What do you think?
Rate this book
Harley And Ivy #1
Batman: Harley and Ivy #1
A snafu by Harley sends Poison Ivy back to Arkham, and Ivy swears off working with Harley forever. But Harley won't take no for an answer, so when Ivy breaks out and heads to South America, Harley's right behind her. Oily politicians, cutthroat mercenaries, and shower scenes abound!
23 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 17, 2014
6 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Paul Dini
728 books721 followersPaul Dini is an American television producer of animated cartoons. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman/Superman Adventures, Batman Beyond and Duck Dodgers. He also developed and scripted Krypto the Superdog and contributed scripts to Animaniacs (he created Minerva Mink), Freakazoid, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. After leaving Warner Bros. In early 2004, Dini went on to write and story edit the popular ABC adventure series Lost.
Paul Dini was born in New York City. He attended the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California on an art scholarship. He attended Emerson College in Boston, where he earned a BFA degree in creative writing. (He also took zoology classes at Harvard University.)
During college, he began doing freelance animation scripts for Filmation, and a number of other studios. In 1984, he was hired to work for George Lucas on several of his animation projects.
The episodes of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that were written by Dini have become favorites amongst the show's fans over the internet, although despite this as well as contributing to interviews on the released box sets of the series, Dini has made no secret of his distaste for Filmation and the He-Man concept. He also wrote an episode of the Generation One Transformers cartoon series and contributed to various episodes of the Ewoks animated series, several of which included rare appearances from the Empire.
In 1989, he was hired at Warner Bros. Animation to work on Tiny Toon Adventures. Later, he moved onto Batman: The Animated Series, where he worked as a writer, producer and editor, later working on Batman Beyond. He continued working with WB animation, working on a number of internal projects, including Krypto the Superdog and Duck Dodgers, until 2004.
He has earned five Emmy awards for his animation work. In a related effort, Dini was also the co-author (with Chip Kidd) of Batman Animated, a 1998 non-fiction coffee table book about the animated Batman franchise.
Dini has also written several comics stories for DC Comics, including an acclaimed oversized graphic novel series illustrated by painter Alex Ross. (A hardcover collection of the Dini and Ross stories was published in late summer 2005 under the title The World's Greatest Superheroes.) Other books written by Dini for DC have featured his Batman Animated creation Harley Quinn as well as classic characters Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Zatanna.
Best known among Dini's original creations is Jingle Belle, the rebellious teen-age daughter of Santa Claus. Dini also created Sheriff Ida Red, the super-powered cowgirl star of a series of books set in Dini's mythical town of Mutant, Texas. Perhaps his greatest character contribution is the introduction of Harley Quinn (along with designs by Bruce Timm) on Batman: The Animated Series.
In 2001 Dini made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back during the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob wear ridiculous looking costumes for a film being directed by Chris Rock, in which Dini says to them "you guys look pretty bad ass".
In 2006, Dini became the writer for DC Comics' Detective Comics. That same year, he announced that he was writing a hardcover graphic novel starring Zatanna and Black Canary. In 2007, he was announced as the head writer of that company's weekly series, Countdown. Paul Dini is currently co-writing the script for the upcoming Gatchaman movie. Dini is also currently writing a series for Top Cow Productions, based in a character he created, Madame Mirage.
Paul Dini is an active cryptozoologist, hunter and wildlife photographer. On a 1985 trip to Tasmania, he had a possible sighting of a Thylacine. He has also encountered a number of venomous snakes, a Komodo Dragon and a charging Sumatran Rhi
Paul Dini was born in New York City. He attended the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California on an art scholarship. He attended Emerson College in Boston, where he earned a BFA degree in creative writing. (He also took zoology classes at Harvard University.)
During college, he began doing freelance animation scripts for Filmation, and a number of other studios. In 1984, he was hired to work for George Lucas on several of his animation projects.
The episodes of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that were written by Dini have become favorites amongst the show's fans over the internet, although despite this as well as contributing to interviews on the released box sets of the series, Dini has made no secret of his distaste for Filmation and the He-Man concept. He also wrote an episode of the Generation One Transformers cartoon series and contributed to various episodes of the Ewoks animated series, several of which included rare appearances from the Empire.
