BATMAN versus HARLEY QUINN
Once More, With FEELING! (DC)
Where: Harley Quinn #25 When: December 2002
Why: Karl Kesel How: Craig Rousseau
The Story So Far...
For four weeks Harley Quinn has staged a minor crime spree on the streets of Gotham City. Three times Batman has attempted to stop her -- and three times she and her Quinntets have managed to give him the slip!
It all started around the same time The Joker busted out of Arkham Asylum, but no one has seen hide nor hair of the so-called Clown Prince of Crime!
When Harley leads her boys on a jewelry store robbery it's another opportunity to score big and blow wind up The Batman -- or is it? All is not as it seems as Harley ups the stakes in an effort to become Batman's #1 arch-nemesis!
Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Batman 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Batman 5 (Professor)
Speed: Harley Quinn 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Batman 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Harley Quinn 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Batman 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy: Batman 4 (Arsenal)
Total: Batman 29 (Metahuman)
The Tape paints a fairly one-sided picture, so what could a screwball psycho with a jester hat possibly do to the dominant Dark Knight Detective? Plenty - if you make the mistake of under estimating Harley Quinn!
Dr. Harleen Quinzel may have surrendered herself to a life of criminal abandon, but this lapsed psychologist isn't as spaced out as she may seem!
In fact, so far her record against Batman is dead even, with a victory over he and Catwoman in Batman #613, and an unlikely team-up win with Batman against her beloved Joker, in Batman #663!
Being under estimated can be one of Harley Quinn's great tactical assets, helping upset her homicidal pseudo-hubby "Mistah J" and The Batman in equal measure. Her tenuous tether to the side of angels means switching sides is always an option, and it's also seen Batman exercise slightly more lenient methods when putting a stop to her misdemeanors.
Along with an arsenal of novelty weapons that includes canon-sized pistols and an oversized mallet; Harley Quinn is a physically gifted gymnast capable of out maneuvering opponents with speed and agility -- provided her mind stays on the job.
A tendency toward frivolity and madcap antics can quickly see Harley Quinn come unstuck, especially against superior fighters like Batman. Her comic mallet may pack a genuine wallop, but it did her no good in the service of protecting Joker from a highly-motivated Dark Knight in Batman #614!
History: Draw (1-1-0)
The Tape: Batman Ranking: Batman (#1)
What Went Down...
A shadow is cast over BT Jewelers as The Batman descends upon a robbery in progress. Frozen in the shade of his looming presence are the culprits: Harley Quinn and her two goons - Kenny Two-Bear and Buster!
Glass shatters. A black boot descends upon the back of Buster's head. A dark fist collides with Kenny Two-Bear's face at breakneck speed. It's all in a day's work for The Dark Knight Detective until a bag of loot smashes against his back!
Harley Quinn steps up to Batman with fists raised, and dares him to take on someone half his size! He lets out a sigh, underwhelmed by the vision of her daring dukes and the stolen tiara sat crookedly over one half of her jester's hat.
A dark glove glides past Harley Quinn's face as she side-steps the straight, workmanlike punch. A "cool, refreshin' breeze", she calls it, completely failing to guard herself from the elbow effortlessly snapped into her waiting jaw.
The chin check tells Harley he means business, but The Dark Knight isn't coming as hard as he would against The Joker. Harley rubs her sore chin and takes full advantage of the soft approach, reaching for a close bystander.
The barrel of her deadly pop gun rests at the frightened man's jaw as she asks Batman who his number one archenemy is. Even after Harley evaded him for three previous encounters, he still answers Joker. Harley is unamused.
While Harley's been putting the screws to Batman, her best guy Joker has been MIA. With her gun finding its way to the hostage's mouth, she asks Batman again: "Who'd you say is he biggest pain in your bat-behind right now?"
The Dark Knight answers through grit teeth that it's Harley Quinn and lets her go. All part of a plan to lure The Joker out of hiding by collaborating with Harley on a series of public stunts that dare him to come out of hiding!
The Hammer...
So, did you catch all that? It was a case of the ol' switcheroo as Batman and Harley Quinn went through the motions to stage an elaborate sting. In cahoots!
In exchange for Harley Quinn's co-operation she'd be spared jail time. All she had to do was stage a series of public crimes that culminated with her claim to be Batman's new #1 arch-foe. A challenge that would surely lure The Joker out of hiding, and allow Batman to shut down his inevitably violent return to crime.
Of course, we all know Harley gets a little weak at the knees when she's around "Mistah J". The plan quickly turns a corner when Joker does make contact, and Harley agrees to feed clues to Batman that'll play directly into Joker's plans.
It becomes a double-bluff when Batman anticipates the turn, but agrees to give Harley 72 hours to tease more clues out of The Joker in the hopes of stopping his big return scheme. The gag being that Joker doesn't actually have a big return scheme! The obscure clues he feeds through Harley Quinn are completely off-the-cuff, and in attempting to deduce his archenemy's next crime -- Batman unwittingly devises it for him!
