Batman and Harley Quinn issues 1- 4

Alright, remember that Batman and Harley Quinn animated movie that came out? Then the prequel comics that came out? Then these ones that came out at pretty much the same time? Yeah.. it's a bit confusing. Even I get the whole Batman and Harley Quinn or Harley Quinn and Batman titles mixed up a lot. 

Geez, even DC is getting confused because they're selling the 5 issue prequel and the 7 issue sequel as 'Batman and Harley Quinn' and advertising it solely AS said sequel in a collected graphic novel. 

Let's have a look. 

So already we can see that the art style is basically the same - as in Batman the Animated Series but just bad enough so we don't get sued by WB. 

This issue opens with the suspicious note of '6 days since Harley lit the match' and the title of this issue is 'Busted' which ties into the Solit for the series which was :

Batman's been back in Gotham for almost a week, and that means someone is about to get "Busted"!
Wow! Is it Harley!? Nope. she ain't even in this issue. That's why I'm doing two posts on this run so I can breeze through the majority of it. The chump getting busted is Blockbuster. So.. is that a pun or what? Not sure.

Batman: Harley and Ivy #3

Aug 2004
"Hooray for Harleywood"

This is by far my favourite cover of the series. The pure joy in Harley's face as she peers into a film strip of Ivy punching Batman is just so in character and it's a great way to set up the comic's premise.

This comic gets around a bit. First issue was mostly set in Arkham/Gotham City, while the second one was in a Costa Rican jungle mainly. This one has come back to a US based location.

Hollywood! Geddit? It's gonna be Harleywood.

So the comic opens with Harley kicking her "Puddin'"'s face with the reveal being it's actually an actor. And a pun on Mark Hamill being the Joker's voice actor, and also being an actor in Star Wars. Not subtle, but passable.

Obviously these two have snuck onto a set and there are no security guards to worry about. Now, the comic is not long enough to go into great background about this but I wanted to mention it because the most recent Harely and Ivy series.. as in "Harley and Ivy meet Betty and Veronica"...
the girls were struggling to get past a butler with a spring of some random plant Ivy was carrying.

This was to go to a high schooler's costume party, no where near on the level of sneaking into a normally security focused work place. Just a bit of perspective.

Okay - here we get a bit of flashback alright and it's mostly focused on the character differences between Harley and Ivy.

This one page expresses what I will always consider the base relationship between these two. It also gives the artist another excuse to cram in some more underwear based scenes.. Look, I'm not gonna lie. I think it's unfortunate. I have no issue if this was a genuine lounging around in comfort-wear situation but when we have Ivy doing her scientist thing who just happens to be playing around with lab equipment and possibly corrosive chemicals in her lacy bra and an unbuttoned shirt, I kinda call bullshit.

True, Ivy probably can't be hurt by the chemicals but like the other two issues where we had a nude shower scene and then a prison shower fight scene where our very first shot is of Ivy's crotch with her legs spread... it just seems like half naked scenes just *because* there are female leads and they saw the chance.
Harley isn't sexualised as much, hell, that looks like me every friggin' morning with my bowl of cereal over my unfortunately stained carpet (wow, that sounded wrong!) watching cartoons.


The exasperation Ivy shows at Harley in regards to her lack of help in this masterplan to me will always be their relationship. Ivy is the straight person, the brains, while Harley is the comic and while smart, is not known for masterminding schemes. This also ties into why I think these two would make a shitty couple, but are good as a duo or friends.

Batman: Harley and Ivy #2

Jungle Fever July 2004

This issue opens up with a TV news short about the situation in Costa Verde.

Oooh, foreshadowing!

You remember that place, right? That's where the Zombie Root came from and also where our plucky pair were headed. The very next page is a full spread of.. um, Ivy's full spread after a guard throws her against the wall in prison.

It's definitely one way to open a comic, but not absolutely necessary to have the girls once again in a prison bathroom, this time in their knickers. Sometimes I wonder what guys really think happens in prison for women but it's not "all sexy all the time". Methinks they doth watch specific porn too much.



Also, like my gripe with the first issue, people keep touching Poison Ivy's bare skin and not breaking out in hives/rashes/dying violently! Probably doesn't matter because the body count in this comic is pretty high without her killer touch but still.

Hell, like the sewer this bathroom is gross as. I'm sure Ivy could manufacture something killer in two seconds flat. However, there is still Harley to contend with. A classic moment where she is underestimated and then absolutely creams her opposition .. with a plunger, no less.

The other annoying thing about this scene is that they appear to have gone out of their way to make the guards look like ugly men.





The violence is spectacular in this scene and the guards definitely have it coming but it's still pitting the pretty, young, half naked women against the overly butch, clothed, ugly women as if we didn't already know who we're supposed to be rooting for.

After taking down the guards, the girls have to avoid some heavy gun fire which I think has just been used to open the door.. they're told to go outside as the president wants to see them. So... if the president is there, were guns really necessary?

Harley Quinn and Batman #5

The Last Laugh pt 5 of 5

Alright, the conclusion of this mini prequel-sequel... thing.
Haha the editor's surname is Quinn.. now that is funny!

