Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Behind Blue Eyes: Part One
Written by: Andy Lieberman
Penciled by: Mike Huddleston
Inked by: Troy Nixey
Colored by: Alex Sinclair
Lettered by: Sean Konot
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics
Over the last year I’ve watched HARLEY QUINN drop steadily on the monthly sales charts. While the last couple of Karl Kesel’s stories lacked the pizzazz that most of his run had, and Andy Lieberman’s first few stories were a little off target, I think the book has been a very good read for the most part. The title is in the cancellation danger zone now, and it’s a real shame!
Lieberman has done some interesting things with Harley, keeping her the same maniac everyone fell in love with on BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, while also integrating more mature themes. Lieberman has begun moving away from the very dark tone he set in his earlier issues. He’s hit a nice balance between the dark true crime setting of Gotham and the wild hilarity that can ensue when Harley is on the scene. Lieberman has flair for witty conversational dialogue much the same as Quentin Tarantino or Kevin Smith.
The first time we see Harley this issue, she’s at her scene stealing over the top best. She’s in the midst of robbing a museum, and in typical Harley fashion, asking the night watchmen’s opinion on the painting she should take. This light interlude leads into the new plotline that Harley will deal with for the next several issues. Harley is given the skinny on a job that will pay more than half a million dollars. She must locate a man that has an encrypted bank code surgically encoded on his retina.
Harley finds out about the job from her confidant, Doc. As I mentioned in my review last month, Lieberman has integrated some interesting new characters into the mix since he took over. Doc was a former surgeon who lost his career because of a drug habit; now he farms out “work†from his illegal gambling joint. He’s been a great partner for Harley, as he’s able to keep up with Harley’s wit, while grounding the series in that faux reality that most of the Bat-Books attempt to maintain.
It’s great to see Matt Huddleston back on the book after a mixed bag of recent fill in artists. Huddleston does an outstanding job capturing both the realism and the hijinks that Lieberman brings to the script. The action is well rendered, even though there is a three-page sequence followed by a two-page sequence with almost no dialogue. Huddleston’s storytelling skills shine letting the pictures speak for themselves and the reader doesn’t feel lost.
This is yet another wonderful issue to give HARLEY QUINN a try. The story is action oriented and exciting, and Lieberman’s dialogue is entertaining. Merge this with some outstanding art, and you’ve got a must have book.
