Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Star Rating:
Stjepan Ŝejić’s Harleen is another retelling of Harleen Quinzel’s love affair with the Joker and how she became the Harley Quinn we know today. If you’re a Harley Quinn fan like me, you’re probably familiar with the plot. However, while the main story is the same, the details differ.
Even if you already know how Harleen became Harley Quinn, the retelling is still fascinating. It’s a different interpretation of the story, so there are new scenes and interactions between Harley and the Joker. You’re still curious about how each character will react to the others, and you’re eager to read more to find out.
It’s very well written. The amount of dialogue and narration is just right for a comic. It doesn’t rely too heavily on the written portions to tell a story that could be told through the images. It’s clear and concise, and it’s simple enough for someone who doesn’t know much about DC comics to pick up and read.
The art is visually appealing, albeit a little sloppy at times. For example, the lines aren’t completely smooth, and the colors occasionally go over the lines. It does, however, fit in perfectly with the tone of the comic. There are some fantastic compositions and scenes here. Stjepan Ŝejić’s artwork can convey a great deal of information. It’s a great example of how to use comics as a visual storytelling medium.
Harleen Book 1 is only the beginning of the story. There is still so much more to see from the characters we all know, but I already feel like the writer has a good grasp on who each character is. Not every writer is capable of portraying already established characters who have their own personalities and lore that they did not create. Characters can feel different depending on who is writing them.
Harleen Book 1 was enjoyable. Although there are more books in the series to read, so far it’s been a really good retelling of Harley Quinn’s origin story. I will continue reading the series. Anyone who likes Harley Quinn or DC comics in general should read this.
What do you think of Harleen Book 1? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.