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Full text of "Harleen Volume 1-3 (Stjepan Sejic)
"
See other formats
STJEPAN SEJIC
STORY AND ART
GABRIELA DOWNIE
LETTERS
STJEPAN SEJIC
COVER AND VARIANT COVER
HARLEY QUINN CREATED BY
PAUL DINI AND BRUCE TIMM
IT STARTS WITH
FANTASIES, DOCTOR--
THAT WISHFUL THINKING THAT.
MAKES YOUR MUSCLES TWITCH
AS YOU IMAGINE WRAPPING YOUR
HANDS AROUND YOUR
ENEMY’S NECK,
1m
HAVE ENEMIES, MR.
JAY.
SURE YOU DO!
EVERYONE DOES! THOSE
PEOPLE YOU MEET AND THINK,
WOULDN'T THINGS BE SO
MUCH BETTER IF THEY
WERE DEAD?
THOSE
PEOPLE WHOSE
VERY PRESENCE
TURNS THINGS:
SOUR,
WE ALL KNOW
THEM. AND IT STARTS
WITH THEM. THEY ARE THE
FIRST oe 10 TEST
ou.
WHAT DOES
THAT HAVE TO DO.
WITH GOTHAM
ciTy?
GOTHAM IS
FULL OF PEOPLE
LIKE THAT.
HANDS TWITCHING WHILE
THEY DREAM OF VIOLENCE,
SHIVERING WITH BARELY SUPPRESSED
RAGE, BRIMMING WITH RIGHTEOUS
INDIGNATION.
“SMILING POLITELY
‘AS THEY IMAGINE.
SAVAGE THINGS.
alae
“EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM
A BOMB THAT NEEDS BUT A |
SINGLE SPARK TO SET IT OFF.
“AND THEN...WELL, THAT’S
WHEN THINGS GET FUN."
ALL RIGHT,
EVERYONE ACT LIKE A
DRUNKEN PILOT AND A/T
THE FLOOR/
THEN YOU SEE
WHAT I HAVE SEEN MANY
TIMES OVER--YOU SEE HOW
EAGERLY THE GOOD PEOPLE
TURN INTO VIOLENT
BEASTS.
NOT TODAY,
ASSHOLE!
Bl You 100, on wert =
FIND OUT IF YOUR |» ea
8055'S BRAINS
ARE GREEN!
C a
FTER ALL,
GOTHAM’S A CITY
WHERE ANGELS FLY
ON WINGS OF
ICARUS...
ip
gon
Down, \, ; —
OWN = y } S ——_ow’r!
THEY FALL. PF oun’
ALL STAND REVEALED
FOR WHO WE TRULY
ARE \ uy ne MH.
LATER IN LIFE, IN teasieh [oni
MY MIND WOULD:
THIS CONVERSATION.
Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline
$0 ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE
ARE JUST MONSTERS AND WHAT
IN HIDING? UNTIL THE. DO YOU DREAM
RUBBER BANDS OF OF?
THEIR MASKS
SNAP,
u
y) MEAN...
ALL THE WORMAL
PEOPLE DREAM OF GOING
CRAZY EVERY NOW AND
THEN,..PROBLEM |S, WHEN
THEY DO, THERE’S NO
y GOING BACK,
ANYHOW, I'M
A BIT TIRED, MAYBE
WE CAN CONTINUE
THIS LATER.
SURE, MR.
AY...SEE YOU
SOON.
You
KNOW WHERE
TO FIND ME.
1/D DWELL ON THE SMALL DETAILS
OF WHAT HE’D SAID, WONDERING IF
THEY CARRIED LARGER MEANINGS...
BUT NOT THAT DAY.
THAT DAY I
WAS PISSED.
IT FELT LIKE SOME SAD RETELLING OF
THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT,
WRAPPED IN ANECDOTAL NONSENSE--
THE SORT OF GARBAGE HE'D FED
HIS PREVIOUS THERAPISTS.
IT WAS DOWNRIGHT
OFFENSIVE.
IT WAS SO DAMNED
INFURIATING..
«BECAUSE I FELT SO
DAMNED CLOSES
ss _
MY HYPOTHESIS WAS THAT LONG-TERM
EXPOSURE TO VIOLENT ENVIRONMENTS
COULD RESULT IN PHYS/CAL DAMAGE
TO THE PARTS OF THE BRAIN THAT
PROCESS EMPATHY.
AND THERE WE WAS WITH HIS
‘STUPID LITTLE STORY ABOUT
HOW A C/TY CAN CREATE
MONSTERS,
ON THE SURFACE, IT
WAS A PERFECT FIT.
ACCORDING TO HIM, MADNESS
\S OUR DEFAULT STATE. ALWAYS
THERE, BUBBLING UNDER THE
SURFACE.
BUT THEN AGAIN, ji
DID I EXPECT?
hh a A mes
SIX PREVIOUS DOCTORS AGREED HE
WAS INCAPABLE OF REAL FEELINGS
OR OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE
HUMANITY OF OTHERS.
OF COURSE WE WOULD SEE
EVERYONE AS MONSTERS 4
WEARING MASKS.
= =
A MONTH INTO MY WORK AT
ARKHAM ASYLUM AND 1 WAS
BACK TO SQUARE ONE. NOT EVEN
CLOSE TO FINDING A SINGLE
PROMISING CANDIDATE FOR MY
RESEARCH.
I NEEDED SOMEONE TO TELL
ME WHO THEY WERE BEFORE
THEY,..WELL...SNAPPED.
HEY... WELL...SNAPPED. BUT THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THESE
SO-CALLED "“SUPER-VILLAINS”:
THEY'RE MORE INTERESTED IN TELLING
YOU ABOUT WHO THEY ARE WOW.
