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Batman: No Man's Land: Batman: Harley Quinn (Story #22)

Continuing on in No Man's Land with the other character find of 1999: Harley Quinn! Yup, we this is how DCAU Harley Quinn was turned into the long running we love today.

This comic opens on everyone's favorite love interest to Harley: Poison Ivy! The plant villainess is leaving food for the citizens of Gotham, when she comes across the remains of rockets. And somehow Harley Quinn is in the rocket.

When Ivy brings the world's greatest clown girl in for medical treatment, Harley decides to tell us what she has been doing. Harley (back when she was Harleen) interned at Arkham Asylum. While working she fell in love with the Joker when she was supposed to treat him. When Harley was caught letting the Joker free, she was forcibly committed into Arkham.

That is where she stayed until the earthquake hit Gotham. When Harley went out in the world, she discovered evidence that Joker was still out there, and she decided to go full supervillain to be by his side. And the moment of her trying on costumes before she picks the classic costume, is just perfect little moment. One of many that Paul Dini and Yvel Guichet give the audience in this issue.

Harley catches up to the Joker as he is threatening Penguin for supplies. And Harley's gymnastic skills come in handy, allowing for Penguin's henchman to be killed. Joker recognizing her past identity and figuring that she might be useful, allows Harley to stay.

We cut to Harley doing some grunt work (finding a lair for Joker's crew, fighting opposing gangs, and eventually fighting Batman allowing Joker to escape) to gain Joker's favor. Eventually, Harley gets to spend a night with the Joker that she can't remember (Ivy assumes Harley was drugged).

When Harley wakes up, she cannot find the Joker but does get a message...to meet him on the amusement park's rocket ride. Cut to Harley getting launched off because Joker hates that he feels some romantic feeling for Harley, because it makes him boring. Harley manages to steer the rocket into Ivy's territory, and we cut back to where our story started.

Ivy feels some pity towards Harley, and gives her potion that will increase Harley's reaction, strength, and immunity to poisons. Ivy then recommends that Harley go attack Batman and Joker... out of spite that both feel towards the duo.

Cut to Harley (with great humor) making a makeshift Bat-Signal for Batman. Bats tried to talk Harley away from the Joker, but she tells Batman that Joker has a plan to kill the aid workers of Gotham in one big explosive trap.

The comic then cuts to one of the best Joker moments: Joker trying to make conversation with his henchmen about the women in their lives. Once one of them actually starts conversing with Joker about the lady he loves, Joker just kills the man... because Joker always has to be the center of attention.

Harley and Batman sneak into the lair. Batman deals with henchman while Harley confronts the Joker. The Clown Prince of Crime tries to use Joker Venom to kill Harley, but thanks to Ivy's formula, she lives. Cut to Harley beating up the Joker.

Batman tries to intervene (he thinks that Joker plans to kill all the medical worker, but doesn't know that was a Harley lie), but Harley whacks Batman over the head with her trademark giant mallet.

Joker tries to escape Harley's wrath, but she catches up to him. But then we see the (early) Harley Quinn character flaw of her going back to the Joker, with him only doing the smallest gesture of kindness. Granted, even Joker seems annoyed by this sequence of events.

Batman wakes up from his head injury and finds that the duo set the hideout to explode. This explosion tells the wider Gotham that the Joker is back... and he is done giving out jellybeans. The comic ends with Batman complaining to Alfred that he has to now deal with two crazy clowns!

Yeah, this comic is amazing! Paul Dini can write the best Joker stories out there, and he writes one here. Just so many little moments that show Joker's vanity. And the art by Yvel Guichet captures the humor from his sick mind.

But this is the intro to Harley Quinn, and it really works. It established the line of her being a foe for both Joker and Batman. Plus, it is nice to have Ivy involved in her life straight from the beginning. And Harley is fun, making you want to see more. Just a classic comic, and I think the best of No Man's Land.

10/10