley and Joker banging!
I barely survived the weird... fully clothed Deadshot clown car romp.
In my opinion, this whole dramatic break up would have been a lot better if they had at least flash-backed to or explained what things they were doing.
Now another important bit here is that while Harley states she wasn't comfortable doing what Joker wanted her to do, she did it because she loved him. This, I don't have a problem with because that was very similar in pre-New 52 but with one exception. Harley was never an outright baddie, she was basically lead astray by Joker, only seeing what they were doing as fun and games. So while she would never take it upon herself to carry out large scale crime operations or murder, she wasn't exactly torn up over the 'fun things' Joker and her did either. If someone else complained, they just didn't "get the joke."
The next thing Harley says is that someone else (Waller, presumably) offered her a chance to be something different than what she had been. This part nagged me because when you think about it... it didn't.
So, Harley killed some lawyers to get Joker's attention, didn't work, gets signed up for Suicide Squad which I have to assume she thought would not be anything like what she was doing before?
We're supposed to feel sorry for New52 Harley because she never wanted to do the horrible things we'll never hear or see that her and the Joker apparently did together but from the moment we saw her in Suicide Squad she's been extremely murderous. Is there an invisible line there somewhere where it's okay to do these things if the Joker grants you a modicum of attention because of it?
Or is this where the shoddily constructed, super convenient 'split personality' comes into it?
Particularly when I read the dialogue in this screen cap.
Harley states that she never "felt right"doing the things they did. Note there are no specific examples of what it was they did. Now, considering the New52 reboot essentially scrapped their previous history.. this was a bit of stupid because we can only really look to the past to see what things they did.
Are they talking about the chaos they spread in No Man's Land? Was it the Joker Fish from the Animated Series? Joker's Last Laugh? That time they took a holiday to Metropolis and doused everyone in gas? Brainwashing Robin in Batman Beyond?
I guess so, but at the same time.. by DC's own logic, it can't be.
I've bought this up a few times but one more time.. DC failed to show us what this new relationship actually entailed and how long it was for. You would assume from Harley's speech that they were together for a while but later on in Detective Comics 23.2 we find out that Joker basically dumped her the second he got out of Arkham. Suicide Squad itself only really shows a few psychiatric sessions, a vat dumping and then a sad flashback of a clown themed bedroom.
I... I'm not corrupt enough (surprisingly!) to picture New52 Harley and Joker banging!
I barely survived the weird... fully clothed Deadshot clown car romp.
In my opinion, this whole dramatic break up would have been a lot better if they had at least flash-backed to or explained what things they were doing.
Now another important bit here is that while Harley states she wasn't comfortable doing what Joker wanted her to do, she did it because she loved him. This, I don't have a problem with because that was very similar in pre-New 52 but with one exception. Harley was never an outright baddie, she was basically lead astray by Joker, only seeing what they were doing as fun and games. So while she would never take it upon herself to carry out large scale crime operations or murder, she wasn't exactly torn up over the 'fun things' Joker and her did either. If someone else complained, they just didn't "get the joke."
The next thing Harley says is that someone else (Waller, presumably) offered her a chance to be something different than what she had been. This part nagged me because when you think about it... it didn't.
So, Harley killed some lawyers to get Joker's attention, didn't work, gets signed up for Suicide Squad which I have to assume she thought would not be anything like what she was doing before?
Enthusiastic about murder.
More murder enthusiasm.
Smiling sadistically at the thought of someone being offed.
Motivation for joining Squad - impressing Joker.
She's been recruited into a team that are supposed to be doing good, but pretty much end up getting into fights and murdering a lot of people. Left to her own devices, Harley instigates prison riots and lets a bunch of impersonating clown folk get slaughtered to aid her own means. She straight up murders randoms, people from her past, you name it.
How is this different and feeling more right than her relationship with Joker in New 52?
Moreover, she's still wearing her Joker made costume. So did classic Harley Quinn after breaking up with the Joker but the difference there was.. that Harley Quinn chose that persona, she chose that outfit, it matches her name.. it was her.
The Suicide Squad Harley did not choose her own persona, she was pushed into it like so much random ACE chemical acid. By her continuing to wear the crappy outfit Joker gave her.. she might as well not even try to break up the 'relationship' because nothing has changed.
We're supposed to feel sorry for New52 Harley because she never wanted to do the horrible things we'll never hear or see that her and the Joker apparently did together but from the moment we saw her in Suicide Squad she's been extremely murderous. Is there an invisible line there somewhere where it's okay to do these things if the Joker grants you a modicum of attention because of it?
Or is this where the shoddily constructed, super convenient 'split personality' comes into it?
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Play nice or play dead! Harley Quinn's rules!