QUINZEL! IT’S
OR. MATHEWS!
GLASS OF WARM,
MILK BEFORE
BED!
7 UH-HUH, GOT
MY MILK RIGHT
HERE.
WHAT ABOUT HARVEY
DENT? \NHAT
YOU HAVEN'T
HEARD? JUST WATCH
THE NEWS, IT’S ON
EVERY CHANNEL.
T HAVE TO GO. IT’S
|. YOUR DECISION ON
THE GORDON
THING.
GOOD LUCK,
QUINZEL.
y* TO HELL
YUP. ON THAT DAY, IT ALL
we FELT LIKE A DEAD END.
BUT AS IT TURNED OUT, EVEN
AT ELEVEN PM, THE DAY WAS
FAR FROM DONE.
" caady Om 5
DAY. IT"
GOOD THAT You'Re ===]
| STILL
YEAH...1'M.
DEALING WITH SOME
INSOMNIA.
ANYWAY, I GOT
YOU A MEETING WITH COMMIS-
SIONER GORDON TO DISCUSS
YOUR POLICE INTERVIEWS.
NOW THIS IS.
=" ENTIRELY UP TO YOU, BUT YOU
MAY WANT TO TAKE A RAIN CHECK
(ON THAT. AFTER TODAY'S MESS
WITH DENT AND THOSE COPS
AND EVERYTHING-~
UH, RIGHT.
THANK YOU, DR.
MATHEWS.
AND YOU
HAVE A GOOD
‘ONE, TOO.,
ae
HERE |S WGBS’S FOOTAGE
OF SAID EVENT. BE WARNED: EVEN
THOUGH WE'RE NO STRANGERS TO
EXTREME VIOLENCE HERE ON GOTHAM
BROADCAST SYSTEM, THIS MAY BE
TOO MUCH FOR SOME VIEWERS.
DISCRETION |S
ADVISED.
THE CITY'S BUILDING
COMMISSION HAS CALLED FOR
AN INQUIRY INTO THE BUSINESS:
DEALINGS OF SALVATORE
MARONI.
1S YOUR
OFFICE A PART OF
THE INVESTIGATIVE
EFFORT?
THAT I'M
NOT ABLE TO
DISCLOSE RIGHT
NOW...
THIS
\$ WGBS NEWS AT
ELEVEN WITH JACK
RYDER.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
ON THIS SAD DAY, ALL OF GOTHAM.
\$ REELING FROM TRAGIC EVENTS
THAT TOOK PLACE EARLIER AT
GOTHAM SUPERIOR v
COURT.
WHAT STARTED AS A
SIMPLE PRESS CONFERENCE BECAME
THE STUFF OF W/GHTMARES WHEN AN
ATTEMPT WAS MADE ON THE LIFE OF
DISTRICT ATTORNEY WARVEY DENT
BY ALLEGED CRIME BOSS
SALVATORE “SAL”
MARONI.
MR. DENT! SUMMER
GLEESON, WGBS.
DO YOU HAVE A
MOMENT?
MY OFFICE |S BUILDING OUR OWN
CASE AGAINST MR. MARONI FOR
CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES THAT EXTEND.
FAR BEYOND RIGGING
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT
BIDDING.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS: SAL
MARONI |S AN /MPORTANT
MAN. IMPORTANT ENOUGH
FOR THE POLICE TO
DELIVER HIS COFFEE,
IT SEEMS...
BUT THIS
'§ ABOUT TO
CHANGE.
SEE, ME? I’M A BUSINESSMAN.
I SELL A PRODUCT PEOPLE
WANT. BUT YOU?
YOU'RE A
POLITICIAN PRETENDING
TO BE THE LAW. YOU TOO
ARE HERE TO SELL A
PRODUCT, AREN'T
You?
WELL,
SOMETIMES THAT
DOESN'T WORK,
DENT.
SOMETIMES,
NO MATTER HOW HARD
YOU TRY TO SAVE FACE...
WT!
BE CAREFUL
OF PROMISING 700
MUCH THERE,
DENT!
YOUR PRODUCT
1S THIS WHOLE PIOUS ACT
OF YOURS, THIS /LLUS/ON
THAT YOU GOT THINGS
BUT
IN THE END, LIKE EVERY OTHER:
POLITICIAN, YOU ARE NOTHING
BUT BROKEN PROMISES IN
AN EXPENSIVE SUIT.
AND WHEN PEOPLE
STOP BUYING WHAT YOU'RE
SELLING, YOU THROW HONEST
MEN LIKE ME UNDER THE BUS...
NO MATTER WHO
GETS HURT.
V,
CHANNEL, NOT WANTING
TO SEE IT.
iy: TRIED CHANGING THE
BUT IT WAS EVERYWHERI
MULTIPLE CAMERAS. | Hh Yi
Mil
MULTIPLE ANGLES. |
\\
SOME STATIONS CUT AWAY BEFORE
IT ALL TURNED HORRIFYING.
OTHERS ZOOMED IN,
REVELING IN THE MOMENT.
€
} &. ae
AND AS I WATCHED IT HAPPENING, A SICKENING
¥ f THOUGHT TORMENTED ME. I’D WANTED TO
4
HURT HIM MYSELF, JUST THAT VERY MORNING...
DR. MATHEWS WAS RIGHT. IT WAS, find
EVERYWHERE, AND I COULDN'T STOP DOCTORS CONFIRM
WATCHING. AND THE ATTACK ON THE CHEMICAL USED WAS NOT A
DENT WAS ONLY THE START... TYPICAL HYDROCHLORIC ACID, BUT “UE
= A CURIOUS M/X MOST LIKELY
] ORIGINATING FROM AX/S-
CHEMICAL FACILITIES.
BECAUSE OF THE
UNIQUELY DEVASTATING
EFFECTS OF THIS SUBSTANCE,
DISTRICT ATTORNEY DENT HAS
BEEN PLACED IN A MED/CALLY
INDUCED COMA.
= BUT THIS |S GOTHAM, AFTER «
SALVATORE MARONI ’ ALL, AND HERE THINGS
WAS TAKEN INTO POLICE CUSTODY, A FOU AEA WAY OF
WHICH IN ANY OTHER CITY WOULD Z iad ESCALATING.
SERVE AS EPILOGUE TO THIS JUST ONE HOUR AFTER
SAD STORY. MARONI’S ARREST, WE RECEIVED.
NEWS THAT HIS POLICE TRANSPORT
VEHICLE HAD BEEN COMMANDEERED
BY UNKNOWN ASSAILANTS.
LATER, THIS
VIDEO WAS DELIVERED
ANONYMOUSLY TO THE
W68S STUDIO.
ONCE AGAIN,
WEWER DISCRETION
18 ADVISED.
OVER AND OVER, THE MERCY OF
OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM HAS ILL 5
SERVED YOU ALL.
* CRIMINALS DON'T
FEAR THE HAND OF JUSTICE
BECAUSE JUSTICE LACKS
THE MECHANISM TO TRULY
PUNISH THEM,
WELL, FROM
NOW ON, WE WILL
BE THAT MECHANISM.
WE WILL BE THAT
HAND.
CITIZENS OF GOTHAM:
FOR YEARS WE OF THE GOTHAM
CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE SERVED,
PROTECTED, AND BLED FOR THIS CITY ONLY TODAY,
TO SEE OUR SACRIFICES MOCKED BY THE SAME AFTER THE ATTACK ON
CRIMINALS RETURNING TO OUR STREETS AGAIN DISTRICT ATTORNEY DENT,
AND AGAIN--ALL TOO OFTEN THANKS TO THE WE ARE DONE BEING
LEGAL MEDDLING OF BLEEDING-HEART FOOLS. gj | MOCKED.
CRIMINALS OF
GOTHAM, YOU'VE MET YOUR
JUDGES AND YOUR JURIES.
NOW, MEET YOUR EXECUT/ONERS.
WE WILL START
WITH SAL HERE. THIS IS
YOUR BIG MOMENT, SAL!
ANY LAST WORDS?
THEY PIXELATED THE MOMENT OF
fmm THE SHOT, BUT THE SOUND REMAINED...
THESE EXECUTIONERS ARE SEEN
IN A POSITIVE LIGHT BY GB
PERCENT OF GOTHAMITES.
WE SURVEYED.
AT THE SAME
TIME, 6.C.P.D.’S
APPROVAL NUMBERS
ARE AS LOW AS.
31 PERCENT.
OUR REPORTER
SUMMER GLEESON TRIED TO GET SOME
INSIGHT ON THIS MATTER FROM THE POLICE
COMMISSIONER, JAMES GORDON.
HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT
GOTHAM P.D. HAS. c 4 _ FROM BATMAN?
BEEN COOPERATING WITH A
VIGILANTE FOR YEARS. HOW ARE
THESE ROGUE OFFICERS ANY
DIFFERENT?
BATMAN IS NOT A
MURDERER.
BUT
COMMISSIONER--
NO MORE
QUESTIONS!
I FEEL AN UNSETTLING
SHUDDER RUN THROUGH MY
BODY AND REMEMBER THE
SOUND OF CHEERS,
{T ALL FEELS
0 FAMILIAR...
50 SINISTER.
AND I REMEMBER 7
HIS WORDS... iy i]
a\
“GOTHAM |S FULL OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT,
HANDS TWITCHING AS THEY DREAM OF
VIOLENCE. SHIVERING WITH BARELY
SUPPRESSED RAGE. BRIMMING WITH
RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION.
suey
P k Ni 3 NS
THAT NIGHT, AFTER THE SOBERING
NEWS TAKES THE EDGE OFF MY
NIGHTCAP, I TOO DREAM OF
SAVAGE THINGS.
*SMILING POLITELY AS
THEY DREAM OF
SAVAGE THINGS.
wo RS
A PART OF ME WANTED TO TAKE DR. MATHEWS'S
ADVICE AND FORGET MY INTERVIEWS WITH THE
GOTHAM POLICE.
AND WHO KNOWS? IF MY ARKHAM INTERVIEWS
HAD OFFERED ANY HOPE OF SUCCESS I MIGHT
HAVE DONE JUST THAT.
J Gur As WOPE WASN'T A WORD 1 COULD =a
USE FOR MY PROGRESS AT ARKHAM, I FELT
THE COPS WERE MY BEST CHANCE TO MOVE ———
MY RESEARCH FORWARD.
STI ES. 2.
ESPECIALLY WITH THIS WHOLE y/ j iT] i
c/]
EXECUTIONERS SITUATION. IT WAS
HEAVEN-SENT FOR MY THEORY. | MIME
y
COMMISSIONER GORDON
WOULD PROBABLY HAVE
~ il) DESCRIBED IT DIFFERENTLY...
» SS s ~~
EN SS LLQWS
SIR! THERE’S
A MISS QUEENCELL
HERE TO SEE
SHE
SAYS SHE HAS AN
APPOINTMENT.
SIT DOWN!
YOU LIKE A CUP
OF COFFEE?
1A
YOU, NO. I'VE
HAD A DOZEN
ALREADY.
