How many years have I been doing this? It's once again the last week of the year, "The End" week, where we look at last issues of various comics. And we start with one that's probably pretty indiciative of modern comics: it's a DC last issue that's
also part of a crossover, 'cause that's how DC rolls. It's got
35 variant covers--well, I guess 1 regular and 34 variants. Whatever. She had two series before this and has relaunched since this one, too! From 2020,
Harley Quinn #75, "Happy Birthday, Harley Quinn!" Written by Sam Humphries, art by Sami Basri; Nicola Scott; Emanuela Lupacchino; Ramon Villalobos; Ngozi Ukazu; Joe Quinones; and more.
Harley wakes up, hungover and tied to a chair; which probably isn't that unusual for her; except this time it's for her birthday roast, hosted by her best friend, Bernie the Stuffed Beaver! Cue a bunch of embarrassing (and non-continuity) stories about Harley, like her with a Super Friends-styled Justice League, with an ever-expanding social circle/supporting cast from earlier issues, or with the Suicide Squad. They're all pretty funny, if not especially flattering for her; but then we get a story from Harley's late mom, about the loss of her childhood cat, Pinky. Harley then has one more story, in an animated series style, where she's learned to embrace bad feelings, and then let them go.
The story ends with Harley enjoying a birthday cupcake with a friend, but because comics, there's another story: namely, Harl getting her throat cut by her replacement, Punchline, in the
Joker War crossover. (These two pages are consecutive: feels like they should've been broken up by an ad, editorial/letters page, a pin-up, something!) Thrown away to die, Harley hallucinates guardian angel/inner demon "Quinnie," who gives her a few flashbacks while encouraging her to lay down and die. But she's not ready to go out just yet...
Of course, Harley would get another
#1: I think moreso than some other heroes, she's had long runs from writers, and rather than hand off they usually go with relaunches. Or, it may have just been linewide relaunch time. I lose track. A fun issue on its own, though.
2 comments:
I know at this point it’s pretty much pointless to complain or expect mainstream comic companies like the big two to NOT have their series written both for trades and like they’re seasons of a show, constantly locked into a never-ending cycle of relaunching titles with shiny new #1’s after a certain period. At this point, they might as well give them the clear definition of being seasons.
Almost definitely a linewide relaunch thing- this was the Conner/Palmiotti book that started the Harley-mania that DC’s had the last 10 years. I feel like she had maybe one series and a couple of one-shots before this. They can hardly go 3 months without giving her a special or miniseries now.
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