This collection is a good introduction to Harley Quinn as a character. Rather than being a coherent story arc, it’s a series of one-shot issues that give insight into her origins and personality. I kind of liked it that way. Rather than read a longer origin story, I was able to look at pieces and form a portrait. The collection is fun and light an encapsulates some of my favorite things about Batman comics. I highly recommend giving it a go.

Things I Liked

1. Tone: The tone of most of these one-shots is very lighthearted. Even when Harley is committing crime, she’s always having fun, and as a reader, I had fun watching her. The last issue is a bit more somber, but it was a good wrap-up to the lightheartedness of the rest of the volume.

2. Poison Ivy: I loved that many of the issues in this collection showcased Harley’s relationship with Ivy. They aren’t romantic partners yet, but their friendship and mutual affection shines through.

3. Highlighting Joker’s Abuse: A couple issues do a really good job of ensuring that readers see that the Joker isn’t a good boyfriend. Harley’s love is portrayed as obsessive, even when she’s standing up for herself, which makes it harder to romanticize their dynamic. There’s nothing graphic in this volume, so readers who just want fun can read this collection with ease, but it’s not so lighthearted that you can’t see how the Joker simply uses Harley to achieve his personal goals.

4. Harley’s Qualities: I liked that this collection did not simply portray Harley as a lovesick criminal mind. True, she’s obsessed with the Joker, but that’s not all there is to her. The selected issues ensured that readers saw Harley’s other qualities: she’s a genius who did well in school, she makes earnest efforts to change (when she wants to), and she’s clever and resourceful. I also really liked the last issue, which gave us insight into her psyche and questioned her fulfillment in criminal life.

Things I Didn’t Like

1. Women: Not all the time, but sometimes, the way women were portrayed was slightly irksome. Harley and Ivy’s kissing bet, for example, was less fun for me to read, but I’m picky, so others might not take issues with it. Also, the costume in the last issue was a bit revealing, which puts me on edge given my exhaustion with the “sexy comic book women” trend.

2. Presumption: This collection assumes that some readers will have some base knowledge about Harley and Batman comics, which is fine if you’re familiar with Gotham, but it will be confusing if you’re new to the comics or the character.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in Harley Quinn, Joker, Poison Ivy, Batman, and origin stories.