Graphic Novel Review - 'Harley Quinn: 30 Years of the Maid of Mischief' by Various

Thirty years.

Of this amazing pop culture icon.

Really, what can I say that I haven't already, a hundred times, about the Clown Queen of Crime, Gotham's Grand Duchess of Destruction, The Dicey Dame of Pain, the doctor and psychiatrist of mayhem, the ultimate antiheroine, the goof, the genius, the beauty, the tragedy, the abuse survivor, the fascinating feminist icon, the eclectic, eccentric Harlequin of absurdity, madness... and hope and freedom?

The Maid of Mischief?

The "happy accident" (quote Paul Dini)? The "lightning in a bottle" (quote Jordie Bellaire)?

The comic stories collected in 'Harley Quinn: 30 Years of the Maid of Mischief' are all entertaining, barely a dud in sight.

The first issue, 'Batgirl: Day One - Act One: Ladies Night', one of Harley's first comic appearances spun off from 'Batman: The Animated Series' (oh, and RIP, Kevin Conroy, best Batman ever), has Harley in a hideous red domino mask for some reason, and she's not in it much. But it's still good, with plenty of Batgirl and Catwoman and Poison Ivy action. There are more of Harley's earlier, and hilarious, cartoony adventures and antics, until we get to some of the official DC comics canon issues.

'The Bet', which I read in another 'Harley Quinn' collection, is included. Ditto 'Kind of Like Family', which I swear is in every 'Harley' comic collection ever. 'Fixer-Upper' from 'Harley Quinn Black + White + Red' is inserted near the end.

The 'Gotham City Sirens' stuff is very good, very well written, and harrowing and tragic. However, it also further cements one of my reasons for not liking the 'Gotham City Sirens' series: there is no female camaraderie. No support between women. Or at least, it's the Harley and Ivy show, and Catwoman is treated like an intruder. No one trusts each other. I know they're technically villains, but they should still show that they like each other every now and then.

Even the Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti comics I found to be genuinely super funny here, for the most part. There're a lot of them, and inevitably the humour is hit-and-miss, but they are fabulously entertaining (I surprisingly don't mind the gross-out, toilet humour - what sorcery is this!? Who am I!?). They're colourful, and can be cute. I adore 'Killin' Time', the New Years special. And look out for Power Girl!

There's a big, long-ass genie story (we're still on the Conner & Palmiotti content) - let Harley's chaos reign on a cosmic level! The Vegas issue - 'Diva Las Vegas' - is mad, balls-to-the-walls fun, and it made me think of things I wish to put on my bucket list (such as spraying whipped cream on a ripped guy's nipples).

*ahem*, moving on:

Harley also gets her surprise birthday party in 'Birthday Blues', which is the only good birthday in her life (courtesy of Ivy, of course), and it's so nice to see Harley, Ivy and Catwoman be happy friends together for a change!

As well as this collection being a funhouse for not only Harley, but for Batgirl, Catwoman, and Ivy, these guys drop in, too: Swamp Thing, practically all of Batman's rogues gallery, and a new character, Punchline, who is like a goth Harley. She's obsessed with the Joker, and is in an abusive relationship with him...

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Okeydokey. Dark, shadow counterpart and all that.

I personally prefer Crush (daughter of Lobo) myself, in the new punk rock, gothic DC girl department.

Oh and last but definitely, assuredly not least, is a Stjepan Šejić issue, 'Submissive'. It's as great as you'd expect, if too short, and it ends on a teasing, queerbaiting cliffhanger.

I may have went overboard with this review. But I had fun writing it; matching how much fun I had reading 'Harley Quinn: 30 Years of the Maid of Mischief'. This anniversary collection truly is a celebration of the icon. The authors of the stories clearly love her as much as the rest of her fans do. They respect her, and understand the many, many fascinating facets to her character.

It's eclectic, erratic, versatile, and, well, fun. There's no other word to describe it. With the addition of the strong female presence throughout - Batgirl, Ivy, Catwoman, and others - it is a huge, feminist hit.

Happy thirtieth, Harley!

May you last as long as all the DC greats. You deserve it.

Final Score: 4/5