Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Behind Blue Eyes: Part 2
Written by: A.J. Lieberman
Penciled by: Matt Huddleston
Inked by: Troy Nixey
Colored by: Alex Sinclair
Lettered by: Sean Konot
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics
A.J. Lieberman continues to take the character of Harley Quinn in interesting directions. Lieberman, since taking over, has used a less humorous approach to developing Harley’s character. While it’s still quite funny, the grittier approach interspersed with less frequent hilarity really has helped this book take a big step forward. This is in no way a sleight to the fine work that Karl Kesel did on this book for 25 months. It’s just that Lieberman is really hitting his stride now, and the book is as good as ever! It might even be a little better. Sorry, Karl.
This month Harley deals with children. Of course Harley isn’t doing the babysitting thing for giggles, she’s a villain after all, but she has about a half million reasons to keep the kid safe. Harley as much as she doesn’t want to deal with the kid, Amanda, can’t help herself. Amanda has a barcode on her eye with a bank account on it. This is making her very popular with various crime figures. Harley has been contracted to bring the girl in, but slowly is growing attached to her. She’s becoming worried that Amanda’s odds aren’t very good once she gets price checked, if you know what I mean.
Lieberman’s dialogue is solid, and flows quite well. Harley and Amanda battle back and forth like schoolgirls. Amanda doesn’t want to listen to Harley, and doesn’t much like the places she’s forced to go. Again this can be linked directly to the fact that Harley’s a villain. Lieberman really seems to have learned a lot about pacing during the course of his ten issues of HARLEY QUINN. The current storyline is moving along at a really good pace. Allowing for some great character moments, but not once stalling out.
I can’t say just how wonderful it’s to have Matt Huddleston back for this arc. After a couple of up and down fill-in artists, Matt is showing his stuff again. The range of facial expressions he lends Harley perfectly translates the wide range of moods that Lieberman puts her through. Huddleston is as capable of translating the story with the wordier quiet scenes, as well as the less verbose moments of fast paced action.
Lieberman has been tremendously successful at taking a book that felt more like it was situated in the Animated Series Universe of DC, and making it feel more like a DCU title.
The advances Harley’s character has made the last year have been great, she was certainly ready to move forward and become more than the madcap sidekick of the Joker. Lieberman has given the girl new life, and direction, while still keeping the book one of the funnier ones out there.