TLL GET RIGHT
TO THE POINT: OR. MATHEWS
TOLD ME ALL ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH,
AND WHILE I GENERALLY DON’T FIND IT
OBJECTIONABLE, I WOULD ASK YOU
TO RECONSIDER YOUR
TIMING.
l
COMMISSIONER,
I BELIEVE IT HAS
TO BE WOW.
| es
THIS SITUATION WITH THE
EXECUTIONERS MIGHT BE THE
CATALYST NEEDED FOR AN HONEST
DOCTOR, MY
ENTIRE POLICE
FORCE IS UNDER
‘SUSPICION!
AND RELEVANT CONVERSATION
WITH YOUR OFFICERS.
EVERY SHOT
FIRED IN THE LINE OF
DUTY WILL BE STUDIED UNDER
A MICROSCOPE BECAUSE OF
THESE EXECUTIONER IDIOTS!
LISTEN, EVERYONE
HERE IS ON EDGE RIGHT
NOW--INCLUDING
ME.
BUT guSsT
$0 YOU KNOW I’M
ON THE LEVEL WITH YOU,
TILL SHOW You
SOMETHING.
DR. QUINZEL, THESE
ARE STRANGE TIMES FULL OF
STRANGER CRIMINALS. THE LAST
PSYCHIATRIST TO DO RESEARCH
HERE WAS JONATHAN CRANE
AND...WELL LET'S JUST SAY
THAT DIDN'T END
HERE WE ARE.
BEING FROM THE CRIMINAL
PSYCHOLOGY CENTER, I TRUST
YOU CAN KEEP WHAT YOU
‘SEE ba TO YOUR-
F,
UH...RIGHT.
FAIR ENOUGH.
OF COURSE!
AND
THAT WAS
ge, BEFORE THIS WHOLE
*EXECUTIONERS”
BUSINESS.
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MEET SERGEANT
HOSKINS OF THE G.C.P.D.
‘S.W.A.T. TEAM. DECORATED
COP. A HERO OF
THE FORCE.
HE WAS
ONE OF THE
THREE EXECUTIONERS
APPREHENDED BY
BATMAN.
IF THERE WERE
ONLY THREE OF YOU THERE,
HOW WAS THE CAMERA FOOTAGE
DELIVERED TO THE WGBS
STUDIO? .
SOMEONE
DROPPED IT OFF
ANONYMOUSLY!
I DON'T
KNOW, MAYBE IT WAS
THE BAT?
YEAH, MUST HAVE:
BEEN HIM! MAYBE HE WAS
TRYING TO SAY HE’S GONNA
FIGHT TO PROTECT
MURDEROUS FILTH
LIKE MARONI.
MAYBE THERE’S:
MORE OF US READY TO
DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE!
AND WHAT.
WOULD THAT
BE?
DO TO THEM
WHAT THEY WOULD 20
TO YOU WITHOUT
HESITATION!
YOU THINK SOMEONE
SOMEONE LIKE MR. FREEZE
OR ZSASZ OR THE JOKER WOULD
GIVE YOU A CHANCE IF YOU WERE
ON THE BUSINESS END OF
THEIR WEAPONS?
ALL OF THEM
ARE IRREDEEMABLE,
MERCILESS KILLERS AND
YOU KNOW /T/
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I’M SORRY,
IF THIS IS TOO MUCH
FOR YC
50 YOU SEE MY
PROBLEM.
1 GOT THREE
HERO COPS UNDER ARREST
AND NOBODY KNOWS HOW
MANY MORE WITHIN OUR
RANKS ARE WAITING TO
‘SNAP.
EVERYBODY
‘SUSPECTS EVERYBODY
RIGHT NOW.
$0 TRUST ME
WHEN I TELL YOU, YOU
WILL NOT FIND ANYONE
WILLING TO SHARE THEIR:
PERSONAL FAILINGS WITH
A PSYCHIATRIST
‘TODAY.
PEOPLE DIE BECAUSE WE
RELEASE THESE BASTARDS
ON TECHNICAUTIES
OR FOR "GOOD
BEHAVIOR.”
YOU CAN TAKE
YOUR LAWS AND
SHOVE THEM UP YOUR
CONDESCENDING
ASSES!
THIS CITY
NEEDS US BECAUSE
WE WILL DO WHAT THE
REST OF YOU
WHAT
EVEN BATMAN
REFUSES TO
Do!
IT’S FINE.
HE’S NOT
MY FIRST MURDERER:
RANTING BEHIND SOME
GLASS.
YOU CAN CALL HIM,
CAN'T YOU?
THINK HE WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN AN
INTERVIEW.
1 Just
NEED TO ASK HIM
SOMETHING.
WE TURN THE BLOODY
SIGNAL ON EVERY NIGHT
AT THIS POINT.
FINE. STICK
AROUND...IF YOU HAVE
THE TIME.
$0 I DID JUST THAT.
1 SAT AND I WAITED.
oe
I WAITED FOR HOURS. MMP
_
FAMILIES!
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THAT WAS MY ATTITUDE WHEN jf
I FIRST ARRIVED AT ARKHAM. | 1)
=| a
BUT JUST ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER,
TWAS VERY MUCH QUESTIONING THAT.
[WHAT I GOT WAS A DRINKING
HABIT, BAGS UNDER MY EYES, AND
A FULL-ON NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
IN MY FUTURE.
I'D LONG AGO STOPPED DENYING
THE LITTLE VOICE IN THE BACK OF
MY HEAD TELLING ME TO GO AND.
SEE W/M AGAIN AT NIGHT.
SEE... THE FEAR WAS GONE, BUT IT WAS
REPLACED WITH SOMETHING WAY MORE
UNSETTLING.
