Batman White Knight Presents Harley Quinn #2 Review
Writer – Katana Collins & Sean Murphy
Art – Matteo Scalera
Colors – Dave Stewart
Letters – AndWorld Designs
Publisher – DC Comics Black Label
What a better way to celebrate a holiday then jumping into a DC Black Label title spun straight out of the “Murphy-verse”? One of the most ground breaking titles to spin out of the Black Label publishing side, Batman White Knight really resonated with fans and proved just how exciting stories that existed outside of continuity could be, becoming one of the top resonating Batman titles of all times with fans. One of the biggest things that helped draw fans to the series was its reinvention of characters known and loved throughout the Bat-mythos and giving fans another side of characters who have all been the same more or less. Giving us a new take on not only Batman, but characters like the Joker, Nightwing, Batgirl, and most notably, Harley Quinn. Harley was one of the biggest surprises to come out of the White Knight universe and having her grounded and a mother of all things is something we never could have imagined for the character but the series left so much on the table as far as background and we never really got a deep dive into how she got the way she was in the series until issue #1 that released last month that not only got us up to speed on what has happened since Curse of the White Knight ended, but really started to give us an in depth look into Harley as the lead character.
This second issue jumps right into action on the first page, taking place right after the final page of the first issue. The writing of this issue really picks up a bit more and gives us some more fast paced and exciting sequences that really keep readers excited and intrigued at the same time. The first issue was intriguing to say the least but the issue really focused more on getting readers caught up to the current time and filling in information for readers who may be new to the universe. Since that was all established in the first issue, Collins is really able to explore the world and the character more freely now and under Murphy’s broad outline the team really makes this issue feel a part of the White Knight world while giving readers a bit more insight into Harleys current characterization and exploring that even further as she progresses through this issue. I also really enjoy that there is a loose Batman like detective story but with Harley as the lead instead. It really just makes the story and the character more exciting and a fresh take that we’ve never really seen before. Although the issue is exciting overall, there are a few moments that hit a bit of a lull and felt dragged out just a little bit but readers are immediately rewarded when the story picks back up after the more slower moving parts. Other then the lulls, there’s really nothing to complain about with the writing of this issue and it sets up what I hope is another exciting sequence of events to come in the next issue.
The art of this issue follows right in line with the last issue with the same character designs and overall world feeling the same. One of the things I really enjoy about this series is that it still feels loosely based on Murphy’s art from the original series, but it also has a style of its own which helps to separate it aesthetically and make it into its own universe within. The character designs have more of a anime style to me and it feels more like an animation look which sometimes can really take away from a comic but with the series it works and really excited the reader from a visual standpoint. The colors of the issue also reflect the same animation style, using more flat colors instead of using more realistic tones and highlights. Again, in certain comics I wouldn’t be as big on this style but for some reason it just feels right with this series and really helps set it apart in a fantastic way that really is just pleasing o real. This art team has really figured out a perfect balance for this series and really created something fun and exciting to help bring the story to life visually.
Overall, this second issue really starts to open up and take readers to a new world beyond Cirse of the White Knight and becomes a new and exciting story of its own while the art and its tones really help to immerse the reader into an entirely new world but one that still fits into what we’ve come to know and love as the Murphy-Verse.
Batman White Knight Presents Harley Quinn #2 is available today so make sure you head over to your local comic shop or download via digital from your preferred digital retailer. Make sure you guys let us know what you thought of the issue as well as the series overall so far as well by leaving your comments below!
-Wes Greer
Art – Matteo Scalera
Colors – Dave Stewart
Letters – AndWorld Designs
Publisher – DC Comics Black Label
What a better way to celebrate a holiday then jumping into a DC Black Label title spun straight out of the “Murphy-verse”? One of the most ground breaking titles to spin out of the Black Label publishing side, Batman White Knight really resonated with fans and proved just how exciting stories that existed outside of continuity could be, becoming one of the top resonating Batman titles of all times with fans. One of the biggest things that helped draw fans to the series was its reinvention of characters known and loved throughout the Bat-mythos and giving fans another side of characters who have all been the same more or less. Giving us a new take on not only Batman, but characters like the Joker, Nightwing, Batgirl, and most notably, Harley Quinn. Harley was one of the biggest surprises to come out of the White Knight universe and having her grounded and a mother of all things is something we never could have imagined for the character but the series left so much on the table as far as background and we never really got a deep dive into how she got the way she was in the series until issue #1 that released last month that not only got us up to speed on what has happened since Curse of the White Knight ended, but really started to give us an in depth look into Harley as the lead character.
This second issue jumps right into action on the first page, taking place right after the final page of the first issue. The writing of this issue really picks up a bit more and gives us some more fast paced and exciting sequences that really keep readers excited and intrigued at the same time. The first issue was intriguing to say the least but the issue really focused more on getting readers caught up to the current time and filling in information for readers who may be new to the universe. Since that was all established in the first issue, Collins is really able to explore the world and the character more freely now and under Murphy’s broad outline the team really makes this issue feel a part of the White Knight world while giving readers a bit more insight into Harleys current characterization and exploring that even further as she progresses through this issue. I also really enjoy that there is a loose Batman like detective story but with Harley as the lead instead. It really just makes the story and the character more exciting and a fresh take that we’ve never really seen before. Although the issue is exciting overall, there are a few moments that hit a bit of a lull and felt dragged out just a little bit but readers are immediately rewarded when the story picks back up after the more slower moving parts. Other then the lulls, there’s really nothing to complain about with the writing of this issue and it sets up what I hope is another exciting sequence of events to come in the next issue.
The art of this issue follows right in line with the last issue with the same character designs and overall world feeling the same. One of the things I really enjoy about this series is that it still feels loosely based on Murphy’s art from the original series, but it also has a style of its own which helps to separate it aesthetically and make it into its own universe within. The character designs have more of a anime style to me and it feels more like an animation look which sometimes can really take away from a comic but with the series it works and really excited the reader from a visual standpoint. The colors of the issue also reflect the same animation style, using more flat colors instead of using more realistic tones and highlights. Again, in certain comics I wouldn’t be as big on this style but for some reason it just feels right with this series and really helps set it apart in a fantastic way that really is just pleasing o real. This art team has really figured out a perfect balance for this series and really created something fun and exciting to help bring the story to life visually.
Overall, this second issue really starts to open up and take readers to a new world beyond Cirse of the White Knight and becomes a new and exciting story of its own while the art and its tones really help to immerse the reader into an entirely new world but one that still fits into what we’ve come to know and love as the Murphy-Verse.
Batman White Knight Presents Harley Quinn #2 is available today so make sure you head over to your local comic shop or download via digital from your preferred digital retailer. Make sure you guys let us know what you thought of the issue as well as the series overall so far as well by leaving your comments below!
-Wes Greer
A Look Inside
