Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #4 Review

It’s a big week for Harley Quinn, but can she pull off a successful issue of her team book? Is it good?

Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #4 (DC Comics)

So what’s it about? According to DC Comics’ official summary:

Sure, the Gang has finally figured out who Harley Sinn is and, more importantly, where she’s holding Harley hostage — but considering it’s a place called The Island of Horrible Death, they might be thinking twice about going there…

Why does this book matter?

If I’ve learned anything from this series it’s that more Harley means a better comic. The problem is, while writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Frank Tieri successful shed light on the many members of this team, they haven’t had the opportunity to entertain. Always worth taking another chance though!

Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?

I hate when that happens!

Harley does in fact appear more in this issue than in the previous and while she’s still a somewhat helpless captive, she proves she’s the most entertaining character on the page. The villain meanwhile, gets a slight bit more interesting as Harley’s friends uncover who she really is behind all that makeup.

Tieri and Palmiotti also create a fun island of terror for the heroes to break into to save Harley. Things are coming together in such a way that will make issue #5 a pleasurable read. The gang interacts with it a bit near the end of the issue and there are some fun inventive surprises they must fight back.

Artist Mauricet continues to draw in a cartoony and style which is most enjoyable when it comes to Sinn’s island of doom. There are plenty of inventive scenes Mauricet draws well and the island itself is pretty cool too. There’s also a fantastic sequence between Harley and some villains (though why there is a plank near the ceiling I have no idea) that is paced well. This scene alone reminds us this series is best when there’s more action and less standing around talking.

It can’t be perfect can it?

Which is why this issue is a tough one to get through. Once again, the gang has little to do but whine and moan about their situation. It’s another issue where it’s unclear what these members bring to the team besides looking good in their hot pants. Their humor isn’t much better and much of it is preteen caliber funnies. Hell, even using the likeness of a real life politician doesn’t impart much humor.

That is pretty creepy.

Is It Good?

The villain introduces a playground of horrors that will be a delight to read next issue and offers some entertainment here and there in this issue. All in all though, this is a slow and tedious sort of read that’s not very funny or clever. If Harley’s gang is good at anything it’s whining, which isn’t much fun at all.