Written by Kami Garcia
Art by Mico Suayan
and Mike Mayhew
Published by DC Black Label
The Black Label line over at DC is producing some of the highest quality books out there.
This book continues that trend. It is a smart and well illustrated book that is also thrilling. You really can’t ask for more than that.
The book starts off with Dr. Harley Quinn was working for the Gotham Police Department on a case.
The case she is working on is from something that happened five years earlier to her. She found Edie, who was her roommate at the time in a bathtub.
Edie was a victim of the Joker, complete with one of his deadly smiles. We then see Harley and Commissioner Gordon still trying to piece it all together.
We see Harley back in forth in time trying to put together clues to track down her roommate’s killer. She puts together clues. She interviews various people. She tries to figure out what happened to Edie and more importantly why. It feels like a very real investigation and Kami Garcia keeps the story interesting and the dialogue fresh and interesting.
The issue moves quickly. Almost a little too quickly. She starts finding other victims of the Joker. Then, we see how obsessed she has become. It becomes fairly brutal and things escalate quickly.
I have to say, this may have worked better as a graphic novel. Don’t get me wrong. The story is great and the art is fantastic. It’s just nine issues and a month or so wait may make me lose interest. But who is to say?
The art here is tops. Suayan and Mayhew are each at the top of their game. It has a feel to it much like the television show True Detective with the way time is shown. But it is an intriguing concept and the first issue is well handled. I am in it for the long haul now, no matter what.
RATING: A
