Well here it is, the comic that everyone's been waiting for. Absolute Batman? Who's that? H2SH? Never heard of it. No, this is what got the whole world talking, far beyond just the usual comic book circles. The responses seemed to range from disbelief to mockery to disgust. I'm sure on some level, DC knew that would be the case when they published it. The solicitation and cover art certainly make no pretenses about what they're going for. With that in mind, follow me on my journey to figure out "why?"

When I started reading this comic, the big question I had on my mind was "who is this for?" The bold tagline of "this comic reeks!" on the cover makes it clear that there is at least some level of self-aware winking at the audience, but that still doesn't answer who it's winking at. One's first impulse might just be to chalk it up to a juvenile gross-out book aimed at kids. The simple, cartoonish art style fits that interpretation, and I certainly remember a fair share of books focusing on slimes, bugs, and other "icky" things at Scholastic book fairs.

There's plenty of content that lends itself to that reading. If nothing else, most of the actual jokes are extremely childish. It's the sort of loud yet simple humor that mostly appeals to little kids. The constant farts and even fart-based superpowers are a big part of that, in addition to things like slapstick gags and loads of puns. However, I don't think that's what this is. What makes kids like that sort of thing is the taboo of something they know is rude. It's the same reason they'll get so much glee out of saying a word like "poop" at inappropriate times. Harley Quinn Fartacular doesn't treat farting as a gross taboo. If anything it embraces it as a good thing.

Maybe, then, this is a sort of body positivity comic, in a similar vein to the children's book Everyone Poops. The opening scene where Ivy is embarrassed about farting could easily lead you to believe that's where it's going. The "Art of Fart" exhibit that Harley visits showing historical artworks about farting (all real, by the way) also fits that idea. At this point in the story it's tempting to concede a fairly positive view of the comic as something for kids about how farting isn't something to be ashamed of, coupled with some immature gags to keep them engaged. That is, until it starts stepping further and further out from what could possibly be aimed young readers.

The exhibit that becomes the central focus of the story, shockingly enough, is a letter that author James Joyce wrote to his wife. In it, he describes how much he loves her farts and could even identify her by the smell of them. This letter is again real, but if you go out and read the actual full text, it quickly becomes very explicit. I don't think my editor would let me write most of what's in it, but it opens with the phrase "My sweet little whorish Nora". Lines like that aren't mentioned in the comic, but Harley comments that the letter feels "sticky", indirectly referencing what Joyce describes himself doing in the letter.

Things only get more sexual from there. It never gets so explicit that it would nab the comic a mature readers only rating, but it definitely likes to skirt that line with innuendo and suggestion. After reading the letter, a man becomes so overwhelmed with lust that we see him rush to have sex with his wife (though it's kept all under the covers save for a few hands and feet, Sims style). The comic later alludes to Harley solving her bad gas by using a wine cork to plug herself. These sorts of scenes just keep happening, and never get any more enjoyable to read. Throughout all of this, the characters, and the comic itself, are simply infatuated with the smell of farts.

Earlier I mentioned how the story opens with Harley assuring Ivy that farts are nothing to be ashamed of. What I didn't mention is that she doesn't simply accept farts as normal. She positively obsesses over the smell of her farts and says how she wants to smell more. This continues throughout the rest of the comic as a running theme, including when Plastic Man suddenly falls in love with the villain who can never stop farting. Everyone is just really into smelling farts and can't get enough of it.

It's not just the characters who want to indulge in every gaseous detail of flatulence, the art does too. So many panels are devoted in excruciating detail to green and brown gasses coming out of butts and going into noses. It goes far beyond visual gags and lingers to the point that there's a seeming assumption that this is something the reader wants to see as well. I would be remiss not to mention the fact that those who bought a physical copy get their own chance to smell Harley's farts with its "Rub 'n' Smell" feature.

At the end of my investigation, the verdict is clear. This isn't a comic meant for kids to laugh at, for them to learn from, or even just a raunchy goof comic meant to get chuckles through shock value. From the constant infatuation with the idea of farts and being able to smell them to the point of sexualization, really the only conclusion is that this is fetish art. What DC has done is take one of their most well known characters and used her as a vehicle to appeal to those who get immense sensual pleasure from the idea of farting.

Recommended If

• You're a fan of any sort of Harley Quinn slapstick comedy, no matter what
• You’re into farts
• You're, like, really into farts

Overall

Harley Quinn Fartacular: Silent Butt Deadly is an unsettling mixture of childish humor and fetishistic sexual innuendo, seemingly only meant to appeal to those who truly love every experience relating to farting. For the small subset of fans out there who fall under that category, I assume they'll be very happy. For everyone else, it is a deeply uncomfortable experience.

Score: 1/10

DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.