#harley’s thoughts 💭

[poisonousquinzel]

Harley Quinn (2016) #58 | Harley Quinn (2021) #43

screaming crying foaming at the mouth

[callieyanderechan]

Me: i don't have a type

Also me:

[brookebeamsbig]

💭 harley quinn #32-37

it's time to process tini howard and sweeney boo's second story arc. unfortunately, harley is still hammering it out with the multiverse, but this time she is working with lady quark instead of against her. kinda.

now we have a new force to reckon with - the brother eyes.

howard is again enjoying throwing in dc deep cuts with the brother eyes (meaning I once again got to do a google deep dive). I do appreciate this true conceptualizing of harley in a broader, shared universe.

in howard's story, the brother eyes work for lady quark. on a craft level, this is an excellent setup for what howard's trying to do in this arc because so does harley. this creates a parallel within howard's tale that mirrors the overarching parallel howard bases her story reasoning upon.

because why are the brother eyes so interested in harley? in watching her and understanding her and mapping her? because she was once a sidekick who made something of herself. and they want to do that, too.

I like this idea. I like it a lot. it creates a unique story around one of the things that makes harley truly special. but I never said howard had bad ideas.

but before I get into the perils of howard's writing, I want to do a run down on some other important players in this arc.

in harley quinn #32, we get introduced to lux kirby, p.i. lux is a completely new character from this creative team, but I couldn't help feeling a sense of deja vu when they appeared. the "detective" seeking out a multiversal harley murderer felt a lot like something out of stephanie phillip's last arc. just sayin.

however, ultimately, I liked lux and what they brought to harley and this story. they were a fun catalyst and means to much of the action. I always vibe with a character like that. and they were a good friend. harley struggled a lot with her mental health and self-perception in these issues, and lux helped ground her.

speaking of friends, KEVIN'S BACK :DDD. and acting like kevin. god bless.

I was sososo pissed when howard essentially fucked kevin over at the beginning of her run. but she definitely put in the time here to make it up to us. that sequence where harley had to anticipate kevin's choices in order to locate him in the multiverse was genius.

there's also two groups of characters from the first arc that play an important role in this one - bud and lou and harley's college class.

y'all know I always love the babies. I appreciate that howard wanted to do something big and bold with them. I liked the twist where they were the suspected murderers. BUT a lot of their actions here were just convoluted to create conflict and drama. like... we can't tell harley the brother eyes are out to get her because... why???

and I thought it was fun having harley's class get dragged along in her adventures. but every time, it felt like howard got the concept but fumbled the execution. harley's class ends up on warworld? cool! but it feels too smooth and rushed and weird. harley's students get turned into omacs? oh no! except there was no emotional or consequential impact.

sadly, that's a common occurrence for howard's writing. howard has exciting ideas, but her writing is too surface level with bad transitions and flow. much of the time I feel like I'm reading her bulleted outline, not the final story.

she rushes pivotal moments. we end an issue with the brother eyes about to reveal harley's worst moments, but then we gloss over that at the beginning of the next one. she throws out plot threads and doesn't carry them through. we should be concerned that the warworld royal family has been turned into omacs, powerful weapons to be used against harley, but then we don't see them anything until they're healed.

that's not to say every single line or scene is bad. howard has said that harley's mental health is one of the most compelling parts of harley's character to her. we can see that reflected in the comics - in the storyline and themes but also in the moments that shine.

I thought the multiverse sequence in harley quinn #37 was the strongest part of this arc. (this does not count the framing narrative.) each scene portrayed harley's fears and doubts about her own capabilities and power in a creative way. what if she became the controlling one in her relationship? what if she was good but still so unstable she had to be locked up? what if she pushed everyone who cared about her away?

sweeney boo's art also had some great moments depicting harley's mental state from her spiraling to her negative self-talk.

however, as with everything in this run, the depiction of harley's mental health has its downsides. howard leans too much into sentiments like "oh no, everyone will think I'm bad!" "oh no, everyone's just putting up with me! "oh no, I'm such a screw up!" and "oh no, I'm going to get in trouble! better hide!" it reads too childish and infantilizing for a capable grown woman who has a PhD in psychology and a lifetime of living inside her own mind.

of course, I think harley's going to have worries, doubts, and fears as she navigates being a hero. exploring this is good since this is the story route we're taking. but howard often fails to strike the right balance.

unfortunately, this bleeds over into the depiction of harley and ivy's relationship. there's this idea that ivy has to handle or deal with harley. that harley's too loud and too much. that harley could disappoint ivy at any moment. harley shouldn't be a problem. harley should be a partner.

along those lines, when harley and ivy aren't fighting, ivy isn't doing... anything. she's just there. in a way that feels eerie. like we're still in knight terrors: poison ivy #1. you can see it in the facial expressions.

harley hides her shenanigans from ivy for most of howard's twelve issues because "oh no, ivy's going to be mad at me!" even when harley finally tells her what's going on, ivy sits it out. and it just... really sucks. ivy is harley's PARTNER IN CRIME. always has been. she should be IN ON THE SHENANIGANS.

I do acknowledge that this might be a broader dc editorial problem since ivy has her own ongoing and concurrent story, but STILL.

this second story arc was far from one of my favorite harley quinn tales, but at least now we can move on from this multiversal madness. (please gawd let us move on from this multiversal madness.)

[josephseedismyfather]

💭 don't know if I sent one but dealers choice for Harley's thoughts

(Hello friend! I actually didn't post this prompt, but I am beyond happy to make an exception for Esther. 😊 I ran a little with your reply for Harley, hope you don't mind. 💖) Harley shifted nervously as she watched Esther look over the painting she had recently finished for her. “Thank you for letting me paint you. You’ve always been so kind to me. I’m thrilled we could finally make this happen. Do you think John will like it?” As Esther’s face lit up from hearing John’s name, Harley ignored the brief pang of guilt that tried to bubble up, wondering if she and Jacob would ever be that happy. But Esther’s bright smile had always been contagious, and soon Harley was grinning just as wide as she was. John was such a lucky man.

[janusflipped]

💭 whomever you like lol

Send 💭 for a thought my Muse has had about yours.

💭 - Harley (BoxSant) is very skittish around me. Though I can't blame her.

[arsonistsfirefly]

💭 whomever you like lol

Send 💭 for a thought my Muse has had about yours.

💭 - Harley is very nice but she kinda stresses me out. I feel like I have a bit too much of a short temper, and might set her on edge. :(

[Harley BoxSanct]

[ssa-sapphic-inactive]

i just love it when women—

[southside-otaku]

*ahem* 2021 IS DOING THINGS RIGHT!!!!!! Thanks for my TED talk!

Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn in The Suicide Squad Red Band Trailer

[king-crane]

💭 + Friendship

Friendship SHOULD, in theory, be completely antithetical and anathema to Crane and his worldview. After all, if fear breeds contempt, then shouldn’t everyone hate each other? If strength relies on the galvanization of fear in an individual, then don’t emotional relationships make you weak?

No, not particularly. After all, madness makes for strange bedfellows.

Arkham is a horrible place, but most of Crane’s social and networking opportunities have come as a result of social time with his fellow patients. Whether it’s chess with Eddie, “philosophical” conversations with Harley, discussions of empty dreams with Mary, or thoughts of what to do when they get out with Waylon, Crane has found much joy in companionship and in friendship.

Allies can be used, and fools can be used and discarded. But friends? Friends are what you treasure, what you hold on to. Everything is an exchange, but when it comes to friends, you don’t need to ask yourself whether something is worth it.

Crane is very fond of the idea of friendships and, despite the fact that he seems like the WORST person to be friends with, he actually has many treasured friendships that keep him anchored and grounded.

[revup-a]

💭

˚・`   ���   [ Q ]   :    send  💭  to  hear  one  of  harley's  thoughts  about  your  muse      ─     @vqndekamp 

                        ❝            gather  ‘round  kiddies    ,    it’s  time  fer  tha’  word  of  tha’  day      :      repression  .    ‘f  i  had  t’  guess    ,    i’d  say  she’s  been  this  way  since  at  least  early  adolescence        —        always  followin’  the  rules    ,    squashin’  down  every  impulsive  thought  she’s  ever  had  .      [  .  .  .  ]      my  professional  recommendation  ?    ditch  the  sweater  sets    ,    pour  a  glass  of  non-alcoholic  vino  an’  just  enjoy  a  night  of  lettin’  that  pretty red  hair  down  .            ❞                    

[pokemonshipheadcannonandthings]

~The aftermath to my last post I guess~

Harley:Hey Drew how are ya?.

Drew:I'm fine Harley,How about you?.

Harley:I'm doing fantastic.

Drew:How come?.