I WAS ABOUT ONE MORE SLEEPLESS WEEK |
AWAY FROM JUST ABANDONING IT ALL...
WHY DIDN'T 1? WELL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
(T WAS ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE OF...
GOTHAM’S D.A.
HARVEY DENT |S ONCE
AGAIN THE TOPIC OF
THE DAY!
THIS WiLL
BE UNCOMFORT-
ABLE TO
WATCH.
SAL MARONI INITIALLY APPROACHED ME
AS A BUSINESSMAN WANTING TO SUPPORT
MY CAMPAIGN FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
I ACCEPTED HIS HELP.
HE SEEMED
SINCERE, AND I HAD
NO REASON TO DOUBT
HIS INTENTIONS.
WE WILL NOW —- BUT BE WARNED: YOU'LL WANT
THIS AFTERNOON
MR. DENT GAVE HIS SHOW YOU THE = TO KEEP YOUR CHILDREN AWAY
RECORDING OF FROM THE TV FOR THE NEXT
THIS EVENT.
FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE
SINCE THE HORRIFIC ATTACK ON FEW MINUTES,
HIS PERSON LAST MONTH, AND
THE SCENE OUTSIDE GOTHAM
SUPERIOR COURT TURNED TO,
PANDEMONIUM.
MR. DENT!
WHY DID THE
LATE CRIME BOSS
SALVATORE MARONI
TRY TO Kid
you?
AFTER THE ELECTION, MY OFFICE
REVEALED OVER THE COURSE OF
MANY PROSECUTIONS THAT
MARONI HAD TIES TO
ORGANIZED CRIME.
ONE SUCH CASE
INVOLVED HIS OWN SON,
WHOM WE CHARGED AS AN
ACCOMPLICE TO
MURDER.
MARONI BELIEVED
THAT BECAUSE HE'D
BACKED MY CAMPAIGN HE
COULD PRESSURE ME
TO DROP THE
CHARGES.
HE WAS WRONG.
I MADE IT ABUNDANTLY
CLEAR: JUSTICE IS WOT
FOR SALE. — UMBERTO MARON!
WAS KILLED IN PRISON, AND
HIS FATHER HAS BLAMED ME
EVER SINCE.
‘SPEAKING OF JUSTICE... S THOSE...THOSE JI
MR. DENT, WHAT IS YOUR OFFICERS.
OPINON OF THE SO-CALLED O96
EXECUTIONERS? ie ¥ OFFER ARE
THE POLICE OFFICERS ‘ . VAMNEP HEROEA
WHO TOOK JUSTICE INTO THEIR . ., NAY BOOK
OWN HANDS AND MURDERED SAL | | S ea
MARONI AND HIS ENTIRE y
CRIME FAMILY?
NaN TM TERRIBLY mi IRs
, SORRY. MR. DENT IS Yay “
Hat? ee STILL SUFFERING THE Jy PLEASE...
EFFECTS OF--
1 REAP YOUR NENSPAPERS. most
OF YOU BENT OVER BACKNAR?
10 PORTRAY MARONI AZ 7OME
¥ a
ne treat OS
THESE MONSTER? ITH,
Eeceey AN? THA 19
Tana
GOV-
THE OTHER CHEEK WE'LL
% RUN OUT OF CHEEK?!
THE EXECUTIONER? b
CRUPHEP THOFE ROACHES
THE WAY FECKLez7
POLITICIAN? NEVER
a cOULM
THE WAY
THAT NOT GEN
THE BATMAN
COULP!
AND EVEN <
THOUGH NONE OF
YOU WILL APMIT IT,
YOU KNOW I'n |
MIGHT!
THERE 19
A CANCER
GOTHAM, ANP THE
ONLY WAY 10 CURE
1719 BY CARYING
T OUT
THERE 17 NO”
RECOVERY ANT NO
FEHABILITATION FOR
THEZE PREDATORS!
vovo
HONEZTLY THINK
THEY CAN
CHANGE?
ARE YOU THAT “uuu SE
VELU ZONAL? x
KILLER CROC?
FREEZE? POIZON
IW? JOKER?
you
¥ REALLY THINK
B. THEY CAN BE
CITY HALL SUBSEQUENTLY
ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING HARVEY DENT
WE HAVE TO STOP HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY REMOVED FROM THE
HERE, AS MR. DENT’S SPEECH OFFICE OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY, CITING
DEVOLVES INTO A TORRENT “STRONG PAIN MEDICATION” AS THE CAUSE
OF PROFANITY AIMED OF HIS STUNNING OUTBURST--
AT THE CITY COUNCIL.
A MONTH AGO I WOULD HAVE BEEN OUTRAGED.
T WOULD HAVE YELLED AT THE TELEVISION, FOR
ALL THE GOOD THAT WOULD HAVE DONE.
BUT NOT THAT DAY.
THAT DAY I WAS TIRED, TIRED ENOUGH TO
STOP CARING. TIRED ENOUGH FOR DENT’S
SERMON OF FEAR TO MAKE SEWSE TO ME.
TIRED OF...EVERYTHING.
FOUR OF MR.
JAY'S SIX PREVIOUS DOCTORS
USED THAT EXACT WORD TO
DESCRIBE HIM IN THEIR PATIENT
. TIRED OF ARKHAM.
TIRED OF HIM.
MY GREAT TORMENTOR.
WHY WOULD I EVER WANT
TO DEAL WITH HIM AGAIN?
ALL SIX OF
THEM CLAIM HE’S
INCAPABLE OF FEELING
REAL EMOTIONS.
PROFILES...
BUT...
THAT’S NOT
TRUE.
AND WHAT
DO YOU DREAM
OF?
F I'VE SEEN IT.
‘SURE, IT HAPPENED RARELY, OH,..SIMPLE
BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN HIS ‘STUFF...HONEST
MASK WOULD SL/P FOR ‘SMILES...
A MOMENT... |
p” _ IN EVERY ONE
OF THOSE INSTANCES,
HIS VOICE WOULD LOSE
ITS EDGE, THAT RASPY
TONE REPLACED BY
SOMETHING...
WELL...
‘1 GUESS THAT
MAKES ME FEEL A
‘SOFTER. LITTLE LESS CRAZY,
SOMETHING ALMOST een
MELANCHOLIC. I THINK
— THAT WILL BE ALL
FOR TODAY.
SOMETHING
WARM, .HONEST. |
SUDDENLY I REMEMBERED THE VIDEOTAPES,
THE INTERVIEWS, ALL THE QUESTIONS ASKED...
AND THE OME THAT WASN'T. NOT EVEN ONCE.
—=—
SIX DIFFERENT DOCTORS ASKED HIM HOW HE BECAME THE JOKER.
THE BACKSTORY OF IT ALL. THEY WERE CHASING THE GLORY OF BEING
THE ONE WHO FINALLY SOLVED THE PUZZLE. HELL, TWO OF THEM
FAILED AND WROTE BOOKS ABOUT IT ANYWAY!
== no em
AND I WAS NO BETTER, JUST THE SEVENTH IN LINE. 1’D READ
THEIR CONFLICTING PROFILES AND TOOK THEIR CONCLUSIONS
FOR GRANTED. I TOO THOUGHT HIM A SOCIOPATH, A
NARCISSIST, AND, OH YES, DEFINITELY UNCARING.
=
BUT WE WERE ALL $O PREOCCUPIED WITH |
THE WHY OF THE JOKER THAT WE FORGOT (i)
THE MOST BASIC QUESTION. THE MOST
/MPORTANT QUESTION.
THAT MEANS
HE TRICKED S\X
DIFFERENT PSYCHIATRISTS
INTO BELIEVING HE WAS
THAT FAR GONE. EITHER HE'S.
THAT GOOD AT LYING,
OR THEY WERE THAT
FOOLISH, OR.» OR THEY
DIDN'T EVEN
CARE!
'$ THAT WHAT
HUGO STRANGE
MEANT?
IN ALL HONESTY, I
THINK YOURS |S JUST ONE OF
MANY CRACKPOT THEORIES I'VE
SEEN IDEALISTIC YOUNG PSYCHIATRISTS:
BRING TO THE TABLE LOOKING FOR
THE HOWS AND WHYS OF OUR...
RESIDENTS.
7 SHIT! WE NEVER:
EVEN ASKED
HIM!
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A SOCIOPATH,
A PSYCHOPATH, AND
A NARCISSIST?
MS.
QUINZEL?
THEY'RE ALL
VARYING DEGREES
OF ANTISOCIAL
BEHAVIOR?
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, I
THOUGHT OF PROFESSOR COLLINS...
AND NOT FOR THE USUAL REASONS.
NO. I WASN'T GOING
TO GIVE UP. NOT YET.
I WOULD BE STRONG.
I WOULD IGNORE THE
UNSETTLING DESIRE TO
SMILE BACK AT HIM.
WRONG. THE DIFFERENCE |S
HOW QUICKLY YOU GROW
TIRED OF DEALING
WITH THEM!
THIS WAS A JOKE MY TEACHER
USED TO TELL, BUT THERE MAY
BE SOME TRUTH TO IT...
SOMETIMES IT’S
NOT THAT YOUR PATIENT
\S THAT DEEP IN THE HOLE.
SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVEN'T
‘STUCK AROUND LONG ENOUGH
TO ASK THEM THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS.
UH...DOC?
YOU OKAY
THERE?
PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM ANTI-
SOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDERS
ARE NOTORIOUSLY HARD TO
WORK WITH AND EASY TO
GIVE UP ON.
1AM FINE, ALL RIGHT,..SHOOT,
MR. JAY. DOC!
NOW. I HAVE WHAT DO
JUST ONE QUESTION YOU WANT
FOR YOU. TO KNOW?
DO YOU EVER YES. I/VE READ YOUR FILES AND
FEEL REMORSE FOR I'VE SEEN THE VIDEO INTERVIEWS,
THE LIVES YOU'VE DOC. AND I NOTICED THAT NOBODY
TAKEN? EVER BOTHERED ASKING YOU
T sTION.
READ MY FILES. TAOS TON
"A NARCISSISTIC
SOCIOPATH.”
“A HEARTLESS
PSYCHOPATH.”
“A CLASSIC CASE
OF AN ANTISOCIAL”
SOMETHING-OR-
OTHER...
ME, PERSONALLY?
‘AND GIVEN THE... NOW, MAYBE MY TD RATHER HEAR IT
CONFLICTING NATURE Of PREDECESSORS Just DIRECTLY FROM
YOUR PAST DIAGNOSES, IT’S ASSUMED YOUR ANSWER you.
A QUESTION THAT WEEDS WAS NO, I CAN'T SAY
ANSWERING. FOR SURE.
FoR
THE FIRST ONES...
THERE WAS STILL
THAT.
1 GUESS THE
FIRST VICTIM OF THE
STREETS OF GOTHAM IS
ONE'S EMPATHY.
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AND I COULDN'T
BELIEVE MY EARS.
I HAD TO PLAY
THIS CAREFULLY.
I REMEMBER ENTERING THE ROOM THAT DAY,
FEELING ON TOP OF THE WORLD. NO GLASS, NO.
NOTHING. I WAS READY FOR A FACE TO FACE.
