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Stephanie Phillips, David Lafuente, Marco Failla, Jon Sommariva, and Miguel Muerto’s Harley Quinn Annual #1 is a fun-filled joy to read.
From her tumultuous relationship with the Joker to fighting in the Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn has always been fascinating. But, Harley is at her best when she’s working independently, cracking jokes and busting heads. Now that her feud with Hugo Strange has come to a close, she may have to face an even more insidious adversary. Stephanie Phillips, David Lafuente, Marco Failla, Jon Sommariva, Miquel Muerto, and Andworld Design’s Harley Quinn Annual #1 sets the stage for this new rivalry in a charming, action-packed story.
Harley Quinn Annual #1 begins when Solomon Grundy and Kevin arrive at Mr. Freeze’s hideout to ask for help finding Harley. Freeze responds violently to the intrusion, freezing both Grundy and Kevin in blocks of ice and demanding an explanation. So, Kevin tells him the story of how Keepsake, a two-bit henchman, kidnapped Harley and his efforts to rescue her. As the story of Harley and Keepsake’s confrontation unfolds, it seems to involve several of Gotham’s villains. Kevin is determined to get to the bottom of things and help his friend.
Throughout her time writing Harley Quinn, Phillips has expertly balanced madcap humor with emotional sincerity to make Harley and her allies some of the most fun and heartfelt heroes around. Her work in Harley Quinn Annual #1 is certainly no exception. In his goofy but well-meaning narration of Harley’s first encounters with Keepsake, Kevin shines as the perfect sidekick for Harley. His timid, sweet personality is in sharp contrast to Quinn’s gruff fearlessness. And the two seem to bring out a broader emotional range in one another. Phillips masterfully explores the characters and their dynamics but leaves plenty of time for action too. Unfortunately, there are so many brief fights that many end up being fairly forgettable.
Artists David Lafuente, Marco Failla and Jon Sommariva all work together to provide engaging character and costume designs. However, their work really shines when the action starts. Whether they’re drawing Solomon Grundy lunging at Freeze or Harley dodging bullets in a crowded restaurant, it is impossible to look away from these exciting pages. Colorist Miquel Muerto’s vibrant work adds a sense of continuity that effectively blends the three artists’ styles into a cohesive, cartoony aesthetic that matches and enhances the tone of the story. The less realistic style puts the over-the-top nature of the story into an appropriately stylized context that helps audiences suspend their disbelief and lean into the zany story.
Harley Quinn Annual #1 is a great follow-up to the first six issues of Phillips’ Harley Quinn, but it also functions as a perfect place for new readers to start. The whole creative team has distilled all of the things that make Quinn such an endearing character into a page-turning issue. Harley’s unfortunate run-in with Keepsake is equal parts funny and frightening and sets the stage for what is sure to be an intense and compelling rivalry that will incorporate key elements of the hero’s history while beginning a new and exciting chapter.
Harley Quinn Annual #1 is a remarkably fun comic with a lot of heart.
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