{"id":35895,"date":"2026-07-31T08:00:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T08:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=35895"},"modified":"2026-07-08T17:19:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T17:19:03","slug":"harley-quinn-and-the-gotham-girls-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2026\/07\/31\/harley-quinn-and-the-gotham-girls-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Harley Quinn and the Gotham Girls"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nBy Paul D. Storrie<\/strong>, Jennifer Graves<\/strong> & J. Bone<\/strong>, with Brad Rader<\/strong>, Rick Burchett<\/strong>, Patricia Mulvihill<\/strong>, Phil Felix<\/strong> & various (DC Comics)
\nISBN: 978-1-4012-9971-2 (TPB) 978-1-4012-9972-9 (Digital edition)<\/p>\n

This book includes Discriminatory Content<\/strong> produced in less enlightened times.<\/em><\/p>\n

Harley Quinn<\/strong> wasn\u2019t supposed to be a star – or even an actual comic book character. As soon became apparent, however, the manic minx always had her own astoundingly askew and off-kilter ideas on the matter… and any other topic you could name: ethics, friendship, ordnance, coffee…<\/p>\n

Created by Paul Dini & Bruce Timm, Batman: The Animated<\/strong> Series<\/strong> aired in the US from September 5th<\/sup> 1992 to September 15th<\/sup> 1995. Ostensibly for kids, the breakthrough TV cartoon revolutionised everybody\u2019s image of the Dark Knight and immediately began feeding back into the print iterations, leading to some of the absolute best comics tales in the hero\u2019s many decades of existence.<\/p>\n

Employing a timeless visual style dubbed \u201cDark Deco\u201d, the show mixed elements from all eras and aspects of the character and, without diluting power, tone or mood of the premise, reshaped the grim avenger and his extended team into a wholly accessible, thematically memorable form that the youngest of readers could eagerly enjoy, whilst adding shades of exuberance, sophistication and sheer panache that only most devout and obsessive Batmaniac could possibly object to…<\/p>\n

Harley was initially the Clown Prince of Crime\u2019s slavishly adoring, abuse-enduring assistant in Joker\u2019s Favor<\/em> (airing on September 11th<\/sup> 1992) wherein she instantly captured the hearts and minds of millions of viewers. From there on she began popping up in the licensed comic book and – always stealing the show – soon graduated to mainstream DC continuity.<\/p>\n

Along the circuitous way, Harley – AKA Dr. Harleen Quinzel<\/em> – developed an outrageous support network of sorts including living bioweapon Poison Ivy<\/em> and settled into a bizarre love\/hate relationship with some of Gotham\u2019s other female felons.<\/p>\n

After a period bopping around the DCU she was re-imagined as part of the company\u2019s vast post-Flashpoint<\/strong>, major makeover and appeared as part of a new iteration of The Suicide Squad<\/strong>. Now with numerous motion picture, TV animation and live action small screen presence all in play, let\u2019s look back at one particularly fruitful and significant phase, At heart, Harley\u2019s always been a cartoon glamour-puss, with big, bold, primal emotions and only the merest acknowledgement of how reality works…<\/p>\n

Amongst the plethora of comic books generated by the original cartoon show was this smartly sassy romp featuring those aforementioned crime cuties as well some mismatched if not openly antithetical law enforcers. Crafted by Paul D. Storrie, Jennifer Graves & J. Bone, 5-issue miniseries Gotham Girls<\/strong> was released between October 2002 and February 2003: opening with \u2018Cat\u2019s Paw\u2019<\/em> as super-thief Selena Kyle<\/em> undertakes a commission to steal something very nasty from agricultural conglomerate Zehn Chemicals.<\/p>\n

The Feline Felon\u2019s still determined to open a lion sanctuary with her fee and doesn\u2019t appreciate when the supposedly simple caper is interrupted by juvenile do-gooder Batgirl<\/strong>. However, as they trade kicks, punches and quips, overworked, under-appreciated and overlooked GCPD detective Renee Montoya<\/em> is taking a closer look at the supposed victims and sees something dirty in the company…<\/p>\n

