Creative Staff:
Story: Marguerite Bennett
Art: Mirka Andolfo
Colors: Wendy Broome
What They Say:
It’s Christmas in war-torn London, and things are about to get even crazier when the woman known as Harley Quinn is unleashed.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The Bombshell’s series has moved steadily along so far with its first arc now complete, having brought together a lof the main cast to the page, if not in person. It’s been fun exploring the different areas and those with new and very different backgrounds. Even the familiar has been well handled once it got some additional time, such as Wonder Woman. With the Combat phase now underway, the expansion continues and we get the debut of one of the more popular characters of the day with Harley Quinn. When it comes to the figures and merchandise there’s a lot out there and it’s definitely appealing, which translates very well here thanks to Mirka Andolfo’s work. Having just gotten acquainted with their work elsewhere, it’s a treat to see it here as well.
This installment takes us to London in 1940 where we’re introduced to Harleen Quinzel as she does her rounds as a psychiatric doctor at Arkham. It has less of a gothic and creepy feel and more just from the period, though the location itself isn’t much of a character when you get down to it. Quinzel is done up very well here in an almost traditional Batman Animated way here while tying into the 40’s style, complete with white coat and the hairstyle done up. She’s presented as a solid doctor that cares for her patients and is well liked where she is, enough so that there’s a sense in a short span of time that if she left it would be a loss. What’s intriguing, in a small scale kind of way, is that she’s taking care of a patient named Shondra Kinsolving, who is in there due to her participation in her father’s death. Kinsolving was created in the early 90’s during an interesting period in Batman history and has had various small parts to play over the years, so I like her inclusion here as a launching point.
Kinsolving’s rough history is one that’s giving her nightmares that double as premonitions, which hints at dragons and darkness ahead, but also a laughing man with big teeth. It’s not trying to be subtle, because you can’t be using iconic characters like this in this form, but it’s given the right hook because as soon as it’s said, and with such delicious closeness, we get Harleen unlocked. Or rather, Harley unlocked as she struggles with her split personality a moment before going off into the adventure of a lifetime. Her adventure is just the start and it’s not terribly detailed, nor does it feel like there’s a huge point beyond her grabbing a plan and going, but I enjoyed it for her taking a group of girls for a spin on the dance floor and the creative potential use of Hal Jordan here in a different venue and background. I suspect he’s still the same character, but I’m enjoying the nods to the men along the way.
In Summary:
Bomshells has a solid issue here as it introduces Harley Quinn to us in this world and setting, which largely works well. It doesn’t dazzle in a way that some past ones do from a story perspective, mostly because the second half just didn’t click for me as well. I like the character in general, but I’m not enamored of her in the way some others are. That said, she’s going to be a fun wrench in the works as it goes on I’m sure. What I really liked about this installment is Mirka Andolfo’s work is definitely strong here and I love the 90’s Batman Animated feel I got from parts of it, notably in the first half within Arkham. It gives the characters the right kind of roundness and smoothness combined with Broome’s colors to really take it up a notch and make it stand out. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more of her work in this series alongside the other artists.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: October 3rd, 2015
MSRP: $0.99