Harley Quinn, Vol. 5: Hollywood or Die

Harley Quinn (2016) #11

by Sam Humphries, Sami Basri (Illustrator), Abel (Illustrator)

California, here she comes! Harley heads to Los Angeles and joins an underground wrestling troupe (as one does). But while she thought the trip would help her cope with grief…grief followed her all the way to the West Coast. When a new friend of hers dies, she knows in her heart there is foul play at work. Luckily, she's got help investigating this mystery from Booster Gold, determined to become her new crime-fighting partner! It all culminates in the star-studded roast of Harley Quinn—but how well can she take a joke? Plus, "The Joker War" hits Harley Quinn as Harley and Punchline meet face to face!

Collects Harley Quinn #70-75.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Ebooks, Comic Book

Unknown Binding

First published April 13, 2021

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, it's been 16 months since the last volume of Harley Quinn was released. Harley is still reeling from the death of her mother and has moved to L.A. She's wrestling, tag-teaming with a new partner. Shortly, thereafter, she gets embroiled in a murder mystery that she plows her way through. I quite liked it, especially when she partners up with Booster Gold, who Humphries has a great handle on. The final issue is a roast of Harley and it's fun. There's also a Joker War story drawn by Riley Rossmo. It feels tacked on and makes no sense out of context of the other comics in the Joker War event. Rossmo's art makes my eyes bleed. Thankfully, it's not long. Sami Basri handles the majority of the art. I really like her work. I can see a bit of Gary Frank in it and he's one one of my favorite artists.

[Jayson]

Review to come...

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you think of Harley Quinn, you probably think of insane humor, crazy violence, and maybe even lots of unique friends/lovers/partners-in-crime. And even though you know in the back of your mind about the existence of Dr. Harleen Quinzel, you probably wouldn't attribute therapy to reading a Harley Quinn comic. With this specific Volume... you'd be wrong.
Running off to Hollywood after the death of her mother, Harley drowns her sorrow in wrestling, becoming "Harleen the Queen" and teams up with her good friend and roommate "Alicia the Crusher". Tragedy strikes again when Alicia is found murdered outside the arena. Who killed her? Harley is told it was suicide, but she goes into "LA Noir mode" and works hard to be a detective and solve the case. Quite a ride, with twists and turns, to get to the answer.
Also included here is Harley's 75th issue, which has her confronting a roast to work through all her recent emotional issues. Overall, the whole Volume deals with loss, whether or not to take revenge for that loss, and how people bond together through pain.
All in all a great run by Humphries. Can't wait to see what Harley does next.
Recommend.

[Amaranta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Admito que lo comencé a leer por puro morbo. Y una parte de mi creía que lo iba a odiar y que tendría pestes que decir de él.

Pero, al final del día, si me agradó. No estoy diciendo que éste sería el camino que yo hubiera seguido, pero tampoco puedo decir que me molesta, supongo que tan solo es una indiferencia agradable.

Entiendo porqué dejar a Booster y Harley en un puro beso, es cómo dejarte a ti decidir que pasará más allá, si en serio serán una pareja o si simplemente fue un impulso de Harls, sin embargo, es ahí en donde a mi me hubiera interesado continuar la historia, ¿Cómo se supone que se va a compaginar la personalidad de Booster con la de Harley? Porque, me queda claro, a Harley solo le ha tocado ver la parte buena de Booster (que la tiene, pero no todo el tiempo), y le falta conocer esas en donde se pone a gritar y es un necio testarudo, ¿Qué va a pasar cuándo un mal día de Booster se tope con un mal día de Harley? Creo, eso sería más interesante que el tonteo adolescente

[Jamie Revell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This includes a bunch of dream sequences near the end that don't really do much, but before that we have a plot arc with Harley trying to solve a murder after she's suddenly decided to become a pro wrestler in LA. It's quite a decent story, although Humphries' take on the character doesn't have the craziness of the earlier run, choosing to focus more on her recent personal tragedy. She's partnered with Booster Gold for some of it, who is used quite well here, providing emotional support as much as doing the superheroics (it's a far cry from her team-up with Power Girl). I get the impression that Humphries is more comfortable with this sort of straightforward and reflective story than playing up Harley's impulsive exuberance, and, while the tone may be different, that makes for a better read. 4 stars, but that's ignoring the tagged-on and unconnected story with the sketchy art that wraps up the collection.

[Josh Burkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the longest time, Harley Quinn was the only comic I was following. Even today with all of my fatigue in the superhero genre that remains true. I held off reading these final six issues for the longest time. This era of Harley's comic storytelling made me laugh, made me cry and drew me to the edge of my seat - I didn't want the finality of the series to be over. I'm glad that I went ahead and read it. The 75th issue is easily one of the best of the entire volume. The bulk of the storytelling with the wrestling mystery was fairly strong.

I wish they would have taken a few more issues to tell the story and make the big twist a little bit more effective. There reaches a point when the pacing feels rushed and a little bit choppy. The art remains consistent. That's the thing I have always really liked about Harley Quinn comes is how consistent the art feels. It's lively and emotional to reflect the story being told. Sam Basri's continues that tradition with spectacular beauty.

[Clay Bartel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 4 was so solid and so meta I was quick to pick up volume 5.

Volume 5 wasn't meta nor was it quite as good as 4 but it's still a solid read focused mostly on solving a murder.

I'm having more then enough fun with Harley's series to keep collecting the next volume!

[PixieART · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the death of her mother from cancer, a depressed Harley Quinn seeks a new life in LA was a wrestler. When a fellow wrestler turns up dead, Harley doesn't believe it was a suicide and is determined to get to the bottom of it.

[Eyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not the series I would expect to cover grief pretty much perfectly, and with a murder mystery to top it off, but definitely a welcome surprise and with one of my favourite artists on it too, definitely sticking as some of my fave Harley comics.

[Gary Varga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some classic Harley humour here but it has lost its lustre.

An OK end to the run. Worth reading if you got this far.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complicated and convoluted mystery. Strange visions.

[J Grimsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a 69 year old brit this is not aimed at me. Teenage angst and violence in Hollywood with Wrestling throw in means it not directly the market I'm into.
I'll see if I'll read more.

[quinnster · Rating 4 out of 5]

They really took all the fun out of Harley in this run. This was a lot of sad! Damn you Humphries!

[Kurt Lorenz · Rating 3 out of 5]

70-74, California or Death, ☆☆☆
75, Happy Birthday, Harley Quinn!, ☆☆☆☆

[helen]

This is just what I needed ❤️‍🩹