REVIEW: ‘Harley Quinn: The Animated Series – Legion of Bats,’ Issue #1

Harley Quinn: The Animated Series – Legion of Bats #1 is written by Tee Franklin, penciled by Shae Beagle, inked by Beagle with Roberto Poggi, colored by Lee Loughridge, and lettered by Taylor Esposito. It’s published by DC Comics.

Following the conclusion of Harley Quinn‘s third season, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy are starting new chapters in their lives. Harley has accepted the invitation from Batgirl to help the Bat-Family fight crime, and Ivy is gearing up to lead the Legion of Doom. But of course, there are speed bumps. Harley is torn between her newfound alliance with the Bat Family and her relationship with Ivy. And as for Ivy, she has to deal with some ghosts from her past, along with the fact that Harley ruined her plan to terraform the Earth.

When the Harley Quinn animated series was first announced, I freely admit that it took me by surprise. It was hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt, while also managing to deliver some cutting jokes about the DC Universe. That continued throughout its second and third seasons, and it’s present in Legion of Bats #1. Franklin has the character dynamics down pat. She writes tender moments between Harley and Ivy, alongside ones where she insults Nightwing and Damian Wayne. There were points in this comic where I actually felt like I was watching an episode of the show—that’s how spot-on it was.  Franklin also wrote the Eat Bang Kill tour that took place between seasons two and three, so she clearly has a handle on this world.

So does Beagle, whose artwork is animated in more ways than one. Little hearts swirl around Harley’s head whenever she looks at Ivy or when she and Ivy get intimate. And it happens a lot— between the sex and the language, this comic more than earns its “mature readers” label. Damian’s head seems to grow bigger as he yells. And even though he’s wearing a full-face mask. Bane’s eyes well up with tears when he gets hit in a certain sore spot. Beagle even lets Harley and Nightwing be their acrobatic selves, with whole panels featuring the Cupid of Chaos and the former Boy Wonder tumbling through the air to land some devastating hits.

The coloring and lettering in Legion of Bats #1 is also as outlandish and eye-catching as one would expect from an animated series. Loughridge uses mostly bright colors, shifting to a darker tone when scenes are set in Gotham. The most prominent are red, black, and green—unsurprising, given that Harley and Ivy are the main focus. Esposito also gives certain words a big, punchy font that grabs the reader’s eye. He even designs custom narration boxes for Harley and Ivy that fit their color scheme and personalities. When all’s said and done, this is a great-looking book.

Harley Quinn: The Animated Series – Legion of Bats #1 is a perfect continuation of the animated series, featuring all the elements that make it a must-watch. The best thing about Harley Quinn is how she manages to change and grow with the times, and this comic is a key example of that.

Harley Quinn: The Animated Series – Legion of Bats #1 is available wherever comics are sold.