Two weeks ago, the first issue of DC Black Label's newest title, Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity came into comic shops. I was really interested in reading this series as a Black Label fan, but also because the timing of it coming out aligns with the 3-issue Black Label series by Steven Stejic, Harleen. The two takes on what is ultimately the same character's story makes for good comparison on each author's idea of who Harley is and how she got to the point we are all well-enough familiar with, Harley Quinn. The author of Criminal Sanity is Kami Garcia, known for her Young Adult series, Beautiful Creatures, about a teenage boy in the South who falls for a new student at his school. The town is highly superstitious, and with good reason: the school's newcomer is from a family of actual witches. I read the first book when I was in high school myself. and can attest Garcia is a highly imaginative mind and capable of writing great romance, great tragedy, and great darkness. With this knowledge, I am even more prepared to breathe in the beauty that is her take on Harley Quinn and the Joker's complex relationship. I'll be going over all the basic plot points and characterization from Kami Garcia in her new series! Hold on tight, it's going to get sweaty! Continue Reading for the full review! Looking back, I'm glad I went into issue one with no idea what to expect. All I had read was the solicitation, which gives the standard minimal information to get you going and give you an idea of where you stand in this world. The solicitation, in case you don't recall, tells of a young professional Harley Quinn, going through her career as it becomes decidedly marked by the Joker's activities. I expected him to be much more involved, but as of the end of the first issue, he's merely been mentioned. He is an enigma to this Gotham, un-captured and un-diagnosed. This is different to the recent Harleen by Steven Seijic, which tells Harleen's story during the time of her first encounter with the Joker, leading into her work with him and his inmates at Arkham Asylum. I've already written my afterthoughts on the first issue of Harleen, so it's time to look over Criminal Sanity #1 as well.
Many readers may move to automatically correct anyone who calls Dr. Quinzel by her criminal nickname, as traditionally the story goes that she chose it after joining up with the Joker. However. that idea is one of the first things Garcia changes. While having a conversation with the good Doctor, a peer calls her by her given name, Harleen Quinzell. She's quick to correct him. The name is Harley, and don't let her hear you call her anything else. This moment of Harley putting her foot down to an older man in her workplace shows huge amounts of character from our protagonist. We always knew Quinn was spunky, but her life before becoming Clown Princess of Crime is often treated as an opening act to the main show, and Garcia is here to change that idea. The colors of the comic pages are unique as well. It's a story told in two parts: one is her first encounters with the Joker's work when she was still in her doctor training. The second part is "present day", her career as a forensic psychiatrist, and how her encounters with the Joker have affected her life and her career since then. The unique part is that the segments whcih take place in the past are full color pages, while her present is all greyscale. This is a smart was of letting the reader know, this isn't a pleasant story. Whatever happened to Harley in her past has changed her outlook on life, and things aren't so bright and hopeful as they once were. Harley's "present day" characterization goes along with this. When speaking to a class on mental conditions of various serial killers, she identifies and swiftly scares off the student. Standing up for herself in the workplace on two different ends, in male led industries at that. Garcia has made the point that Harley isnt the type to take anyone's bullshit, so I can only imagine whats coming to evolve her character into the submissive Harley Quinn we all know from the comics, reporting to the Joker. In all honesty, I'm not sure how far this series is going to go, in terms of timeline. It's unclear at this point how far from her fall from grace Harley is, so the end of the story may just be the capture of the Joker. In any case, I'm looking forward to watching Garcia's story play out. It's a bit like a gritty crime drama, which is a totally new take on Harley and the Joker. So far, I'm all here for it.
2 Comments
John Rios
11/6/2019 04:41:11 pm
You sold me. The art style is something that intrigued me from the jump.
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Sensational She-Geek
11/6/2019 04:55:57 pm
Yes! I love that it's flipped from the usual past-in-B&W, present in color. Shows this isn't a story of hope or romance or happiness, bad things happen in this world and that's when her role as forensic psychiatrist comes in.
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