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DC Comics novels - Harley Quinn: Mad Love
The definitive story of Harley Quinn by her co-creator, Paul Dini, and Pat Cadigan, revealing the secrets of her history even as she seeks to kill Batman.
Dr. Harleen Quinzel grew up in an abusive household with a criminal and became a psychologist to deal with her own broken family. At Arkham Asylum, she attempted to treat the Joker and instead fell hopelessly in love with him, helping him escape and becoming a member of his organization. Quinzel became Harley Quinn, a bizarre contradiction of violence and mercy. She blames Batman for her inability to maintain a stable relationship with the arch-villain, and that causes her to have an abiding hatred for the hero, who she seeks to kill. Upon capture she becomes a violent inmate at Belle Reve Penitentiary, and is assigned to the group of government-maintained super villains known as the Suicide Squad.
Dr. Harleen Quinzel grew up in an abusive household with a criminal and became a psychologist to deal with her own broken family. At Arkham Asylum, she attempted to treat the Joker and instead fell hopelessly in love with him, helping him escape and becoming a member of his organization. Quinzel became Harley Quinn, a bizarre contradiction of violence and mercy. She blames Batman for her inability to maintain a stable relationship with the arch-villain, and that causes her to have an abiding hatred for the hero, who she seeks to kill. Upon capture she becomes a violent inmate at Belle Reve Penitentiary, and is assigned to the group of government-maintained super villains known as the Suicide Squad.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 13, 2018
248 people are currently reading
2875 people want to read
About the author
Paul Dini
726 books714 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
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December 10, 2018
Say hello to your new improved Harley Quinn: Mad Love!
This is a prose novel, adapting the original “Mad Love” story, first published in “Batman Adventures” comic book, and later being adapted into an episode for “Batman: The Animated Series”. This is an extended novelization, presenting scenes never before included in the “Mad Love” story.
TOUGH-BROOKLYN-COOKIE
Knock-knock, puddin’
Mad Love is my favorite episode in Batman: The Animated Series, which is no wonder since Harley Quinn is my favorite character there, and that’s her origin story.
Harley Quinn was created in that animated TV series, and she become so popular that she was introduced to the official DC Universe, not only in the pages of Batman and Detective Comics but also getting several ongoing comic book titles, multiple mini-series, one-shots, becoming regular character in Suicide Squad title.
In comedy, timing was everything.
Harley Quinn had arrived to stay, but back then, still a support character in BTAS, it was clear that it wasn’t planned to develop her beyond of being a colorful henchwoman for The Joker, but as I mentioned it, she become so popular that finally she got her own origin story.
And now, in this superb prose novel, you will read the ultimate Harley Quinn origin story, featuring all the original Mad Love story, BUT quite extended, showing Dr. Harleen Quinzel since she was a little kid in Brooklyn, NY, some of her high school experiences, along with more in detail her college years in Gotham University, and...
...of course...
...her fateful time as a psychiatrist in Arkham Asylum, along with her vicious relationship with the infamous Joker, and even later once solo again, struggling with her own gained reputation, but also dealing with old grudges.
…Gotham City had to be a psychiatric gold mine.
And the coolest part, is that Paul Dini (co-creator of Harley Quinn) with the collaboration of Pat Cadigan (who I knew her work thanks to a Lost in Space prose novel), they embraced the task of developing the ultimate origin story for your favorite criminally insane psychiatrist, obviously using the already presented material on the original Mad Love but also employing some material about her past, developed in comic books, along with extending the original scenes, even adding totally new ones.
Arkham didn’t have drills, only emergencies.
You’ll understand Harley Quinn as never before, being witness of her childhood where for better and worse, her parents were fateful influences for the woman that she’ll become in her adulthood, the logical reasons that lead her to the decisions in her college years, her ambitious steps once working in Arkham Asylum, and her dangerous crossroads between the Clown Prince of Crime and the Dark Knight…
…and her brave quest, to find her own place in life…
…and making people laugh!
A MUST-HAVE novel for any fan of Harley Quinn!
This is a prose novel, adapting the original “Mad Love” story, first published in “Batman Adventures” comic book, and later being adapted into an episode for “Batman: The Animated Series”. This is an extended novelization, presenting scenes never before included in the “Mad Love” story.
TOUGH-BROOKLYN-COOKIE
Knock-knock, puddin’
Mad Love is my favorite episode in Batman: The Animated Series, which is no wonder since Harley Quinn is my favorite character there, and that’s her origin story.
Harley Quinn was created in that animated TV series, and she become so popular that she was introduced to the official DC Universe, not only in the pages of Batman and Detective Comics but also getting several ongoing comic book titles, multiple mini-series, one-shots, becoming regular character in Suicide Squad title.
In comedy, timing was everything.
Harley Quinn had arrived to stay, but back then, still a support character in BTAS, it was clear that it wasn’t planned to develop her beyond of being a colorful henchwoman for The Joker, but as I mentioned it, she become so popular that finally she got her own origin story.
And now, in this superb prose novel, you will read the ultimate Harley Quinn origin story, featuring all the original Mad Love story, BUT quite extended, showing Dr. Harleen Quinzel since she was a little kid in Brooklyn, NY, some of her high school experiences, along with more in detail her college years in Gotham University, and...
...of course...
...her fateful time as a psychiatrist in Arkham Asylum, along with her vicious relationship with the infamous Joker, and even later once solo again, struggling with her own gained reputation, but also dealing with old grudges.
…Gotham City had to be a psychiatric gold mine.
And the coolest part, is that Paul Dini (co-creator of Harley Quinn) with the collaboration of Pat Cadigan (who I knew her work thanks to a Lost in Space prose novel), they embraced the task of developing the ultimate origin story for your favorite criminally insane psychiatrist, obviously using the already presented material on the original Mad Love but also employing some material about her past, developed in comic books, along with extending the original scenes, even adding totally new ones.
Arkham didn’t have drills, only emergencies.
You’ll understand Harley Quinn as never before, being witness of her childhood where for better and worse, her parents were fateful influences for the woman that she’ll become in her adulthood, the logical reasons that lead her to the decisions in her college years, her ambitious steps once working in Arkham Asylum, and her dangerous crossroads between the Clown Prince of Crime and the Dark Knight…
…and her brave quest, to find her own place in life…
…and making people laugh!
A MUST-HAVE novel for any fan of Harley Quinn!
December 19, 2018
There are so many reasons why I should not have read this book. I tend to avoid media tie-in novels, and it’s not only a media tie-in, but also a novelization of a specific story. Add to that it’s also currently only available in hardcover, and the few tie-ins that I have read, I would never have spent more than massmarket price (and even they would mostly likely have been used copies). I flat out admit my prejudice here and accept it. Nonetheless, as I walked around the bookstore picking up some Christmas gifts for relatives, I saw this on the shelf and didn’t hesitate for a moment. I bought it and began reading as soon as I got home.
Why? When I was growing up, the Batman animated series was pretty much the best thing in the world to me. I loved all the episodes and could rewatch them at any time (in fact as an adult, I’ve rewatched episodes and marveled at how clever and mature many of them are, acting as something of a child friendly noir). All my favorite episodes though featured the Joker, and the best of the best featured Harley.
And Mad Love was the best of the best.
Honestly, to this day I have no clue how the censors allowed this episode to happen. It features the Joker manipulating Harley in a rather disturbing way, and doesn’t even try to hide the abusive relationship. I remember even as a kid being rather shocked when the evil, but always comical Joker, stopped being funny and flat out started to hit her.
