Written by Frank Tieri
Illustrated by Inaki Miranda
Published by DC Comics
Old Lady Harley gets “Shiny and Chrome,” as Frank Tieri takes a post-apocalyptic view of the DC Universe with a version of his Gang of Harleys and a more than a tip of the hat to Millar’s Old Man Logan creation.
Tieri took Punisher to Space and spent time with the good doctor Quinzel and her #SKWAD in 2016’s Gang of Harley’s mini. This is the in-canon follow up to that book and to his April issue Harley Quinn #42, the first appearance of Old Lady Harley. Let’s just say we get some ever-lovin’ fourth-wall breakin’ Deadpool timey-wimey nonsense going on in recent Harley books.
Is that a complaint? Far from it. I appreciate an Elseworlds or future take on any book. Bring it on!
We’re at first given a Dark Knight Returns news report page featuring clones of Cat Grant reporting from across the globe as zombies attack, Bizzaro is President Power Girl’s Secretary of State and Condiment King has taken over the airwaves.
A brief recap shows that Coney Island is burned to the ground in present day before we flash forward to a Furiosa version of Harley is fighting a barroom of angry squid.
As you can tell, we aren’t getting a Millar Old Man Logan rip off here, we are clearly centered in DC camp, schlock and bad Aquaman jokes.
Much like the Marvel Old Man-iverse, this Old Ladyverse has acres of dustbowl land, lots of car chases and marauders to contend with along the way. A familiar bunch of Droogs in bowler hats and suspenders calling themselves Fleck and The Laughing Boys have modeled themselves as worshipping the Joker before Harley’s sidekick, Red Tool, springs into action.
An army of the Azraels try to stop Harley and Red Tool from returning to Gotham but Harley thinks there is a possibility that The Joker is still alive, so she persists!
I really like the pop sensibility and general humor of Frank’s comics and I would grab a volume of his off the shelf any day. Like great Deadpool comics, or the DC’s Legends of Tomorrow TV show, I am gravitating more to the “Big, Dumb, Fun” of it all recently.
And that’s why I will be sticking with Old Lady Harley because the future depends on it!