Page one of this comic has me interested again because there are so many things I like here. One, Arkham Asylum shown in the daylight, and it's not raining? Whaaaaa?
Secondly, Dr. Leland still exists. Woohoo!
Bruce Wayne isn't on the board for a change.. woohoo!
Asylum hiring heavies from ex-boxing rings and putting them beside normal size wardens/security staff. I like how the biggest one there even has a stick for protection.
Asylum staff talking like actual doctors, and even clarifying a medical/legal distinction for insanity.

What I don't like is the art dramatically decreases in quality again.. on the next page with the facial expressions... Plus Harley is clearly wearing non-regulation inmate booty shorts. Come on!


Okay, so it's one year later apparently. Exactly one year later. Boy, that'll make Calendar Man happy.
Remember when Harley lead Batman and Nightwing to Ivy's hothouse outhouse hideout .. place.

We haven't been shown Harley telling the Caped Crusaders about Ivy's crime spree, so as far as we know in this comic she's going to be dragged back to an asylum just for existing. Hmm.

Also, I honestly doubt Batman would follow Harley Quinn straight in through the front door. Nightwing's all 'oh, now I don't think it's a trap' and that's just swell because you numbskulls would have walked right into it if it was.

Harley Quinn and Batman #3

When we last left off, Harley had just gone to rob the zombie-like Catwoman (presumably for her poor re-design) and discovered that Catwoman was in fact home and not the rollover chump that Harley took her for. Honestly, why would your first hit be Catwoman? Do you not value your life?

In any case, the art is markedly better than the fare we've had previously even though it suffers from Batman the New Animated Adventures designs. Have I mentioned I hate these designs? Because I do. Hell, I even like the redesign for Joker more in The Batman than his appearance in The New Animated Series. 

Where are your eyes, Joker?! Where?!

Honestly, I don't know what they were thinking. Not everyone suffered, but Poison Ivy, Catwoman and Joker were definitely worse for wear. 

Right, well Catwoman with her gross zombie face, surprisingly small waist compared to her thighs and her whip attack Harley Quinn, and that's fair enough. Harley could have chosen literally any villain but she went for the highest profile cameo this side of Batman.

For some reason Catwoman falls for the old 'help me up buddy WHOOPS I've got a joy buzzer in my pocket and it's happy to see you' which is incredibly not like her, especially as she's so understandably antagonistic towards Harley. It's not like anyone's going to buy the whole friends things when it comes to villains ripping each other off. 

BTAS: Harley's Holiday Statues

In the mixed bag of joy that comes with Harley Quinn's 25th Anniversary celebrations, there is at least one bright, shining feature.

Not one, but two amazing statues based off the Batman: The Animated Series title card from an extremely Harley-centric episode titled Harley's Holidays, aired in 1994.

For those who aren't in the know, this is an episode from the third season. Harley is given a clean bill of health and celebrates by taking her hyenas for a spin. Yes, a spin. She is on roller skates before they were done to death. Honestly, if I had pet hyenas as well as good balance this is how I'd travel anywhere.

Anyway, while trying to buy a pretty dress - a small misunderstanding causes her to flip out and she ends up kidnapping Bruce Wayne's girlfriend Veronica in their car. So not only is Batman after her but so is Veronica's father... General Vreeland. Aaaaand because it can't be that simple....
Bullock from the GCPD is also on their tail as well as the smitten crook Boxy Bennett.

Batman and Harley Quinn 2017 - A Review

Well, I've watched it. It can't be un-watched. Is that good or bad?

What I will say about the film Batman and Harley Quinn is - it's not that bad. 

Honestly, I was extremely worried when I read the reviews yesterday but even though it's a movie that you don't *need* to see and you could easily forget it, it's not as soul cripplingly terrible as say...

Oh, I don't know.. Suicide Squad? 

I will never stop bashing that useless brain fart of a movie! Never!! Never!!!!

Yeah, that's exactly Harley Quinn's character. Margot definitely killed it at Harley Quinn. 

WELL SHE KILLED SOMETHING OF HARLEY QUINN ANYWAY~!!~

*ahem* *wipes off rage spittle and readjusts tie* 

Batman and Harley Quinn first reactions

My friends, I come to you solemnly, dipped in regret, eating tacos and reading headlines.
What headlines? You don't come here for the news, you come here for the sass and you know it!
Well, I remembered that the Batman and Harley Quinn movie was due to be out - or was out... I may have lost several weeks recently but that's a story for another time when I get nachos and vodka.

No, what I saw today in my search for a fond trip down memory lane was a bunch of ominous news headlines.

Which frankly sucks because even though I knew it was just going to be a slapped together cartoon cashing in on Harley's popularity boom...
Even though it was blatantly a re-do of the classic BTAS episode 'Harlequinade'...
Even though I'd been warned it wasn't classified as BTAS universe continuity..
Heck, I was wary as funk about Bruce Timm's involvement..

That dude just seems to write the characters like it's his own dream diary.

But I was still looking forward to it because it was classic animated Harley Quinn in her classic suit, she wasn't spray painted white and pretending to play vigilante cop buddy slash over powered super bad ass slash someone pretending to play roller derby, she looked like she had moved on from the Joker and was bitter about it and her life now, reduced to playing 'herself' at a dodgy superheroine hooters to pay her bills...

