Throwback Thursday: Harley Quinn: Futures End #1 Review

Volcano Girl

Written by: Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti

Art by: Chad Hardin

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 24, 2014

I'll admit, Harley Quinn isn't for everyone.  It's for fun people who like a laugh-out-loud read, not stuffy old jerks who like to be miserable.  What a second, I'm a stuffy old jerk who likes to be miserable and I love it.  I guess Harley Quinn is for everyone.  DC must agree since the book releases twice a month and it's done so without any drop in quality I can see.  Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti have done a great job and Chad Hardin's art follows suit.  It seems when they get the chance to really shine (like the hilarious San Diego Comic-Con issue) they step it up a notch and blow it out of the water.  This issue is one of those times.  During an Event that I have found lacking, Harley Quinn comes through with a hilarious book that had me laughing the whole time. Oh yea, it also features the return of the Joker which is pretty exciting as well.

Who hasn't thought of sealing themselves in a box and getting shipped to the Bahamas for vacation?  Well, that's how this issue starts out, but things go downhill from there. The Bermuda Triangle is in full effect and before Harley can say, "Holee Molee", she is washing up on the shore of a deserted (?) island.  The rest of the issue is full of pop culture jokes and ridiculous situations that were so much fun.

Of course, the main draw is the Joker.  Why he is on the island and what he is doing there is sick and twisted and just pure Joker fun. Remember that going in, however.  Conner and Palmiotti are not trying to bring the whole DCU crashing down with the Joker's return, they just want to have fun.  And fun it is.  The whole will they or won't they get married is great fun and what happens felt a bit like an episode of Gilligan's Island which is the highest compliment I could give anything.

I know I've said "fun" a zillion times in this review, but that's just what this is.  During an event where every book seems to feature a bleak future with severed limbs and back braces, it's nice to see that Harley hasn't changed at all.  Conner and Palmiotti stick with what they (and Harley) do best and I am so grateful they did.

If you have been reading the regular run of Harley, you know how good Chad Hardin's art is.  If you're just jumping in for the Futures Event, you're now in the know.  He does such a great job with Harley's expressions which just adds to the hilarity.

Bits and Pieces:

Even if you are tired of the grimness of Futures End, you'll love this issue.  It's fun, ridiculous and has the Joker.  This issue is just another reason why Conner, Palmiotti and Hardi are one of my favorite creative teams today.

9.2/10