Harley Quinn #68: I Told Ya I’m Frickin’ Jolly!

Somewhere amidst the holiday puns, Christmas Cops and Gingerbread Vans is a story about the heart of the season and how Harley Quinn can cope with the recent loss of her Mother in such confusing times. Does that make this a great comic that will keep you coming back?

Well, maybe at least once year…

Harley Quinn #68 is a perfectly fun comic that finds the character in a classic situation primed for her unique brand of chaos and the creative team delivers on pretty much every level. Under writer Sam Humphries, the series has found incredible heart through the character focused stories putting Harley through her paces. This issue touches on those notes, but because of the how long we have been going through the death of Harley’s Mother, it doesn’t feel like there were any remarkable steps forward for the character in that aspect. Coping is an important element of what’s happening and it is clever to connect that to the emotional holiday season, but I was hoping for a bit more drama to counteract the wacky whimsical adventure.

The balance between substantial character moments and wacky fun is delicate at best for a character like Harley Quinn, and it is noticeable when a story leans too hard into one aspect. Harley Quinn #68 manages to strike an enjoyable balance thanks in part to the introduction of Kira, the UN-JOLLIEST! She’s a great character that steals the spotlight but unfortunately makes her exit far too soon. I”m really hoping to see more of her in the future!

Sami Basri and Hi-Fi deliver super enjoyable visuals once again that are just packed with every ounce of Christmas spirit they could muster. Maybe a bit too much. But Dave Sharpe comes through once again with character-defining letters. For those looking for a holiday-themed book to brighten their spirits, this is a great option.

Who doesn’t want to see Harley take on a bunch of fruitcake fascist Christmas cops?!

Ultimately, Harley Quinn #68 is a fun one-shot Christmas story that is very much on brand for the series. For those who have enjoyed it so far, this will be a treat, and for what it’s worth, it’s certainly an improvement on the last Christmas issue in the series. It also sets up a new arc that puts Harley right in the ring as Harleen the Queen! So it seems there’s only more fun to come!