Harley Quinn has gone through a lot of changes in the last few years, and having now left the Joker behind and moved on to being her own person she's back in Gotham trying to make amends for her past deeds in the first issue of her new ongoing series.
The last we saw the character, in Future State: Harley Quinn, she had gone through yet another change, leaving behind some of the wackiness and weirdness that have become synonymous with the character, and was being used by the forces of the Magistrate, and Jonathan Crane, to hunt down other Gotham criminals. Writer Stephanie Phillips had made Harley into an almost Hannibal Lecter like character who was being pumped for psychological insight whilst being held in her cell. This was an interesting new take for the character, and one I particularly liked.
Phillips has continued on with the character in this new series, and whilst Harley isn't at the same point she was in Future State she does seem to be on a similar path. The Harley presented in this issue is a woman who's put her crimes behind her, thanks in part to having her record wiped clean thanks to the Suicide Squad, and is trying to fix a lot of the wrongs she has done.
This is easier than said, however, particularly in a Gotham City where anyone who looks like a clown can become a target for mob vengeance. Despite this, Harley is trying to do her best, and we even get to see her trying to make up with Killer Croc, complete with gluten free cake. But despite the set-backs she faces as she has to deal with angry crocodile men, and even angrier citizens, she's determined to do good; and this is the real heart of the issue.
We get to see that despite not quite having everything together, with only a half-baked plan and a rundown apartment, she's genuinely trying. Even when confronted by Batman she refuses to back down and shows him that she's earnest in her goals, and that she truly believes that she's one of the good guys now. And even if she's not an official member of the Bat-Family yet she's still given the seal of approval from Batman, a nice toasty seal of approval.
Whilst not a huge amount happens in this first issue it does a lot to set important groundwork. It shows readers the state of Gotham following the events of the Joker War, what's motivating Harley, and even sets up an antagonist for her in the final pages of the issue. Thanks to some artwork from Riley Rossmo and Ivan Plascencia that feels very playful and uniquely Harley-ish the book always feels bold and bright, even when it's set in dingy sewers and dirty apartments.
With so much exciting promise set up in Future State: Harley Quinn I'm super excited to see what Stephanie Phillips has in store for the character, and the places that she's going to take Harley.
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