Robb Ghag reviews Detective Comics #23.2: Harley Quinn…
“If Dr. Harleen Quinzel wasn’t crazy when she fell for The Joker at Arkham Asylum, she sure was messed up afterwards! Find out more from Harley’s time with her beloved Mr. J. and see what got her into so much trouble that she was “recruited” for the Suicide Squad!“
As far as these 3D covers go, this is not one of the best. Regardless of the fact I think Harley Quinn is one of the most original characters to come out of the DC Universe in the past 20 years, this cover is weak.
However, as I had mentioned in a previous post, it’s not the cover that makes the issue, it’s the story, and this is one of the better ones as far as Batman’s villain gallery is concerned. Matt Kindt definitely takes a unique look into the back story of Harley Quinn. I doubt even Paul Dini did this much of an in depth look into Harley’s backstory and psyche.
The art inside is spectacular, and each panel is filled with subtle nuances that drive the story forward. One of the better parts of this entire arc is that we focus on Harley and not the Joker. You’ll always have some component of their relationship in any Harley Quinn story, but we really get a glimpse into what revolves inside that wacky brain of hers.
With the exception of Alex Ross’ black and white Joker story, this storyline really stands out amongst the rest. There’s a great ending splash page in this issue, and leads to a tie-in for Forever Evil. It’s definitely worth picking up and cannot wait to see what happens next.
Robb Ghag works for an Arts & Entertainment Brokerage in Toronto Canada. An Animation and Film school graduate, he specializes in Risk Management of Animation and VFX studios throughout North America.
Originally published September 15, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
