![797603._SX1600_QL80_TTD_.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQma1KuqCrWtoQcgXTkACK8SciFvuXn6KDBJwjRSCu4BDjn/797603._SX1600_QL80_TTD_.jpg)

**Publisher: DC Comics**

**Writer: Stjepan Sejic**

**Artist: Stjepan Sejic**

**Issues: 3**

**Status: Complete**

Last year I gave brief reviews of three large and exciting series in the Batman universe, focused primarily on the dysfunctional relationship between the Joker and Harlequin portrayed in different ways. A fourth and equally important addition omitted was the series *Batman: Last Knight on Earth*, but this was primarily done because the story did not focus as much on the Joker as the others did. I only bring this up because three of the four series released new issues on the same day, 18th of December 2019 marked the last issues for *Harleen* and *Last Knight on Earth*, while I’m assuming *Joker: Killer Smile*’s release was its second last issue, *Criminal Sanity* was then released on the first day of 2020.  With that background taken care of, I’m here to review what I believe to be the best of the four series, strong praise given that each series is fantastic in their own right, but *Harleen* is truly the stand out title, not only in this collection, but indeed the standout graphic novel for the whole of 2019. 

Like Yoda in Star Wars, The Joker’s past is shrouded in mystery, and various publications have given differing accounts of where the madness all began, but not as much attention has been given to The Joker’s right hand woman and love interest, Harley Quinn. *Harleen* looks to remedy this by looking at the journey towards one of the most twisted love affairs in the DC universe. Our writer starts at the beginning, not childhood beginning, for that you can read *Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass*, but far enough before Dr. Harleen Quinzel met the man who would, in her words, steal her smiles then her dreams, and finally her heart. We’re taken back to an idealistic but promising psychiatrist who believed strongly that her specific theory of the mind could help the criminals of Gotham. That there was, despite everything, hope for them. 

![aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uZXdzYXJhbWEuY29tL2ltYWdlcy9pLzAwMC8yNjUvMzYzL2kwMi81NS5qcGc=.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdPqhLit9uSW6nCbu119q2zKUSzr3F9LUVQazKyApowxp/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uZXdzYXJhbWEuY29tL2ltYWdlcy9pLzAwMC8yNjUvMzYzL2kwMi81NS5qcGc=.jpg)

The first interaction with Joker would be at the end of his gun’s barrel, and sparing her life would be something that would be a nagging thorn in her mind throughout most of the story. After this, Harleen is given the funds for her research by none other than The Wayne Corporation, and this gives her access to the dreaded Arkham Asylum, home to some of the worst criminals that Gotham has to offer. But despite all of the colorful characters, easily diagnosed by the skilled doctor, Joker proves to be one patient that will not be so easily understood. What develops is an interesting relationship between two interesting individuals. In the one corner, a psychopathic, manipulative criminal looking to use another person as a pawn, and in the other corner, an idealistic doctor battling her own demons under the surface, hoping to claim The Joker as a medical trophy. 

Through the story, amazingly narrated by Harleen herself, we get a glimpse into her inner most private thoughts, the past of a social outcast who developed a bad reputation for sleeping with her college professors, and developed an anti-social personality due to it. What we see is a suit of armor, slowly chinked by doubts and the entertaining of ideas planted by The Joker. What we see is a battle between a woman deeply driven to remain professional, and a women deeply scared of the vulnerability required to make a breakthrough with The Joker. But the greatest fear is that her rationalities are nothing more than smokescreens for the person that she wants to be, or rather the person she really is. 

Equally so, what we see with The Joker is something we hardly ever get to see, genuine human emotion. But this is always and forever accompanied by skepticism, an infuriating inability to tell sincerity from manipulation and lies from the truth. The writer does a superb job of creating a stunning journey for these two characters, allowing the right amount of space for others to play their part. Readers will also be treated to Harvey Dent’s decline into the madness of Two-Face, while the Bat is kept well in the periphery of the story as a whole.

 ![joker-harleen.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVtNvqtCXhgrX2E1hcExQ78J9XNTLXBWRx4qg9zoy284E/joker-harleen.jpg)

It’s hard to find much wrong with *Harleen* and harder still to not say more amazing things about it. The graphic novel is a suspense-laden drama that is incredibly exciting, tragic, yet tremendously beautiful too in a very crazy kind of way. It opens the eyes of Harleen and readers to new ways of looking at ourselves as people. Are we really as good as we believe to be, or are we, as Joker claims, just monsters that eventually reveal ourselves when the rubber bands of our masks snap? As she plunges deeper into the rabbit hole, it becomes harder for our protagonist to discern whether or not The Joker is a mere man, secretly yearning for help, extending his hand out to be pulled from the abyss, or a predator inviting his prey in to join him. This is all and more that readers can look forward to in *Harleen*, a masterfully told story with incredible narration and artwork that gives life to a plethora of action and emotion. 

I said earlier that it was a bold statement to call this title one of the best of 2019, if not the best, especially considering other amazing titles. But it’s a statement I stand by, and one understood once you read it yourself. And on that note, I wish you happy reading ☺.