Review: Harley Quinn Vol. 3- Kiss Kiss Bang Stab

October 23, 2019 ComicBookWire

Quick Summary

Pros: The stories told here are more interesting than before. The volume helps build anticipation for the next volume. The humor is better, in some ways, than before. The artwork looks good and suits the book well.

Cons: Diehard fans of the previous collections may not enjoy the shift in humor as much as other readers.

Overall: This collection is an improvement on the series. It tells stories that are more captivating to read, includes humor that is less over-the-top, and is in the process of starting another interesting story arc. The entire volume feels like a slight evolution for the series as a whole. Readers who have been hesitant about this comic thus far should consider jumping on here and joining in on the fun.

Story

Harley Quinn Vol. 3: Kiss Kiss Bang Stab, by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, takes the positives already present in the Harley Quinn series and begins to improve upon them. The stories told here are more interesting and entertaining than before, with the Holiday season and Valentine’s Day stealing the show. Meanwhile, other stories are building up interest in the future, as Harley makes changes to her life and undergoes some interesting personal growth. All of this is also accompanied by a slight change in the volume’s approach to humor, a change that goes for a bit less shock value and a bit more wit. In general, I was really pleased with this volume and am excited to see if the series continues to improve as it goes on.

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Part of what makes Kiss Kiss Bang Stab better than its predecessors are the concepts powering it. The stories here all take place around instantly interesting topics. One chapter has Harley vying for the heart of Bruce Wayne, one has her dealing with bizarre occurrences around the holiday season, and one directly deals with her relationship with Poison Ivy. It helps that many of these chapters also take place through special issues, allowing them to branch out into smaller stories due to the longer length of the special issues.

The same phenomenon can also be observed in the regular issues. These issues have Harley overwhelmed by her personal and professional commitments, both of which are weighing on her. She then decides to confront these problems by assembling a team of people to help her with her life. The concept is fun to see develop, as it puts Harley in a leadership role, leading to some humorous situations. It also makes her more relatable as a character, since her problems stem from problems that regular people face on a daily basis.

These regular issues also help build up excitement for future stories. I left this collection excited to see what direction Harley’s “Gang of Harleys” will take. I also left it intrigued with Harley’s personal development, as her uncharacteristically kind actions in the movie theater appear to indicate that she is growing as a character. In general, I closed this volume ready to read more Harley Quinn.

Kiss Kiss Bang Stab is notable for slightly shifting the type of humor used in this series. The sexual innuendo and over-the-top humor, which played a huge part in the previous two volumes, appears a little more subdued. Meanwhile, the comic makes more well-executed jokes about the fourth wall and meta-jokes about the comic book. This volume even begins to make jokes about the Harley Quinn series itself, poking fun at the comic’s tendency to cut away for daydream sequences. For me, this slight shift in humor was greatly appreciated, as it aligned perfectly with my comedic tastes. However, as the comedy here is still very subjective, this may vary from person to person.

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Art

The artwork in Kiss Kiss Bang Stab is another positive piece of this collection. John Timms and Chad Hardin both continue to showcase their ability to create visuals that suit this particular comic. They get dark enough to show Harley isn’t a hero but never get so dark that they makes her look like a villain. Both artists also show some great creativity, something we neglected to mention in prior reviews.

In addition, there are a few excellent pages from guest artist found throughout Kiss Kiss Bang Stab. Stjepan Šejić’s take on Harley and Ivy is amazing and presents a dreamy mood that fits the tone of its story perfectly. Meanwhile, pages from the legendary Kelley Jones and Darwyn Cooke wonderfully capture feelings of horror and childlike wonder, respectively. Most of the guest contributions to the story positively impact the book as a whole.