Last issue, our dominoed dame was the victim of an exploding, stolen jet-pak incident. The Dodson's cover is eye catching - just Harley falling, her terrified face looking back up as she drops into a black void.
When this comic first came out, I admit that this story got me. I was like - wait... Harley's a comic character. She can't just die! What-what-what?!
Had only just become a fan, the comic had only recently started, the internet - well, it did exist in my life but certainly not to the extent it does now. Like, I was on MSN, Myspace, college sites and some fan sites for animated series. I didn't have the comic resources I do now. Back then, finding useful information about Harley Quinn on teh interwebs was about as rare as unicorn crap. Wow, there's a redundant comparison as these days unicorn crap is actively marketed and purchasable in mainstream stores.
I'm also a bit wiser about how often comic characters shuffle off their papery mortal coil only to mysteriously pop up again on the other side when it suits the writers. In saying that, I do quite like this afterlife special. Just like Harley herself, she doesn't follow the trend or do exactly what you'd expect of this kind of story, which makes for an interesting and unique run.
The actual story continues on from the cover, something I recently complimented in Gotham City Sirens, I just really enjoy the transition when done right. Really can't stand the overt, fourth wall breaking ones that somehow take you out of the experience.
Anyway, after a fairly rough landing onto her back, Harley stares up wide eyed as Lewis talks to her. Yes, THAT LEWIS. He warns her away from the windows because the police have a sniper outside. Harley is so overjoyed to see Lewis that she misses Nixon Two-Bear's snarky comment about how "She never missed him before." Ruh-oh.
Harley doesn't seem too concerned about seeing these two blasts from the past - although if you recall the aforementioned issue, Harley's fractured mind protects her from realising that she had killed both of them, instead seeing people comically knocked out or similar unless she actively intended on killing them. It broke my heart when Lewis went down, especially when he shielded Harley from the truth. I think that says a lot about Harley and the kind of people she attracts, Joker not withstanding.
She's also extremely easygoing about all of this - when she last saw Nix for example, he had not only pulled a mutiny but put a bounty on his boss' head then tried to kill her himself. Not many people would be able to smile and joke with Nix after this (plus he's actively shooting barbed comments her way). If you don't think this is unusual in the comic world, just imagine what Harley's more recent incarnations would do in this situation. Start a rage monologue? Kill someone? Exactly.
Harley struggles with remembering where the rest of her gang is, that she currently doesn't have a gang and recalling her most recent haunts. Seems like she needs the 'Handbook for the Recently Deceased!' Hahahaha...... I'll show myself out.
As time runs out on the SWAT clock, Harley has just enough seconds to see the rest of her motley crew (plus a few newbies from the mutiny) before incendiaries take the majority out - the rest lost to bullets. This leaves Harley and Lewis but the moment passes and Lewis is fatally shot. Harley suspects the sniper but Lewis doesn't hide the truth this time - Harley's got the smoking gun and she's still holding it.
Lewis quickly realises that this Harley is the real Harley - now deceased - but before he can elaborate on this point the floor caves in. They both fall, but Harley lands alone.
Above her, the cops cover the hold in the floorboards, seemingly deaf to Harley's calls. Pettit - the rogue cop Joker and Harley gave hell to in No Man's Land (pun intended!) appeared like his old self initially but is now transformed into a demon but Harley is seemingly more concerned about being left all alone. Luckily, she's not alone for long but as her new guest is Etrigan, let's hope she prefers rhyming to solitude.
Ooh, maybe not so much but she does end up finishing Etrigan's lines after he rolls out the welcome wagon. Shortly after offending Harley by insinuating that she killed her Quinntets and that she's dead too, he too vanishes and leaves her alone.
Harley tries to be brave but falters.
She wakes back up to where she was at the beginning. To her it's been ages, but to the others mere seconds. They try to think of a way out of the seige, and try surrendering but the police rain shots down on them. Ticked off, Nix tried to off Harley himself but takes heavy fire instead. Harley - unaware until then that there was an assassination attempt - flips over, grabs Nix's gun and shoots at where she thinks her assailant is..... but shoots Lewis.
Distraught, she runs to him and apologises but Lewis is resigned to this incident repeating non-stop. Harley alone is then taken into custody and once more solitary confinement, which definitely unhinges her a bit more. This time when she's back in the stand off, she takes charge and announces her plans to the gang..... they're gonna get the hell out of hell!
Originally this part of Harley's solo run didn't grip me and a large part of that was the sudden change in art style and the darker tone involving the wacky exploits of my favourite comic book character.
Looking back at it now, I feel this was a really under-rated issue in a largely overlooked series.
The Kesel's art is gone and it is jarring to go from their clean cut, somewhat cheesecakey graphics to that of Brandon Bodeaux's work - which is a bit more stylised and also realistic. However, given that everything in Harley's life has changed you could say that this is a fitting choice. The art does grow on you as well, it's well done, expressive and definitely flaunts Harley's muscular figure.
It was also nice to see the Quinntets and what they'd been up to. Was good how they all kept their personality traits and little quirks but with some development too, like Lester being more outgoing, Margo with her broken computers, Nix being less sneaky and more open about his plans. Plus the other Quinntets, lumped into this debacle despite not really being official members.
I enjoyed the original take of hell and how it adapts to the individual yet others are affected too. Etrigan's cameo felt natural, and Pettit was an inspired choice for Harley's antagonist.
Before I mentioned that Harley seemed oblivious to the fact that her gang members were injured or dead - however here you get more of an inkling that she DOES know... but admitting the truth to herself would break her. Much like being alone... Harley needs people to bounce off of, to acknowledge her, and without that, with just the dark and silence, she is completely lost.
This look into Harley's psyche gave me a much better understanding of her character and why she does what she does. It was great to see her keep her sense of humour as long as she did.
Interesting she wasn't bothered by people assuming the Joker killed her, and doubly interesting that people don't realise she's immune to Joker venom. Harley herself also draws strength from their connection - she's not scared of a literal hell demon because she once ran with Joker.
Cornrow Quinntet: Yeah -- go to hell, Nix!
Bald Quinntet: Heh. Short trip.
Harley: Gee, thanks Lewis -- But that's sure gonna make Nix sore! Next time I'll handle him myself, okay?
Lewis: Yeah. Next time.
Lewis: Sni...sniper? Now that's not funny, Harley, 'cause... we can both see... what's in your hand.
Harley: In my --? Lee Harvey Oswald! Where'd that come from?
Harley: (after falling through the floor) Well, ain't this the pits!
GCPD Hell Devision: Quit glad-handling and plug that hole before someone falls through.
Harley: Little late for that, you blue bozos!
Etrigan: Your wit doth insult. It's purpose is clear. I now have no doubt you'll fit in well here. I am no devil -- just his biggest fan. Call me the torturer. Demon. Etigan!
Harley: Well, the rhymin's tortured enough, believe me!
Harley: What I seen so far looks more like Gotham, or parts of New Jersey, maybe.
Etrigan: You will see no one -- for eons on end! Not stranger or foe, not neighbours or friend! You've always craved company -- now none'll be found! Your hell is solitude -- just look around!
Harley: Takes more than flash powder and a few tricks up your sleeve to scare this gal! So go to hell yourself!
Unseen inmate: Hey Harley -- what'cha in for?
Harley: Illegal food preparation! The way I cook, it's a crime!
Pettit: I said no talking!
Harley: No, you didn't! M'dead, not deaf! So PTUI on You-ie!
Margo: Well, there's a reason it's called eternal damnation, Nix.
Joe Chill - seen denying being responsible for killing "that doctor and his wife" (Thomas and Martha Wayne)
Etrigan - torturer and resident of Hell, rider of welcome wagon
Detective Pettit - former cop who began to lose his mind in No Man's Land, became a mini-dictator obsessed with power and ended up shooting a dozen of his own men after Joker and Harley disguised them as Joker himself.
Quinntets - Lewis, Nixon, Margo and Lester - all dead either by Harley's hand or for Harley. The newest members were killed by association.
Referenced - but not Seen:
Lee Harvey Oswald - JFK assassination and subject of several conspiracy theories
Joker - as in Harley's former beau and suspected cause of Harley's demise and Batman's nemesis
Detective Bullock - GCPD of hell think he'll love this beat
Hoppy the Marvel Bunny - personification of evil that looks like Lester, probably due to the teeth
Batman - by association of being Joker's nemesis
'The Harlequin' - a villain battling Green Lantern back in 1947
Buster and Kenny - Only Quinntets still alive
 |
| July 2002 |
When this comic first came out, I admit that this story got me. I was like - wait... Harley's a comic character. She can't just die! What-what-what?!
