Batman: White Knight Presents: Harley Quinn #1

[cyberghostface]

“We decided that they didn't meet at Arkham. That was one of the earliest decisions that Sean and I made together. Jack and Harley did not meet as Joker and Harleen. They met as Jack and Harley. I really loved the idea of building that romance world for them and starting it even before she was a doctor. I absolutely wanted to go in that direction.” —  Katana Collins

“The heart of this story is all about the people. Basically, the whole story is a big mix of human interaction and emotions. So, we wanted to deliver that, especially in the Harley and Jack love story, which is something that hasn't been explored so far because it didn't exist before. So, we wanted to focus on not the two super-villains partnering up, but when they were just Jack and Harleen—just two young people that fell in love.” — Matteo Scalera

Comments

[tcampbell1000]

A little ditty
'bout Jack and Harleeeen
Twentysomethin' kids growin' up
In the bar scene
Her Suicide Squad clothes might have gone too far
But making her a stripper is lowering the bar

Mod Note

[icon_uk]

Do NOT be dismissive or demean sex workers or those in the adult entertainment industry.

Re: Mod Note

[tcampbell1000]

Not my intent, but I do get leery when long-established characters without any history in that industry are suddenly retconned into it. I'll give Murphy some credit for humanizing the profession ("Trying to pay my way through med school..." "In here we ALWAYS want more tips"). And I s'pose the athleticism displayed here foreshadows her later identity, therefore arguing that she didn't need Joker to become some version of Harley.

But it's a fine line sometimes between being sex-positive (with exotic dancing or otherwise) and just finding an excuse for male-gazey fantasies. This has improved since the Nineties, but back then, superhero comics were often about finding the skimpiest possible outfits for female characters first and coming up with character-based reasons for them second... if at all.

And yeah, I realize Harley has never had a non-sexualized costume that wasn't a lab coat, but... I dunno. Murphy and Scalera are 100% committed to their vision and I applaud them for that, but the White Knight meta-series has always felt to me like a series of hot takes that got out of hand. Reading it leaves me feeling manipulated. So at this point, I should probably stop... but if the internet decides this scene feels sweet and sexy rather than exploitive, I'll have learned something important.

Re: Mod Note

[tcampbell1000]

Just a quick addendum to be clear, in case it got lost in all the meandering above: I do understand and agree that sex workers or those in the adult entertainment industry should not be demeaned as such. Sorry for leading anyone to think otherwise.

[leahandillyana]

Uh, nope, just nope.

[angelophile]

I generally love the art, but I can't get over the fact that Harley appears to be defying gravity when she's near that pole.

[remial]

are you kidding, a good corset will strap things down solid.

either that or she has a really bad boob job. one of the dancers at the local... ballet school... had a set like that.

[angelophile]

I wasn't talking about her physique, I meant the way she is suspended upside down with no apparent grip on the pole.

[lissa_quon]

I think her wrist is bent - so there IS some hand on the pole we just can't see the grip too well. Also her legs could be doing a bit of a grip on the pole but it is...not illustrated the best. I'd personally tweak it a bit to make it more apparent shes not flying. But I think its not *incorrect* persay.

[themajesticmoose]

What's wrong with Harley working as a dancer here? Personally I think we need more positive portrayals of sex workers in fiction instead of the garbage that either portrays them as having something wrong with them or as "Victims" that need to be "saved"

[chalicother]

That's what I am thinking. Are we really trying to look badly on sex work...on scansdaily of all places ?

[icon_uk]

Complete agreement.

[themajesticmoose]

I wish more stories could portray it in such a matter of fact and non judgemental way.

[leahandillyana]

It's the backstory as a whole. Mad Love portrayed her as a complex, fallible person. Harley here is just a girl next door. Which is doubly disappointing as White Knight universe is based on the same canon as Mad Love.

[themajesticmoose]

I haven't read the original White Knight stories that this is a spin off from as of yet but the way she's portrayed here still seems to be giving her more depth than just the "Girl next door" to me anyway.

She's certainly written differently here but I assume that's down to the differences in her origin and backstory here and also to the fact that it seems like her relationship with the Joker was very different here as it appears that in this universe he was not a manipulative abuser and that Harley's relationship with him was a loving and equal one instead of an abusive one that she had to escape.

[donnblake]

I'm not generally a huge fan of rewriting characters' origins without a good reason, but since a substantial point of the White Knight line seems to be to ask "What if the Joker/Jack *wasn't* a complete monster?" I suppose revisiting the nature of his relationship with Harley makes sense.

That Harleen worked as a dancer to pay her way through med school I can buy. That she was already rocking the clown motif back then seems a bit odd, but then, what're the odds that she got through college without anyone having picked up on the punnability of her name?

I do dig the costume.

[lordultimus]

I dunno... While my mind reels at "dancer saving for med school taken seriously", I don't think it's all that out there for some interpretations of the character (particularly considering the universe she lives in), but something about this seems really sexist to me, though I can't quite put my finger on why. Maybe it's because Harley blames herself for Joker existing here? Maybe it's the fanservice (though that's hardly new for Harley)? Maybe it's the dialogue (Yes, Harley, I'd imagine the guy who came to see sexy woman would find a woman who works there sexy)? Maybe it's the depiction of the scenes? Maybe it's just the art?Like I said, can't quite put my finger on it.

[agent8]

...my mind reels at "dancer saving for med school taken seriously"...
Why? Women working at dance clubs to pay for college is a pretty well known real world thing.

[lordultimus]

Yeah, but it's kind of a stereotype that's played for uncomfortable laughs, too. Like I said, not a big deal, maybe I overstated it.

[lissa_quon]

I mean I ain't gonna judge but yea the "I'm working my way through law school - or med school as a [insert demeaning sexy job]" is a bit played out. But I mean Harley DOES have the skill set for it.

But yea I did find the "you find me sexy *gasp* " part a bit odd. He's sitting at a table you are dancing at, he's probably not there for the chicken wings.

[brerrabbit]

Actually Harley isn't a stripper in this comic, she is a go-go dancer. (The two are not the same thing)
https://thoughtcatalog.com/laurie-anna/2014/03/10-misconceptions-you-have-about-gogo-dancers-that-i-want-to-clear-up/