Harley Quinn: Black And White + Redder (graphic novel review)
According to Harley Quinn, ‘What is black and white and redder? A nun in a blender.’ Well, that and other things. A lot of these 18 stories are around the 5 page mark until later in this book, with a few a bit longer but all using the three colour, actually two because white is still a page colour, scheme. Its also showing my age as I don’t recognise any of the creators involved. A lot of the art is cartoon-like but when you consider Ms. Quinn was conceived as an animation character originally shouldn’t be surprising. She and occasionally Poison Ivy bump into a variety of other well-known denizens on DC Earth and off, for that matter, when she gets in the way of the zeta ray for Adam Strange and goes to Rann. Just don’t get too friendly with the plant she brings back to a flu-ridden Ivy.
To some extent, I’m far to used to seeing Harley in continuity and these are really snippet stories, including her origin again. Picking out favourites with such a variety is tough. I didn’t know that Superman had a cards night when Harley and Ivy visit the Fortress of Solitude for a little light pilfering but the Batman doesn’t attend.
Picking out favourites is a lot harder. I do commend one or the writers for using ‘neither’ instead of ‘either’.
The various short stories hint on a lot of the Gotham City villains and even Commissioner Gordon. Harley’s status also fluctuates a lot as whether she’s on the loose, having a psychological profile, giving one back or even locked up. I’m still surprised that the villains are taken by plane to prison as a collective though.
Harley Quinn tends to work in whatever the medium she works in and she does here as well or she’ll show me what her mallet does.
GF Willmetts
November 2025
(pub: DC Comics, 2023. 216 page graphic novel. Price: varies. ISBN: 978-1-779-52604-5)
check out website: www.dc.com