The reason this rather horrific episode works is because our sympathy was always with Harley. We were meant to hope for better for her, and it’s clear the creators were trying to fully show that the Joker WAS a monster. They made us laugh with him before, but after Mad Love, it was impossible to watch his actions (particularly around Harley) without seeing him in a completely different light.
This is the third take on the story that I know of. It was as mentioned before, an episode of the animated series. It was also done as a comic, and now finally as a novel. Why has this particular story been told so many different times and through different mediums? I once read an interview with a translator who said that he had translated a specific work that had already been translated into English multiple times, because it “deserved it.” He didn’t claim that his was the definitive version, but if you looked at multiple versions side by side, you came to a new understanding of the work you wouldn’t with just one. I feel that there is a very legitimate case to be made with this story as well.
This is, to put it simply, the definitive Harley Quinn story. Much like how The Killing Joke will forever be the go to story that comic readers will usually think of with the Joker, Harley’s will always be Mad Love. It tells us about her time as a psychiatrist and the great game the Joker made of their time together, slowly manipulating her and playing off everything she wanted to hear. It tells us the aftermath of this, and while often quite funny, the story is frankly a tragedy.
The book is co-written by Paul Dini, who was one of the original creators of the show, and one of the creators of Harley herself. His sympathy is still very much with her. Rewriting the old story one last time he and Pat Cadigan go beyond any of the previous versions, going deeper into Harley’s background, showing her childhood, her college days and time in Arkham before being assigned to the Joker. We see the aspects of her past that would draw her to the Joker’s personality, and she’s given a depth that the other versions didn’t have. This is in part thanks to the amount of time that has passed since the initial creation of the character, as she has grown in the comics as well (and the novel certainly takes advantage of these more recent developments in certain parts of the book).
The writing is, while not great literary prose, quite well done. Certainly better than I would have expected. It’s fast paced and a fun read, combining Cadigan’s writing talents and Dini’s knowledge of the character to create something rather special. It’s a unique take on a character that always felt fitting in a cartoonish medium. Here though in a literary format, we see her in a different, more realistic way while still staying true to the previous takes on the story as well.
It is worth noting that the timeline has changed a bit as it’s set in modern day (references to DVDs and smartphones would have been science fiction to us kids who recorded the episodes of the animated series on VHS tapes), but these changes don’t really alter the story to a noticeable degree and to those unfamiliar with the original versions, nothing will seem out of place at all.
There is one notable big change beyond the backstory though.
Overall this book is a wonderful take on the story; filled with winks and nods to fans, while still being accessible to all. I give it a solid 4/5 stars and a full recommendation to all fans of the series.
Why? When I was growing up, the Batman animated series was pretty much the best thing in the world to me. I loved all the episodes and could rewatch them at any time (in fact as an adult, I’ve rewatched episodes and marveled at how clever and mature many of them are, acting as something of a child friendly noir). All my favorite episodes though featured the Joker, and the best of the best featured Harley.
And Mad Love was the best of the best.
Honestly, to this day I have no clue how the censors allowed this episode to happen. It features the Joker manipulating Harley in a rather disturbing way, and doesn’t even try to hide the abusive relationship. I remember even as a kid being rather shocked when the evil, but always comical Joker, stopped being funny and flat out started to hit her.
The reason this rather horrific episode works is because our sympathy was always with Harley. We were meant to hope for better for her, and it’s clear the creators were trying to fully show that the Joker WAS a monster. They made us laugh with him before, but after Mad Love, it was impossible to watch his actions (particularly around Harley) without seeing him in a completely different light.
This is the third take on the story that I know of. It was as mentioned before, an episode of the animated series. It was also done as a comic, and now finally as a novel. Why has this particular story been told so many different times and through different mediums? I once read an interview with a translator who said that he had translated a specific work that had already been translated into English multiple times, because it “deserved it.” He didn’t claim that his was the definitive version, but if you looked at multiple versions side by side, you came to a new understanding of the work you wouldn’t with just one. I feel that there is a very legitimate case to be made with this story as well.
This is, to put it simply, the definitive Harley Quinn story. Much like how The Killing Joke will forever be the go to story that comic readers will usually think of with the Joker, Harley’s will always be Mad Love. It tells us about her time as a psychiatrist and the great game the Joker made of their time together, slowly manipulating her and playing off everything she wanted to hear. It tells us the aftermath of this, and while often quite funny, the story is frankly a tragedy.
The book is co-written by Paul Dini, who was one of the original creators of the show, and one of the creators of Harley herself. His sympathy is still very much with her. Rewriting the old story one last time he and Pat Cadigan go beyond any of the previous versions, going deeper into Harley’s background, showing her childhood, her college days and time in Arkham before being assigned to the Joker. We see the aspects of her past that would draw her to the Joker’s personality, and she’s given a depth that the other versions didn’t have. This is in part thanks to the amount of time that has passed since the initial creation of the character, as she has grown in the comics as well (and the novel certainly takes advantage of these more recent developments in certain parts of the book).
The writing is, while not great literary prose, quite well done. Certainly better than I would have expected. It’s fast paced and a fun read, combining Cadigan’s writing talents and Dini’s knowledge of the character to create something rather special. It’s a unique take on a character that always felt fitting in a cartoonish medium. Here though in a literary format, we see her in a different, more realistic way while still staying true to the previous takes on the story as well.
It is worth noting that the timeline has changed a bit as it’s set in modern day (references to DVDs and smartphones would have been science fiction to us kids who recorded the episodes of the animated series on VHS tapes), but these changes don’t really alter the story to a noticeable degree and to those unfamiliar with the original versions, nothing will seem out of place at all.
There is one notable big change beyond the backstory though.
Overall this book is a wonderful take on the story; filled with winks and nods to fans, while still being accessible to all. I give it a solid 4/5 stars and a full recommendation to all fans of the series.
February 14, 2020
When I get together with my nerdy, graphic novel reading friends, we often get into the ridiculous “which character would you be” conversation. And if that conversation is specifically about the Batman universe, I get profoundly embarrassed, because as much as I’d like to be a good feminist and say I’d totally be a bad-ass eco-terrorist like Poison Ivy, or an emancipated burglar like Catwoman, I have always been inexplicably weak in the knees for the Joker… and I know that deep down, I’m definitely a Harley Quinn… And this book does justice to the tragic sidekick/lover/punching bag of my favorite villain ever...
Beware of spoilers (if you aren't familiar with Harley's story, or with the famous "Mad Love" episode or comic)!
Most people know that Harleen Quinzel was once a promising psychiatrist (and gymnast!) who worked at Arkham Asylum and was assigned the Joker's case while he was incarcerated there. In the course of treating him, she fell madly in love with him, helped him break free and joined him in his life of crime and mayhem. But even in the Batman animated series, it becomes obvious rather quickly that this is a one-sided relationship and that the Joker is not only manipulating her, but is often violent towards her. And yet, she remains completely loyal to him - right until she isn't.
I'd always wondered why Harley behaved the way she did. Why would she give her career up, why would she put up with the repeated abuse (and occasional murder attempts), why would she put on that super annoying Brooklyn wise-cracking accent?! Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan - the original creators of the hammer-wielding pocket-psycho, did a perfect job of going far into Harley's past so that readers could finally make some sense of her (and her stupid accent).
And really, if you've ever had mixed feelings about Harley the way I did, this book just might help you resolve them. Her complicated, tragic childhood brings to light many aspects of her personality which will eventually be magnified by her criminal alter ego - it also explains why the Joker was able to tell her exactly what she needed to heard to flip over to the dark side, for lack of a better way of putting it.
While this is not a fancy novel (it's a little rushed around the edges), it's a wonderfully entertaining read that humanizes one of the DC Universe's most cartoonish character and brings her to life as the girl who fell for the wrong guy. That said, as good a cautionary tale as her story might be, I'm still a Joker fangirl through and through.
Beware of spoilers (if you aren't familiar with Harley's story, or with the famous "Mad Love" episode or comic)!
Most people know that Harleen Quinzel was once a promising psychiatrist (and gymnast!) who worked at Arkham Asylum and was assigned the Joker's case while he was incarcerated there. In the course of treating him, she fell madly in love with him, helped him break free and joined him in his life of crime and mayhem. But even in the Batman animated series, it becomes obvious rather quickly that this is a one-sided relationship and that the Joker is not only manipulating her, but is often violent towards her. And yet, she remains completely loyal to him - right until she isn't.
I'd always wondered why Harley behaved the way she did. Why would she give her career up, why would she put up with the repeated abuse (and occasional murder attempts), why would she put on that super annoying Brooklyn wise-cracking accent?! Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan - the original creators of the hammer-wielding pocket-psycho, did a perfect job of going far into Harley's past so that readers could finally make some sense of her (and her stupid accent).
And really, if you've ever had mixed feelings about Harley the way I did, this book just might help you resolve them. Her complicated, tragic childhood brings to light many aspects of her personality which will eventually be magnified by her criminal alter ego - it also explains why the Joker was able to tell her exactly what she needed to heard to flip over to the dark side, for lack of a better way of putting it.
While this is not a fancy novel (it's a little rushed around the edges), it's a wonderfully entertaining read that humanizes one of the DC Universe's most cartoonish character and brings her to life as the girl who fell for the wrong guy. That said, as good a cautionary tale as her story might be, I'm still a Joker fangirl through and through.
June 5, 2025
LOVED THIS!
I loved the seeds that were planted early in her childhood for the later M.O.s and her character development.
This was further explained by her experiences at Arkham and her disenchantment with those who prayed at the alter of Batman without any good reasons provided for their faith.
The Joker was a fun, disastrous, charismatic version of himself, and his push of Harleen into Harley Quinn was well done.
5 Stars. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
I loved the seeds that were planted early in her childhood for the later M.O.s and her character development.
This was further explained by her experiences at Arkham and her disenchantment with those who prayed at the alter of Batman without any good reasons provided for their faith.
The Joker was a fun, disastrous, charismatic version of himself, and his push of Harleen into Harley Quinn was well done.
5 Stars. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
December 3, 2018
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/12/03/...
My towering TBR and healthy skepticism for comic tie-ins be damned, as soon as I was sent a pitch for Harley Quinn: Mad Love I knew I had to read it. This beloved DC character has been a favorite of mine since my grade school days in the 90s, back when Batman: The Animated Series was pretty much a staple in every kid’s TV repertoire. But what really sold me was Paul Dini’s name on the cover, co-authoring with Pat Cadigan. As one of Harley Quinn’s original creators, Dini’s the only one I would trust to write the definitive origin story for the character.
Most fans are familiar with the broader details behind her transformation into the motley-clad femme fatale who is a frequent accomplice and love interest for the Joker. Before she became Harley Quinn, she was Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a brilliant young psychiatrist who fell in love with the Clown Prince of Crime while treating him at Arkham Asylum, eventually throwing away her promising career to help him escape. But who was she before the Joker, before Arkham, or even before the medical degree? In this novel, Dini and Cadigan take readers back to the very beginning, with a look at Harleen’s childhood growing up in a poor Brooklyn neighborhood as the daughter of a conman and his ex-surgeon wife.
A traumatic event introduced seven-year-old Harleen to death and violence, giving rise to her macabre sense of humor. From a very young age, she had also harbored a strong distrust for law enforcement figures, after witnessing the callous way a group of cops treated her father. This attitude followed her to college, which she attended on a gymnastics scholarship, and then to Gotham City, where she became disgusted with the people’s strange hero-worship of Batman. At Arkham, she sympathized with her patients’ hatred for the caped crusader, who was responsible for putting nearly all of them there in the first place. Of all the inmates, however, she was most fascinated by the Joker, and became obsessed with the idea of making him well. The rest, as they say, is history—though the exact events that took place and the words exchanged between them have always been a bit of a question mark. Until now.
As much as I adore Harley, her story has always struck me as one of the most tragic in the world of comics. Here was this bright, beautiful and talented young woman, who traded it all to be in a relationship where only one person is truly committed to the other. Meanwhile, the Joker, who keeps her close but treats her like garbage, never really seemed to care either way. Even as a child watching the cartoons, I sensed there was something deeply broken about her character, and I believe there’s a good reason for this perception. In all the different forms of media in which she has been portrayed, most either paint her as an oblivious flake or a crazed sexpot. Rarely is she ever given any kind of real agency, as mostly she’s there to play second fiddle to the Joker, to be kicked around and emotionally exploited.
That’s why I think this novel is different. In a way, her manipulation and victimization by the Joker will always be a character-defining element of Harley Quinn, but at the very least, the authors made a real attempt here to explore her personality and give her the autonomy she deserves. In this origin story, Harley’s a genuinely complex individual, not just a lovesick sidekick. The sections detailing her childhood show that the seeds of her deeply-rooted psychological issues were already planted there, long before she met the Joker. The book also takes great pains not to romanticize their relationship. Before Harley fell in love with the Joker, she fell in love with the idea of curing him, and it is this fixation that initially sends her down a dark path.
I guess one could say Harley’s story is a cautionary tale against caring too much. Reading this book, I was reminded of how much I enjoy the duo nature of her character, which is also why I’ll always have a soft spot for her original two-toned costume. She is both villain and victim, in a relationship that is a mixture of love and hate. And while her heart may be in the right place, all her actions are primarily driven by self-interest. The combination of her extreme ambition and her extreme sympathy to others was what ultimately led her to her downfall, and the fact that she severely underestimated the Joker’s abilities as a master manipulator. Knowing exactly what to say and what buttons to push, he was able to use Dr. Harleen Quinzel’s own traumatic past against her, bending her to his will in ways so subtle that even she, an expert in psychiatry, was unable to tell what he was doing to her, or realize what she was starting to become.
Granted, a lot of the story will be familiar if you’ve read the “Mad Love” Batman Adventures comic or have watched the 90s animated series, because then there will be several scenes in this novel you will instantly recognize. Still, the full story of Harley’s origins including her childhood background makes this one worth it, not to mention with the well-rounded treatment of her character by Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan, she actually feels like a real person with real agency in a story that’s all her own. For fans of Harley Quinn and comics in general, I can’t stress enough how much you need this book in your life.
My towering TBR and healthy skepticism for comic tie-ins be damned, as soon as I was sent a pitch for Harley Quinn: Mad Love I knew I had to read it. This beloved DC character has been a favorite of mine since my grade school days in the 90s, back when Batman: The Animated Series was pretty much a staple in every kid’s TV repertoire. But what really sold me was Paul Dini’s name on the cover, co-authoring with Pat Cadigan. As one of Harley Quinn’s original creators, Dini’s the only one I would trust to write the definitive origin story for the character.
Most fans are familiar with the broader details behind her transformation into the motley-clad femme fatale who is a frequent accomplice and love interest for the Joker. Before she became Harley Quinn, she was Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a brilliant young psychiatrist who fell in love with the Clown Prince of Crime while treating him at Arkham Asylum, eventually throwing away her promising career to help him escape. But who was she before the Joker, before Arkham, or even before the medical degree? In this novel, Dini and Cadigan take readers back to the very beginning, with a look at Harleen’s childhood growing up in a poor Brooklyn neighborhood as the daughter of a conman and his ex-surgeon wife.
