Harley Quinn Vol. 3: Red Heat by Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, John Timms and Joseph Michael Linsner (graphic novel review).
Finally, with ‘Harley Quinn Vol. 3: Red Heat’ reprinting Harley Quinn # 14-21, we finally have a world-dominating adversary, inadvertently woken up from imprisonment by Harley as she investigates a locked door in the basement.
What is a bigger reveal is that Harley’s apartment building isn’t in Gotham City but New York. Considering that its always been assumed that Metropolis is New York that should send readers to look at the DC Earth atlas.
Oh, Zorcrom, our world-dominating adversary, really is powerful. Really powerful and the first attempt to stop him by Atlee from Strata fails but Harley makes a connection to him and explains, over various fast food meals, the problems of ruling a world and he can’t just exterminate everyone, especially as he likes his food. No doubt her psychiatrist background kicks in but it should be required reading for any world-dictator. Over three issues, it makes for an interesting story and reveals where Harley keeps her purse and where Power Girl keeps her credit card.
Other plots are interlaced until they come to fruition. The second of these is the mayor wanting a solution to the homeless and his assistant, Madison, hires in a crew of cannibals. When he later discovers this, the mayor is elated as there are no bodies and costs are down. You’ll have to read that one for yourself and hope no real New York or American mayor ever thinks that’s a viable solution.
There is also a matter of Constance Brand aka Harley Sinn, released from prison to assassinate Harley’s friends and then decides she has a better agenda. Again, spoiler. Even more so is the arrival of, for want of a better name, Bat-Lady, the second time traveller from the future after beating the competition.
She’s out to murder Harley for murdering the Batman, even though he’s still alive in the current reality and has to have the alternative reality hypothesis explained to her by her predecessor which should have you raising some eyebrows where you see who is who.
With Volume 2, I complained about the lack of action. With Volume 3, you get it in spades and a better chance to understand this version of Harley Quinn. Unlike her earlier versions, even without the love interest in the Joker, she’s still homicidal when she needs to be but less erratic. If anything, she can be too sane than crazy. I also tend to think she’s gained a few inches in height.
Of course, some of these changes, including being called in by the law occasionally to help out, as needed or she would be forever being back in Arkham Asylum at the end of each story. Then again, there’s still a matter of the Suicide Squad and where does she fit those adventures into her life style.
GF Willmetts
November 2020
(pub: DC Comics, . page graphic novel softcover. Price: I pulled my copy for £ 9.99 (UK). ISBN: 977-1-40127-369-9)
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