Harley:I just got my last ribbon!.

Drew💭:He really got all 5 ribbons before me,Wow.

Drew:That's cool Harley.

Harley:Isn't it.

Harley:So what about you have you gotten all you're ribbons yet?.

Drew:Sadly no the last contest I was in I lost pretty badly to this random trainer named "Liana".

Harley:Wait did you say Liana?!.

Drew:Yeah why?,Do you know them or something?.

Harley:I don't just know them I despise them.

Drew:Oh god did they not know what a Cacturne was?,Or did they say you're cookies "Aren't half bad"?.

Harley:No of course not they have there own Cacturne,And no again they love my cookies.

Drew:So you despise them because they have there own Cacturne is that what you're telling me?.

Harley:No it's always nice to see other people liking Cacturnes.

Drew:Then why do you despise them?.

Harley:Because they are my sibling.

Drew:Wait I thought you were an only child.

Harley:Well you thought wrong.

Drew:But how they are so nice while you're....somewhat nice.

Harley:l'll take that as a compliment.

Harley:Also I'm working on it.

Drew:I know that's how I grew to like you and not find you as annoying.

Harley:Thanks I guess.

Liana:Teleports behind Harley*

Liana:How's my favourite older brother doing?.

Harley:Ah!.

Harley:Oh hey Liana,also I'm you're only brother.

Liana:I know but you're still my favourite!.

Liana:It's so nice to see you again Drew!.

Drew:It's nice to see you again too Liana.

Liana:So are you two dating?.

Drew:*Blush's*

Harley:*Blush's* Liana!.

[maximummusesarch]

💭 + Harleen for Jay Jay!

Send 💭 + an url or a character's name to hear my muse's true thoughts on them!

“Fuck her.  I don’t give a shit what she’s doing now, Harley isn’t off the hook.”

[brookebeamsbig]

💭 poison ivy #13

for its first issue as an OFFICIAL ongoing series, this book had a cover that bamboozled us. but honestly, I'm not mad about it.

ivy's back in gotham, a new situation for her within this series. I think we were all a little curious to see how this would go. what would ivy do now? how would her story remain strongly, vehemently HERS?

wilson nestles us back into the gotham setting right away with reacquaintances, reestablishing ivy's place in the batsphere. she's harley quinn's girlfriend, catwoman's friend, batman's rogue. but don't think wilson lets us forget that she's goddamn poison ivy too.

ivy has always had her private paradises. it doesn't take long for her to find another. but this one comes with a twist.

I LOVED killer croc's inclusion. I love rogue interactions because when done well, they're so complex, not to mention entertaining. and I think wilson hit it spot on. I also love how this set ivy up to continue her environmental justice missions.

final thoughts on this issue: wilson hit the ground running with her ongoing status. this issue addressed where ivy's been, where she's at now, and where she's headed. I can't wait to see how this new storyline goes!

additionally, I'm starting to see the strings between the harley quinn and poison ivy ongoings thread together. this soothes my continuity brain, and it shows me that our girls can have strong individual stories with overlap.

finally, shout out to all the artists in this issue. I was worried it would feel a little jumbled when I saw the credits, but it all came together to enhance the issue. each scene's art style heightened its mood and message. amazing work!

[selphplusplus]

Comic Universe

Another thought 💭 bubble.

Comic pages, exclamation mark❗️

Iron sharpens iron out the rubble

I’ll be Tony Stark.

I can’t shake wanting to see you again myself.

Joker to the Harley Quinn

Perhaps I’m the one inflicted with a neurotic tendency as well.

Insane crazy,

Bruce Wayne on the John: bat shit.

Riding wavy like I’m Aqua Man surf the sound

Hit the sand on the coast ran my boat through the bush and underground.

Hit it like Bruce Banner Bump no’ Grind on the radio,

with the Ho’gan

Maniac, rearranged a new world order

Red hulk when I smashed it.

[xxlady-deadpoolxx-archive]

💭💭

For every 💭 I receive, I will write one thought my Muse has had about yours.

-- I wonder why I never see Jack. I’m pretty sure he has to go back and forth between both of them but it’s like kinda weird I don’t see is regular. Maybe he doesn’t trust me 100% yet. --

-- If the Joker took the same acid bath as him why is he yellow and not while like Joker and Harley.................... Gah its too much to think about. --

[ssa-sapphic-inactive]

you know what’s hot? emily prentiss with a gun.