World Comic Book Review

19th March 2024

Happy Thirtieth Birthday, Amanda Waller

May 1987 saw the conclusion of the comic book series Legends, a six issue title from American comic book publisher DC Comics. Perhaps the most significant development from Legends was the creation and introduction of the character Amanda Waller into DC Comics’ continuity. In the pages of the first issue of Legends, a uniformed and … Read more

Suicide Squad/The Banana Splits Special #1 (review)

Suicide Squad/The Banana Splits Special #1 DC Comics, March 2017 Writer: Tony Bedard We swear that this is not an April Fool’s Day review. American publisher DC Comics is currently publishing a number of comic book single issue publications featuring crossovers between characters from their main line of superhero character properties, and characters from their … Read more

New Suicide Squad #21 (review)

New Suicide Squad #21 (review)
DC Comics, August 2016
Writer: Tim Seeley

On the back of our recent and very positive review of “Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad April Fool’s Day Special“, we engaged in precisely the sort of consumer behaviour that US comic book publisher DC Comics wished us to do: we purchased the latest issue of DC Comics’ related publication, “New Suicide Squad”. DC Comics were hoping to ensnare new readers with this sales strategy, but in its execution, offering to new readers such a poorly crafted issue as an entry, the publisher fails entirely.

Read more

Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad #1 April Fool’s Day Special (review)

Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad #1 April Fool’s Day Special (review)
(DC Comics, May 2016)
Writer: Rob Williams

The publication, “Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad #1 April Fool’s Day Special” is a story which skims thematic tones and mise-en-scenes like a hockey puck on ice. American comic book publisher DC Comics has issued this, no doubt, to tie in with the forthcoming motion picture, “Suicide Squad”.

In trailers for the film, Australian actress Margot Robbie steals the show in her role as the psychotic character Harley Quinn. Harley Quinn, an adversary.of DC Comics iconic hero Batman, is a brawler with no super powers, and as such the character property’s status as a fan favourite is a little unique. Harley Quinn has as a foundation an almost Japanese combination of madness, violence, and raw coquettishness, triggered and perpetuated by an “amae” relationship with one of the most vile and murderous of all comic book villains, The Joker (“Amae” is a Japanese word meaning a subconscious sense of reliance, a desire to be loved, and submissive desire).

This issue, as the title suggests, focusses on Harley Quinn, with other Japanese manga elements. For most of this issue the story is light-hearted and effervescent. The beginning of the story involves Harley Quinn in a state of “hikikomori”, hiding from society in a room eating junk food, with poor hygiene, and suffering delusions.

Read more