Harley Quinn #6
Recap
“Yer pal Harley Quinn back again! Now, there might be a lot of new faces in Gotham, but it’s always nice to see an old friend. Okay, so Catwoman explicitly asked me not to call her my friend, but I know she secretly loves me under that tough, broody, leather-clad exterior. You’re not gonna wanna miss this one!”
Review
I’ve been really interested in the outsider found-family themes Stephanie Phillips has moved forward in the first arc of this Harley Quinn run, and in how they have grown wings with Riley Rossmo’s bombastic, over-the-top visuals. And, while said visuals are in the fantastic cover of this issue, the rest of it shifts and makes a little stop in Harley’s trip to meet none other than Selina Kyle, shifting artists as well to the more realistic, classics, 90s style Laura Braga. And, I have to say, this sort of special issue absolutely rocks it, to the point where we have two guest stars in it: the Cat and the artist.
Braga’s art couldn’t fit better in this issue, as the sexual innuendos between Harley and Selina (more on Harley’s side, well, for most of it! and definitely in a way that we get their undoubtful chemistry, even if they’re clearly two friends joke-flirting) get their due with body lines, face expressions and dynamic fights that I can only describe as complex while appearing careless, expressive and intimate while really cartoonish and exaggerated, just all around pretty, fun and sexy. Prianto’s metallic, ever-changing colors that darken and lighten the mood, the humor, the punch of each scene absolutely kill it, and those bombastic FX effects in the lettering make the pages flow deliciously. And the story it has to tell is as apparently careless but taking advantage of every little thing in its favor as the art, in what I can only describe as perfect synch. We get to see the flirty, the rugged, the nonchalant, the nostalgic and the sweet of this dynamic duo, and it’s a feast for the eyes and an assured laugh.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m more than impressed with this creative team, and the “guest star” narrative of this issue works absolutely in favor of it, even within Phillips’ larger narrative, to take a breath of fresh air that is gonna make a fan of any of the two characters smile. With cat/hyena metaphors and all. Oh, and the nod to Red in the ending is absolutely sweet. Can't wait to see that followed up.
Harley Quinn #6: Purrr
- Writing - 10/1010/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 10/1010/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 9.5/109.5/10