I HAD MY LITTLE ICEBREAKER QUESTION.
IT WAS A PLANNED MOVE. SHOW HIM
SOMETHING HE WASN'T USED TO.
CATCH HIM OFF GUARD.
BUT INSTEAD HIS ANSWER DID
THE SAME TO ME. ANY PRETENSE
OF MY EMOTIONAL DETACHMENT
WAS IN PIECES,
I MEAN...REGRET,
GUILT... EMPATHY... THEY
BRING ABOUT
HESITATION.
AND
ON THE STREETS,
HESITATION WILL GET
YOU CAUGHT...GET
YOU KILLED,
IT ALWAYS:
FIGURED, WE KILLED
THAT PART OF OUR-
SELVES FIRST.
THAD TO PLAY IT SMART.
IN HINDSIGHT I PLAYED IT NEITHER
SMART NOR CAREFULLY. INSTEAD
I JUST TOOK THE BAIT.
HOW
DID IT START,
MR. JAY?
MY, GRANDMA...WHAT FASC/NATING
MENTAL ISSUES YOU HAVE.
THE BETTER TO DRAW YOU
WEAR, MY DARLING.
HOW DOES ONE
GO ABOUT KILLING THEIR Jaana
ATTACHMENTS...
YOU GET THAT
ONE BAD MOMENT WHEN THE
BURDEN OF THEM BECOMES
TOO MUCH...
WHEN
YOU LOSE IT
ALL...
OKAY... HOW ABOUT
‘ YOU ANSWER ONE OF
IT DOESN'T MY QUESTIONS
MATTER ANY~ FIRST?
MORE.
1S THAT
WHAT HAPPENED
TO YOu?
DON’T EVEN KNOW
HOW OFTEN HOW TO DESCRIBE IT...
DO YOU WATCH ME
SLEEP?
IT’S AS IF, WHEN I JOURNEYED INTO
HIS HEAD, I LEFT A TRAIL BEHIND...
A TRAIL HE FOLLOWED.
_ 1 WAS LOOKING FOR THE BIG BAD
WOLF...AND NOW THERE HE WAS, HUFFING
AND PUFFING AT THE DOORS OF MY MIND.
AND GOD HELP ME, A SMALL, FUCKED-
UP PART OF ME WANTED TO LET HIM IN.
IT WAS INSANE. I HAD SPOKEN TO HIM
ONLY FOUR TIMES. THE FIRST TIME,
HE HELD ME AT GUNPOINT,
HE GAVE ME MONTHS
OF NIGHTMARES.
AND...HE WANTED.
TO SEE ME SMILE.
AND THAT WAS IT. HE NEEDED ME. THIS
\ SCARRED, BROKEN MAN NEEDED ME...
AND I WANTED TO BE THERE FOR HIM.
I WANTED TO
SMILE FOR HIM...
I NEEDED TO...
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DON’T EVEN KNOW
HOW OFTEN HOW TO DESCRIBE IT...
DO YOU WATCH ME
SLEEP?
IT’S AS IF, WHEN I JOURNEYED INTO
HIS HEAD, I LEFT A TRAIL BEHIND...
A TRAIL HE FOLLOWED.
_ 1 WAS LOOKING FOR THE BIG BAD
WOLF...AND NOW THERE HE WAS, HUFFING
AND PUFFING AT THE DOORS OF MY MIND.
AND GOD HELP ME, A SMALL, FUCKED-
UP PART OF ME WANTED TO LET HIM IN.
IT WAS INSANE. I HAD SPOKEN TO HIM
ONLY FOUR TIMES. THE FIRST TIME,
HE HELD ME AT GUNPOINT,
HE GAVE ME MONTHS
OF NIGHTMARES.
AND...HE WANTED.
TO SEE ME SMILE.
AND THAT WAS IT. HE NEEDED ME. THIS
\ SCARRED, BROKEN MAN NEEDED ME...
AND I WANTED TO BE THERE FOR HIM.
I WANTED TO
SMILE FOR HIM...
I NEEDED TO...
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+1 SNAP OUT OF IT AND
ASSUME CONTROL OVER THIS
RUNAWAY TRAIN OF A SITUATION.
\$ THAT P/TY I HEAR IN
YOUR VOICE?
THEY ARE
BATTLE SCARS,
NOTHING MORE.
YOU GENTLY REMOVE LAYERS OF
Ma esitecb tre le DEFENSIVENESS, DENIAL, RESENTMENT,
ARCHEOLOGIST OF THE MIND. ANT uae cle QUESTION AT AITIME:
YOU DON’T PUSH THEM.
BECAUSE...
I WANT TO
HELP...
UH. IT WAS
JUST THE OME TIME!
1 WAS...PASSING BY AND
I NOTICED YOUR
AND
ANYWAYS, I
BARELY FEEL
ANY PAIN.
LIKE AN ARCHEOLOGIST, YOU GO
IN CAREFULLY WITH A SOFT BRUSH
AND A TENDER TOUCH.
BUT THAT DAY I FORGOT MY
BRUSH AND WENT STRAIGHT
FOR THE HAMMER.
I’M NOT
07
LETTING THIS
Go!
I NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT
Your Loss/
TELL ME, AND MAYBE I WAS
HONESTLY! DWELLING TOO MUCH
WHY ARE YOU NEREP ON WHY I WANTED TO SEE
see ene You Tus: JOUSMIE MAYBE THATS
YOU GOT ME TO TELL YOU MORE WHY T CET YOU IN...GUT IN
‘ABOUT MYSELF THAN ANYONE THE END: NONE OF IT.
ELSE EVER DID. AND WHO MATTERS.
KNOWS, MAYBE IT’S
MY FAULT.
