Joker / Harley: Criminal Sanity #5

Joker

Be sober-minded; be watchful! Your adversary prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour! Guard your soul as we discuss Joker / Harley: Criminal Sanity, chapter 5, verses 1-32!

These are their chronicles as witnessed by the talented Kami Garcia.
Translated from the word by Jason Badower.

The official plot:

“Dr. Harley Quinn has confronted horrific crime scenes created by a serial murderer who treats his work as high art. But when she is confronted by the killer himself, her life takes a drastic turn. Will she be able to return to the status quo, and simply help the GCPD to catch this killer? Or will the encounter change her forever?”

DC Black Label

This is not the Harley Quinn that you know. This is the hard nosed profiler working with the GCPD to investigate the Joker’s crimes. She’s tough and determined…there’s no way that the Joker is ever going to shake her. I hope…

Joker
The meeting of a lifetime.

My Impressions:

  • Black Label worthy material. This Joker isn’t crazy. He presents as calm, cool, artistic and scarier than any other Joker I’ve seen.
  • Beautiful artistry. Realistic, unexaggerated expression. Stark contrast of color with black and white.
  • Is it worth the magazine format? Oh, hell yes it is!
Joker
Have you ever seen a straw break a camel’s back??? I have.

Notable Appearances/Events:

  • Harley Quinn
  • Joker
  • James Gordon

Bottom Line: 5 Stars!

This is the most realistic take on the Harley/Joker relationship I’ve ever seen. Harley is one tough woman, bent on proving herself as a profiler for the GCPD. Joker is one of the coldest serial killers there is. This, their first meeting, doesn’t disappoint and doesn’t fall into the therapist falls for her patient trope. [Editor’s Note: this is essentially an alternate timeline where Harley is helping the police, or we will find out in the end that this isn’t really the joker, only a copycat. Time will tell on this one.] There’s still time though…we’re only halfway through the series.