Harley Quinn #25 is a great done-in-one plot that reads a lot like an episode of Batman: The Animated Series. Apropos, given Harley had only joined the DC Universe proper a few years prior, making the crossover from animation.
As most will know: Harley Quinn debuted with little explanation in the 1992 animated series episode The Joker's Favour. Tie-in comics featured more of her cartoon-universe adventures, before she made her first canon print appearance in the 1999 Batman: Harley Quinn special. A solo series soon followed in 2000.
The mid-nineties seemed to carry the burden of live-action Batman influences, but by the new millennium, the mainline Bat-books were drawing more from an iconic distillation found in early series of the Batman cartoon. Even the simplified Bruce Timm art style seemed to infiltrate into an increasingly present house style, which can be seen somewhat in Craig Rousseau's pencils here.
When Harley first meets with Joker sometime after the fight, the reunion literally starts out looking like the New Adventures of Batman & Robin. A romantic filter over the reality of a down-and-out Joker who's hiding away in a bunker unshaved and undressed. A fun reference to the good ol' days, for Harl'.
Those little details further enhance a great looking issue driven by its high-concept plot. Case in point: I like that one of Harley's new Quinntets is simply named Bob. This may or may not be a playful nod to Jack Nicholson's "#1 guy" Bob The Goon in the 1989 Batman movie. I like to think it is.
The early 2000s were a pretty great time to be reading Batman comics. I daresay the combination of classic and modern influences was approaching the definitive. I certainly think these were some of the best years for the Harley Quinn character, who offered another variation on the Gotham-bound flavor that was so good. Vivacious in costume, before it all went spring break gone wild.
We don't actually see the parting of combatants in today's featured fight. Given their secret alliance, it hardly seems to matter. This one will go on the books as a slightly complicated inconclusive result. Worth it to finally revisit a fun stand-alone issue from a great time.
If you'd like to experience this issue in full, and more from the era, you can check out the collected edition of Harley Quinn: Welcome to Metropolis via Amazon! By using the purchase link provided you'll help support the site at no extra cost to you!
You can find more featured fights by following links throughout this post, or by diving into the Secret Archive for a complete index of battles in order of publisher, series, and issue number.
You can also get daily links to fights by following Secret Wars on Infinite Earths on Twitter and Facebook. If you like what Secret Wars on Infinite Earths is about and want to see it prosper you can now support the project via Patreon.
Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#1 (--) Batman
#112 (+9) Harley Quinn
#570 (new) Bob (Quinntets) [+1 assist]
#571 (new) Buster (Quinntets) [+1 assist]
#572 (new) Kenny Two-Bear [+1 assist]
Where: Harley Quinn #25 When: December 2002
Why: Karl Kesel How: Craig Rousseau
The Story So Far...
For four weeks Harley Quinn has staged a minor crime spree on the streets of Gotham City. Three times Batman has attempted to stop her -- and three times she and her Quinntets have managed to give him the slip!
It all started around the same time The Joker busted out of Arkham Asylum, but no one has seen hide nor hair of the so-called Clown Prince of Crime!
When Harley leads her boys on a jewelry store robbery it's another opportunity to score big and blow wind up The Batman -- or is it? All is not as it seems as Harley ups the stakes in an effort to become Batman's #1 arch-nemesis!
Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Batman 3 (Athlete)Intelligence: Batman 5 (Professor)
Speed: Harley Quinn 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Batman 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Harley Quinn 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Batman 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy: Batman 4 (Arsenal)
Total: Batman 29 (Metahuman)
The Tape paints a fairly one-sided picture, so what could a screwball psycho with a jester hat possibly do to the dominant Dark Knight Detective? Plenty - if you make the mistake of under estimating Harley Quinn!
Dr. Harleen Quinzel may have surrendered herself to a life of criminal abandon, but this lapsed psychologist isn't as spaced out as she may seem!
In fact, so far her record against Batman is dead even, with a victory over he and Catwoman in Batman #613, and an unlikely team-up win with Batman against her beloved Joker, in Batman #663!
Being under estimated can be one of Harley Quinn's great tactical assets, helping upset her homicidal pseudo-hubby "Mistah J" and The Batman in equal measure. Her tenuous tether to the side of angels means switching sides is always an option, and it's also seen Batman exercise slightly more lenient methods when putting a stop to her misdemeanors.
Along with an arsenal of novelty weapons that includes canon-sized pistols and an oversized mallet; Harley Quinn is a physically gifted gymnast capable of out maneuvering opponents with speed and agility -- provided her mind stays on the job.
A tendency toward frivolity and madcap antics can quickly see Harley Quinn come unstuck, especially against superior fighters like Batman. Her comic mallet may pack a genuine wallop, but it did her no good in the service of protecting Joker from a highly-motivated Dark Knight in Batman #614!
History: Draw (1-1-0)
The Tape: Batman Ranking: Batman (#1)
What Went Down...
A shadow is cast over BT Jewelers as The Batman descends upon a robbery in progress. Frozen in the shade of his looming presence are the culprits: Harley Quinn and her two goons - Kenny Two-Bear and Buster!
