Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Review: Harley Quinn #29

By Philip Schweier
October 4, 2017 - 13:27

Harley is running for the highest office in the city, and not doing badly in the polls. Not great, but good enough that incumbent Mayor DePerto has brought in fear-meister Jonathan Crane to deal with the girl.

But Harley has a good support base, not the least of which is Pamela Isley. Eco-terrorist, yes. Criminal, perhaps. But when she shows up wearing a pencil skirt and green blouse, who’s gonna notice? And when Crane makes his move, Poison Ivy isn’t going to let any harm come to her Harley.

The story is getting good, as Harley straddles the line (and more) between good and evil. Crane is written well, making him a long-absent villain in the DC Universe. Robbing banks and pulling off capers is better left for Batman ’66. This Scarecrow has a much more nefarious career, as a “fixer” who uses the psychology of fear as a weapon. I like it.

You might think that three artists on this issue is a bit much, but when Harley gets a whiff of Scarecrow’s fear gas, it takes the psychofunkadelic rendering of Mike Kaluta to properly convey its trippiness. Good to see him working in comics again, however briefly.

Rating: 8/10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12