That was... intense.
Terrifying.
Divine.
Sublime.
Adult.
Human.
Everything Harley Quinn deserves. Has always deserved.
I can't believe that basic, misogynistic trash like 'The Killing Joke' is a mainstay classic in Batman and Joker graphic novels, when there exists well thought out, vastly and dangerously interesting, powerfully symbolic, intellectual, psychological, disturbing, and mature titles such as 'Harleen' in the same medium. It is early days, grant you, but to myself and many it has already earned its acclaim as a modern classic.
What can I say what loads of other reviewers haven't already? I'll try.
Harleen Quinzel is a doctor of psychology. A serious one, and a grown woman. There is nothing cutesy, marketable, digestible, elementary or banal about her and her state of mind.
There is a reason why this graphic novel is titled 'Harleen' and not 'Harley'. It is about her before life as a career woman, astute and rational, about to make a revolutionary breakthrough in criminal and war soldier psychology. Her newfound theory is about what drives a person to cut off empathy altogether; about what makes a sociopath. If only others will take her seriously. Her theory can be provided with further proof by landing a job interviewing the inmates of Arkham Asylum.
What could go wrong?
'Harleen' is about one unappreciated woman's slow and steady decent into the madness she is trying to unravel and make sense of.
This is her story.
This is her tragedy.
It is sad and scary how fragile sanity can be when living in a dark and warped society. Even the most levelheaded and educated of people can succumb to the disease of madness (or is madness a cure?!). If everyone is a little messed up in their own individual way, anyone can be drawn and seduced into a world of anarchy and toxic love, by coolly calculated mania.
The Joker - narcissist, psychopath, sociopath, lunatic, unhinged, attention seeker, persuader, manipulative monster. Everything you want him to be, for his own benefit. He is as evil and alluring as he's ever been.
In 'Harleen', the Joker and Harley met before Arkham Asylum. When he pointed a gun at her head during a heist (a caper, really). That's only the start of their "love". The clown prince of crime says to Dr. Harleen Quinzel, as her patient, that Gotham - that any attempt at civilisation - is a city of monsters. That the enraged, the insane, and the violent are the fully realised and true personages of humanity. Anyone is capable of being a killer. Harleen is given a lot of reasons to believe it.
It is twisted. And intoxicating.
But can there be a cure? A hope? Can anyone so far gone come back, and climb out of the abyss?
Even the Batman seems unsure and hopeless about the Joker's possible redemption, when Harleen is given a chance to ask his opinion on the matter.
How could someone as smart - and scared, for she has nightmares about the Joker as well - as Harleen be taken in by an obvious monster? What would make her think that he can be helped, that he WANTS to be helped? She is aware of how much of a manipulator and a liar he is. He is a psychotic serial killer who pointed a gun at her.
But by her methods, can she crack his code, his mind, his true feelings? Draw out her Mr. Jay's vulnerable and human side? Heal his scars? Add new ones, as he smiles? And she smiles. Who's the doctor and the patient - who holds the actual power - in this relationship?
Thus begins the toxic cycle downwards, towards abuse and ruin. 'Harleen' is one of the few abuse stories that seriously knows it's about abuse. It understands what it means. 'Harleen' is 'Little Red Riding Hood' (the parallel is beautifully drawn in one page) for psychology students and anyone over twenty. It is a catastrophe (with many layers), an exploration of psychosis - not a love story, make no mistake.
My, Grandma...what fascinating mental issues you have.
The better to draw you near, my darling.
Dr Harleen is also Alice (the Mad Hatter even calls her that when she interviews him), descending deeper into the maddening Wonderland, perhaps never to return.
To reveal more would spoil the impact - the punch(line) of the tragedy - I think.
If you are familiar with the work of Stjepan Šejić, then you know that he does "adult" very well, and that his artwork is just as impressive. 'Harleen' is no exception. The art is pretty much perfect; dark, wonderfully detailed, and shocking. The symbolism - in the panels set in reality, in dreams, and in mad episodes of the psyche - is gorgeously done. His hard work shows on every single panel of this project totalling 208 pages.
Other things I have to mention:
It's small, but it's there: hints of an establishing relationship between Harleen and Poison Ivy are in 'Harleen'. Šejić even made draft pages that depict Ivy as Harley's saviour - and true soulmate. He must be a fan of them together. Good - they've needed to get back to that development for years now.
Harvey Dent/Two-Face is also present, and his story echos and collides with Harleen's brilliantly.
It is Bruce Wayne's foundation which funds Harleen's research and gives her a place at Arkham (in more ways than one, as is the case) in the first place. Bruce expresses remorse over this and his possible bad judgement at the end of the graphic novel. He says the Joker took her work and her kindness and used it against her, and blames himself for not foreseeing anything like it happening. Though of course many factors are to blame for the doctor becoming Harley Quinn. Could Batman be her beacon to her lost and shattered sanity? Who knows. There are no easy questions and solutions in 'Harleen'.
Wow. What an experience.
Stjepan Šejić's 'Harleen' is, without a shadow and mirror of a doubt, one of the best 'Harley Quinn' stories ever written and drawn. If not, one of the best stories to feature Batman, period. It, 'Mad Love', and 'Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass', a YA retelling, are among my absolute favourites of the character's origins and interpretations in comics. The adult retelling delves deeper into Harley's psyche - her mental processes, her dementia - than any other telling of her origin I've seen. It is her case study, told from her point of view.
'Harleen' is a horror story not for the very faint of heart and mind, but it is fascinating and terrifically told. Those interested in human nature, cynical or not, nihilistic or not, may get a kick out of it, too.
Harley Quinn - An ordinary and promising doctor who went in too deep, who had made assumptions, and came out the other end turned into a sadistic and violent murderer. And then she turned into an antiheroine, as is canon nowadays. Harley can be as charismatic, mad, cunning and evil as her puddin', the Joker; but unlike him, she has a hope of redemption. Because she has a clear, solid past. And goals.
I'll leave off my scattered mess of a review with these quotes, then bid farewell and an "enough said":
'I spent the rest of the day feeling disgusted with myself for letting such a thought even enter my mind...Little did I know it was far from over...He had stolen my nights...my days...and my smile...Next...next would be my heart.'
'It felt right. Almost prophetic...Delusional though it was in the end, I truly believed it...First, I would save him...then I would save this city of monsters...What a wonderful dream it was...'
'The road to hell is paved with good intentions. On that road I saw a pale man...And he smiled at me.'
Final Score: 5/5
P.S. The one legitimate negative I can give 'Harleen' is: Batgirl is mentioned to be in action once, in Arkham, but she is never seen! Robin makes an appearance but not Batgirl! Aargh!
Heh. Getting mad over the objectively little things...
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