A traumatic event introduced seven-year-old Harleen to death and violence, giving rise to her macabre sense of humor. From a very young age, she had also harbored a strong distrust for law enforcement figures, after witnessing the callous way a group of cops treated her father. This attitude followed her to college, which she attended on a gymnastics scholarship, and then to Gotham City, where she became disgusted with the people’s strange hero-worship of Batman. At Arkham, she sympathized with her patients’ hatred for the caped crusader, who was responsible for putting nearly all of them there in the first place. Of all the inmates, however, she was most fascinated by the Joker, and became obsessed with the idea of making him well. The rest, as they say, is history—though the exact events that took place and the words exchanged between them have always been a bit of a question mark. Until now.
As much as I adore Harley, her story has always struck me as one of the most tragic in the world of comics. Here was this bright, beautiful and talented young woman, who traded it all to be in a relationship where only one person is truly committed to the other. Meanwhile, the Joker, who keeps her close but treats her like garbage, never really seemed to care either way. Even as a child watching the cartoons, I sensed there was something deeply broken about her character, and I believe there’s a good reason for this perception. In all the different forms of media in which she has been portrayed, most either paint her as an oblivious flake or a crazed sexpot. Rarely is she ever given any kind of real agency, as mostly she’s there to play second fiddle to the Joker, to be kicked around and emotionally exploited.
That’s why I think this novel is different. In a way, her manipulation and victimization by the Joker will always be a character-defining element of Harley Quinn, but at the very least, the authors made a real attempt here to explore her personality and give her the autonomy she deserves. In this origin story, Harley’s a genuinely complex individual, not just a lovesick sidekick. The sections detailing her childhood show that the seeds of her deeply-rooted psychological issues were already planted there, long before she met the Joker. The book also takes great pains not to romanticize their relationship. Before Harley fell in love with the Joker, she fell in love with the idea of curing him, and it is this fixation that initially sends her down a dark path.
I guess one could say Harley’s story is a cautionary tale against caring too much. Reading this book, I was reminded of how much I enjoy the duo nature of her character, which is also why I’ll always have a soft spot for her original two-toned costume. She is both villain and victim, in a relationship that is a mixture of love and hate. And while her heart may be in the right place, all her actions are primarily driven by self-interest. The combination of her extreme ambition and her extreme sympathy to others was what ultimately led her to her downfall, and the fact that she severely underestimated the Joker’s abilities as a master manipulator. Knowing exactly what to say and what buttons to push, he was able to use Dr. Harleen Quinzel’s own traumatic past against her, bending her to his will in ways so subtle that even she, an expert in psychiatry, was unable to tell what he was doing to her, or realize what she was starting to become.
Granted, a lot of the story will be familiar if you’ve read the “Mad Love” Batman Adventures comic or have watched the 90s animated series, because then there will be several scenes in this novel you will instantly recognize. Still, the full story of Harley’s origins including her childhood background makes this one worth it, not to mention with the well-rounded treatment of her character by Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan, she actually feels like a real person with real agency in a story that’s all her own. For fans of Harley Quinn and comics in general, I can’t stress enough how much you need this book in your life.
November 25, 2018
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Novelizations are a tricky terrain to venture on. After my initial experience with the adaptation by Christa Faust of Alan Moore’s classic masterpiece The Killing Joke, it was now time to check out DC Comics’ latest novelization and it is different in the best of ways. How so, you wonder? It is different because the writer behind the original Mad Love comic book story arc is co-writing the novel with Pat Cadigan. In doing so, the idea of a novelization in itself became completely seductive as you can imagine that there is no better person to give you more out of a character than the creator himself. While it is difficult to completely single out Paul Dini as the reason for the crystal-clear authenticity that came with this novel, his contribution is non-negligible. And thus, Harley Quinn: Mad Love sets the example of a perfect novelization that every fan of the original piece would adore.
What is Harley Quinn: Mad Love about? It is the definitive origin story of the infamous villain and partner in crime of the Joker. In this novel, Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan co-write Harleen Quinzel’s evolution from her days as a child when she learns the truth about her parents and the police to her days as a psychiatrist in the madhouse known as Arkham Asylum to her debut as the Brooklyn-accented, highly-spirited and extremely dangerous harlequin who finds herself charmed and enlightened by the Joker. With never-before-seen insight into the life of Harley Quinn before she became what she is known for today, the story broadens the reader’s understanding of the character’s tumultuous past and inevitable future.
Having read Batman: Mad Love and Other Stories, I had a feeling that it was going to be essential for the authors to look elsewhere if they were to add more juice to the story than just what was presented in the comics. This is where it would always feel risky beforehand as there’s so much that would have to be taken into consideration if the newly-added content were to fit with the original tale. But Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan achieve the impossible and uses this opportunity to go all the way back into Harleen Quinzel’s days as a child growing up within an abusive household to dive deep into the character’s personality and history. Without ever feeling like content was being shoved into our throats, every single moment managed to draw upon a trait that you’d quickly recognize in Harley Quinn today. In fact, even little Easter eggs were thrown into her history for fans to spot and recognize as key elements that would later characterize Harley Quinn and her sporadically-violent behaviours.
What I also found ingenious about this novelization is how the story would visit themes of rehabilitation and mental health. While Harley Quinn is known for pouncing on Batman and his allies with a hammer as well as her love-hate relationship drenched in excess with the Joker, she still remains a successful and beautiful psychiatrist before anything else. Throughout parts of the story, Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan makes sure to fully-exploit this facet of her character by showcasing her therapy sessions with other criminals as well as her beliefs and motivations in life as a professional psychiatrist. With the amount of insight we gain from these new story lines, the character quickly grows on the reader and her development becomes a beautiful thing we watch unfold. This is why having Paul Dini on board on this project seemed like the most brilliant idea ever as his understanding on not only Harley Quinn, the Joker and Batman is flawless, but also that his grasp on Gotham’s culture is firm.
Harley Quinn: Mad Love is a magnificent novelization that not only stays loyal to its source material, it visits the iconic character’s history with authenticity and brings every character to life with pure conviction.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Titan Books for sending me a copy for review!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Novelizations are a tricky terrain to venture on. After my initial experience with the adaptation by Christa Faust of Alan Moore’s classic masterpiece The Killing Joke, it was now time to check out DC Comics’ latest novelization and it is different in the best of ways. How so, you wonder? It is different because the writer behind the original Mad Love comic book story arc is co-writing the novel with Pat Cadigan. In doing so, the idea of a novelization in itself became completely seductive as you can imagine that there is no better person to give you more out of a character than the creator himself. While it is difficult to completely single out Paul Dini as the reason for the crystal-clear authenticity that came with this novel, his contribution is non-negligible. And thus, Harley Quinn: Mad Love sets the example of a perfect novelization that every fan of the original piece would adore.
What is Harley Quinn: Mad Love about? It is the definitive origin story of the infamous villain and partner in crime of the Joker. In this novel, Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan co-write Harleen Quinzel’s evolution from her days as a child when she learns the truth about her parents and the police to her days as a psychiatrist in the madhouse known as Arkham Asylum to her debut as the Brooklyn-accented, highly-spirited and extremely dangerous harlequin who finds herself charmed and enlightened by the Joker. With never-before-seen insight into the life of Harley Quinn before she became what she is known for today, the story broadens the reader’s understanding of the character’s tumultuous past and inevitable future.
Having read Batman: Mad Love and Other Stories, I had a feeling that it was going to be essential for the authors to look elsewhere if they were to add more juice to the story than just what was presented in the comics. This is where it would always feel risky beforehand as there’s so much that would have to be taken into consideration if the newly-added content were to fit with the original tale. But Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan achieve the impossible and uses this opportunity to go all the way back into Harleen Quinzel’s days as a child growing up within an abusive household to dive deep into the character’s personality and history. Without ever feeling like content was being shoved into our throats, every single moment managed to draw upon a trait that you’d quickly recognize in Harley Quinn today. In fact, even little Easter eggs were thrown into her history for fans to spot and recognize as key elements that would later characterize Harley Quinn and her sporadically-violent behaviours.
What I also found ingenious about this novelization is how the story would visit themes of rehabilitation and mental health. While Harley Quinn is known for pouncing on Batman and his allies with a hammer as well as her love-hate relationship drenched in excess with the Joker, she still remains a successful and beautiful psychiatrist before anything else. Throughout parts of the story, Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan makes sure to fully-exploit this facet of her character by showcasing her therapy sessions with other criminals as well as her beliefs and motivations in life as a professional psychiatrist. With the amount of insight we gain from these new story lines, the character quickly grows on the reader and her development becomes a beautiful thing we watch unfold. This is why having Paul Dini on board on this project seemed like the most brilliant idea ever as his understanding on not only Harley Quinn, the Joker and Batman is flawless, but also that his grasp on Gotham’s culture is firm.
Harley Quinn: Mad Love is a magnificent novelization that not only stays loyal to its source material, it visits the iconic character’s history with authenticity and brings every character to life with pure conviction.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Titan Books for sending me a copy for review!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
November 24, 2018
This was amazing!! 5 stars, full review to come
September 3, 2021
This tells the story of Harley Quinn from her childhood to when she first meets the Joker and some more after that.
Since Harley Quinn is my favorite villain I had to get this, when I saw it in a bookstore.
The beginning was super interesting and good. She doesn’t have it easy in her childhood but is a strong and intelligent woman that is able to make it far in live.
What really annoyed me is that she gets played by the joker so easily. I do get that it could happen to everyone, because the joker definitely is not stupid either and her childhood probably took a part in it too BUT there is this one scene we’re he obviously planed his break out and she is still trying to convince herself that he got kidnapped.
That got me so angry. At least in this moment she should have started reflecting. I mean she is a psychologist, she should know best.
After this it got worse. I kinda knew it would be like that and it probably shouldn’t get me so angry but yeah.
However overall I still enjoyed this.
Since Harley Quinn is my favorite villain I had to get this, when I saw it in a bookstore.
The beginning was super interesting and good. She doesn’t have it easy in her childhood but is a strong and intelligent woman that is able to make it far in live.
What really annoyed me is that she gets played by the joker so easily. I do get that it could happen to everyone, because the joker definitely is not stupid either and her childhood probably took a part in it too BUT there is this one scene we’re he obviously planed his break out and she is still trying to convince herself that he got kidnapped.
That got me so angry. At least in this moment she should have started reflecting. I mean she is a psychologist, she should know best.
After this it got worse. I kinda knew it would be like that and it probably shouldn’t get me so angry but yeah.
However overall I still enjoyed this.
January 2, 2019
The first half was definitely much stronger than the second. A lot of time is spent in Harleen's childhood and then her time at Arkham, but there isn't as much time spent with her as Harley Quinn and what there is, is mainly rewritten stuff from the animated series. As a result the book winds up feeling a little imbalanced.
The first half is really, really good, though. And Harleen is written in just the right way to not only show how intelligent she is, but also why someone like the Joker is able to reel her in. Harley has suffered from some pretty poor writing in recent years, in my opinion, so to see her presented as an intelligent, compassionate, fierce woman with a morally skewed compass and a darker edge was a huge breath of fresh air.
Also appreciated was the very quiet social justice undertones to the narrative, such as bringing up that mentally ill people are more likely to be victims of crime than they are to commit them. Again, Harley is written as someone who cares deeply about the patients she treats, even if they're all extremely dangerous criminals. It was nice to see the Batman mythos treated with actual nuance, instead of just "guy dressed as a bat takes down bad guys and that's super good".
The first half is really, really good, though. And Harleen is written in just the right way to not only show how intelligent she is, but also why someone like the Joker is able to reel her in. Harley has suffered from some pretty poor writing in recent years, in my opinion, so to see her presented as an intelligent, compassionate, fierce woman with a morally skewed compass and a darker edge was a huge breath of fresh air.
Also appreciated was the very quiet social justice undertones to the narrative, such as bringing up that mentally ill people are more likely to be victims of crime than they are to commit them. Again, Harley is written as someone who cares deeply about the patients she treats, even if they're all extremely dangerous criminals. It was nice to see the Batman mythos treated with actual nuance, instead of just "guy dressed as a bat takes down bad guys and that's super good".
February 5, 2020
3.5 stars.
I LOVE super heroes & villains & their stories. Yes, I actually like origin stories and back story. However, I don't really enjoy comic books. They just aren't my format of choice for reading. Soooooo I was super thrilled when my husband found these Gotham City novelizations! I decided to read Harley Quinn first, because well.... her character is so badass. I read this in a day, but I did feel it lag just a little bit when Harleen became Harley. I actually was a tad disappointed in her change. It wasn't very gripping. Maybe I was expecting the Suicide Squad version. The beginning was great, her life and background was great, her development was great, but I found myself getting disappointed toward the end. I truly loved reading this book though & feel much closer to the world of Batman & Gotham City! Can't wait to read the other 2!
I LOVE super heroes & villains & their stories. Yes, I actually like origin stories and back story. However, I don't really enjoy comic books. They just aren't my format of choice for reading. Soooooo I was super thrilled when my husband found these Gotham City novelizations! I decided to read Harley Quinn first, because well.... her character is so badass. I read this in a day, but I did feel it lag just a little bit when Harleen became Harley. I actually was a tad disappointed in her change. It wasn't very gripping. Maybe I was expecting the Suicide Squad version. The beginning was great, her life and background was great, her development was great, but I found myself getting disappointed toward the end. I truly loved reading this book though & feel much closer to the world of Batman & Gotham City! Can't wait to read the other 2!
May 21, 2020
I really enjoyed getting new content for Harley based on the orignal cartoon! All the stuff about her family, and growing up, and more in-depth view of her falling in love with the joker was great!! However, while the book obviously wasn’t afraid of making changes to the story, near the end it became word for word from the comic/episode without any insight or new detail and became incredibly boring. Also didn’t care for the new ending. Great beginning and middle, end felt rushed and forced. Still recommend if you’re a lover of Harley! Less of a recommend if you’re a fan of the Harley and Joker relationship like I am.
August 16, 2019
Let me start with doctor Harleen Quinzel! What a personality! Damn! I loved the background into her past and was excited to get to the part where she meets the joker! I loved their little nuances and how they interacted with each other! The way their love was depicted - OMG! Loved it sooooo much! I also loved how Harleen becomes Harley - slowly and patiently.
The part how she feels about batman was wonderful - something from her point of view! I do wish though that the parts where she counsels the joker could have been longer!
Although I wasn’t a fan of the ending - I loved the rest of the book!
This is definitely an origin story that needs to be read - especially if you are a harley Quinn fan!
The part how she feels about batman was wonderful - something from her point of view! I do wish though that the parts where she counsels the joker could have been longer!
Although I wasn’t a fan of the ending - I loved the rest of the book!
This is definitely an origin story that needs to be read - especially if you are a harley Quinn fan!
September 3, 2024
As a pretty big Harley Quinn fan, I wanted to read this origin story for a while now.
Meeting Harleen Quinzel at such a young age as an older sister to three needy brothers and a smart and fierce mother who will stop at nothing to protect any of her children, with a father she admires and can do no wrong in her eyes, despite his career in crime. It’s perfectly fitting that she would always want to understand people, becoming a psychologist and wanting to work with the “criminally insane” of Arkham Asylum, we all knew where this was going right?
But this story of how her life started and the slow and steady progress of working with the most dangerous man in Arkham, The Joker or Mistah J, if you please… becoming his Harley Quinn really was a match made in Arkham for the ages.
I really enjoyed the little details in this book, the multiple points of view were an added interesting feature too. It mostly sticks to Harley’s POV, but flicks in and out with maybe a paragraph or a chapter of someone or more than one other (Batman, the Joker, Joan Leland, Commissioner Gordon and a few others)
Meeting Harleen Quinzel at such a young age as an older sister to three needy brothers and a smart and fierce mother who will stop at nothing to protect any of her children, with a father she admires and can do no wrong in her eyes, despite his career in crime. It’s perfectly fitting that she would always want to understand people, becoming a psychologist and wanting to work with the “criminally insane” of Arkham Asylum, we all knew where this was going right?
But this story of how her life started and the slow and steady progress of working with the most dangerous man in Arkham, The Joker or Mistah J, if you please… becoming his Harley Quinn really was a match made in Arkham for the ages.
I really enjoyed the little details in this book, the multiple points of view were an added interesting feature too. It mostly sticks to Harley’s POV, but flicks in and out with maybe a paragraph or a chapter of someone or more than one other (Batman, the Joker, Joan Leland, Commissioner Gordon and a few others)
August 21, 2024
خیلی از قسمت های کتاب از کمیک mad Love بود و چیز جدید بجز چند فصل اخر نداشت 😕😕😕
اول میخواستم بهش ۲ بدم ولی خب پایانش و دوست داشتم برای همین ۳ 😁
اول میخواستم بهش ۲ بدم ولی خب پایانش و دوست داشتم برای همین ۳ 😁
November 27, 2018
Joker and Harley Quinn have always fascinated me, ever since I watched the animated series years ago.
This book is a retelling of Harley’s origin done as a novel.
We see everything from her childhood in Coney Island, to becoming a doctor in Arkham Asylum, and to her infamous relationship with The Joker.
Any long time fan of these characters will fully appreciate this book since it’s co-written by Paul Dini, who wrote for the animated series, the Arkham games, and created Harley Quinn; this book was definitely in good hands.
This book adds extra layers that were originally subtexts yet still doesn’t retcon anything that’s already established.
If you were disappointed by how Harley and Joker were written in the last few years like I was, rest assured this book will make you happy.
This book is a retelling of Harley’s origin done as a novel.
We see everything from her childhood in Coney Island, to becoming a doctor in Arkham Asylum, and to her infamous relationship with The Joker.
Any long time fan of these characters will fully appreciate this book since it’s co-written by Paul Dini, who wrote for the animated series, the Arkham games, and created Harley Quinn; this book was definitely in good hands.
This book adds extra layers that were originally subtexts yet still doesn’t retcon anything that’s already established.
If you were disappointed by how Harley and Joker were written in the last few years like I was, rest assured this book will make you happy.
April 19, 2024
نظر من در مورد کتاب
اول از همه کلی فوتوکارت و بوکمارک داشت که کلی حال کردم
ولی همه شخصیت های فوتوکارت مهم نیستن پس گول نخورین 😂😂
.
.
ترجمه کتاب خیلی خوب بود
تقریبا اون صحنه 🔞 واضح بود
.
.
روند کتاب نوسانی بود
اولش با صحنه گوگولی شروع شد ولی درجا هیجان بود
وسط کتاب آرام نسبی برقرار شد
ولی باز هیجان برگشت
من شخصا این سبک کتاب هارو خیلی می پسندم
مخصوصا برای کسایی که اسلامپ شدن
.
.همه ما در دورانی با کسی آشنا شدیم که خیلی خراب شده بود
و فکر کردیم ما میتونیم تعمیر کنیم
ولی یهو به خودمون اومدیم و دیدیم نابود شدیم
اول از همه کلی فوتوکارت و بوکمارک داشت که کلی حال کردم
ولی همه شخصیت های فوتوکارت مهم نیستن پس گول نخورین 😂😂
.
.
ترجمه کتاب خیلی خوب بود
تقریبا اون صحنه 🔞 واضح بود
.
.
روند کتاب نوسانی بود
اولش با صحنه گوگولی شروع شد ولی درجا هیجان بود
وسط کتاب آرام نسبی برقرار شد
ولی باز هیجان برگشت
من شخصا این سبک کتاب هارو خیلی می پسندم
مخصوصا برای کسایی که اسلامپ شدن
.
.همه ما در دورانی با کسی آشنا شدیم که خیلی خراب شده بود
و فکر کردیم ما میتونیم تعمیر کنیم
ولی یهو به خودمون اومدیم و دیدیم نابود شدیم
November 18, 2018
Just a big no. Again, like with the killing joke novel what was added new was awful and did nothing to enhance the story.
April 10, 2020
**This review could contain spoilers if you don't know much about the Harley Quinn story**
Harley Quinn has been one of my favorite characters ever since she popped up on the scene in the Batman: The Animated Series cartoon. I was also a big fan of Arleen Sorkin, from my soap opera viewing days, who voiced the original HQ, so I figured I would enjoy this origin story and I wasn't disappointed. It feels a little like reading a comic book actually but a little more in-depth in terms of writing since you don't have the illustrations, but I really liked that because it felt like snappy writing, quick and to the point, while still able to engage us in HQ's backstory and how she was manipulated by the Joker into becoming HQ. Stories like this are always fascinating to me because I see stories in the news of extremely intelligent women, who get hoodwinked by some charming, usually equally intelligent, albeit most of the time mentally ill person, into becoming a completely different person. Although in this story, even though after the Joker "breaks" Harley, which was his primary goal, it could be argued in this particular story that in his breaking of her he was also unlocking her in some sense.
I will warn though Joker is abusive towards Harley, this is no secret, but the abuse Harley suffers in the story was a little hard to swallow at times, so be aware if you are triggered by that sort of thing. This includes mental and physical abuse.
Overall this is a good story and I had a lot of fun learning more about one of my favorite characters so if you are a fan of the Batman universe I highly recommend this one.
Harley Quinn has been one of my favorite characters ever since she popped up on the scene in the Batman: The Animated Series cartoon. I was also a big fan of Arleen Sorkin, from my soap opera viewing days, who voiced the original HQ, so I figured I would enjoy this origin story and I wasn't disappointed. It feels a little like reading a comic book actually but a little more in-depth in terms of writing since you don't have the illustrations, but I really liked that because it felt like snappy writing, quick and to the point, while still able to engage us in HQ's backstory and how she was manipulated by the Joker into becoming HQ. Stories like this are always fascinating to me because I see stories in the news of extremely intelligent women, who get hoodwinked by some charming, usually equally intelligent, albeit most of the time mentally ill person, into becoming a completely different person. Although in this story, even though after the Joker "breaks" Harley, which was his primary goal, it could be argued in this particular story that in his breaking of her he was also unlocking her in some sense.
I will warn though Joker is abusive towards Harley, this is no secret, but the abuse Harley suffers in the story was a little hard to swallow at times, so be aware if you are triggered by that sort of thing. This includes mental and physical abuse.
