[Editor’s note: This review may contain spoilers.]
Writers: Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti
Artists: John Timms & Marc Deering
Summary
Vampires! Vampires everywhere! Eating homeless people!!! But you already knew that if you’ve been reading Harley Quinn in the past few months. Finally though, the government and the news folk have started to take notice and wonder where the homeless are going. Harley is then tasked with figuring that out.
In the last five pages of this issue we also get a story written by Paul Dini and Palmiotti. It’s a cute little look into the past of Harley and the Joker over Christmas and the weird things they do. As a bonus if you’re a fan of Harley’s original one piece, two-tone cat suit, you’ll love the old school aesthetic of this mini story.
Positives
Given that we already know about the vampires and what they’re doing I really thought that this was going to be a boring issue but it impressed me. A dialogue takes place between Red Tool and Harley with regard to homelessness that really is amazing and impactful.
Many people fear the homeless. Sometimes they are dirty or smelly, occasionally they are talking to themselves. I recall a time when I lived in Toronto, Ontario, when a homeless person was walking in the middle of the street and just yelling profanities at 1 a.m. They can be intimidating because they behave in a way that is so far from normal public behavior. Harley has a great little monologue that will really open your eyes if you haven’t taking time to research homelessness and psychology.
Also..
We might be meeting two people extremely important to Harley in the coming issues, which I as a long time fan of Batman and Harley am excited for!
Negatives
Besides the saving grace of that monologue, this issue is pretty straight forward and predictable. It is setting up the next issue and a conflict but does nothing innovative from a story standpoint. This makes the issue feel flimsy and forgettable.
Verdict
