Review: Batman: White Knight Presents Harley Quinn #3
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Katana Collins, Sean Murphy
Artist: Matteo Scalera
Letters: AndWorld Design
Colors: Dave Stewart
Reviewed by: Carl Bryan
Summary
“I didn’t become a psychiatrist because I thought it would be easy.” – Harley Quinn
Positives
Can we just all stand up at this minute to give Matteo Scalera and Katana Collins a standing ovation as they have taken Sean Murphy’s “Murphyverse” into another level of detective work and mystery. Honestly, this story needs to be a true movie.
The story telling is phenomenal and I honestly did not see that last frame or two coming. Katana Collins had me looking for Easter Eggs, and then she….bam! She hit me over the head with a gasp in the last frames. Scalera’s pencils are spot on in replicating if not homaging what Sean Murphy has done. Honestly, I do not want to give anything away as this is the Harley we all want. At least I do…
She’s gritty, a detective, a psychiatrist, a mess as a single mom, a devoted Hyenas owner, and one heckuva fighter. Her banter is both dry, honest, and walking that tight rope that is both sanity and well…disturbed.
This script is strong and an homage to old Hollywood. It even has Batman enamored with Harley…Sean Murphy and Katana Collins have literally made Bruce into a school boy crush material (if you like your school boys lurking in the shadows observing their affection through windows).
Negatives
Silence….shhh! Listen and watch as Batman silently appears in the window…again. Nothing here as I just hate having to wait . What a cliff hanger!
Verdict
Sean Murphy, Matteo Scalera, and Katana Collins are hitting all the bases in the series. With every turn of the page, you get Easter Eggs, homages, but better yet…the Harley this character has always needed to be. DC should be praised for allowing Sean Murphy to not only expand the Batman Universe, but to allow other artists and writers play in this Murphyverse sandbox. Now…let’s get Two-Face and Catwoman involved in this!
