The product title “Harleen” is already within the 4-7 word range and does not require shortening

She has become one of the most popular comic characters in the past few decades though her character began on the greatest superhero animated series of all-time. Harleen is a character origin story written and drawn by Stjepan Sejic about Dr. Harleen Quinzel’s turn into Joker’s right-hand woman Harley Quinn.

Professionally struggling psychiatrist Dr. Harleen Quinzel doesn’t know what to do with her career as her theory on the suppression of empathy for too long as part of the flight or fight response results in losing it and being mentally unbalanced. After a failed grant presentation and a late night of drinking her disappointment away, Harleen is walking home when she suddenly finds herself at gunpoint across from The Joker only for Batman to save her. The next day she is surprised when Lucius Fox gives her a grant from the Wayne Foundation to pursue research on her theory at Arkham Asylum. Harleen interviews the inmates, a who’s who of Batman’s rogue’s gallery, except Joker until she breaks down and does so. All throughout this time, she can’t sleep which is affecting her perception and thinking. The Joker quickly realizes she’s his ticket out and through his contacts gets her research to manipulate her in the future. But Harleen’s theory doesn’t sit well with Harvey Dent who wants her to quit, which she refuses and days later he is attacked with acid to the face. But the mob boss who attacked him is kidnapped by rogue police officers who execute him and release the video though it shows Batman and Robin coming in at the end. The arrival of “the Executioners” seems to make the Joker’s interviews stand out and she focuses on him for her research, though he has nothing to do with the rogue officers. Dent recovers though the acid also caused brain damage, ironically taking away his empathy, and he publicly derides the failures of the system which makes the Executioners come to him looking for instructions. Dent’s plan is to release the inmates of either Arkham or Blackgate Prison to cause havoc in Gotham City to make the general pubic allow for literally executing offenders. The coin toss lands in favor of Arkham and they stage a raid on the Asylum to release the inmates, but once free Joker tells his fellow inmates that the Executioners are there to kill them which sets them off on a rampage on their rescuers. Harleen rushing into the Asylum to find Joker, not only her patient but now lover, kills a security guard to save Joker’s life then has a mental breakdown as a result and becomes Harley.

Sejic did a wonderful job in building upon the foundations that Paul Dini and Bruce Timm laid in Batman: The Animated Series of Harley Quinn/Harleen Quinzel’s origin as Joker’s doctor to his henchwoman-lover. Taking advantage of the DC Black Label’s adult focus imprint, Sejic shows how Harleen’s slow mental spiral between reality and a living dream/nightmare develops throughout the book including a stunning final page that brings things into clear focus. Sejic includes references to previous incarnations of Joker in various Batman media adaptations now and again as nods to the past, which do not distract from the main story adds to the enjoyment of fans of the franchise. As a longtime fan of Sejic’s art, the book showcases it magnificently and frankly I wanted to go back through ignoring the text and study every panel again.

Harleen is the story of an earnest, dedicated psychiatrist slowly through her own actions and skillful manipulation of her patient joins those she wanted to help. Stjepan Sejic’s wonderfully written and amazing drawn story is a must get for anyone that is a fan of the character or a fan of a well-constructed origin story.

Una opción que debes tener si o si en tu colección

Usually i inhale-read comics but i wanted to take a few more days with this one. Wanted to appreciate the details put into every page and panel but also found myself being gripped by the story, wanting to process it a little more. Expanding on the “Mad Love” origin story that we see given to Harley Quinn, we see her descent into madness almost accidentally, purely out of good intentions and just wanting to help. But then letting her guard down mixed with some rushed decision making, led her down a different path.

Really loved this book, glad i waited for it to come out in trade so that i can drool over the variant covers that have been collected at the end and also, i was lucky enough to be able to get and enhanced cover edition. I love it when by the end of story you just have a big “OOOHHH…. THAT’S WHY” in regards to design choices. Goes to show the thought that goes into details and quality. Just awesome. Harley fan? Get this. Like stories that go a little more into psychological character study? Get this. Want a HQ origin story in the likes of Killing Joke, perhaps? Get this. Though, for me, (AND THIS IS TOTALLY OUT OF PERSONAL PREFERENCE) This Harleen book is so much better than Killing Joke. Left me less confused, more satisfied and pleasantly surprised.

I love everything about this book. The story gives a believable explanation for why Dr. Quinzel would ever fall for Joker. You can see in this picture that the artwork is gorgeous. Highly recommend!

Sensacional é o adjetivo perfeito pra descrever essa HQ. Tudo em Harleen é sensacional, a arte é belíssima, com enquadramentos diferentes e páginas repletas de criatividade e o roteiro é muito bem feito, contando uma nova origem da nossa anti-heroína favorita, Harley Quinn. Ouso dizer que Stjepan Sejic criou um novo clássico da DC Black Label.

Aqui nós começamos a história acompanhando a Dr. Harleen Quinzel em uma pesquisa no Asilo Arkham, ela quer comprovar a hipótese de que os grandes vilões de Gotham passam por situações extremamente estressantes constantemente e isso pode ter desencadeado um diminuição na empatia deles, como acontece com os hormônios. E enquanto ela entrevista os pacientes (Era Venenosa, Sr. Frio, Crocodilo, Mad Hatter, etc) ela se depara com quem seria sua completa ruína: Sr. Jay, popularmente conhecido como Coringa.

Harleen mostra como uma relação intensamente tóxica entre eles vai se formando. Tudo já começa partindo do medo que ela sente dele, vai para a curiosidade, passa pela manipulação até chegar ao “amor.” E então Harleen. acaba cruzando a linha e se rendendo completamente à essa relação insana. Indico MUITO!

P.S.: na edição comemorativa Harley Quinn Black + White + Red tem um pequeno epílogo de Harleen escrito e desenhado pelo autor que é muito bom!