“Surprise, Surprise” Part Two
Artist: John Timms
(Minor spoilers ahead)
The aftermath of the worst birthday party ever hovers over the pages of Harley Quinn #26 this week. While meeting with a mystery man to discuss the future, Quinn, Catwoman, Poison Ivy and others fill in the gaps where last issue ended and where we are now. Basically, the Gotham City Sirens kicked a lot of ass, took names, and even have a hostage of sorts. By the final panel, we know the end game, and it’s deliciously bonkers.
Oh man, how fun. This issue continues the steady flow of humor, action and excitement this title has consistently spread since launching last year. Writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner know this character and her world so well. Their storytelling is top notch here, juggling multiple timeliness to get us caught up by issues end. Sure, we’ve seen this tactic done before, but they have so much energy behind it. An element I have come to enjoy is how the writers continue to surprise us with each character’s action and words, yet everyone is true to themselves. We’ve known Harley Quinn for 25 years now (Catwoman and Poison Ivy even longer), yet we can’t predict the next move. It makes for an exciting story, and to do that every 2 weeks with 21 new pages, it’s impressive.
The art this week is brought to you by John Timms. He’s been a member of the Harley Quinn art club for a while, and is always bankable. His drawings are distinct, but give a fun, colorful vibe in every panel. The action is excellent, and the slower moments are intriguing. It takes quite a talent to contain Harley Quinn on each page, but Timms continues to prove he’s up to the task.
Conclusion
Unapologetic, action-packed, violent, humorous and overall just fun, Harley Quinn #26 continues to remind us why we love comics in the first place. It’s a blast from the first panel, and by the last, has you ready for the next issue.
Images courtesy of DC Entertainment