Harley Quinn #74: Granny Good Times

The penultimate issue of this volume of Harley Quinn has arrived in issue #74, wrapping up the murder mystery plot while also bringing a sense of finality surrounding the more traumatic losses in Harley’s life during the previous issues. It’s full of emotion, that much is for sure, but whether or not the story lands successfully in the end might be a different story.

The real highlight of this issue is the fantastic visuals from everyone involved. Dynamic panels that really help to create motion and impact fill every page and Sharpe comes through with some immediately recognizable letters. It’s a classic Harley book that balances all of the right characterizations with great expressions and designs. It’s simply impressive work.

Humphries has been weaving a murder mystery narrative in the California or Death arc over the last four issues that is both complex and thrilling. Losing such a close friend right after losing her Mom pushed Harley into emotional turmoil that laid the groundwork for powerful storytelling and the resolution was surprisingly engaging. We’ve seen a new side of her through all of this and Humphries has utilized such a range of emotion to really make Harley one of the most interesting characters at DC. Her decisions have been a bit wacky in the past, especially in the “Trials of Harley Quinn,” but the amount of heart that this arc has delivered on is just incredible.

This issue brought back a lot of fun nods to the run so far, including one particularly favorite character in Granny Goodness. It was super fun to see the two going back at it again and while the twist wasn’t all that revolutionary, it carried a surprising bit of weight by exploring the impacts of grief and loss, even on a small scale. This gave just enough substance to the story to really make it worthwhile.

Then we get to Booster Gold.

In Harley’s absurdly complicated love life filled with Joker’s toxicity and Poison Ivy’s fateful romance, over the last few issues and in Harley Quinn #74 we find Booster Gold somehow making his way into her life with hearts in his eyes. It’s a move that feels woefully unlike the Harley we’ve come to know, and builds on an already not-so-great story in Heroes in Crisis with a precedent following the impacts of grief that ultimately feels icky to lead into a romantic relationship. It’s a strange decision, but it’s also one that actively contributes to the bi-erasure that seems to follow Harley Quinn in what feels like every comic iteration. If this fling can happen so quickly but an entire miniseries devoted to Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy resolves in just being friends, I just have to start to wonder. Luckily, the animated series over at DC Universe is paving the way for something else. In her own ongoing comic series, however, everything from the timing to the motivations with Booster Gold just doesn’t land for me, serving as a low point in an otherwise spectacular series.

With the final issue just around the corner and Harley seemingly destined to move onto to new things, it’s a bit unfortunate that we’re leaving the series on such a note. I’m such a fan of all the work this series has delivered on so far and am very excited to see what’s in store for the grand finale in issue #75. There may even be time left to see what’s exactly happening with Booster Gold and Harley Quinn, so here’s hoping for the best.