Harley’s stepping up, but it may just be a half-step.
Creative Staff:
Story: Brian Buccellato, Christopher Sebela
Art: Pop Mhan
Colors: Mark Roberts
Letterer: Wes Abbott
What They Say:
Beneath the streets of Gotham, Harley’s gang takes on Killer Croc and Bane. Will Harley’s continued mixed feelings about the Joker prove to be a distraction in battle?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
With so much time devoted in this series so far to the whole Harley & Joker relationship side of things, it’s been something of a drag for me. We’ve seen this territory covered before, though at least here it’s a little different since she’s coping with a Joker from a different world after her own was killed, and watching as Harley see-saws in her feelings toward him and her past association with him isn’t clicking as well as it should. It’s not done poorly or anything but it’s been going on for almost the whole run so far amid all the other things going on that I’m very ready to move past it. Harley seems to be as well, going by this chapter, but not in a full on way that one might hope for.
Her and her gang running into Bane and Croc with the underground prison that they have was certainly amusing and having some people that can be brought into play, as they are toward the end here, with the likes of Katana and Mr. Freeze is certainly worthwhile as the resistance has to up its ranks some in order to go against the regime. It’s amusing the reactions by them toward Harley’s group since they’ve been doing guerilla resistance and have had some luck along the way but are roundly dismissed by the costumed players. Some of it is warranted considering they’re wearing Joker masks, and we do get some pushback about how Harley seems to be aligning herself with him again in this new version even after all that’s been done to her.
The bulk of the issue is a fight sequence and it’s made terribly fun because of Pop Mhan’s style and layouts. There’s a smoothness to the progression that’s fun and watching Harley going up against Croc is certainly enjoyable just from the size difference. There’s a good sense of power coming out of him and he’s intent on smacking her down some for past offenses and because he hasn’t eaten anyone in an age because Superman doesn’t like that, but she’s also able to take out some of her frustrations – sans green pill – with his body and that’s pretty cathartic. It’s a solid series of back and forth between the two, all while some Bane versus Harley’s gang plays out, and Mhan delivers it in strong fashion. I love his take on Harley in general and he provides for some good placement pieces here that drives home the dynamic nature of her physical fighting abilities.
In Summary:
While I’m hopeful that the series moves onto some more interesting material soon with the larger fight that’s going on as it adapts the overall game narrative, I suspect we’ll be bogged down in Harley/Joker relationship stuff throughout it. And that does have its place, it’s just that it feels so overwhelming at this point when there’s so much ground to cover. There are some very fun moments here and I’m hopeful that Harley’s gang continues to find a voice and role in the series, but I’m hoping for something a bit more concrete soon. This chapter definitely makes out better with Pop Mhan involved once again as his take on action is solid and fun to watch the first, second, and third time you go through it and catch all the details. Here’s to some change and progress in the coming issues…
Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: November 22nd, 2016
MSRP: $0.99