Overall this is a good story and I had a lot of fun learning more about one of my favorite characters so if you are a fan of the Batman universe I highly recommend this one.
February 14, 2023
I really liked this story. Harley Quinn is one of my absolute favourite DC characters. I really liked how Harley Quinn was portrayed in this as this intelligent, young doctor who falls for a bad (and quite insane) man with a huge ego. There were also some other great characters with cameos in the story. The ladies were awesome!
January 20, 2020
Better than what I wanted out of it. Her origin story was extremely well done, and the story continues on to keep to her classic Harley self. The only "change" made was near the end which was 100% for the better!
May 1, 2020
"Face it, Harl, this stinks! You're a certified nutso wanted in 12 states and hopelessly in love with a psychopathic clown! When did my life go Looney Tunes?"
December 6, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I had thoughts of what I thought the book would be like but I was completely wrong and was surprised more as I read it. I love the Joker and Harley Quinn and finding more about their love for each other was addicting ( pretty much the same way they love each other) but sometimes troublesome to read. I was surprised by the end and I'm hoping for another one to follow on and carry on the story. I have the Batman novel Aswell so I plan on reading that at some point soon.
December 21, 2020
Def recommend to all fans of Harley Quinn.
April 6, 2021
Harley Quinn. One of the greatest super villains ever created. And while her origins don't stem from the comics and the live action movies she's starred in have been shite (my opinion, don't agree - keep it to yourself) her popularity can't be denied.
This is the novelisation of the origins of Harley. We see a glimpse into her childhood, her progression to her profession and subsequent downward spiral into the villainous associate of the Joker.
All this has been covered in a comic and cartoon but what I love about this being a prose story is that we get a much more in depth look at her thoughts and feelings. Because of this it feels as much a character study as an origin as we look into the mind of one of the most interesting characters (again, my opinion) in the whole of the DC universe. We see what drives her, what she feels about Gotham and Batman, being an outsider who's always told she can't fully understand, and her delusions as she's manipulated by a lunatic. I was honestly fascinated the more I read.
There was a brief moment when we saw the Joker's thoughts and while it wasn't anything ground breaking there was a small detail that felt completely out of character. The things he told Harley made sense because he's never honest but this one thought just felt so wrong for him.
My only major complaint is that I would have liked more details about how Harley became so obsessed with Joker. It felt too rushed. One session in and she's already thinking about him nonstop. I'm not saying I wanted an extra 100 - 150 pages of detail but there was a small period where things moved too fast with not enough detail. Give me that and this is a 5 star. But despite that I recommend this to any fan of DC, Batman, Joker and of course of Harley Quinn. If, like me, you're not the most avid of comic readers but want more than you've gotten on the big screen then this is definitely for you.
This is the novelisation of the origins of Harley. We see a glimpse into her childhood, her progression to her profession and subsequent downward spiral into the villainous associate of the Joker.
All this has been covered in a comic and cartoon but what I love about this being a prose story is that we get a much more in depth look at her thoughts and feelings. Because of this it feels as much a character study as an origin as we look into the mind of one of the most interesting characters (again, my opinion) in the whole of the DC universe. We see what drives her, what she feels about Gotham and Batman, being an outsider who's always told she can't fully understand, and her delusions as she's manipulated by a lunatic. I was honestly fascinated the more I read.
There was a brief moment when we saw the Joker's thoughts and while it wasn't anything ground breaking there was a small detail that felt completely out of character. The things he told Harley made sense because he's never honest but this one thought just felt so wrong for him.
My only major complaint is that I would have liked more details about how Harley became so obsessed with Joker. It felt too rushed. One session in and she's already thinking about him nonstop. I'm not saying I wanted an extra 100 - 150 pages of detail but there was a small period where things moved too fast with not enough detail. Give me that and this is a 5 star. But despite that I recommend this to any fan of DC, Batman, Joker and of course of Harley Quinn. If, like me, you're not the most avid of comic readers but want more than you've gotten on the big screen then this is definitely for you.
March 18, 2020
Пэт Кэдиган - Терешкова из мира киберпанка. Наверное, третий по значимости человек в этом жанре после Гибсона и Стерлинга. Последние годы бабушка мало пишет и много болеет (рак ей диагностировали еще в 2013 году), поэтому роман про Харли Куин - это стопроцентная работа, чтобы оплатить медицинские счета. Просто представьте, где Пэт, а где «ня-ня-ня-люби-меня-мой-пирожочек». В основе романа (а это полноценный роман на 300 с гаком страниц) - 30-страничный сингл 1992 года, где Пол Дини впервые поведал историю превращения доктора Квинзель в зло под маской Арлекина. Писательница входит в материал «по холодному». С пресной интонацией ремесленника-призрака, который еще толком не понял в какую авантюру вписался. Хотели Готэм? Получите Готэм. Серый и неинтересный. Хотели Бэтмена? Ну, окей, он есть у меня.
Единственный яркий момент в книге - пролог, которого, к счастью, не было у Дини. Маленькую Харлин похищают бандиты, у которых её батя подрезал добычу. Бандиты привозят девочку в заброшенный парк аттракционов (да, тот самый), где она внезапно устраивает им бойню из «Один дома». В конце бойни появляется легендарная кувалда. Занавес.
P.S. Еще есть хорошее камео Айви, но без этого в 2020 году совсем никак.
Единственный яркий момент в книге - пролог, которого, к счастью, не было у Дини. Маленькую Харлин похищают бандиты, у которых её батя подрезал добычу. Бандиты привозят девочку в заброшенный парк аттракционов (да, тот самый), где она внезапно устраивает им бойню из «Один дома». В конце бойни появляется легендарная кувалда. Занавес.
P.S. Еще есть хорошее камео Айви, но без этого в 2020 году совсем никак.
September 20, 2024
If there's hope for Harley Quinn, there's hope for the mad lovers in us all -----Paul Duni
Mad love is a Harley Quinn origin story that is adapted to novel from the One shot Mad love comic.
We follow Harleen Quinzel, who's childhood gets disturbed and scared with an incident that made the little girl loose faith in The Cops and their idea of justice, we follow her journey from a gymnast, to a college student in psychology, getting a job in Arkham Asylum, and her eventual transformation into Harley Quinn
It is a great, grounded story but things get a little weird when we spend too much time with the other Arkham criminals rather than the Joker. It would've been better if the Poison Ivy and Magpie portions were reduced or even removed to give us more interactions between The Joker and Harleen.
When the source material is so good, this had to turn out good as well. Unfortunately it doesn't improvise on the things that were originally there, some action scenes feel like something straight Outta some cartoon in an otherwise serious and grounded story. Things like Realistic Robots used as a distraction are a big no !
It does a good job at getting us into the head of both Harleen and Harley. Dr. Leland is also a good supporting character and we get more beloved characters like Batman, Harvey Bullock and Jim Gordon in the final half of the book.
It is good, but it would have been great if it had gone above and beyond the original comic.
7/10
Mad love is a Harley Quinn origin story that is adapted to novel from the One shot Mad love comic.
We follow Harleen Quinzel, who's childhood gets disturbed and scared with an incident that made the little girl loose faith in The Cops and their idea of justice, we follow her journey from a gymnast, to a college student in psychology, getting a job in Arkham Asylum, and her eventual transformation into Harley Quinn
It is a great, grounded story but things get a little weird when we spend too much time with the other Arkham criminals rather than the Joker. It would've been better if the Poison Ivy and Magpie portions were reduced or even removed to give us more interactions between The Joker and Harleen.