Then, as Bat & Cat ferociously but inconclusively throw down all over town, the masterminds paying for the heist make their move, and it becomes clear that there\u2019s a lot going on that needs to be properly unearthed…
\n\"\"
\n\u2018Ivy League\u2019<\/em> exposes murderous eco-terrorist Pamela Lillian Isley<\/em> as bankrolling the caper, claiming justifiable and benevolent motives to reclaim her own property from unscrupulous, world-endangering corporate creeps. However, because her bestest pal Harley is as erratic and excitable as ever, a potential Bat\/Cat\/Plantgirl\/Dingbat alliance is thwarted by mutual mistrust and excessive, utterly unnecessary violence. Montoya, meanwhile, is diligently following clues, interviewing greedy biologists and uncovering something at rival agri-company Kayle Corporation…
\n\"\"
\nThe fast-moving melee ends in leafy Robinson Park, with Batgirl holding the stolen chemical soup, until \u2018Harlequinade\u2019<\/em> sees manic, attention-starved Quinn pull a martial masterstroke, delivering the bio-booty to her disturbingly abusive gal-pal and a heavy defeat to Catwoman & Batgirl. Naturally, that\u2019s just when solid police practice explosively brings Montoya to their secret lair for penultimate power struggle \u2018I Carry a Badge!\u2019<\/em>…<\/p>\n

Brilliant deduction and a standard-issue firearm aren\u2019t much use against supervillains and giant carnivorous vines though, so it\u2019s a good thing Batgirl & Catwoman have both independently tracked Harley & Ivy. With action amped to maximum, good girls and bad girls clash yet again, and sides are finally drawn for a climactic conclusion, with frustrated cop and masked vigilante hero united at last and resolved to end the chaos in \u2018Bat Attitude\u2019<\/em>.
\n\"\"
\nOf course, that means not just Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn are going to jail…<\/p>\n

A superbly riotous rollercoaster ride for kids of all ages, each chapter also deftly explores the interior life, history and motivations of successive stars; offering canny character building and definition most mature-reading tales would be proud to deliver.<\/p>\n

Coloured by Patricia Mulvihill, lettered by Phil Felix and with additional layouts by Rick Burchett and Brad Rader, this classy, classically cops \u2018n\u2019 robbers riot plays very much like a 1940s movie chapter-play – albeit with outrageous gags, biting dialogue and a blend of black humour and bombastic action. A frantic, frenetic hoot, this is an absolute delight, well worth the price of admission and an irresistible treasure to be enjoyed over and over again.
\n\u00a9 2002, 2020 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n

Today in 1927, Charlton Comics editor and Popeye<\/strong> illustrator George Wildman<\/strong> was born, as\u00a0 was letterer Cory Petit<\/strong> in 1976; both all-star creators Lee Bermejo<\/strong> (Batman: Noel<\/strong>, Lex Luthor: Man of Steel<\/strong>, Rorschach<\/strong>) and Leinil Francis Yu<\/strong> (Superman: Birthright<\/strong>, X-Men<\/strong>, Wolverine<\/strong>) in 1977 and Graphic Novelist Nate Powell<\/strong> (March<\/strong>, The Silence of Our Friends<\/strong>, Swallow Me Whole<\/strong>) in 1978.<\/p>\n

In 1933 today Milt Caniff<\/strong>\u2019s Dickie Dare<\/strong> strip launched, and Neal Adam<\/strong>\u2019s Ben Casey<\/strong> folded, albeit in 1966. Ten years later Mickey Finn<\/strong> ended, having run continuously since Frank Leonard<\/strong> began it in 1936.<\/p>\n

In 2000 we lost Lars Jansson<\/strong>, brother of Tove<\/strong> and continuer of the magnificent Moomin<\/strong> strip (1954 to 1975 in The Evening News<\/strong> and sundry other newspapers). In 2003 controversial Italian comics maestro Guido Crepax<\/strong> (Valentina<\/strong>, Emanuelle<\/strong>, Anita<\/strong>, The Man from Harlem<\/strong>) died, followed three years later by countryman Mario Faustinelli<\/strong> (Asso di Picche<\/em><\/strong>, The Adventures of Topo Gigio<\/strong>, Kolosso<\/em><\/strong>).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Paul D. Storrie, Jennifer Graves & J. Bone, with Brad Rader, Rick Burchett, Patricia Mulvihill, Phil Felix & various (DC Comics) ISBN: 978-1-4012-9971-2 (TPB) 978-1-4012-9972-9 (Digital edition) This book includes Discriminatory Content produced in less enlightened times. Harley Quinn wasn\u2019t supposed to be a star – or even an actual comic book character. As … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Harley Quinn and the Gotham Girls”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[191,92,10,33,113,75,76,239,286,66,125,215,225,172,325,123],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventure","category-batgirl","category-batman","category-catwomman","category-comedy","category-crime-comics","category-dc-superhero","category-drama","category-harley-quinn","category-horror-stories","category-humour","category-lgbtqia","category-mystery","category-robin","category-the-joker","category-tv-adaptations"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-9kX","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35895"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35895\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35907,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35895\/revisions\/35907"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}