Harley Quinn Perfectly Presented in Kelly Thompson’s Birds of Prey
Harley Quinn is a enigmatic character who is loved and hated in different measures in her many versions. Kelly Thompson has told us everything we need to know about the character in three pages.
Harley Quinn is not your normal comic book character. After starting out life as a sidekick and love interest to the Clown Prince of Crime, The Joker, Harley Quinn has her own comic books, multiple mini-series, a TV show (x-rated), a movie, a starring role in two Suicide Squad movies and is arguably the most cosplayed character ever.
People cannot get enough of Harley Quinn, but she is sometimes misunderstood, sometimes misrepresented, sometimes accused of being covered in plot armour.
The biggest problem with Harley Quinn is her popularity. People can’t get enough of her and consequently a multitude of stories have been created which make it difficult to maintain consistency in the character. The second biggest problem is that the character is all about inconsistency. After starting out as a lovelorn follower of the Joker, she managed to break away from the abusive relationship. She has changed and developed. She is sometimes series, she sometimes breaks the fourth wall, she is sometimes a hero, sometimes a villain.
Fear not. In three pages of Birds of Prey #1, Kelly Thompson encapsulated everything you need to about Harley Quinn.
Thompson’s Birds of Prey for the Dawn of DC restart has been great (check out the Birds of Prey #2 review published last week). In issue 1, Black Canary is looking to put together a team. She has a god and two skilled fighters. What she doesn’t have is a wild card.
Cassandra Cain tells a story of an encounter with Harley
If you don’t know Cassandra Cain, her parents were martial arts experts and assassins who raised her by not speaking and forcing her to read body language. As a consequence she doesn’t say much, but know what you are going to do before you do it.
Sneaking into a crime scene, Cassandra unexpectedly encounters Harley Quinn. Harley immediately attacks, throwing a piece of vase at Cassandra that she easily dodges. As Cassandra approaches, she is already expecting Harley to reach for the nearest weapon, a frying pan. But Harley grabs a fish. The completely unexpected and ineffective choice, throws Cassandra off balance. Throwing the fish, Harley starts an unexpected chain reaction putting Cassandra in the way of a falling bookcase. But not before Harley lands a kick.
Harley starts swinging and Cassandra identifies it as an eagle claw punch, but instead Harley lands a leopard punch. Of course, Cassandra isn’t beaten. She lands a kick that throws Harley across the room and dodges the falling bookcase.
Seeing Harley look at the exit, Cassandra expects her to leave. It is the most appropriate course of action. Instead, Harley swings towards Cassandra causing both of them to crash through the window.
On the way down, Harley shouts “Looks like no winners today, Bat!”
Harley is not just unconventional. She has elevated unpredictability to a skill that saves her time and time again, with the added volatility of showing no concern for her own personal safety. Harley doesn’t have powers, but she uses impulsiveness as if were a special ability.
Harley is a popular character who will appear in many different variety. She will be misrepresented. People will dislike her.
But Thompson’s three page give us everything interesting and great about the character that illustrate why she should continue to appear in comics.
Pick up your copy of Birds of Prey #1 (this is an affiliate link which will provide me with a small income, but won’t cost you any more).