Each week I get to look forward to Fridays know that it’s a new chapter of Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red. For those who have read or watched my previous reviews regarding Harley Quinn comics will know I’m not the biggest fan of the character. Like a certain slapstick-ish character from another publisher it’s just a character that hasn’t clicked for me (though I love the classic animated version). Each week though, I’ve come to appreciate Harley and her world a bit more. Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red Chapter Twelve delivers yet another new take on the character and again impresses me how much you can do with her and it still all feels like the same character.

Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti take the writing reigns for Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red Chapter Twelve bringing together Harley and her Gang of Harleys and transforming them into a full-fledged superhero team. I have no doubt this is a chapter where so much has gone over my head as I haven’t read much of Conner and Palmiotti’s Harley stories. But, even with me probably missing a lot, the chapter is a lot of fun and again something different.

The comic is really split into two parts. The first half concerns the formation of the team while the latter is all about their first adventure. Both are full of laughs with references for everyone. There’s jabs at the superheroes to the 90s and costumes in general. If you don’t enjoy that there’s small visual jokes placed all over. It’s a comic that definitely leans in the more “Looney Tunes” aspect of the character and begs you to linger a bit to really soak in all of the jokes. The comic packs a lot in and if you like that more whacky take on the character, you’ll love this issue.

And that’s part of why I really like this anthology entry. Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red Chapter Twelve is yet another complete departure from what we’ve seen before. Conner and Palmiotti dive into the familiar territory that I know of their Harley Quinn work. It’s just that madcap energy that’s full of enthusiasm and bleeding with positive fun. You know Harley’s well-meaning decision is going to spiral and to see where it goes is part of the adventure. How off the rails can the team take it?

Conner and Palmiotti are joined by Chad Hardin on art. Enrica Eren Angiolini provides the colors while Dave Sharpe handles the lettering. The art matches the enthusiasm of Harley. There’s a kinetic aspect of it all with each segment just popping with humor and fun. Hardin and the team add so much detail that I found myself catching jokes I initially missed in my first read. This is a comic where you’re challenged to pay attention to the visuals along with the dialogue. You don’t want to miss half the laughs. Harley sports a familiar superhero outfit while the rest of the team each have the laughs built into their displays. There’s a lot of thought going in to what can be made fun of with the designs and where can it be taken for the humor. But beyond the characters, the background too is full of small details that’ll make you look and chuckle.

Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red Chapter Twelve is a fun issue bringing the classic Harley writing duo into the anthology fold. I feel like a broken record saying it but this DC Digital First series is so refreshing for so many reasons. The fact we get a different Harley each week adds to the fun of the read. The fact we’re able to get so many different Harley Quinns and they all work shows how flexible the character is. Also, this series highlights how much the creative team really brings to our reading experience. That’s a “no duh” but there’s something to see how different, yet at times similar, takes so close together. These aren’t continued story-arcs, they’re one and done stories we can enjoy. For those that enjoy the more madcap looney take on Harley, this a must get.

Story: Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti Art: Chad Hardin
Color: Enrica Eren Angiolini Letter: Dave Sharpe
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.4 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle