Harleen (2019) (Harleen (2019-)) Kindle & comiXology

What can I say, this was literally my favorite series of 2019, the art is beautiful, and the story is amazing. Sejic did a great job of taking the elements from Mad Love, but modernizing and diving even deeper into what made Harley become a villain and lose herself to the Joker. On top of that, some of the more cliche parts from Mad Love have been dropped, to make it not just a more grounded telling of the origins, but in a way more relatable. Harley's transition throughout the series feels natural, and even knowing how it ends, it is still thrilling to read. On top of that, Harvey Dent, while a side character is fleshed out a bit at the same time in an interesting way.I could write more about how great this book is, but do yourself a favor and buy it. Especially since it is now in a collection, with an amazing cover/sleeve combo.Also, as side note, DC if you want to make a good follow up to Joker, make this into a movie!!!!

Even if you don't like the Superhero genre, buy this. The cover+sleeve and art is worth it alone. Fantastic. I'd buy another just to give to a friend. It's freaking amazing!! <3

Pre-ordered in September, got it just before Valentine's Day.I wanted to say that this was a great book. The dust jacket is plastic, so there's no need to worry about damaging it. The whole book is pretty.My only complaints are the typos, of which there are far too many, and the font size/picture size are way too small to comfortably read for long periods, especially in the extras in the back (which can be impossibly small). The story is fleshed out well, and there's none of the "male gaze" sexism in the artwork. There's no queerbaiting from the Joker, either, which is nice to see. Very nice to see.I like how their relationship grew, and how the story ended. I won't go too far into it, because I don't want to spoil anybody, but this was done so well that I didn't notice any abusive elements. Harley made her own choices, even if they were mainly to follow her heart. I thought it was a great read just in time for Valentine's Day, and unlike most opposite-sex relationships in fiction, this was believable and not written purely to titilate or to make the woman into an empty sex doll of a person. To those who need to know, there's nothing rapey in this, it's 100000% consensual.Harley was written well, and so was everybody else. This was the best comic book version of the Joker I've ever read. He was pretty, too, and not nightmare-inducing... At least not for the reader. 😏

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.

The cover and overlay of the cover is beautiful all on it's own, and the art and story are just what I wanted. So happy with this beautiful creation

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.

First off, the jacket to the novel is great - the picture on the cover is actually transparent over her eyes and the hole in her mask, with another cover of Harleen the therapist underneath.As ever, Stjepan makes unconventional attractions relatable and emotional whilst still feeling grounded - Harleen's gradual loss of touch with reality and falling in love with the Joker has time to breathe, whilst we're given enough of Joker's past manipulations to make his facade for Harleen apparent without making her look stupid.Poison Ivy stands out with the roots of their friendship/romance (depending on continuity) set up well in this origin story, with plenty of other Batman villains making cameos. Harvey Dent's also set up in the story to provide antagonism for Harleen's rehabilative drives and to give her more of an impetus to cross line after line in her sessions with the Joker.I couldn't ask for a novel that better sums up her character

Didn’t realise why this was so thick and expensive when I bought it compared to the one I had previously bought by mistake. The last one I had was a hardback comic in German and only contained the first of 3. This is expensive because it has all 3 comic manufactured into 1 book! So don’t make the mistake I did by trying to find the other 2 comics thinking you don’t have the full set as it’s all included in this and it’s not made clear. Very happy overall though just need to shift these other 2 comics that I don’t need now also I’ll miss the artwork.

I knew from the moment I read the first volume online that I HAD to purchase this - it's Mad Love all over again but waaay more detailed and showing Harley's psychology and fall. The drawings are a wonder to look at, symbolism, and the writing is really amazing.A big 5 stars to Amazon as well for the best price out there (it's a big high quality cover volume including the three parts), and arriving in just one day, I was expecting it to come next week.Super happy with this purchase!

I know this is a big boast, but I have read many thousand GNs over the years, and rarely have I read anything quite this good.The story is intelligently written and the art is simply gorgeous. Not that this comes as any surprise, given Sejic' work on the outstanding Sunstone, but even so the book oozes class, from the exceptional dustcover to the very last page.Read it or regret it.

I ordered this book after seeing it advertised in my 'based on previous searches' feed. I instantly felt drawn in by the stunning artwork which was quite unlike any I had previously seen. When the book came, it was much larger than I expected and has a 3d style cover. I began reading it that night with great enthusiasm. The pictures are truly stunning and are very detailed. The story itself is one of the best Harley/Joker backstory versions I have read to date and by far the one which is more believable. I read it in about 3 days and I would again. There is nothing I would change about this book. Just hope the author does some more Harley/Joker themed stuff. Highy recommend for any die hard fan of Harley and the Joker.