Review: Harley Quinn #53

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Sam Humphries

Artist: Lucas Werneck

Colors: Alex Sinclair

Letters: Dave Sharpe

Review by Philip Clark

Summary

“Minor Disasters!” Part One jumps into a crazy, adrenaline fuelled adventure with Harley Quinn and Tina the camerawoman. Minor Disaster, the daughter of Major Disaster, has set out to make Harley’s life a living hell with a series of unfortunate events.

Positives

Humphries does a fantastic job at writing a side-by-side story of the contrasting characters. There are however, many similarities to the characters too. Minor Disaster wants nothing more than to be loved and accepted by her father, whereas Harley needs to be loved and adored by her fans in order to gain money and pay for the damages of her last excursion.

There are very raw emotions in this issue, something that the Harley Quinn comic deals with on a rather regular basis. Not one to shy away from the spotlight, or expressing her emotions, Harley’s more in the spotlight than ever before. I am incredibly glad that Tina of Apokolips is back in the issue, even if it is just behind the camera. There’s almost a throwaway comment of how Tina feels since she’s been back, a throwaway comment that I feel will come back to play a part in a later story run.

Negatives

As much as I like this issue, I feel that the story moves to quickly from one point to the next. The Harley Quinn comics tend to jump cut in general anyway, but this issue feels like one of the worst ones in a while. What I would’ve liked to have had is a bit more of a villain’s arch. I like the background villain that is portrayed by Humphries in Minor Disaster, but I feel the character craves to be in the spotlight.

Harley also deals with villains better when in the ‘public eye’. She’s not really one known for cloak and dagger subterfuge, but more well known for publicly dealing with her enemies.

Verdict

Humphries has written a fantastic story that is almost a direct representation of today’s fame and popularity. It gives us a peak behind the screen, and what it takes to create an online personality. All the emotion and hard work that goes into pouring your soul for your adoring fans, only to receive criticism and mean comments.

The artwork in this issue is also sublime, one of the best drawn Harley Quinn issues for a long time. A brand new artist working on the comic is exactly what was needed.

Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment

(This review was originally published on the DC Comics News website on November 10th 2018)