Review: HARLEY QUINN & POISON IVY #2
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Jody Houser
Pencils: Adriana Melo
Inks: Mark Morales
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Gabriella Downie
Reviewer: Tony Farina
Summary
Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy #2 begins with the title characters in dire straights. Not in the band, but in metaphorical dire straights. They have been captured by some baddies who need a newly reborn Ivy’s help. Harley, who is having some internal and external dialog about being good or bad, knows that at least one thing is clear; no one is going to hurt her Pammie.
Floronic Man has been eating his way through plant powered beings. Ivy is not quite what he remembered. A tussle ensues. Harley has a bat. Pam has…well, just read. It is pretty awesome. The problem is, Pam doesn’t remember any of it.
So, after that, the newly aware Harley realizes they need more help than she can offer. Since Heroes can’t be trusted (see Heroes in Crisis) and Villains are bad, the crazies are the only way to go. Off she goes to find Mad Hatter because a crazy brain surgeon is better than no brain surgeon.
Positives
Jody Houser, starts out Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy #2 with a joke. She has always written whip smart dialog starts out with a bang. In one simple joke, Harley says, “you want Ivy to help control British flowers?” To which Ivy retorts, “The Parliament of Flowers.” Pow. The joke lands and the reader is all caught up. Aspiring writers, take note. Not all exposition has to be pages and pages long. Sometimes, the simple solution is the best one.
If I were to list the top 5 working artists in comics today, Adriana Melo would be on that list. DC needs to make sure they keep her on the team for as long as she wants. Plastic Man was beautiful. Female Furies was stunning. Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy is borderline perfection. I can’t seem to find a flaw in anything she does. Her Ivy and Harley are so honest. The facial expressions on Ivy tell so much of this already well crafted story. I will quit writing and allow you to see some of the glory.
Negatives
Nothing to report. I mean. I suppose if you hate things that are wonderful, you would find something wrong with this.
Verdict
If Jody Houser put out an instruction manual for anything, I would read it. If Adriana Melo drew the diagrams in the book, I would posterize them. This book is what two creators at the top of their games looks like. Get it now. Get the alternate covers. Tell your friends.