Had only just become a fan, the comic had only recently started, the internet - well, it did exist in my life but certainly not to the extent it does now. Like, I was on MSN, Myspace, college sites and some fan sites for animated series. I didn't have the comic resources I do now. Back then, finding useful information about Harley Quinn on teh interwebs was about as rare as unicorn crap. Wow, there's a redundant comparison as these days unicorn crap is actively marketed and purchasable in mainstream stores.
I'm also a bit wiser about how often comic characters shuffle off their papery mortal coil only to mysteriously pop up again on the other side when it suits the writers. In saying that, I do quite like this afterlife special. Just like Harley herself, she doesn't follow the trend or do exactly what you'd expect of this kind of story, which makes for an interesting and unique run.
The actual story continues on from the cover, something I recently complimented in Gotham City Sirens, I just really enjoy the transition when done right. Really can't stand the overt, fourth wall breaking ones that somehow take you out of the experience.
Anyway, after a fairly rough landing onto her back, Harley stares up wide eyed as Lewis talks to her. Yes, THAT LEWIS. He warns her away from the windows because the police have a sniper outside. Harley is so overjoyed to see Lewis that she misses Nixon Two-Bear's snarky comment about how "She never missed him before." Ruh-oh.
Harley doesn't seem too concerned about seeing these two blasts from the past - although if you recall the aforementioned issue, Harley's fractured mind protects her from realising that she had killed both of them, instead seeing people comically knocked out or similar unless she actively intended on killing them. It broke my heart when Lewis went down, especially when he shielded Harley from the truth. I think that says a lot about Harley and the kind of people she attracts, Joker not withstanding.
She's also extremely easygoing about all of this - when she last saw Nix for example, he had not only pulled a mutiny but put a bounty on his boss' head then tried to kill her himself. Not many people would be able to smile and joke with Nix after this (plus he's actively shooting barbed comments her way). If you don't think this is unusual in the comic world, just imagine what Harley's more recent incarnations would do in this situation. Start a rage monologue? Kill someone? Exactly.
Harley struggles with remembering where the rest of her gang is, that she currently doesn't have a gang and recalling her most recent haunts. Seems like she needs the 'Handbook for the Recently Deceased!' Hahahaha...... I'll show myself out.
Lewis quickly realises that this Harley is the real Harley - now deceased - but before he can elaborate on this point the floor caves in. They both fall, but Harley lands alone.
Above her, the cops cover the hold in the floorboards, seemingly deaf to Harley's calls. Pettit - the rogue cop Joker and Harley gave hell to in No Man's Land (pun intended!) appeared like his old self initially but is now transformed into a demon but Harley is seemingly more concerned about being left all alone. Luckily, she's not alone for long but as her new guest is Etrigan, let's hope she prefers rhyming to solitude.
Ooh, maybe not so much but she does end up finishing Etrigan's lines after he rolls out the welcome wagon. Shortly after offending Harley by insinuating that she killed her Quinntets and that she's dead too, he too vanishes and leaves her alone.
Harley tries to be brave but falters.
She wakes back up to where she was at the beginning. To her it's been ages, but to the others mere seconds. They try to think of a way out of the seige, and try surrendering but the police rain shots down on them. Ticked off, Nix tried to off Harley himself but takes heavy fire instead. Harley - unaware until then that there was an assassination attempt - flips over, grabs Nix's gun and shoots at where she thinks her assailant is..... but shoots Lewis.
Distraught, she runs to him and apologises but Lewis is resigned to this incident repeating non-stop. Harley alone is then taken into custody and once more solitary confinement, which definitely unhinges her a bit more. This time when she's back in the stand off, she takes charge and announces her plans to the gang..... they're gonna get the hell out of hell!
The Short End of the Jester Schtick
Originally this part of Harley's solo run didn't grip me and a large part of that was the sudden change in art style and the darker tone involving the wacky exploits of my favourite comic book character.
Looking back at it now, I feel this was a really under-rated issue in a largely overlooked series.
The Kesel's art is gone and it is jarring to go from their clean cut, somewhat cheesecakey graphics to that of Brandon Bodeaux's work - which is a bit more stylised and also realistic. However, given that everything in Harley's life has changed you could say that this is a fitting choice. The art does grow on you as well, it's well done, expressive and definitely flaunts Harley's muscular figure.
It was also nice to see the Quinntets and what they'd been up to. Was good how they all kept their personality traits and little quirks but with some development too, like Lester being more outgoing, Margo with her broken computers, Nix being less sneaky and more open about his plans. Plus the other Quinntets, lumped into this debacle despite not really being official members.
I enjoyed the original take of hell and how it adapts to the individual yet others are affected too. Etrigan's cameo felt natural, and Pettit was an inspired choice for Harley's antagonist.
Before I mentioned that Harley seemed oblivious to the fact that her gang members were injured or dead - however here you get more of an inkling that she DOES know... but admitting the truth to herself would break her. Much like being alone... Harley needs people to bounce off of, to acknowledge her, and without that, with just the dark and silence, she is completely lost.
This look into Harley's psyche gave me a much better understanding of her character and why she does what she does. It was great to see her keep her sense of humour as long as she did.
Interesting she wasn't bothered by people assuming the Joker killed her, and doubly interesting that people don't realise she's immune to Joker venom. Harley herself also draws strength from their connection - she's not scared of a literal hell demon because she once ran with Joker.
Wotta Comedian!
Tattoed Quinntet: Hey, we threw in with you before, Two-bears. Look where it got us!Cornrow Quinntet: Yeah -- go to hell, Nix!
Bald Quinntet: Heh. Short trip.
Harley: Gee, thanks Lewis -- But that's sure gonna make Nix sore! Next time I'll handle him myself, okay?
Lewis: Yeah. Next time.
Lewis: Sni...sniper? Now that's not funny, Harley, 'cause... we can both see... what's in your hand.
Harley: In my --? Lee Harvey Oswald! Where'd that come from?
Harley: (after falling through the floor) Well, ain't this the pits!
GCPD Hell Devision: Quit glad-handling and plug that hole before someone falls through.
Harley: Little late for that, you blue bozos!
Etrigan: Your wit doth insult. It's purpose is clear. I now have no doubt you'll fit in well here. I am no devil -- just his biggest fan. Call me the torturer. Demon. Etigan!
Harley: Well, the rhymin's tortured enough, believe me!
Harley: What I seen so far looks more like Gotham, or parts of New Jersey, maybe.
Etrigan: You will see no one -- for eons on end! Not stranger or foe, not neighbours or friend! You've always craved company -- now none'll be found! Your hell is solitude -- just look around!
Harley: Takes more than flash powder and a few tricks up your sleeve to scare this gal! So go to hell yourself!
Unseen inmate: Hey Harley -- what'cha in for?
Harley: Illegal food preparation! The way I cook, it's a crime!
Pettit: I said no talking!
Harley: No, you didn't! M'dead, not deaf! So PTUI on You-ie!
Margo: Well, there's a reason it's called eternal damnation, Nix.
Bonus Cameos!
Joe Chill - seen denying being responsible for killing "that doctor and his wife" (Thomas and Martha Wayne)
Etrigan - torturer and resident of Hell, rider of welcome wagon
Detective Pettit - former cop who began to lose his mind in No Man's Land, became a mini-dictator obsessed with power and ended up shooting a dozen of his own men after Joker and Harley disguised them as Joker himself.
Quinntets - Lewis, Nixon, Margo and Lester - all dead either by Harley's hand or for Harley. The newest members were killed by association.
Referenced - but not Seen:
Lee Harvey Oswald - JFK assassination and subject of several conspiracy theories
Joker - as in Harley's former beau and suspected cause of Harley's demise and Batman's nemesis
Detective Bullock - GCPD of hell think he'll love this beat
Hoppy the Marvel Bunny - personification of evil that looks like Lester, probably due to the teeth
Batman - by association of being Joker's nemesis
'The Harlequin' - a villain battling Green Lantern back in 1947
Buster and Kenny - Only Quinntets still alive
Bonus Panel!
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