“Black, White, and Redder #6”
Writers: Bruno Redondo, Tini Howard, and Deniz Camp
Artists: Bruno Redondo, Wook-Jin Clark, Babs Tarr, and Fabio Veras
Color Artists: Bruno Redondo, Rachel Cohen, and Fabio Veras
Letterers: Wes Abbott, Becca Carey, and Pat Brosseau
Review by Kendra Smart
Harley Quinn: Black, White, and Redder #6 is out and needs to be devoured! What a Christmas treat this is, as we can indulge in all the greatness that is this collection of short stories. All the writers and artists have brought their all to the table to craft these perfectly tasty treats. So, grab some milk and cookies, throw your favorite holiday tunes on, and let’s partake in our three tales!
*skrrt*
Hold on a second, I would be remiss if I failed to at least impart a few things about the main cover. Jenny Frison’s sex-pot of a film noir Harley is to die for, or fight for. She’s so luscious and exquisite, her eyes and hair are gorgeous. This image certainly would make for an addition to an already ridiculously talented pool of covers destined to be art prints… for SURE.
Just Another Tuesday For Gothamites
Our first tale is entitled “Harley’s All The Way Down”, and is brought to us by Bruno Redondo handling both the story and art with Wes Abbott on lettering. Redondo has been breaking the internet with his work on Nightwing, so having him here and giving us a Dick Grayson guest appearance is a pure joy. Have you ever known from just one image, one teaser, that you’re going to love and enjoy something? These two creative giants did that, and my high hopes skyrocketed past any good expectations that my breath was held for.
The outrageous first scene sets the stage as the newscaster drolly states there is an explosive-wrapped Dodo terrorizing downtown Gotham, with the Bat family giving chase… in their own way. Everyone’s question, however, is what’s Harley Quinn doing there?
The Mistress of Mayhem takes this question through a fourth wall breaking, every iteration hitting tour-de-force of a tale. The writing and the art are perfect, to where each version of Harley’s easily recognizable. Even if the targeted narration points didn’t jar memory cells. There’s also a line about Tom King which is genius.
A Minor Obsession
Our next tale is “Siren’s Rising”. Written by Tini Howard, with breakdowns by Wook-Jin Clark, art by Babs Tarr, colors by Rachel Cohen, and letters by Becca Carey. The artwork’s so fun and has an almost sketchy quality to the pencils that the colors really amp up. The tale takes us back to the point where Harley had walked out on the Joker, and we find her nursing a broken heart at a local bar.
Catwoman joins Harley & Ivy to help with a little breaking and entering, but it doesn’t take long to figure out they have been beaten to the punch… I can’t tell you who by.
Only Some Mild Side Effects
The last tale, “Dr. Quinzel’s Couples Counseling” is lovingly brought to us by writer Deniz Camp, artist Fabio Veras, and Pat Brosseau on letters. The art’s wonderful and perfect for an emotional adventure. The story follows the counseling session of a couple called Brad and Jeanine.
Dr. Quinzel’s only too happy to share her motivation techniques and promote a safe space that’s judgment-free and honest. Her bag of tricks tends to promote that as well, as Brad and Jeanine soon find out for themselves. The banter is so funny and the lines are carried with the perfect facial expressions, so they really hit the mark. Now, no refunds were given, but a result’s a result… right?
Conclusion
Do yourself a favor and get a copy of Harley Quinn: Black, White, and Redder #6. The issue delivers perfection on every level, so pick your favorite cover, settle in, and have a Merry Christmas!
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment
