Publisher: DC
Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti, Frank Tieri
Artists: Alain Mauricet
Colourist: Hi-Fi
Editor: Chris Conroy, David Wohl
Release Date: OUT NOW!
Price: $3.99

The Suicide Squad movie us due for release and with it are a slate of Harley Quinn titles naturally follows. If you are – for some misguided reason, on your part – not a fan, then stop reading now. For the rest of us, well, it’s time to hit the matrasses. Here, in Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #1, Harley Quinn is in full throttle.

Downside one: in Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #1 there are two pages of tiresome exposition (way too much information) but once this is glossed over or inwardly digested – you choose – worthy visuals and text follow.

After moving to Coney Island and forming a team with seven wannabes (Harley Queens, Harlem Harvey, Bolly Quinn…you get the idea), now hero Harley and the gang defeat the Hipster Mafia (nice), and writer Jimmy Palmiotti’s humour peppers the dialogue. “We’re not gonna let ya shake down an’ gentrify the gentrifiers,” Harley tells the lead Hipsterrati. Harley’s solution to defeating the hipsters is laugh out loud funny.

However, in Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #1, Harley is kidnapped and the wackiness continues. This Scooby gang of misfits spend the day at the ballpark and clubbing instead of sleuthing. Eventually blind, wheelchair-bound Coach solves the mystery, but not before a new supervillain is introduced in an ending designed to bring the reader back for the next issue of pulse-pounding, sexually awkward – for a certain type of reader – yes. I’m looking at you – Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys.

Alain Mauricet’s cartoony art sells the silly story by the seashore. Hi-Fi’s colouring adds attractive dimensions to the pages of Harley Quinn and her Gang of Harleys #1.

If Harley Quinn fans like her times eight – and we do – then Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #1 will push all their buttons, many, many times.

Only other downside, the story can be, at times heavy-handed, although Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #1 is still some fun violence. And the success of the Deadpool movie shows this style od escapism is much in demand. And Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #1 may have two downsides but there is a whole bevy Harley Quinns to balance that out for the greater good.

 

Reviewer: Joe Lovece
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker