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DC Anniversary Celebrations
Harley Quinn: A Celebration of 25 Years
Celebrate 25 years of Harley Quinn in this brand new hardcover collecting the infamous Suicide Squad outlaw’s most memorable stories!
Since her debut in 1992’s Batman: The Animated Series, Harley Quinn has wreaked havoc throughout the DC Universe with her zany, twisted ways. From her time as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, the Joker’s psychiatrist, to her transformation into the sometimes hilarious, sometimes tragic, and always villainous Harley Quinn, celebrate twenty-five years with the most acclaimed writers and artists that have contributed to Harley’s raucous adventures!
Since her debut in 1992’s Batman: The Animated Series, Harley Quinn has wreaked havoc throughout the DC Universe with her zany, twisted ways. From her time as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, the Joker’s psychiatrist, to her transformation into the sometimes hilarious, sometimes tragic, and always villainous Harley Quinn, celebrate twenty-five years with the most acclaimed writers and artists that have contributed to Harley’s raucous adventures!
408 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 2017
20 people are currently reading
1461 people want to read
About the author
Paul Dini
726 books714 followersPaul Dini is an American television producer of animated cartoons. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman/Superman Adventures, Batman Beyond and Duck Dodgers. He also developed and scripted Krypto the Superdog and contributed scripts to Animaniacs (he created Minerva Mink), Freakazoid, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. After leaving Warner Bros. In early 2004, Dini went on to write and story edit the popular ABC adventure series Lost.
Paul Dini was born in New York City. He attended the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California on an art scholarship. He attended Emerson College in Boston, where he earned a BFA degree in creative writing. (He also took zoology classes at Harvard University.)
During college, he began doing freelance animation scripts for Filmation, and a number of other studios. In 1984, he was hired to work for George Lucas on several of his animation projects.
The episodes of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that were written by Dini have become favorites amongst the show's fans over the internet, although despite this as well as contributing to interviews on the released box sets of the series, Dini has made no secret of his distaste for Filmation and the He-Man concept. He also wrote an episode of the Generation One Transformers cartoon series and contributed to various episodes of the Ewoks animated series, several of which included rare appearances from the Empire.
In 1989, he was hired at Warner Bros. Animation to work on Tiny Toon Adventures. Later, he moved onto Batman: The Animated Series, where he worked as a writer, producer and editor, later working on Batman Beyond. He continued working with WB animation, working on a number of internal projects, including Krypto the Superdog and Duck Dodgers, until 2004.
He has earned five Emmy awards for his animation work. In a related effort, Dini was also the co-author (with Chip Kidd) of Batman Animated, a 1998 non-fiction coffee table book about the animated Batman franchise.
Dini has also written several comics stories for DC Comics, including an acclaimed oversized graphic novel series illustrated by painter Alex Ross. (A hardcover collection of the Dini and Ross stories was published in late summer 2005 under the title The World's Greatest Superheroes.) Other books written by Dini for DC have featured his Batman Animated creation Harley Quinn as well as classic characters Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Zatanna.
Best known among Dini's original creations is Jingle Belle, the rebellious teen-age daughter of Santa Claus. Dini also created Sheriff Ida Red, the super-powered cowgirl star of a series of books set in Dini's mythical town of Mutant, Texas. Perhaps his greatest character contribution is the introduction of Harley Quinn (along with designs by Bruce Timm) on Batman: The Animated Series.
In 2001 Dini made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back during the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob wear ridiculous looking costumes for a film being directed by Chris Rock, in which Dini says to them "you guys look pretty bad ass".
In 2006, Dini became the writer for DC Comics' Detective Comics. That same year, he announced that he was writing a hardcover graphic novel starring Zatanna and Black Canary. In 2007, he was announced as the head writer of that company's weekly series, Countdown. Paul Dini is currently co-writing the script for the upcoming Gatchaman movie. Dini is also currently writing a series for Top Cow Productions, based in a character he created, Madame Mirage.
Paul Dini is an active cryptozoologist, hunter and wildlife photographer. On a 1985 trip to Tasmania, he had a possible sighting of a Thylacine. He has also encountered a number of venomous snakes, a Komodo Dragon and a charging Sumatran Rhi
Paul Dini was born in New York City. He attended the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California on an art scholarship. He attended Emerson College in Boston, where he earned a BFA degree in creative writing. (He also took zoology classes at Harvard University.)
During college, he began doing freelance animation scripts for Filmation, and a number of other studios. In 1984, he was hired to work for George Lucas on several of his animation projects.
The episodes of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that were written by Dini have become favorites amongst the show's fans over the internet, although despite this as well as contributing to interviews on the released box sets of the series, Dini has made no secret of his distaste for Filmation and the He-Man concept. He also wrote an episode of the Generation One Transformers cartoon series and contributed to various episodes of the Ewoks animated series, several of which included rare appearances from the Empire.
In 1989, he was hired at Warner Bros. Animation to work on Tiny Toon Adventures. Later, he moved onto Batman: The Animated Series, where he worked as a writer, producer and editor, later working on Batman Beyond. He continued working with WB animation, working on a number of internal projects, including Krypto the Superdog and Duck Dodgers, until 2004.
He has earned five Emmy awards for his animation work. In a related effort, Dini was also the co-author (with Chip Kidd) of Batman Animated, a 1998 non-fiction coffee table book about the animated Batman franchise.
Dini has also written several comics stories for DC Comics, including an acclaimed oversized graphic novel series illustrated by painter Alex Ross. (A hardcover collection of the Dini and Ross stories was published in late summer 2005 under the title The World's Greatest Superheroes.) Other books written by Dini for DC have featured his Batman Animated creation Harley Quinn as well as classic characters Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Zatanna.
Best known among Dini's original creations is Jingle Belle, the rebellious teen-age daughter of Santa Claus. Dini also created Sheriff Ida Red, the super-powered cowgirl star of a series of books set in Dini's mythical town of Mutant, Texas. Perhaps his greatest character contribution is the introduction of Harley Quinn (along with designs by Bruce Timm) on Batman: The Animated Series.
In 2001 Dini made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back during the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob wear ridiculous looking costumes for a film being directed by Chris Rock, in which Dini says to them "you guys look pretty bad ass".
In 2006, Dini became the writer for DC Comics' Detective Comics. That same year, he announced that he was writing a hardcover graphic novel starring Zatanna and Black Canary. In 2007, he was announced as the head writer of that company's weekly series, Countdown. Paul Dini is currently co-writing the script for the upcoming Gatchaman movie. Dini is also currently writing a series for Top Cow Productions, based in a character he created, Madame Mirage.
Paul Dini is an active cryptozoologist, hunter and wildlife photographer. On a 1985 trip to Tasmania, he had a possible sighting of a Thylacine. He has also encountered a number of venomous snakes, a Komodo Dragon and a charging Sumatran Rhi
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 2, 2021
''Someday i really oughta go back and pick up on the therapy gig.''
My fave psychotic clown. What a legend. A fashion icon. Fuck Joker.
My fave psychotic clown. What a legend. A fashion icon. Fuck Joker.
November 19, 2017
Harley Quinn is the quirky, offbeat female counterpart to Batman's arch-nemesis, the Joker. She was originally the Joker's psychiatrist at the asylum but fell for him, beginning a strange odd romance. For those of us first introduced to this character taking our kids to see the Suicide Squad movie, it is a revelation that she had been part of the DC universe for two and a half decades. This hardcover book is brilliantly presented, collecting together issues of comics where Harley Quinn appeared over the years, showing us the changes in her character, look, and wardrobe, often depending on the artist and the themes pursued. From cartoonish appearance to gritty graphic and stark, there's a wide variety here artistically. DC doesn't fill this book with lots of explanations, history, or asides. Instead, they let their work - their artistry- speak for itself. It would make a great gift for someone who reads/collects DC comics. I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
October 9, 2017
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Goodreads giveaways for an honest review.
For lots of kids "Batman: the Animated Series" was their first real introduction to the DC universe. And the red and blacked diamond acrobat, Harley Quinn, fit as naturally into the story as anything else revolving around the adventures of a crime fighting superhero who dressed up as a bat. Most people didn't know she was created solely for the cartoon, or what a unique thing it was to have her jump from animation stills to comic panels in the regular DC Universe because she really was that popular.
Twenty five years later all those kids get to feel that much older, but also get a consolation prize in the shape of a hardcover edition detailing the character's many incarnations: "Harley Quinn: a Celebration of 25 Years." Now her popularity is second only to Wonder Woman's, with her appearance in a blockbuster movie, rebooted cartoons, video games, and merchandise. She's far and away DC's biggest modern character so it makes sense to capitalize on it with a newly released hardcover of her greatest (giant mallet) hits.
The good news is if you give this to a curious Harley Quinn fan who is just getting into the character, this collection doesn't ostracize newcomers the way others do with their convoluted histories and issues that spend half their time referring to universe wide events. (Flash, I am basically calling out the Flash books for this). The book separates the three major incarnations into their own phases: BtAS era Harley, Harley Quinn who crossed over into the greater DC Universe circa-No Man's Land, and nu52 Harley (with the most recent and slightly different permutation based off Margot Robbie's "Suicide Squad" Harley shoved in the last one).
If you were hoping to get an intricate history of the character like you might find in one of the major DC legacy hero retrospectives, the extras are sparse and just enough to lead readers into the comics themselves. They don't pull long interviews from creators or people connected to the character, it's a showcase for the comic collection and any added information, like pointing out she appeared in TV's "Birds of Prey" and the "Suicide Squad" movie, is short trivia. The great news is the selection of the comics used to showcase her as a character is stronger than other anthologies, so as long as you're here for the stories you'll be okay missing out on behind-the-scenes stuff.
The first section, "1992-Present: An Animated Character," is by far the strongest in terms of self-contained stories with perfect art and a clear emphasis on Harley as a character. "Batman: the Animated Series" comics had a rich source material to draw from. In fact, one of the issues, "The Harley and the Ivy," was reproduced on an episode called "Holiday Knights." The other Christmas issue (yes, there are two, and both are notable for pointing out that Harley is Jewish she just really likes Christmas stuff too) has the famous panel that first breached the whole Harley and Ivy thing...
Barbara Gordon knows what's up
Speaking of, this anthology is great for fans of Harley and Ivy, as she is the character who shares the spotlight with her the most. Despite being the Joker's girlfriend/ex-girlfriend/target practice of the moment, he is most often used as a catalyst to send her into a whirling dervish of chaos that Batman and friends must either stop or somehow convince her twisted logic to assist them. This works for me because this allows most of the stories to center on her, which is the main point and where you get the most interesting dynamics.
The second part, "Harley Gets Real: 1999-2010," is a little more uneven both in writing and art but I would consider it a range from excellent to mostly okay. Co-creator Paul Dini introduces her to the greater DC universe in a one shot that is very self-contained as it regards her origin, her twisted relationship with the Joker, her first meeting with Ivy, all wrapped up in a neat little bow that gives a big nod to the source material they were adapting her from. Short of shoving the mini-series "Mad Love" into the pages, you get a clear idea of her motives, immediately establishing her relationships, and with no pesky cliffhangers or confusion to the greater DC world. The two issues from Harley's self-titled series put her front and center and the art by Amanda Conner is expressive and more realistic than the cartoon styled art in the previous part.
The two less than amazing stories in this section are Winick's "Harley and Ivy: Love on the Lam" and Loeb's "At the Opera." "Love on the Lam" isn't as strong because the collection started with two superior Harley and Ivy capers before it, but would still be worth reading as an entertaining caper and for this panel:
"Hush Part Six: At the Opera" is the one that feels most like an issue plucked out of a convoluted story arc that weak character anthologies suffer from. Here, Harley is more an obstacle for Batman to overcome than a character in her own right. Considering its title, you can tell this comic issue was more preoccupied with other matters and it ends on a cliffhanger that no other part of the anthology mentions because it has nothing to do with Harley Quinn. But at least Jim Lee's artwork is gorgeous to look at.
The nu52 section, "Harley Reborn: 2011-Present," is the least successful of the three parts. I'll fully admit part of my lacklust response is that it's just Not My Thing to have a charming comedic villain casually torture-murdering people on panel because now they can do that and be Edgy and Cool(TM), but if it means I'll somehow manage to survive. I don't mind dark stories, however the tonal shift compared to the other issues seemed too out of place, too juvenile tryhard, and actually lessened her tragedy because Harley's insane perkiness and optimism as she follows after a complete monster is much more effective in the kids' comics than what they were trying to pull in the "Suicide Squad" issues.
But Conner's "Harley's Little Black Book #1" has Harley trying to team up with Wonder Woman so it redeems itself handily from the introductory two issues of "Suicide Squad." Here, this Harley is still a little more grungy and PG-13, but closer to the chaotic character who can walk the tightrope of grinning villainy without being too offputting or cruel. Her unabashed fangirling of Diana is almost Deadpool-esque (not strange, considering he had the same kind of meteoric rise from obscurity to being Everywhere in Marvel's stable). The last story, "Full Mental Jacket," is from the Rebirth era of DC and showcases a Margot Robbie-esque Harley Quinn dealing with the inner conflict of her madness that ends the collection on a more somber note. It's short and leaves the future trajectory of the Harley Quinn character up in the air.
So, I would say a 4.5 out of 5 because it's well curated and truly focuses on the character. If you already have all the Harley Quinn appearances, this collection won't offer you anything new except for a pretty hardcover to store it in. But for the casual fan who only knew one version of her, or the one just seeking to explore the character's history, or someone seeking out good female led graphic novels, or the complete neophyte who asks "who is this?" person this is a well selected and well made collection to start.
For lots of kids "Batman: the Animated Series" was their first real introduction to the DC universe. And the red and blacked diamond acrobat, Harley Quinn, fit as naturally into the story as anything else revolving around the adventures of a crime fighting superhero who dressed up as a bat. Most people didn't know she was created solely for the cartoon, or what a unique thing it was to have her jump from animation stills to comic panels in the regular DC Universe because she really was that popular.
Twenty five years later all those kids get to feel that much older, but also get a consolation prize in the shape of a hardcover edition detailing the character's many incarnations: "Harley Quinn: a Celebration of 25 Years." Now her popularity is second only to Wonder Woman's, with her appearance in a blockbuster movie, rebooted cartoons, video games, and merchandise. She's far and away DC's biggest modern character so it makes sense to capitalize on it with a newly released hardcover of her greatest (giant mallet) hits.
The good news is if you give this to a curious Harley Quinn fan who is just getting into the character, this collection doesn't ostracize newcomers the way others do with their convoluted histories and issues that spend half their time referring to universe wide events. (Flash, I am basically calling out the Flash books for this). The book separates the three major incarnations into their own phases: BtAS era Harley, Harley Quinn who crossed over into the greater DC Universe circa-No Man's Land, and nu52 Harley (with the most recent and slightly different permutation based off Margot Robbie's "Suicide Squad" Harley shoved in the last one).
If you were hoping to get an intricate history of the character like you might find in one of the major DC legacy hero retrospectives, the extras are sparse and just enough to lead readers into the comics themselves. They don't pull long interviews from creators or people connected to the character, it's a showcase for the comic collection and any added information, like pointing out she appeared in TV's "Birds of Prey" and the "Suicide Squad" movie, is short trivia. The great news is the selection of the comics used to showcase her as a character is stronger than other anthologies, so as long as you're here for the stories you'll be okay missing out on behind-the-scenes stuff.
The first section, "1992-Present: An Animated Character," is by far the strongest in terms of self-contained stories with perfect art and a clear emphasis on Harley as a character. "Batman: the Animated Series" comics had a rich source material to draw from. In fact, one of the issues, "The Harley and the Ivy," was reproduced on an episode called "Holiday Knights." The other Christmas issue (yes, there are two, and both are notable for pointing out that Harley is Jewish she just really likes Christmas stuff too) has the famous panel that first breached the whole Harley and Ivy thing...
Barbara Gordon knows what's up
Speaking of, this anthology is great for fans of Harley and Ivy, as she is the character who shares the spotlight with her the most. Despite being the Joker's girlfriend/ex-girlfriend/target practice of the moment, he is most often used as a catalyst to send her into a whirling dervish of chaos that Batman and friends must either stop or somehow convince her twisted logic to assist them. This works for me because this allows most of the stories to center on her, which is the main point and where you get the most interesting dynamics.
The second part, "Harley Gets Real: 1999-2010," is a little more uneven both in writing and art but I would consider it a range from excellent to mostly okay. Co-creator Paul Dini introduces her to the greater DC universe in a one shot that is very self-contained as it regards her origin, her twisted relationship with the Joker, her first meeting with Ivy, all wrapped up in a neat little bow that gives a big nod to the source material they were adapting her from. Short of shoving the mini-series "Mad Love" into the pages, you get a clear idea of her motives, immediately establishing her relationships, and with no pesky cliffhangers or confusion to the greater DC world. The two issues from Harley's self-titled series put her front and center and the art by Amanda Conner is expressive and more realistic than the cartoon styled art in the previous part.
The two less than amazing stories in this section are Winick's "Harley and Ivy: Love on the Lam" and Loeb's "At the Opera." "Love on the Lam" isn't as strong because the collection started with two superior Harley and Ivy capers before it, but would still be worth reading as an entertaining caper and for this panel:
"Hush Part Six: At the Opera" is the one that feels most like an issue plucked out of a convoluted story arc that weak character anthologies suffer from. Here, Harley is more an obstacle for Batman to overcome than a character in her own right. Considering its title, you can tell this comic issue was more preoccupied with other matters and it ends on a cliffhanger that no other part of the anthology mentions because it has nothing to do with Harley Quinn. But at least Jim Lee's artwork is gorgeous to look at.
The nu52 section, "Harley Reborn: 2011-Present," is the least successful of the three parts. I'll fully admit part of my lacklust response is that it's just Not My Thing to have a charming comedic villain casually torture-murdering people on panel because now they can do that and be Edgy and Cool(TM), but if it means I'll somehow manage to survive. I don't mind dark stories, however the tonal shift compared to the other issues seemed too out of place, too juvenile tryhard, and actually lessened her tragedy because Harley's insane perkiness and optimism as she follows after a complete monster is much more effective in the kids' comics than what they were trying to pull in the "Suicide Squad" issues.
But Conner's "Harley's Little Black Book #1" has Harley trying to team up with Wonder Woman so it redeems itself handily from the introductory two issues of "Suicide Squad." Here, this Harley is still a little more grungy and PG-13, but closer to the chaotic character who can walk the tightrope of grinning villainy without being too offputting or cruel. Her unabashed fangirling of Diana is almost Deadpool-esque (not strange, considering he had the same kind of meteoric rise from obscurity to being Everywhere in Marvel's stable). The last story, "Full Mental Jacket," is from the Rebirth era of DC and showcases a Margot Robbie-esque Harley Quinn dealing with the inner conflict of her madness that ends the collection on a more somber note. It's short and leaves the future trajectory of the Harley Quinn character up in the air.
So, I would say a 4.5 out of 5 because it's well curated and truly focuses on the character. If you already have all the Harley Quinn appearances, this collection won't offer you anything new except for a pretty hardcover to store it in. But for the casual fan who only knew one version of her, or the one just seeking to explore the character's history, or someone seeking out good female led graphic novels, or the complete neophyte who asks "who is this?" person this is a well selected and well made collection to start.
July 7, 2019
Just love this character.
Harley Quinn celebrates her 25 year anniversary with this anthology of her best comics..... And I absolutely loved it!
The book takes you through the ages, starting from her early inception, through her joining the greater DC universe all they way to her reboot and debut in her Solo Comic Series. The stories collected herein were well chosen and display a variety of elements and art-styles.
If you are a Fan, than this is a definite Must-Read!
Harley Quinn celebrates her 25 year anniversary with this anthology of her best comics..... And I absolutely loved it!
The book takes you through the ages, starting from her early inception, through her joining the greater DC universe all they way to her reboot and debut in her Solo Comic Series. The stories collected herein were well chosen and display a variety of elements and art-styles.
If you are a Fan, than this is a definite Must-Read!
July 22, 2020
Such fun!
They definitely included the better stories about - and featuring - Harley Quinn in this fine collection; in, appropriately enough, chronological order (up until 2017). Some of them I'd already read before, but others I am glad to have come across. I am happy to see a lot of Harley Quinn stories where she is partnered with Poison Ivy, who is her true soulmate, and later on where she is free and independent of the Joker.
Highlights include Harley teaming up with Batgirl to save Poison Ivy; Harley outmanoeuvring the Joker and Batman in a battle of wits; not one but two Martha Stewart references in the whole thing; Harley and Ivy teaming up to sabotage a Joker-esque theme park and roller coaster without the Joker interfering; Harley teaming up with Wonder Woman in London in the most bizarre of circumstances (where they switch costumes, don't ask); and the final issue, which has the Suicide Squad Harley telling the Joker in a possible hallucination that she is through with him and that she is not evil anymore. It all comes full circle, and she is as important to people as ever. The journey has been difficult, but it is a feminist triumph.
'Harley Quinn: A Celebration of 25 Years' - it truly celebrates and respects this amazing and complex DC female character. I just love Harley Quinn! Fun and, on the flip side, serious. But mostly fun, if a bit too gory and edgelord-y in the later, modern issues.
A strong recommendation for old and new Harley Quinn fans alike.
Final Score: 4/5
They definitely included the better stories about - and featuring - Harley Quinn in this fine collection; in, appropriately enough, chronological order (up until 2017). Some of them I'd already read before, but others I am glad to have come across. I am happy to see a lot of Harley Quinn stories where she is partnered with Poison Ivy, who is her true soulmate, and later on where she is free and independent of the Joker.
Highlights include Harley teaming up with Batgirl to save Poison Ivy; Harley outmanoeuvring the Joker and Batman in a battle of wits; not one but two Martha Stewart references in the whole thing; Harley and Ivy teaming up to sabotage a Joker-esque theme park and roller coaster without the Joker interfering; Harley teaming up with Wonder Woman in London in the most bizarre of circumstances (where they switch costumes, don't ask); and the final issue, which has the Suicide Squad Harley telling the Joker in a possible hallucination that she is through with him and that she is not evil anymore. It all comes full circle, and she is as important to people as ever. The journey has been difficult, but it is a feminist triumph.
'Harley Quinn: A Celebration of 25 Years' - it truly celebrates and respects this amazing and complex DC female character. I just love Harley Quinn! Fun and, on the flip side, serious. But mostly fun, if a bit too gory and edgelord-y in the later, modern issues.
A strong recommendation for old and new Harley Quinn fans alike.
Final Score: 4/5
July 17, 2018
Harley Quinn is the greatest. Period.
To celebrate her 25th anniversary, this collection was released to show how Harley started to the megaforce she has become now. I have to say, I preferred earlier Harley, say in the late 1990s and early 2000's, than I do the New 52.
She sure does love her Puddin, even though he tries to kill her, wants to marry her for her money...and then kill her, and uses her as bait for Batman. She forgives and forgets so easily and is a little bit naive, but that adds to her charm. Harley's friendship with Ivy is also a defining feature in her development as well, which I thought was more of a newer addition but it seems to have been an ongoing thing.
You can't help think about where Harley is going to go next. She has had so many iterations, some better than others, but it is clear that she is a staple in the Batman universe as well as DC in general. And she's my idol <3
To celebrate her 25th anniversary, this collection was released to show how Harley started to the megaforce she has become now. I have to say, I preferred earlier Harley, say in the late 1990s and early 2000's, than I do the New 52.
She sure does love her Puddin, even though he tries to kill her, wants to marry her for her money...and then kill her, and uses her as bait for Batman. She forgives and forgets so easily and is a little bit naive, but that adds to her charm. Harley's friendship with Ivy is also a defining feature in her development as well, which I thought was more of a newer addition but it seems to have been an ongoing thing.
You can't help think about where Harley is going to go next. She has had so many iterations, some better than others, but it is clear that she is a staple in the Batman universe as well as DC in general. And she's my idol <3
May 27, 2018
A cross section of material, but a bit heavy on the modern, still in print runs that are still available in stores. Retrospectives like these are usually better served by including material you can't easily get elsewhere.
October 12, 2022
Covers the character in a well curated retrospective. I grew tired of the Joker- infatuation character trait and like the independence that is found in more current works.
December 5, 2017
I can't believe I won this book! Wasn't even aware of Harley Quinn until not too long ago, maybe 5 years ago. The Joker I recall from my comic book filled summers in the early 1960's, had no idea he had a girl friend!
Ok. Fans of Harley Quinn are going to enjoy this book! She's really interesting and different from the comic book characters I read as a kid.
Ok. Fans of Harley Quinn are going to enjoy this book! She's really interesting and different from the comic book characters I read as a kid.
April 6, 2018
Harley Quinn: A Celebration of 25 Years is a compilation of some of the most notable Harley Quinn stories over the years to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary debut of one of the most popular villains in Batman Rogue's Gallery (2017). Over the years, there were many incarnations and depictions of this insane harlequin and this collection explores them all rather well.
This anthology is divided into three sections. The first section depicts the Harley Quinn from the Batman: The Animated Series comics, which made sense, because she was created by Bruce Timm there, the second section is devoted to the Modern Age of Comics and the final section depicts the Rebooted Era stories.
It is very interesting to see how Harley Quinn evolves from her humble beginnings as The Joker sidekick who was in love with him to an independent antihero and Suicide Squad member who became the fourth most popular character in DC Comics! It was really interesting to see how Harley Quinn was with his first appearance in Batman: The Animated Series and what she has become today.
As a whole, Harley Quinn: A Celebration of 25 Years is a rather balanced book, showing each section rather evenly and not placing any favoritism in any of the eras. It gives us a nice perception of the era in which these stories were produced – a reflection of the times.
With anthologies like these, story selection would be the most difficult task – Harley Quinn has been around for a long time and there are many stories with many having different favorites – in short it is impossible to please everyone. However, I think the editors picked a somewhat nice selection that shows the characteristic that is Harley Quinn. So on the whole, I was really happy of which stories were presented.
All in all, I think Harley Quinn: A Celebration of 25 Years is a wonderful selection of stories over a quarter of a century that this twisted villain or antihero has been around. It is a good reference anthology for both the avid and subdued fan alike.
This anthology is divided into three sections. The first section depicts the Harley Quinn from the Batman: The Animated Series comics, which made sense, because she was created by Bruce Timm there, the second section is devoted to the Modern Age of Comics and the final section depicts the Rebooted Era stories.
It is very interesting to see how Harley Quinn evolves from her humble beginnings as The Joker sidekick who was in love with him to an independent antihero and Suicide Squad member who became the fourth most popular character in DC Comics! It was really interesting to see how Harley Quinn was with his first appearance in Batman: The Animated Series and what she has become today.
As a whole, Harley Quinn: A Celebration of 25 Years is a rather balanced book, showing each section rather evenly and not placing any favoritism in any of the eras. It gives us a nice perception of the era in which these stories were produced – a reflection of the times.
With anthologies like these, story selection would be the most difficult task – Harley Quinn has been around for a long time and there are many stories with many having different favorites – in short it is impossible to please everyone. However, I think the editors picked a somewhat nice selection that shows the characteristic that is Harley Quinn. So on the whole, I was really happy of which stories were presented.
All in all, I think Harley Quinn: A Celebration of 25 Years is a wonderful selection of stories over a quarter of a century that this twisted villain or antihero has been around. It is a good reference anthology for both the avid and subdued fan alike.
February 11, 2020
The queen of clowns celebrates 25 years in a series of comics.+
Harley Quinn has changed so much over the years and although I was extremely happy with this collection for the most part I am sure anyone who reads it will discover they like certain artists or certain story tellers better then others. This realization and the fact certain comics come from only part of a bigger story spanning multiple books (of which I did not read) make some of the reading experience less enjoyable even if the parts I did enjoy more then made up for them afterward.
Personally I would have loved to see the comic where Harley imagines herself as if she was drawn by various artists in comic books and would have liked to see it show up in the actual book but I am not the editor and I am not sure if they would have to pay all those artists again to reprint the volume in a book like this so people will have to see it out themselves if they want to see it. Now get ready for something smart, a bit crazy, and a whole lot of fun as we see Harley reinvented over the years (personally I am looking forward to seeing how Stjepan Šejić handles her in the new Harleen book being released on the 11th of February.)
Harley Quinn has changed so much over the years and although I was extremely happy with this collection for the most part I am sure anyone who reads it will discover they like certain artists or certain story tellers better then others. This realization and the fact certain comics come from only part of a bigger story spanning multiple books (of which I did not read) make some of the reading experience less enjoyable even if the parts I did enjoy more then made up for them afterward.
Personally I would have loved to see the comic where Harley imagines herself as if she was drawn by various artists in comic books and would have liked to see it show up in the actual book but I am not the editor and I am not sure if they would have to pay all those artists again to reprint the volume in a book like this so people will have to see it out themselves if they want to see it. Now get ready for something smart, a bit crazy, and a whole lot of fun as we see Harley reinvented over the years (personally I am looking forward to seeing how Stjepan Šejić handles her in the new Harleen book being released on the 11th of February.)
June 10, 2025
More like a book about Ivy. Silly stupid classic of Ivy & H somehow magically controlling Bats w/ a chem kiss to buy them Xmas presents. Her and Batgirl have to work together during Xmas to save Ivy. Her and Ivy in prison and random Joker and H covers. Ivy trying to talk H outta marrying J. I guess there’s a part two of their splintered friendship?
A couple longer originy stories I’ve seen in multiple other Harley collections. The Love on the Lam issue by Judd had some really interesting artwork, so colored in, kinda subtler splotchy texture reminds me of using those good greasy flat crayons from kiddy art boxes. A few New 52s where Harley is in or against the Suicide Squad in her blue and red corset and tall socks. I’ve seen clipped versions of some of these. Talking about Joker’s skinned face. Still don’t know why she has that taxidermy Beaver.
A couple longer originy stories I’ve seen in multiple other Harley collections. The Love on the Lam issue by Judd had some really interesting artwork, so colored in, kinda subtler splotchy texture reminds me of using those good greasy flat crayons from kiddy art boxes. A few New 52s where Harley is in or against the Suicide Squad in her blue and red corset and tall socks. I’ve seen clipped versions of some of these. Talking about Joker’s skinned face. Still don’t know why she has that taxidermy Beaver.
August 15, 2021
Добрался наконец-таки до сборника к 25-летию Харли Квинн, купленном годы назад. Интересно, что, постоянно откладывая прочтение, не удалось избежать лишних трат, порой необязательных, т.к. книга содержит многое, что было приобретено гораздо позднее. Такая вот шутка юмора.
Добрался наконец-таки до сборника к 25-летию Харли Квинн, купленном годы назад. Интересно, что, постоянно откладывая прочтение, не удалось избежать лишних трат, порой необязательных, т.к. книга содержит многое, что было приобретено гораздо позднее. Такая вот шутка юмора
Так же внутри есть один из номеров рождественского спецвыпуска и, что больше всего удивило, номер из серии "Психушка Джокера", который на данный момент ещё не издан на русском языке.
Добрался наконец-таки до сборника к 25-летию Харли Квинн, купленном годы назад. Интересно, что, постоянно откладывая прочтение, не удалось избежать лишних трат, порой необязательных, т.к. книга содержит многое, что было приобретено гораздо позднее. Такая вот шутка юмора
Так же внутри есть один из номеров рождественского спецвыпуска и, что больше всего удивило, номер из серии "Психушка Джокера", который на данный момент ещё не издан на русском языке.
May 13, 2018
It was nice to see the evolution of Harley Quinn throughout the last quarter century, but I was a little disappointed in this collection. Some of the issues included here make sense, but most seem random. I was also disappointed in the section introductions/essays. They're ok, but it would have been nice if they had talked about the fan response to Harley. That's why she became such a huge character in the first place. A "Celebration" should have at least mentioned the unique circumstances around Harley's longevity.
October 16, 2017
Not as good as I thought/hoped it would be. I understand the character has changed quite a lot since her debut in BTAS and the book was a celebration of everything since her debut but I was hoping for more fun stories like the cartoon than what was included. Too much was dedicated to the crappy relationship with Joker. I don’t regret picking it up but will probably not read it again in the future.
February 14, 2018
I had read most of these comics before but it was so nice seeing a lot of my faves together in one big collection celebrating my favorite girl.
But another thing that has to be said is the fact, that most of these comics show how terrible the Joker has been to Harley and yet people still want a relationship like theirs and ships them together?? Honestly, you're either a fake fan or you're just terrible idk what to tell you
But another thing that has to be said is the fact, that most of these comics show how terrible the Joker has been to Harley and yet people still want a relationship like theirs and ships them together?? Honestly, you're either a fake fan or you're just terrible idk what to tell you
October 2, 2020
*I’ve read A LOT and not reviewed in a long time, so to catch up: Three sentence reviews!*
A wonderful collection showcasing how Harley Quinn was introduced and how she has changed over the years. (I preferred early Harley to modern Harley.) Plus, the occasional history lesson which explained the publishing environment as Harley evolved as well as how she fared outside of comic books--on TV and on the silver screen.
A wonderful collection showcasing how Harley Quinn was introduced and how she has changed over the years. (I preferred early Harley to modern Harley.) Plus, the occasional history lesson which explained the publishing environment as Harley evolved as well as how she fared outside of comic books--on TV and on the silver screen.
November 17, 2017
Similar to the Catwoman anniversary book, this book is an homage to the bizarre character of Harley Quinn. Definitely worth reading for her history. Unlike Catwoman, Harley’s beginning sections were much easier to read. Harley was created in the 1990s so that probably had a lot to do with it. The writing was much better, still has sexist issues, but Harley’s character in general does.
December 14, 2019
I love Harley Quinn (I'm a big fan of Gotham's heroic/villainous lady trio, the Gothem City Sirens, Harley, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman), so obviously I loved this book. It's a great selection of comics, spanning from Harley's earliest days as Joker's sidekick to the chaotic antiheroine that she is now. Recommend for all her fans. Now I just need to get my hands on the Catwoman collection!
February 23, 2021
Would highly recommend this to any fan of Harley Quinn or just anyone that wants to get to know her character better. I like how the book shows her development as a character, but since there's different authors for her stories, following them can be a bit tricky unless you know most of the material. Still a good book for jumping in or just sharpening up your knowledge on Harley!
December 1, 2023
as a collection of stories intended to be enjoyed, it is largely bad. as an honest representation of the history and quality of harley quinn monthly comics, it is...good?
criminal omissions from this thing: mad love, breaking glass, and any mention of arleen sorkin (despite the mention of basically every other hq actress)
criminal omissions from this thing: mad love, breaking glass, and any mention of arleen sorkin (despite the mention of basically every other hq actress)
October 29, 2017
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!
All kinds of stories throughout the ages.
The one I have, the cover is different and it's 408 pages. But this is the one that shows up whenever I scan the barcode for some reason.
awesome, awesome.
All kinds of stories throughout the ages.
The one I have, the cover is different and it's 408 pages. But this is the one that shows up whenever I scan the barcode for some reason.
awesome, awesome.
February 21, 2018
The tale of Harley Quinn, from the animated series to her blond hair with blue and pink tips. I think all of the stories are outtakes from other comics of Harley, but it gave a good overview of her character. Some of the stories I really liked, but other was really really really creepy.
June 7, 2020
I love how this collection being very detailed in terms of showing Harley’s appearances in various comics . It also forced me to read some comics that I had intended to read but still hadn’t then . And I love Harley Quinn , because she’s my favourite.
August 19, 2020
I liked the prose portions explaining the history of Harley Quinn's print/cartoon appearances more than I liked most of these comics. A third of the issues were really good and the other two thirds were just okay.
December 31, 2022
A decent collection but many of the stories are already in other books. Very random later ones that sort of advance the character but it feels like a lot is missing. I'd say read but don't buy, especially new.
March 27, 2024
I would have liked maybe 1 or 2 parts that showed Harley and Ivy’s romantic relationship, but otherwise this collection gives us a long range of Harley adventures to enjoy. A great introduction to the character for those who’ve only seen Harley on the big or small screen.
October 11, 2017
Interesting retrospect
If you fell in love with this throwaway character in Batman The Animated Series then cheered when she kept returning then get this book.
It looks back to when she crossed over from screen to pages with the craziness you loved in the Series.
If you fell in love with this throwaway character in Batman The Animated Series then cheered when she kept returning then get this book.
It looks back to when she crossed over from screen to pages with the craziness you loved in the Series.
November 25, 2017
love my Harley and so fun to see her progression through the years in one collection.
October 4, 2018
So I've previously read probably about 90% of the stories in this but it was still a blast to read.
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