A review by sapph1re
Batman: Mad Love and Other Stories by Paul Dini
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Mad Love is the genesis of Harley Quinn. An awarding winning one-shot comic, set in the continuity of Batman: The Animated Series (later adapted as an episode for The New Batman Adventures animated series) is a classic among classics. And has become my gateway into one-shot comics.
Harley Quinn's origin story has been retold, reimagined and recontextualized over the 30+ years from the iconic character's first appearance in 1992. And it's no wonder why because Mad Love is a fanticsic one-shot that truly delivers on creating a compelling mythos behind a counterpart to none other than the infamous Joker. Which is admittedly a tough order to fill considering the Joker is one of the most prominent antagonists in all of fiction, of all time, but co-creators Paul Dini and Bruce Timm rose to the occasion and stuck the landing.
The art work is in the same style of Batman: The Animated Series which is beloved for a reason and even without the heavy nostalgia goggles on (as I never watched the show growing up) I can confinditly say it's beautiful. The artists and colorists bring Gotham to life in a cartoonish style that perfectly fits the tone and ambience in a way that just feels natural in this context.
The only complaint I would say is that this is a collect of stories and Mad Love is definitely the high light with the rest in it's shadow. That doesn't mean they're bad I actually enjoy them all (maybe except for the batgirl one) just not as impactful. TLDR ; this is a must read for any Harley Quinn fan and a certified classic. 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️.