Well, that was predictable, now wasn’t it, Officer Pulaski?

Last month, a semi-rogue GCDP Detective tried to cut a deal with one Harley Quinn, hoping she’d trade information on the Bat-Family in exchange for punitive leniency for those inevitable moments when she traipses back over to the wrong side of the law.

But Officer Pulaski is next in line to learn how that sort of thing goes in Gotham City.

The Dynamic Duo!

This month, we kick things off by seeing Harley meet up once again with rejected Freeze-cronies Vampire Squid and Harmada, this time to trade notes on the dastardly technology that’s powering Mr. Freeze’s new and imposing Ice-Scraper once they escape the pesky Pulaski, who has tracked them down. Getting Tim Drake in on the mix for some extra brain power, they hatch a plan to infiltrate the tower and take it down from the inside, only to be predictably caught by Freeze himself.

Tim is a solid pairing for HQ’s m.o. of manic energy. Such a dynamic character as Harley needs people to bounce off of (whether energetically or literally) in order to heighten the readers’ experience of what makes her so much fun. The status quo for some time now has been to have Quinn live with the calm, cool, collected Ivy and play up the touchingly odd couple romance. Tini Howard in her run lately has been casting Tim Drake in a similar role for Harley’s adventuring life, and Tim’s predilection for by-the-book detective work (as well as an initial reticence to open up about his and Harley’s shared status as bisexual icons) plays perfectly against Harley’s constant impulses.

Speaking of bouncing off the walls, Sweeney Boo’s Harley Quinn looks like Bugs Bunny. I mean this as a compliment. It’s not just that the two giant tassels (are the tassels?) of her signature jester’s cap bring rabbit ears to mind, it's more deeply ingrained in her facial expressions and impish choreography. Modern illustration (to say nothing of animation) owes a partial debt to the style and influence of Looney Tunes, and, consciously or no, Sweeney Boo is leaning into this influence to great success.

Ultimately, this is a build up issue to an upcoming showdown with Mr. Freeze, but Harley and Tim’s rooftop two-page rooftop therapy session gives the issue just enough substance to justify itself as a whole issue. Tini Howard’s run on Harley Quinn has been much maligned online, and while there’s nothing necessarily fresh or innovative happening, this reviewer can’t help but root for the run as much as he roots for Harley herself. I’ve yet to pick up an issue without having a decent time.

Score: 6/10

“If Books Could Kill”

Well, a pattern is emerging.

These Harley Quinn backups have been dream sequences for a handful of issues now. A dream sequence is a tricky thing for any creative team to pull off in any setting, even in comics, where readers may be more inclined to accept those sorts of narrative hijinks. 

Simply put, this month’s backup from Joanne Starer and Marcial Tolendano Vargas has been the first good one in recent memory.

It’s a beat-‘em-up romp that pits a modern-design Harley against a squad of Proud-Boysy crypto-fascist book banning protesters (as in, they want to ban books, and so are protesting; they’re not protesting against the banning of books… you know what I mean.) The artwork on display from Marcial Tolendano Vargas is a little slapdash, but any fight scene where Harley gets to pummel bullies with heavy, hardcover books on manners and etiquette is a win in my book (sorry). As I said about the main story in this issue, nothing stellar is happening here, but fans of this beloved character are going to have their expectations generally met and will have a good time.

Score: 8/10

Recommend if…

• You’ve always wanted to see how an HQ and Tim Drake extended team-up would play out
• You like when comic book characters tackle (albeit lightly and vaguely) social issues
• You’re interested to see how the inevitable Freeze showdown is set up

Overall

This issue feels like some looser narrative elements are tightening up. I’m happy to put myself in the minority camp of folks who genuinely look forward to this title every month. I’m riding that high for now. We’ll see how long it lasts.

Overall score: 7/10