Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red (graphic novel review)
I read the sequel book, ‘Harley Quinn: Black + White + Redder’ before realising that there was an earlier book that started the theme, ‘Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red’. I then realised I needed to check on it to see if there was any logic to using ‘red’ in the title and any continuity.
There is to some extent in the first of the nineteen stories. Harley Quinn is locked up in Arkham Asylum and confounding the psychiatrist there with an obsession with red. Her superior thinks she’s playing with them but can’t figure out the connection until she is broken out of her cell…room. Not quite sure she still chose ‘red’ as her pal, Poison Ivy is more partial to green. Maybe we need a book series using Ivy with a green motif.
There is occasionally some order to the stories here but it is thrown largely by what she wears but Harley Quinn is Harley Quinn and her kind of insanity can fit in anywhere. The book title is based on using only three colours, actually two because you don’t need to paint white when it’s the colour of the paper. So essentially its black and red but sounds better with having white in there although I’d love to see some series doing it with a different colour.
I only recognise a couple of the creators, namely Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, but all the other art is stylised and showing aspects of her character and those she works with. There’s certainly a lot more Batman family interaction and even The Legion Of Doom, although I would be hard pushed to recognise Lex Luthor as its leader, let alone would he allow the likes of Bane and Harley anywhere near him.
Picking out favourites is actually very tough. Probably because each has something to offer, not to mention a lady with a large hammer is looking down on me as I type this. Various aspects of Harley’s career are covered, including her association with the certain Mr. J. as a means to reeling in his more murderous tendencies by making deliberate mistakes. If anything, I think I came away from this book more than a little punch-drunk, non-alcoholic drinks can be bought separately. With so many stories, it isn’t so much carnage but the pace doesn’t let up and you’re off on a psychotic flight, even when she thinks she’s acting like a super-heroine. Outside of the Joker, probably the only other DC character regularly very violent is Lobo, but he’s also a super-Czarnian and can take excessive damage and even the Main Man can only be taken in small doses.
The end stories have a yuletide theme so if you’re after something for this time of year, actually becomes appropriate.
Harley Quinn is still one of DC Comics’ most successful new characters and can be adapted to a variety of art styles without destroying her. When you consider her animation roots, other hair colours are available, Harley’s chaos will continue.
GF Willmetts
December 2025
(pub: DC Comics, 2021. Page graphic novel softcover. Price: varies. ISBN: 978-1-77950-995-6)
check out website: www.dc.com
