“The Crazies”
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Jesus Hervas
Color Artist: David Baron
Letterer: Andworld Design
Review by Philip Clark
The Arkhamverse assault continues in Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum #3. This issue brings the crazy with it! With everything that’s happened in the last two chapters, this one doesn’t slow down and focuses on the escape attempt of one Harley Quinn.
The Harley Quinn Show
Oh how I’ve missed this version of Harley; the off-the-wall crazy, but with just an underlying glimmer of a deep, hidden intelligence. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy the ‘anti-hero’ Harley, she’s great too, in her own way, but this version just has me cracking up!
Her wit and one-liners are unparalleled, only competing with her manifestation of self-importance. The interactions between her and the incoherent Scarecrow are fantastic. The way she acts like she can understand his babbling, so it seems like they’re sharing an inside joke, had me chuckling.
This is the Harley I grew up with and fell in love with as a character. I mean, she pokes Killer Croc in the eyes… for crying out loud, who does that? Then, for her to become completely infatuated with Scarface, while ignoring the fact that he’s a puppet, is totally Quinn! I simply love everything about how she’s written in this issue.
The art style’s had to grow on me I’ll admit. I wasn’t a massive fan of it in the first issue, but I liked the second installment a lot more. With Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum #3, I’m sold. The chaos and combat are a really big part of any Suicide Squad comic and need to be handled well. Here, Hervas and Baron really pull it out of the bag and blend everything together into a mosh pit of pure, chaotic fun!
Conclusion
I can tell that this is going to be a series that will continue to grow and improve. I’ve already noticed an increase in confidence in the creative team from the first issue to this one; they’re really finding their feet and starting to run. Hold onto your hats people, because we’re going for a ride!
Also, (because I know someone from DC must be reading this), please give us a road trip-styled spin-off series of the doctors in Batman’s Rogue Gallery. I’d love to see Harley, Freeze, Ivy, and Scarecrow all going across the country causing mayhem. Pretty please?
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment