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‘SEE, I MAY BE
ALITTLE CRAZY, BUT
I'M NOT STUPID.
YOU MAY HIDE
IT BETTER THAN OTHERS,
BUT LIKE THEM YOU'RE HERE
HOPING TO WRITE A BOOK
OR AN ARTICLE OR A
THESIS...
IN THE END
AT LEAST THE COPS
ARE HONEST.
THEY SEE
US AS MONSTERS
BECAUSE WE ARE
JUST THAT!
HE SAID IT IN OUR VERY
FIRST MEETING.
NORMAL PEOPLE DREAM
OF GOING CRAZY.
PROBLEM 5, SOMETIMES
THERE’S NO COMING BACK.
© AND YOU KNOW WHAT? TH/S-
CERTAINLY QUALIFIED AS CRAZY.
IT WAS AN ADRENALINE-FUELED.
MOVE OF DESPERATION.
AND IN THAT MOMENT I ALLOWED
THE THOUGHT I HAD BEEN RUNNING
AWAY FROM TO FINALLY TAKE SHAPE.
CN
A TERRIFYING AND
DARKLY ALLURING IMAGE
THAT PLAGUED MY MIND.
io
| MAYBE THERE WAS ANOTHER REASON
THOSE OTHER PSYCHIATRISTS COULDN'T
GET A GENUINE EMOTION OUT OF HIM...
MAYBE THE ANSWER WAS
STARING ME IN THE FACE.
MAYBE, JUST MAYBE SOMEWHERE
IN MY REPRESSED HEART I KNEW
{T AND FEARED IT BECAUSE...
BECAUSE, GOD HELP ME,
T MIGHT SMILE BACK AT HIM...
4\\
Ay
BUT I WASN'T SMILING, NOT YET.
NO, IN THAT MOMENT I WAS TOO E
AWARE THAT IF THIS RISK DIDN'T PAY Y ) IT’S TRUE.
OFF, HE MIGHT DO BY WAND WHAT j I CAME HERE FOR MY
HE’D REFUSED TO DO BY GUN, (ihe f OWN PURPOSE...
BUT...THAT
CHANGED. I CHANGED. THEN GAME FOR KEEPS
I FOUND MYSELF CARING
ABOUT YOU...
CARING
$0 MUCH THAT IT
SCARES ME.
‘AN OLD GAME.
YOU KNOW THE ONE...
HE LOVES ME...
HE LOVES ME NOT... f
THANK YOU
FOR CARING.
HARLEY...
You
CAN CALL ME
HARLEY...
HARLEY...QUINN.
T LIKE THAT...
?) THAD A DREAM THAT NIGHT.
I DREAMED OF A LONG,
WINDING ROAD, OF BATS,
| AND OF A GIANT BEAST.
___ I DREAMED OF A BROKEN MAN...
( AND IN THE DREAM, I SMILED.
{
EXD OF CHABTER TWO.
BLACK
LOBEL |
THERE WAS
A BROKEN MAN
) INTHE SS.0
@\.1 REACHED Di
| To. yes IM...
7 Say
HE WASN'T SLIPPING..
“HE Wi
DRAGGING: ME.”
BOOK THREE - IN STORES NOVEMBER
ANDY KHOURI
EDITOR
MAGGIE HOWELL
ASSISTANT EDITOR
DARRAN ROBINSON
PUBLICATION DESIGN
BOB HARRAS SENIOR VP - EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, DC COMICS
MARK DOYLE EXECUTIVE EDITOR, VERTIGO & BLACK LABEL
DAN DiDIO puBLisHER
JIM LEE PUBLISHER & CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER
BOBBIE CHASE vp - NEW PUBLISHING INITIATIVES & TALENT DEVELOPMENT
DON FALLETTI vp - MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS & WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT
LAWRENCE GANEM vp - TALENT SERVICES
ALISON GILL SENIOR VP - MANUFACTURING & OPERATIONS
HANK KANALZ SENIOR VP - PUBLISHING STRATEGY & SUPPORT SERVICES
DAN MIRON vp - PUBLISHING OPERATIONS
NICK J. NAPOLITANO vp - MANUFACTURING ADMINISTRATION & DESIGN
NANCY SPEARS vp - sALEs
MICHELE R. WELLS vp & EXECUTIVE EDITOR, YOUNG READER
HARLEEN 2. DECEMBER, 2019. PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY DC COMICS, 2900 W. ALAMEDA AVENUE, BURBANK,
CA 91505. GST N2 IS RI25921072, COPYRIGHT © 2019 DC COMICS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL CHARACTERS
FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE, THE DISTINCTIVE LIKENESSES THEREOF, AND RELATED ELEMENTS ARE TRADEMARKS
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FOR DETAILS ON DC COMICS RATINGS, VISIT DCCOMICS.COM/GO/RATINGS, DC — A WARNERMEDIA COMPANY.
“HEAVEN
HELP ME...
“A SMALL PART
OF ME...
“WANTS
TO LET
HIM IN.”
A BRILLIANT YOUNG PSYCHIATRIST WITH THE CURE FOR THE MADNESS OF
GOTHAM, DR. HARLEEN QUINZEL, TAKES DRASTIC MEASURES TO SAVE THE
CITY FROM ITSELF. WITNESS THE BIRTH OF THE LEGENDARY SUPER-VILLAIN
HARLEY QUINN IN THIS STUNNING REIMAGINING OF HARLEY AND THE JOKER'S
TWISTED AND TRAGIC LOVE AFFAIR BY ACCLAIMED STORYTELLER STJEPAN SEJIC
(AQUAMAN: UNDERWORLD, SUNSTONE).