Comic Recap/Thoughts: Harley Quinn Volume No. 2: Joker Loves Harley, Part 1

I wish I had a clever intro for Tuesdays. I like to drop these posts on Tuesdays, because honestly it is my least favorite day of the week, so why not punch Tuesdays up a little with some comic book fun? This week we are jumping back into the craziness that is Harley Quinn. Harley Quinn Volume No. 2: Joker Loves Harley includes issues #8-13. If you need/want a recap of the first volume click (here) for part 1.

For this post I am just going to recap issue #8 and then share my thoughts on it. I'll tell you all from the beginning that this issue is one of my favorite issues of Harley Quinn ever, it is silly and fun, but also I am a huge Harley and Ivy shipper, so lots of feels. I might do a little more skipping around it in later posts of this volume because there is a Christmas issue right in the middle and I think it makes more sense to just do that one in the end. Things to look forward to, but first onto this story.

Relax, Undo It!: This issue begins with Harley describing a dream where she accidentally stabs her friend Eggy and all her animals are eating him. Harley is telling this dream to Frank (the guy who she is kind of treating like a therapist). Frank tells her she is probably just feeling stressed and needs a vacation. Queue Harley and Ivy finally going on their Bahama vacation.

Once they land, a kind gentleman sent by their pal Sy Borgman picks them up. We learn they are on Cat Island and while there are a lot of cats, it is probably named after a pirate by the name of Arthur Catt. (Got to love some fun facts!) There is also flirting before they arrive at The Colony. David, the driver, explains that this is a very private resort and Sy owns the whole top floor of one of the condos. Sy comes rolling out completely nude and explains he and his lady pal, Zena live in a nudist colony and not to worry it is a cool, fun place to vacation. Harley is down and with some convincing, so is Ivy.

They all go to meet up with Zena who is naked and playing tennis, there are jokes about titanium tushes and tatas and balls of course. While eating lunch Harley is still having a hard time getting used to all the nude people as Sy explains that his arch enemy died and left him the condo. (There is a fine line between love and hate.)

Later in their room, Ivy asks Harley why she is being weird and Harley admits it is just odd to be hanging out with people you know fully clothed who are now fully naked. (That seems pretty fair to me.) The topic changes to what Batman looks like naked, but really only for a moment before they spend a lot longer wondering what he keeps in his belt (a question that everyone wants to know the answer to). Ivy changes into a swimsuit, but Harley opts for just a towel. Ivy asks Harley about Manson (a guy that Harley kind of dated, but had to go into witness protection). Harley admits to missing him but right now her mind is only on Ivy.

Down at the beach the two ladies have embraced being nude. Seems they have the beach to themselves because all of the people tend to turn in after dinner. Ivy is looking sad and introspective while watching the sunset. The two discuss sunsets and the likely man-made end of the world.

Closer to the pool now, Ivy asks Harley about what she has been up to (the whole rock goddess stuff that happened in the last volume). Harley reminds us about the soap that she got in the mail, that is probably just the Joker. Ivy figures anyone could have sent that, but Harley tells her that she had another package and this one contained one of her evaluation sheets.

We get a flashback of her time at Arkham and she tells us it was a sheet telling the warden her first impressions of Joker. The flashback reveals the first time Harley and the Joker met. The two of them talk and in the end we see her giving the evaluation to the Warden.

Back in the present, relaxing in the pool, Ivy points out again, that anyone at Arkham could have sent that. Harley is sure it was the Joker, because it had been edited and contained things only he would know. Harley is done talking about the Joker as she slides close to Ivy. Before things can get too hot and heavy though, a stampede of naked old people rush the pool.

Turns out Sy had just been joking about people calling it a night after dinner. A game of nude pool volleyball starts up and after a round Harley gets out, while Ivy keeps playing. Harley looks at Ivy like a lady who is super in love. A little later everyone calls it a night and Ivy carries a dozing Harley back down to the beach where she has laid out many towels. Sleepy Harley asks if she is dreaming and Ivy confirms she probably is.

One week later, the two women are feeling bummed as they pack up to head home. Harley asks Ivy if she has thought more about living together. Ivy tells Harley she is her best friend and that she does love her, but her first love is a cause that comes before that love and even before Ivy's own needs. She just hopes someday soon she will find the time for herself and that Harley will still be available when she does. Both women are sad, but they share a hug.

They say goodbye to Sy and Zena, then later to each other and finally Harley arrives back home in New York. Everyone there is happy to see her but Harley is sad as she watches Ivy's plane fly off.

Thoughts: There is a lot to unpack in this issue. I guess I find myself wondering if it means more to me because I like these characters together so much more than the Harley/Joker relationship. I am sure that many people will not agree with me, but I am really happy to see Harley move on from Joker. I do also know that the rest of this volume is going to be focused on that relationship, so I am here to enjoy this one while I can. I think Ivy's choice does make sense for her, but do I love it? No, but I will keep holding out hope that I might get to read a happier story with these two. In fact if anyone has and wants to share, I am all ears.

It was very impressive how the art in this issue kept everything pretty close to PG, considering it mostly took place at a nudist colony. The jokes might have pushed the PG-13 barrier, but they almost always do in these Harley comics. I am not sure that all the jokes are to my taste, not because I am a prude, but because it was mostly just taking shots at old people's bodies. 

I didn't talk about the co-writers back in my volume one recap, so I am going to talk about them now. Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner are a tag team duo who are the writers for volumes 1-5. So far I am totally digging the way they write Harley and am excited I have more of their volumes to come. In terms of artists, there are so many who work on these volumes, even within some issues when there are flashbacks or dreams. There are a couple who worked on multiple issues, so I am happy to mention them and link some social media so you can check out more of their work. Chad Harden (issues #1,8,12, &13), Bret Blevins (issues #2, 3, & 10), Joseph Michael Linsner (issue #4), and John Timms (Issues #5-7 & 11). 

See you all on Friday for more Harley Quinn shenanigans!

Last Week: Green Arrow Volume 2: Island of Scars, Part 3

Next Post: Harley Quinn: Joker Loves Harley, Part 2

Note: All images belong to DC™