I was genuinely keen to see this version of Harley Quinn.

Batman and Harley Quinn prequel

Do you ever feel like you don't see enough Harley Quinn in comics?
Do you ever feel like you don't see enough Harley Quinn in the news?
Do you ever feel like you don't see enough Harley Quinn in the media?
Do you ever feel like you don't see enough Harley Quinn anywhere?

Well damn, son, you better start opening your eyes because she's already everywhere.

Anyway, there's one more comic containing Harley Quinn coming out soon and I wanted to blog about it because I think it'll actually be good.

I'm not talking about whatever fresh hell this is:

but rather this:

REBIRTH HARLEY QUINN #20 - Blast from the Future: Right back at ya!

Keeping up with the variant schtick again trying to get people to buy two issues...
Here we have generic Hardly Quinn reminiscing about how she used to be awesome and classic-esque Harley Quinn swinging around with a puppy, because apparently she forgot she had hyenas or something. Whatever.

We open up on a generic dingy motel that isn't drawn very well... it looks like the cheap wooden cabins we stayed in at school camp as opposed to a dingy motel you could be proud to carry out some illegal activities in.

I think it's raining, but  it could be archery/spear practise. More information on that later.

Harley Sinn is already a better thug than Hardly is, feeding her captives, speaking English, having a chat, and heck, she's already made me laugh when she reason's out why she can't shoot them both in the face.

Both Mason and Macabre, when un-gagged, choose to grill Sin about Quinn instead of asking 'where are we going? who are you? Why have you kidnapped us? Are we going to die? What is this generic takeaway food?'

Yeah, what's your beef with Quinn, Sin? How could anyone EVER hate Hardly? I'd say good question but every issue she's in just seems to cement the fact that she's an annoying overbearing murderer with bad colour co-ordination soo.....?

Batgirl Adventures #1

Today we're looking back at Batgirl Adventures #1!

This one debuted way back when in Feb 1998 and is credited to Paul Dini and Rick Burchett with colours by Rick Taylor.

Right away the cover grabs your attention, it's the classic Batman Animated series red sky and stylised city scape.
Batgirl is her usual exuberant self, leaping into action with the shadowy figures of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy looking on.

The only thing that detracts from this awesome cover is Batgirl's ridiculously small feet. I mean, really, what is this foot binding Barbie crap?

Oh right, it's just some Bruce Timm artwork. Say no more.












We open on civilian Barbara Gordon walking along after buying her Christmas goodies and nearly getting mowed down by a literal clown car. If America is anything like Australia, then yes the pedestrian has right of way,  but in the clown car's defence Barbara wasn't even looking at the road and did not check both ways. Barbara encourages inappropriate vigilantism and road rage by going to beat up the clown car driver, and is for some reason, surprised to see a a cannon emerge from the car.

Babs, you live in Gotham, why does literally ANYTHING surprise you anymore? I mean, a clown car in Gotham never just means the circus is in town (although to be fair the circus never seems to leave town either) it means that it's either the Joker or some other super villain up to no good. 

That, or the registration standards for vehicles in this town is beyond a joke. 

Batman and Harley Quinn trailer

Today I'm going to have a chat about the final trailer that's been released for the Batman and Harley Quinn movie (2017).

Now prior to the actual trailer being released we had been shown a 9 minute feature from the critically panned Teen Titans: The Judas Contract movie and it did create some controversy.
Namely the scene where Harley appears to have Nightwing tied to a bed while she disrobes to either seduce or assault him and also that everyone seemed to hate Harley's voice actress Melissa Rauch.

On these two topics - I personally don't think it's going to be an assault on Nightwing but when we keep seeing this:

And the writers keep saying it's definitely more adult, Harley and Nightwing definitely have a thing and oh yeah don't show your kids this thinking it's the original BTAS!



It kinds makes you wonder. Nightwing's been assaulted several times and Harley's been shipped with just about everyone under the sun. They even had her boink Deadshot. Let's face it, no one was impressed with Batman and Batgirl getting it on in The Killing Joke either.

I'm surprised Harley isn't even on this list, given her abusive relationship with the Joker and being       drugged prior to relations at least once. Just because she was into Joker at that time doesn't mean         it's okay for him to drug her. 

Second point: when I first heard Melissa Rauch's (best known for her role on The Big Bang Theory) take on Harley Quinn I wasn't taken with it. It sounded too bored and too 'deep' or throaty for Harley. 

Since seeing the trailer I find that I actually don't mind it. Melissa is actually damn good with voice acting - even in TBBT alone she never actually uses her own voice. 

BTAS: The Joker's Favour

The Joker's Favor (or Favour, if you spell things correct SORRY AMERICA!!) is the 22nd episode of season one of Batman: The Animated Series. It debuted in 1992 and is famous for bringing the fan favourite character Harley Quinn to life. 

It's also a very well written episode - like well, the entire series - and features an interesting premise.  

What happens if, on one of the worst days of your life, when you think that nothing else could possibly go wrong... you happen to cuss out the Joker?