Team Interview - Temptation 🌈
What inspired you to write this story?
I wanted to examine a "What-if" scenario where Poison Ivy is the one to free Harley's mind from the confines of society, instead of the Joker. Along the way, it become a metaphor for the snake tempting Eve in the Garden of Even with Forbidden Knowledge.
What does this story mean to you?
Harley's canon origin story is a very important example of how Joker abuses, manipulates, and controls his own narrative. I wanted a story where Harley had more choice in the matter, but one where you still aren't sure if she made the right choice or what the future looks like for her.
What do you think readers will love about this story?
I think the Gotham by Gaslight setting is enjoyed by many, but underutilized by DC. We wanted to show it some love while also shoving as much story and metaphor as we could into every single panel. The hope is that every time you re-read the story, you uncover another layer of it.
What inspired you to write this story?
It really all came together for me with the setting. Transposing these characters and their struggles into the repressive, antiquated world of Gotham by Gaslight felt like such an interesting way to highlight them and the elements of the story that resonated with me best.
What does this story mean to you?
I have very often felt a lack of ownership over my own identity, with so many things about myself being decided by others - which is mirrored particularly by Harley's struggle with having her identity tied so strongly to the Joker. Exploring the importance of taking charge of one's self in the face of an unwelcoming world has been vital for me and was always key to this story.
What do you think readers will love about this story?
Harley and Ivy are, for good reason, one of the most well-loved and well-known queer couples in comics. For me, one of my favourite parts of AU fiction has been seeing familiar characters in unfamiliar settings, to see what about them changes and what stays the same. We're hoping we've managed to capture the characters we love so well and bring a new twist to their relationship that honours the reasons why they are so beloved while also providing something new.
How did this story resonate with you?
It's Harley and Ivy! What's not to love about Gotham's top WLW couple? As a lesbian myself, I really wanted to illustrate a comic featuring a sapphic pairing. This has been a delight as it has everything that a woman who loves women could possibly ask for: a yearning gay and her monstrous soon-to-be-girlfriend!
What has been your favorite part to illustrate?
I enjoyed illustrating the more surreal aspects. This comic really delves into the horror aspect of Ivy, and Harley is loving all of that! It's a dark, gothic romance with some Harley charm thrown in. I put a lot of myself in Harley when depicting her big reactions and love for Ivy.
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