When the source material is so good, this had to turn out good as well. Unfortunately it doesn't improvise on the things that were originally there, some action scenes feel like something straight Outta some cartoon in an otherwise serious and grounded story. Things like Realistic Robots used as a distraction are a big no !
It does a good job at getting us into the head of both Harleen and Harley. Dr. Leland is also a good supporting character and we get more beloved characters like Batman, Harvey Bullock and Jim Gordon in the final half of the book.
It is good, but it would have been great if it had gone above and beyond the original comic.
7/10
June 19, 2019
3.5 stars
If you know who Harley Quinn is, but have never read the comics and want to know her back story; read this book.
It's a quick read. Beginning with her perfect day with her dad at Coney Island. Harleen was just a seven year old kid who's life was about to get crazy.
That day/night would forever change her. What happened with the cops and bad guys, would set her on her path to chaos. Honestly I think that night made her psychotic. It was the Joker later who brought it out of her.
Fresh out of school with her degree in medicine, she gets hired at Arkam Asylum. Here she meets the Joker and becomes his primary physician. From the minute he left her the joker card and rose, she was his. For all her smarts, he totally played her and manipulated her. She falls for him and her alter ego Harley Quinn is born. He literally told her everything she wanted to hear in a sad poor me sob story.
Once out, he treats her like TOTAL SHIT. Read that again people who idolize their relationship!!!! He's physically and psychologically abusive to her.
The beginning of the book is a bit slow, but once the Harley and the Joker are out of Arkam it really picks up. Yes Batman does makes appearances in this book. As well as, Jim Gordon, Poison Ivy, and Killer Croc.
If you're a Harley Quinn fan, definitely give this book a read.
If you know who Harley Quinn is, but have never read the comics and want to know her back story; read this book.
It's a quick read. Beginning with her perfect day with her dad at Coney Island. Harleen was just a seven year old kid who's life was about to get crazy.
That day/night would forever change her. What happened with the cops and bad guys, would set her on her path to chaos. Honestly I think that night made her psychotic. It was the Joker later who brought it out of her.
Fresh out of school with her degree in medicine, she gets hired at Arkam Asylum. Here she meets the Joker and becomes his primary physician. From the minute he left her the joker card and rose, she was his. For all her smarts, he totally played her and manipulated her. She falls for him and her alter ego Harley Quinn is born. He literally told her everything she wanted to hear in a sad poor me sob story.
Once out, he treats her like TOTAL SHIT. Read that again people who idolize their relationship!!!! He's physically and psychologically abusive to her.
The beginning of the book is a bit slow, but once the Harley and the Joker are out of Arkam it really picks up. Yes Batman does makes appearances in this book. As well as, Jim Gordon, Poison Ivy, and Killer Croc.
If you're a Harley Quinn fan, definitely give this book a read.
December 10, 2024
Well-written, entertaining. However, I have a few critiques.
Right when Dr. Quinzell stepped foot in Arkham, before she ever met the Joker, she seemed like Harley Quinn already because she fell in love with the Joker so quickly. The book attempted to make it feel gradual, first with her interest in the Joker, but then it jumped too quickly into her having a crush on him and being ok with it. We didn't see much of the Joker's manipulation tactics and Harley's internal quarrel with her feelings. She spiralled too quickly.
Also, the Joker's narcissism in his and Harley's relationship is not accurately portrayed. The second they get out of Arkham, he treats her horribly all the time. As a narcissist, it's expected that he treat her horribly, but realistically, he should be twisting the narrative to make it seem like his behavior is her fault or love bombing her occasionally. Instead, his behavior is one-dimensionally toxic and doesn't show the full complexity of an actual narcissistic relationship.
The end of the book felt a little random. I understand the intention of trying to come "full circle," but it really didn't need to be.
The book definitely didn't need to be longer (or shorter) but some of the chapters (like the many with the female inmates) should've been replaced with more Joker/Harley scenes showing their relationship in a more complex manner.
Right when Dr. Quinzell stepped foot in Arkham, before she ever met the Joker, she seemed like Harley Quinn already because she fell in love with the Joker so quickly. The book attempted to make it feel gradual, first with her interest in the Joker, but then it jumped too quickly into her having a crush on him and being ok with it. We didn't see much of the Joker's manipulation tactics and Harley's internal quarrel with her feelings. She spiralled too quickly.
Also, the Joker's narcissism in his and Harley's relationship is not accurately portrayed. The second they get out of Arkham, he treats her horribly all the time. As a narcissist, it's expected that he treat her horribly, but realistically, he should be twisting the narrative to make it seem like his behavior is her fault or love bombing her occasionally. Instead, his behavior is one-dimensionally toxic and doesn't show the full complexity of an actual narcissistic relationship.
The end of the book felt a little random. I understand the intention of trying to come "full circle," but it really didn't need to be.
The book definitely didn't need to be longer (or shorter) but some of the chapters (like the many with the female inmates) should've been replaced with more Joker/Harley scenes showing their relationship in a more complex manner.
May 29, 2020
I've always had a fascination with Harley Quinn, which does make it rather difficult not to be too biased with this review. Arkham Asylum has always been portrayed as decrepit and corrupt. Any chance readers get to take a peak behind those doors are profound experiences. Harley's story is one of those chances. How does a well-rounded and motivated young woman become the lustful and flamboyant criminal we know and love?
Slight disappointment aside, this was an extremely enjoyable read. I loved spending time in the mind of a character who's rather like a walking conundrum. I highly recommend this novel for all Batman fans, but for those who are especially transfixed by the delicacies that create profoundly unique origin stories especially. All Batman villains have absolutely intriguing origin stories, and I'd love for DC Prose to release similar novels for many other Batman villains.
Check out my website and read thefull review here to hear more in-depth thoughts on Mad Love!
Slight disappointment aside, this was an extremely enjoyable read. I loved spending time in the mind of a character who's rather like a walking conundrum. I highly recommend this novel for all Batman fans, but for those who are especially transfixed by the delicacies that create profoundly unique origin stories especially. All Batman villains have absolutely intriguing origin stories, and I'd love for DC Prose to release similar novels for many other Batman villains.
Check out my website and read thefull review here to hear more in-depth thoughts on Mad Love!
April 6, 2021
2.75
This is a novelization of the graphic novel where we get a glimpse of Harley's childhood and upbringing. We get a little insight on how her brain works, processes information, and first encounters with Joker. Overall enjoyable, quickly paced, and insightful.
However, this felt too short. Everything felt too quick, too convenient, etc. More information would have been beneficial to the story. Harley was an intelligent, and athletic child, who won a four year scholarship to attend college via gymnastics. After college, she was hired at Arkham.
I think most know the history, and connection, with Joker. This is where the story could have been more fleshed out. I know it was a novelization, but it could have benefited from more detail into how her mind worked, how she actually arrived from point A to point B, and refrained from adding Joker's perspectives.
I did appreciate to realness of their relationship and how toxic it is.
This is a novelization of the graphic novel where we get a glimpse of Harley's childhood and upbringing. We get a little insight on how her brain works, processes information, and first encounters with Joker. Overall enjoyable, quickly paced, and insightful.
However, this felt too short. Everything felt too quick, too convenient, etc. More information would have been beneficial to the story. Harley was an intelligent, and athletic child, who won a four year scholarship to attend college via gymnastics. After college, she was hired at Arkham.
I think most know the history, and connection, with Joker. This is where the story could have been more fleshed out. I know it was a novelization, but it could have benefited from more detail into how her mind worked, how she actually arrived from point A to point B, and refrained from adding Joker's perspectives.
I did appreciate to realness of their relationship and how toxic it is.
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