Skip to main content <#maincontent> We will keep fighting for all libraries - stand with us! Internet Archive logo A line drawing of the Internet Archive headquarters building façade. Search icon An illustration of a magnifying glass. Search icon An illustration of a magnifying glass. Upload icon An illustration of a horizontal line over an up pointing arrow. Upload User icon An illustration of a person's head and chest. Sign up | Log in Web icon An illustration of a computer application window Wayback Machine Texts icon An illustration of an open book. Books Video icon An illustration of two cells of a film strip. Video Audio icon An illustration of an audio speaker. Audio Software icon An illustration of a 3.5" floppy disk. Software Images icon An illustration of two photographs. Images Donate icon An illustration of a heart shape Donate Ellipses icon An illustration of text ellipses. More Hamburger icon An icon used to represent a menu that can be toggled by interacting with this icon. Internet Archive Audio Live Music Archive Librivox Free Audio Featured * All Audio * This Just In * Grateful Dead * Netlabels * Old Time Radio * 78 RPMs and Cylinder Recordings Top * Audio Books & Poetry * Computers, Technology and Science * Music, Arts & Culture * News & Public Affairs * Spirituality & Religion * Podcasts * Radio News Archive Images Metropolitan Museum Cleveland Museum of Art Featured * All Images * This Just In * Flickr Commons * Occupy Wall Street Flickr * Cover Art * USGS Maps Top * NASA Images * Solar System Collection * Ames Research Center Software Internet Arcade Console Living Room Featured * All Software * This Just In * Old School Emulation * MS-DOS Games * Historical Software * Classic PC Games * Software Library Top * Kodi Archive and Support File * Vintage Software * APK * MS-DOS * CD-ROM Software * CD-ROM Software Library * Software Sites * Tucows Software Library * Shareware CD-ROMs * Software Capsules Compilation * CD-ROM Images * ZX Spectrum * DOOM Level CD Books Books to Borrow Open Library Featured * All Books * All Texts * This Just In * Smithsonian Libraries * FEDLINK (US) * Genealogy * Lincoln Collection Top * American Libraries * Canadian Libraries * Universal Library * Project Gutenberg * Children's Library * Biodiversity Heritage Library * Books by Language * Additional Collections Video TV News Understanding 9/11 Featured * All Video * This Just In * Prelinger Archives * Democracy Now! * Occupy Wall Street * TV NSA Clip Library Top * Animation & Cartoons * Arts & Music * Computers & Technology * Cultural & Academic Films * Ephemeral Films * Movies * News & Public Affairs * Spirituality & Religion * Sports Videos * Television * Videogame Videos * Vlogs * Youth Media Search the history of over 835 billion web pages on the Internet. Search the Wayback Machine Search icon An illustration of a magnifying glass. Mobile Apps * Wayback Machine (iOS) * Wayback Machine (Android) Browser Extensions * Chrome * Firefox * Safari * Edge Archive-It Subscription * Explore the Collections * Learn More * Build Collections Save Page Now Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. Please enter a valid web address * About * Blog * Projects * Help * Donate * Contact * Jobs * Volunteer * People * Sign up for free * Log in Search metadata Search text contents Search TV news captions Search radio transcripts Search archived web sites Advanced Search * About * Blog * Projects * Help * Donate Donate icon An illustration of a heart shape * Contact * Jobs * Volunteer * People 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. Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline 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/ Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline 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! Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline 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. Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline 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... Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline 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... Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline +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. Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline ‘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 OF DC COMICS. THE STORIES, CHARACTERS, AND INCIDENTS MENTIONED IN THIS MAGAZINE ARE ENTIRELY FICTIONAL, DC COMICS DOES NOT READ OR ACCEPT UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONS OF IDEAS, STORIES, OR ARTWORK. FOR ADVERTISING AND CUSTOM PUBLISHING CONTACT DCCOMICSADVERTISING@DCCOMICS.COM. 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).