In 1989, he was hired at Warner Bros. Animation to work on Tiny Toon Adventures. Later, he moved onto Batman: The Animated Series, where he worked as a writer, producer and editor, later working on Batman Beyond. He continued working with WB animation, working on a number of internal projects, including Krypto the Superdog and Duck Dodgers, until 2004.
He has earned five Emmy awards for his animation work. In a related effort, Dini was also the co-author (with Chip Kidd) of Batman Animated, a 1998 non-fiction coffee table book about the animated Batman franchise.
Dini has also written several comics stories for DC Comics, including an acclaimed oversized graphic novel series illustrated by painter Alex Ross. (A hardcover collection of the Dini and Ross stories was published in late summer 2005 under the title The World's Greatest Superheroes.) Other books written by Dini for DC have featured his Batman Animated creation Harley Quinn as well as classic characters Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Zatanna.
Best known among Dini's original creations is Jingle Belle, the rebellious teen-age daughter of Santa Claus. Dini also created Sheriff Ida Red, the super-powered cowgirl star of a series of books set in Dini's mythical town of Mutant, Texas. Perhaps his greatest character contribution is the introduction of Harley Quinn (along with designs by Bruce Timm) on Batman: The Animated Series.
In 2001 Dini made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back during the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob wear ridiculous looking costumes for a film being directed by Chris Rock, in which Dini says to them "you guys look pretty bad ass".
In 2006, Dini became the writer for DC Comics' Detective Comics. That same year, he announced that he was writing a hardcover graphic novel starring Zatanna and Black Canary. In 2007, he was announced as the head writer of that company's weekly series, Countdown. Paul Dini is currently co-writing the script for the upcoming Gatchaman movie. Dini is also currently writing a series for Top Cow Productions, based in a character he created, Madame Mirage.
Paul Dini is an active cryptozoologist, hunter and wildlife photographer. On a 1985 trip to Tasmania, he had a possible sighting of a Thylacine. He has also encountered a number of venomous snakes, a Komodo Dragon and a charging Sumatran Rhi
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 15, 2016
Amazing, so much fun!
December 23, 2016
Una primera parte muy graciosa donde conocemos el carácter de Ivy
October 23, 2024
As part of the DC official Discord book club I read this book then answered these discussion questions:
1. What motivates Harley in her actions throughout this issue? Do you see her as a hero, anti-hero, or something else entirely? Why?
Her relationship and friendship with Ivy is what drives her this entire issue, it’s her newest obsession and now that Ivy hates her guts it really only amplifies it. I would say that she is fully acting as a villain here. It may be to help her friend, but the intentions are still completely evil. They want to get a zombie plant to take over the minds of others, even if Harley is just tagging along for the ride. Now we could see this change as we did in the Harley Quinn animated show when a similar plot happened and Harley was the one to stop her.
2. What insights does this issue provide into Harley's psyche? How do her past experiences shape her decisions and interactions with Ivy?
As I mentioned in the first question, I think this further shows Harley’s obsessions she can have with people and things. This entire issue she is only bent on helping Ivy, even if she messes up, and once Ivy starts to ignore and despise her that obsession only grows stronger. This can easily be compared to her abusive relationship with the joker, but it does feel like Ivy presents a lot less risk.
3. How are vulnerability and strength portrayed in the characters of Harley and Ivy? Can vulnerability coexist with power, and if so, how is that depicted?
Harley personifies openness and vulnerability and Ivy uses her strength as a wall in front of her emotions. Throughout the issue Harley completely leaves herself vulnerable to Ivy and wants to make sure to give all of herself front and center. While Ivy withholds her feelings of hatred (to a point) from Harley while also holding back the true love she still holds for her friend. I think the end of this issue shows that vulnerability and power are interchangeable, as even though Ivy still puts on a front of strength she is still willing to drag Harley along with her, which ultimately leaves Ivy completely vulnerable to Harley.
4. How does this comic subvert typical superhero tropes? What does it reveal about the expectations of heroism and villainy?