Glass shatters. A black boot descends upon the back of Buster's head. A dark fist collides with Kenny Two-Bear's face at breakneck speed. It's all in a day's work for The Dark Knight Detective until a bag of loot smashes against his back!
Harley Quinn steps up to Batman with fists raised, and dares him to take on someone half his size! He lets out a sigh, underwhelmed by the vision of her daring dukes and the stolen tiara sat crookedly over one half of her jester's hat.
A dark glove glides past Harley Quinn's face as she side-steps the straight, workmanlike punch. A "cool, refreshin' breeze", she calls it, completely failing to guard herself from the elbow effortlessly snapped into her waiting jaw.
The chin check tells Harley he means business, but The Dark Knight isn't coming as hard as he would against The Joker. Harley rubs her sore chin and takes full advantage of the soft approach, reaching for a close bystander.
The barrel of her deadly pop gun rests at the frightened man's jaw as she asks Batman who his number one archenemy is. Even after Harley evaded him for three previous encounters, he still answers Joker. Harley is unamused.
While Harley's been putting the screws to Batman, her best guy Joker has been MIA. With her gun finding its way to the hostage's mouth, she asks Batman again: "Who'd you say is he biggest pain in your bat-behind right now?"
The Dark Knight answers through grit teeth that it's Harley Quinn and lets her go. All part of a plan to lure The Joker out of hiding by collaborating with Harley on a series of public stunts that dare him to come out of hiding!
The Hammer...
So, did you catch all that? It was a case of the ol' switcheroo as Batman and Harley Quinn went through the motions to stage an elaborate sting. In cahoots!
In exchange for Harley Quinn's co-operation she'd be spared jail time. All she had to do was stage a series of public crimes that culminated with her claim to be Batman's new #1 arch-foe. A challenge that would surely lure The Joker out of hiding, and allow Batman to shut down his inevitably violent return to crime.
Of course, we all know Harley gets a little weak at the knees when she's around "Mistah J". The plan quickly turns a corner when Joker does make contact, and Harley agrees to feed clues to Batman that'll play directly into Joker's plans.
It becomes a double-bluff when Batman anticipates the turn, but agrees to give Harley 72 hours to tease more clues out of The Joker in the hopes of stopping his big return scheme. The gag being that Joker doesn't actually have a big return scheme! The obscure clues he feeds through Harley Quinn are completely off-the-cuff, and in attempting to deduce his archenemy's next crime -- Batman unwittingly devises it for him!
Harley Quinn #25 is a great done-in-one plot that reads a lot like an episode of Batman: The Animated Series. Apropos, given Harley had only joined the DC Universe proper a few years prior, making the crossover from animation.
As most will know: Harley Quinn debuted with little explanation in the 1992 animated series episode The Joker's Favour. Tie-in comics featured more of her cartoon-universe adventures, before she made her first canon print appearance in the 1999 Batman: Harley Quinn special. A solo series soon followed in 2000.
The mid-nineties seemed to carry the burden of live-action Batman influences, but by the new millennium, the mainline Bat-books were drawing more from an iconic distillation found in early series of the Batman cartoon. Even the simplified Bruce Timm art style seemed to infiltrate into an increasingly present house style, which can be seen somewhat in Craig Rousseau's pencils here.
When Harley first meets with Joker sometime after the fight, the reunion literally starts out looking like the New Adventures of Batman & Robin. A romantic filter over the reality of a down-and-out Joker who's hiding away in a bunker unshaved and undressed. A fun reference to the good ol' days, for Harl'.
Those little details further enhance a great looking issue driven by its high-concept plot. Case in point: I like that one of Harley's new Quinntets is simply named Bob. This may or may not be a playful nod to Jack Nicholson's "#1 guy" Bob The Goon in the 1989 Batman movie. I like to think it is.
The early 2000s were a pretty great time to be reading Batman comics. I daresay the combination of classic and modern influences was approaching the definitive. I certainly think these were some of the best years for the Harley Quinn character, who offered another variation on the Gotham-bound flavor that was so good. Vivacious in costume, before it all went spring break gone wild.
We don't actually see the parting of combatants in today's featured fight. Given their secret alliance, it hardly seems to matter. This one will go on the books as a slightly complicated inconclusive result. Worth it to finally revisit a fun stand-alone issue from a great time.
If you'd like to experience this issue in full, and more from the era, you can check out the collected edition of Harley Quinn: Welcome to Metropolis via Amazon! By using the purchase link provided you'll help support the site at no extra cost to you!
You can find more featured fights by following links throughout this post, or by diving into the Secret Archive for a complete index of battles in order of publisher, series, and issue number.
You can also get daily links to fights by following Secret Wars on Infinite Earths on Twitter and Facebook. If you like what Secret Wars on Infinite Earths is about and want to see it prosper you can now support the project via Patreon.
Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#1 (--) Batman
#112 (+9) Harley Quinn
#570 (new) Bob (Quinntets) [+1 assist]
#571 (new) Buster (Quinntets) [+1 assist]
#572 (new) Kenny Two-Bear [+1 assist]
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