Harley Quinn Volume 1: Hot In The City by Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, Chad Hardin, Stephanie Roux, Alex Sinclair and Paul Mounts (graphic novel review).
I was curious to see how Harley Quinn was treated in ‘The New 52’ and pulled ‘Volume 1: Hot In The City’ from 2013 and the first 8 issues of her own title. Oddly, the opening story is Harley dreaming of the various artists and how they interpret her and has a massive list of credits. It seems an odd choice to start her own title but gets up to speed in the second story when she inherits a building but warned she has to maintain it upkeep and the rent from its tenants and pay taxes. This is all blended into her psychopathic ways.
There is an explanation given as to why she’s free and can even use her real name and psychiatry for a job in the stories although not who wiped her records clean. However, she is still on someone’s hit list and occasionally has to kill the odd assassin who pops up trying to fulfil the contract. It isn’t until an elderly cyborg called Mr. Borgman turns up and persuades her to help him complete his mission of wiping out some assassins he’s after. As he also knows her dual identities and offers some action, Harley is happy to oblige. Much of which is spoiler but let’s just say it’s all about age.
In some respects, this version of Harley Quinn is more about how she gets on in this society where violence in commonplace and she ups the ante when people are violent to her as in the skating derby.
Chad Hardin and Stephanie Roux are responsible for pencilling seven issues with Alex Sinclair doing the colour and Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti the writing.
As this graphic novel ends on a cliff-hanger, there’s a need to get the second volume. Now, where’s my giant hammer.
GF Willmetts
October 2020
(pub: DC Comics, 2014. 224 page graphic novel. Price: I pulled my copy for £ 4.99 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-40125-415-5)
check out website: www.dccomics.com