I believe it subverts typical superhero tropes by finding a middle ground for these characters. There is no big fight that turns them against each other only to team up later, on a base level they are two friends that had an argument and then got over it and in a funny way you could see it as quite normal. It also shows that villainy isn’t always a lonely street, and one bad mishap doesn’t have to be the deal breaker for a partnership. There have been a lot of times where villains team up only to fail and never try again, so even if not completely on purpose these characters are drawn back together to fight another day.
1. What motivates Harley in her actions throughout this issue? Do you see her as a hero, anti-hero, or something else entirely? Why?
Her relationship and friendship with Ivy is what drives her this entire issue, it’s her newest obsession and now that Ivy hates her guts it really only amplifies it. I would say that she is fully acting as a villain here. It may be to help her friend, but the intentions are still completely evil. They want to get a zombie plant to take over the minds of others, even if Harley is just tagging along for the ride. Now we could see this change as we did in the Harley Quinn animated show when a similar plot happened and Harley was the one to stop her.
2. What insights does this issue provide into Harley's psyche? How do her past experiences shape her decisions and interactions with Ivy?
As I mentioned in the first question, I think this further shows Harley’s obsessions she can have with people and things. This entire issue she is only bent on helping Ivy, even if she messes up, and once Ivy starts to ignore and despise her that obsession only grows stronger. This can easily be compared to her abusive relationship with the joker, but it does feel like Ivy presents a lot less risk.
3. How are vulnerability and strength portrayed in the characters of Harley and Ivy? Can vulnerability coexist with power, and if so, how is that depicted?
Harley personifies openness and vulnerability and Ivy uses her strength as a wall in front of her emotions. Throughout the issue Harley completely leaves herself vulnerable to Ivy and wants to make sure to give all of herself front and center. While Ivy withholds her feelings of hatred (to a point) from Harley while also holding back the true love she still holds for her friend. I think the end of this issue shows that vulnerability and power are interchangeable, as even though Ivy still puts on a front of strength she is still willing to drag Harley along with her, which ultimately leaves Ivy completely vulnerable to Harley.
4. How does this comic subvert typical superhero tropes? What does it reveal about the expectations of heroism and villainy?
I believe it subverts typical superhero tropes by finding a middle ground for these characters. There is no big fight that turns them against each other only to team up later, on a base level they are two friends that had an argument and then got over it and in a funny way you could see it as quite normal. It also shows that villainy isn’t always a lonely street, and one bad mishap doesn’t have to be the deal breaker for a partnership. There have been a lot of times where villains team up only to fail and never try again, so even if not completely on purpose these characters are drawn back together to fight another day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2024
These two have been gay since day one. I’m glad we’ve moved past the toxic couple aspect but it’s still a fun comic.
March 25, 2025
I loved the fact that the first page said Bosom buddies
February 21, 2017
some cotton candy reading for my day - I do currently have an obsession with the female characters in the batman stories esp those "bad guys"
September 6, 2015
A quick read and a fun romp with my two of my favourite DC duo (apart from Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne). There were slight hints of Ivy's pansexuality and a good stretch of them running around in their skivvies. Also, considering where DC has taken Harley's character over the years, it was nice to see original recipe Harley again, even for a little while.
January 2, 2017
“Harley and Ivy” from BATMAN: HARLEY AND IVY #1 (2004)
#1 Bitter 'Red' just can't seem to shake this exuberant Harley from wanting to be close friends.
Opening line: “Tell me again why we're riskin' our buts for some dumb PLANT when we could be stealing something FUN.” - Harley.
#1 Bitter 'Red' just can't seem to shake this exuberant Harley from wanting to be close friends.
Opening line: “Tell me again why we're riskin' our buts for some dumb PLANT when we could be stealing something FUN.” - Harley.
June 21, 2014
It's Paul Dini and Bruce Timm having fun in Batman land...what's not to love?
June 30, 2014
You gotta love Harley Quinn!
July 17, 2014
Awesome! I love Harley Quinn!
December 30, 2016
Muy divertido. Harley no deja de ser una fastidiosa.
April 14, 2014
Classic Harley/Ivy. A quick and easy read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews