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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 —— N —— >, = page ohECOH? \ Sa STJEPAN SEJIC STORY AND ART GABRIELA DOWNIE LETTERS STJEPAN SEJIC COVER AND VARIANT COVER HARLEY QUINN CREATED BY PAUL DINI AND BRUCE TIMM ) FIVE DAYS. AFTER...THE MUG, HOW THE HELL DID 1 GET HEREPY I MEAN, IT WAS THREE IN THE MORNING, AND THERE I WAS WIDE AWAKE ON MY BED, MENTALLY BACKTRACKING MY WAY THROUGH LIFE... «CONNECTING THE DOTS THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN THE DREAM I’D JUST HAD. THEY SAY A LAWYER WHO DEFENDS THEMSELF HAS A FOOL FOR A CLIENT. I WONDER IF THE SAME IS TRUE FOR PSYCHIATRISTS? ANYHOW...PATIENT’S NAME: HARLEEN QUINZEL. PATIENT’S BAD COLLEGE EXPERIENCE LED TO YEARS OF EMOTIONAL ISOLATION. PATIENT LATER CHANGED HER WORK ENVIRONMENT, BUT THAT HAD LITTLE EVEN WHEN SHE WAS SURROUNDED EFFECT ON HER SOCIAL INTERACTIONS. BY PEOPLE, SHE WAS ALONE--SHYING THE ONLY PERSON SHE TALKED TO WAS AWAY FROM RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE " A GRUFF SECURITY CHIEF WHO RARELY ——— SHE FELT THERE WERE ALWAYS PEOPLE EVEN CRACKED A SMILE. WATCHING, WAITING, EAGER TO THIS LED TO A LOT OF MAKE HER THE BUTT OF THEIR JOKES. UNRESOLVED RESENTMENT AND ANGER. Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline IT MADE A SAD KIND OF SENSE THAT IN THE END, I GRAVITATED TO. THE ONE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY SEEMED TO NEED ME... > 2 é f. «THE ONE PERSON WHO. MAYBE EVEN LIKED ME... d ) . ( a 2 7 if 4 —_ 1 : \ 4 4 \ \ —— NK. YW THE PERSON WHO TWICE HELD MY L/FE IN HIS HANDS. THE FIRST TIME HE GAVE ME NIGHTMARES... THE SECOND TIME... WELL, THE SECOND TIME HE GAVE ME SOME VERY DIFFERENT KINDS OF DREAMS... THAT DOES SEEM TO BE THE PREVAILING OPINION AMONG THE BIRDS, THE CATS, AND THE BATS... HOWEVER, I DO. ASSURE YOU THIS SENSE OF CONTROL 'S JUST AN ILLUSIONS os YES...VERY DIFFERENT. OR MAYBE... MAD PERSON'S DELUSION? STILL IN YOUR LAB COAT. UNIFORMS...THEY DO. BRING A CERTAIN SENSE OF CONTROL WITH THEM, DON'T THEY? OKAY, CARDS ON THE TABLE: I SPENT FIVE HOURS SORTING THROUGH THE MAD HATTER’S PATIENT HISTORY, SO THERE WAS SOME OF THAT IN MY DREAM AS WELL, OR YOU WOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE! rN LAY BUT THE REST OF IT WAS ALL HIM. HEH,..WELL, IL GUESS THAT DOES MAKE SENSE... ) DESPERATELY WISHED I COULD HAVE CALLED IT A NIGHTMARE... ..BECAUSE THE TRUTH WAS TOO DISTURBING. HE GOT UNDER MY SKIN. I DIDN'T JUST SNAP OUT OF THAT DREAM FEELING SWEATY. I WOKE UP WET... =a X COVERING THE CAMERA WHILE ALONE INA ROOM WITH THE JOKER? NO! 1 SAW THOSE PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS. THIS IS DIFFERENT! 1 HAD TO. HE FELT WATCHED. IT’S...HE WAS BACKING OUT AFTER 1’D GOTTEN HIM TO OPEN UP TO ME. WHAT MAKES: YOU THINK YOURE SO SPECIAL THAT HE WOULD OPEN UP TO YOU WHEN FAR MORE SEASONED PSYCHIATRISTS HAVE Lea arties AND OVER: AGAIN? WHAT /$ WRONG WITH Your! OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, DR. QUINZEL, JOKER HAS SO FAR “OPENED UP” TO SIX DIFFERENT PSYCHIATRISTS--AND BY OPENED 1 MEAN OPENED THE SEWAGE DRAIN AND SPILLED HIS BULLSHIT! DR. QUINZEL YOU ARE A PROMISING PSYCHIATRIST. I UNDERSTAND YOUR’ EAGERNESS, BUT I MUST INSIST THAT YOU EXERC/SE EXTREME CAUTION WITH THESE. PEC OR. STRANGE, HE |S COMPLETELY RESTRAINED. PLEASE. LET ME CONTINUE THIS. ae STAY I DON’T LIKE LIVING ors DANGEROUSLY! FINE. TELL JENNIFER TO HAVE YOU SIGN A WA/VER. I’M NOT HAVING YOU SUE ARKHAM. ASYLUM JUST BECAUSE YOU LIKE LIVING DANGEROUSLY. MEANT THAT. S AND I HONESTLY IT’S JUST... WELL, EVERY TIME I RELEASED HIM FROM WHAT HAVE HIS STRAITJACKET, TO FULLY GAIN HIS TRUST, YOU DONE TO WE ENDED UP LIKE THIS SOMEHOW... Me? IF ANYONE ELSE FREED ME LIKE THIS L’D HAVE PUNISHED THEIR STUPIDITY WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT... HAH! T KNEW THAT SM/LE WOULD BE AMAZING/ I'M SO GLAD I DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER THAT NIGHT! 1 KNOW SHE SIGNED IT BUT I'M STILL GONNA CHECK (ON HER, WAS THAT { FLIRTING...OR A THRE/ / NOBODY'S DONE THAT FOR ME... NOT FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, ou? THOUGHT YOU Uf WERE OUT OF BULLETS? / | FOR YOU? NEVER! / | { DON’T BUCKLE ALL OF THEM! Hi DOC! JusT WANTED TO SEE IF YOU NEEDED © ANYTHING. gust, YOu KNOW, IF THIS AN/MAL TRIES ANYTHING sTu-- ALSO... MR. BRONSON, I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO REFRAIN FROM CALLING MY PATIENTS ANIMALS OR BEASTS OR MONSTERS OR ANYTHING (J OF THE KIND FROM NOW ON. ARE HARLEY...I ALSO, YOU'RE WE GONNA LOVE WHEN YOU GOOD AT THIS WHOLE NEED A SAFE SMILE. BUT...DAMN, Y RESTRAINING THING...LIKE worl? f YOU ARE SEXY WHEN y YOU'VE-DONE-THIS-BEFORE YOU'RE ANGRY! KIND OF GOOD. 1 Just DON’T LIKE HIM USING THAT WORD. Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline IT’S JUST... SOME OF US LOST FRIENDS DURING HIS LAST BREAKOUT AND... YOU KNOW WHAT? DOESN'T MATTER, POINT IS IT’S OKAY, MR. BRONSON. JUST MAKE IT A RULE NOT TO INTERRUPT MY SESSIONS ANYMORE AND WE'RE FINE. DEAL? DEAL! HEY, DOC... YOU REALLY DO THINK YOU CAN HELP HIM, HUH? Une» Dae DM IT WON'T HAPPEN SORRY ABOUT THE AGAIN. WHOLE THING IN THERE. WHAT MAKES: YOU THINK YOL/RE SO SPECIAL THAT HE WOULD OPEN UP TO YOU WHEN FAR MORE SEASONED PSYCHIATRISTS HAVE FA/LED OVER AND OVER AGAIN? AND THATS HOW I KNOW I CAN HELP HIM. IN FACT, I’M THE ONLY ‘ONE WHO CAN. 1 SEE THAT vou =a DOCTOR-PATIENT SPOKE TO MY CONFIDENTIALITY STOP IT, DOCTOR? MEANS L/TTLE TO HARVEY: a GOTHAM GENERA THEY HOSPITAL. CONTACTED ME BECAUSE YOU REFUSED TO CALL THEM BACK. J YOU HAVE CONFIRMED BRAIN DAMAGE, AND IF WE PLAY OUR CARDS RIGHT WE CAN MAKE THAT WHOLE TV INCIDENT DISAPPEAR AND GET YOU YOUR JOB BACK! T DON'T HARVEY, COME I TOLD ALL RIGHT... THINK 50, ON, MAN. TALK TO ME! YOU, I'M DOING JUST KEEP ME IN J AT LEAST LET ME COME FINE. THE LOOP, SEE YOU! L gust WANT TO RECOVER ON MY OWN IT WAS A SHORT EPISODE. I’M BETTER NOW. EVENING, SIR. NO CAUSE FOR ALARM, DOT LaOR TL ASSURE ALARMED? You. WELL IF IT’S. ~ NOT TOO MUCH TROUBLE, wile cake oe. S BBD sie, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AND e I WANTED TO MEET A TRUE HERO OF FOR YOU? GOTHAM IN PERSON, SHAKE HIS HAND, AND HAVE A TALK... SEE, WE ALL WATCHED YOUR BIG SPEECH ON TV AND...WELL, WE HAPPEN TO SHARE YOUR VIEWS ON GOTHAM’S PROBLEMS WITH CRIME. WE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE TOGETHER, UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, WE COULD IMPLEMENT A PERMANENT SOLUTION. HE SEEMS LIKE A SMART MAN, ‘A GOOD MAN. WHY N’T YO YOU'RE WITH UKE 1 SAID, THE EXECUTIONERS. WE ALL SAW YOUR YOU MURDERED MARON/ SPEECH THAT DAY, Hl Ici ‘MR. DENT. INSPIRING AND APPRECIATED. TALKING AMONGST OURSELVES, WE REALIZED WE NEED TO TAKE THE EXECUTIONERS TO THE NEXT LEVEL. AND WHO BETTER TO LEAD US THAN you? I’M AN OFFICER OF THE COURT. THAT'S RIGHT, AND YOU SINGLE-HANDEDLY LED THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE FALCONE FAMILY IN YOUR SECOND YEAR AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY. TWAS THERE, SIR. THE WAY WE SEE IT, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO |S PROSECUTE, POINT US AT THE GUILTY PARTIES AND WE'LL DO THE REST. AFTER ALL, THAT’S WHAT THE EXECUTIONERS ARE FOR. COME ON, BUT YOU HARVEY! YOU THOUGHT WERE ALL ALONE, THEN. AND ABOUT IT FOR YEARS,..EVEN NOW WE'RE TOGETHER IN THIS, AND THEY CAN BE BEFORE MARON|, YOU KNEW THE WAY TO WAKE UP THIS CITY! ‘AS WELL. WE CAN DO IT IF WE SHOW THEM THE WAY. fl I FIND THIS HELPS MY DECISION- f AND IF FOMETHING WE’RE GONNA MAKE THAT WILL FORCE THEIR THIS CITY WAKE UP, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO MAKE THEM SOMETUNG) AcTI GOTHAN'? oREATEsT 50...HEADS, IT’S BLACKGATE PENITENTIARY. TRUE FOLUTION To _OUR CITY’? UNewE BRAND OF REPEAT .. OFFENPER?. - —— 70 Wn me NE LET LO09E _ THE WOLIE?| == ALL OF THEM m= WE FINGE THE GREATEST TRIZON BREAKOUT EVER, = PETTING ALL THIF CITY'Z MONATER? BACK UPON IT. Z NIGHT Of ” oor 10 roOnce THE POLITICIAN? 10 ACT! WE ONE CHANGE, NE CHOICE, EVER SINCE MY COMA I’VE BEEN HAVING SOME...DIFFICULTIES DISTINGUISHING FANTASY FROM REALITY. XN HAND...AKE THEM AFRAIZ... ARR EAM ASYEUM ' . $0 WHAT WAS IT LIKE? ‘I MEAN, FULL-BODY NERVE DAMAGE SEEMS... ‘SURREAL, WELL...WHEN I FELL IN THE CHEMICALS, IT FELT LIKE I WAS SET ON FIRE. BUT LATER IT FELT LIKE MY WHOLE BODY WAS NUMBED WITH NOVOCAIN. AND IT’S BEEN LIKE THAT EVER SINCE. EVERYTHING WORKS... BUT TOUCH HAS TO BE... INTENSE. AHEM. ANYWAYS, IT WAS GOING GREAT. MR. BRONSON WAS A MAN OF HIS WORD AND MY SESSIONS WITH MR. JAY REMAINED UNINTERRUPTED, AS FOR MY OTHER PATIENTS, RESULTS WERE A MIXED BAG. SOME REMAINED FRUSTRATINGLY UNCHANGED... NOT MUCH, BUT 1 THOUGHT YOU WOULD GIVEN YOUR SPECIAL CONDITION. (T WAS A SLOW PROCESS, BUT THERE WAS HOPE. LITTLE BY LITTLE HE OPENED UP TO ME. BIT BY BIT, I LEARNED MORE ABOUT HIM. ALSO THAT NIGHT I MAYOR f MAY NOT HAVE FANTASIZED ABOUT MY NAILS IN HIM, a AND YOU KNOW WHAT? SOON I REALIZED THAT ARKHAM ITSELF HAD GROWN ON ME. THE BUSY DAYS AND THE LONG NIGHT SHIFTS. I/D OFTEN MAKE USE OF THE TIME TO VISIT MR. JAY AND INDULGE IN PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION. IT WAS BABY STEPS, SURE. NEVERTHELESS, T WAS MAKING PROGRESS. a LEARNING NEW THINGS. DISCARDING OLD (MISCONCEPTIONS... 50 THE WEEKS TURNED TO MONTHS. EVEN THOUGH ti JACKET STAYS ON MY SCHEDULE SAID SESS/ONS, WHAT WE TODAY? SHARED WERE DATES... MINUS THE WINING - Ste AND DINING, AND WITH EXCESSIVE SECURITY Bx f YEAH, I RESTRAINTS THROWN INTO THE MIX. 7 WANT TO GET SOME WORK DONE 5 AND YOU GET AND YES, I'M AWARE HANDSY. THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOME \ DEVELOPING FET/SH... POT? KETTLE? BUT THAT WASWYT IT. TRUTH WAS I HAD FALLEN /W LOVE. IT WAS A THOUGHT THAT WOULD’VE TERRIFIED ME ONCE, BUT NOW MADE ME START EVERY DAY WITH A SMILE. I EVEN RECEIVED NEWS THAT THE FINANCIAL BOARD WAS ALLOCATING MORE WAYNE GRANT MONEY TO MY RESEARCH, MEANING ASSISTANTS AND EQUIPMENT! IT WAS ALL WITHIN MY REACH. yo EVERYTHING WAS COMING UP HARLEY! WELL, ALMOST EVERYTHING. 1 GUESS IT'S GOOD THAT HE'S I DON'T HERE TO INTERROGATE KNOW... THE THE JOKER AND GUY IS JUST NOT YOU. CREEPY. INTERROGATE?, WAIT, PRIYA, WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WHAT r IN HEAVEN’S NAME MADE YOU THINK COMING HERE UNANNOUNCED AND | INTERROGATING MY PATIENTS WAS. OKAY? LAM WOT COMMISSIONER GORDON AND YOU ARE NOT WELCOME TO DO AS YOU PLEASE WITH MY PATIENTS! I DION'T WORK FIVE MONTHS WITH THE JOKER FOR YOU TO RUIN IT NOW! A DIFFICULT. TASK WHEN YOU KEEP BREAKING HIS BONES, BATMAN! A SHIVER RAN THROUGH MY BODY. I WAS GONNA SAY SCARY. DR. QUINZEL, I'M HERE ON AN URGENT MATTER. ONE OF THE JOKER'S KNOWN ASSOCIATES WAS FOUND-- BE CAREFUL WITH HIM, DR, QUINZEL, VERY WELL. IF YOU STARE INTO. TLL LEAVE HIM IN THE ABYSS LONG YOUR HANDS. ENOUGH-~ HOWEVER... You MAY FIND A BROKEN MAN TRYING TO CLIMB RIGHT THERE, I REALIZED SUST HOW MUCH THIS FELT LIKE MY DREAM WITH ‘THE BAT BEAST. HEY, DOC. THINK TM READY FOR SOME THERAPY. AND I'D BEEN ON THE SPUR-OF-THE-MOMENT PILL FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. IT WAS A SPUR-OF-THE- MOMENT DECISION. BECAUSE WE WAS THE SUBJECT OF MOST OF IY SPUR-OF-THE- MOMENT WAKING THOUGHTS... ON A WHIM, 1 ARRANGED A DATE. NOTHING PREMEDITATED ABOUT IT. ON A WHIM, I FOUND MYSELF CARRYING MAKEUP FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE COLLEGE. AND MY OH MY, WHO KNEW WHERE MY NEXT WHIM MIGHT TAKE ME... OH MY GOD, HARLEY! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? THIS |5 $0. AND s YET..HERE TAM, READY TO RISK IT ALL--MyY LIFE, MY P GermNg = DOLLED UP BECAUSE WANT TO SHOW HIM THAT HE'S NEEDED... BECAUSE nS ee END OF THE DAY, 1 AM THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN HELP I GUESS THAT WAS WHY: THE WHOLE BATMAN THING MADE ME SNAP. (TWAS WHAT HE’D SAID THAT NIGHT, MONTHS AGO... 50 rou 4 | BELIEVE THERE |S FOR THEM? 7 1 HOPE THERE IS. EVEN THE © » JOKER? BECAUSE...IT MADE ME FEEL GU/LTY. BECAUSE I'D FELT THE SAME ONCE... y Atm © i VAM MANY HAVE TRIED...ME? TLL SUCCEED. WHY? BECAUSE I SIMPLY CARED ABOUT HIM MORE. ar é a Ere HE DIDN'T BELIEVE IT FOR A SECOND. HE DIDN'T THINK JAY COULD BE HELPED. BUT THAT DAY 1 SAW HIM SMILE AND THOUGHT OF BATMAN’S WORDS AGAIN. I TRUSTED HIM MORE. BEFORE I SANK INTO THE BLISS, 1 REMEMBER CHUCKLING SOFTLY. HE WHISPERED, WHAT’S FUNNY? 1 SAID, T WANTED TO HEAL YOUR SCARS, BUT HERE I AM ADDING | SOME OF MY OWN. y I THINK HE SMILED. © I SMILED IN MY BED LATER \(w ie \ | THAT NIGHT...MY MIND SWIMMING ye ‘ FULL OF HOPE. I COULD DO IN THE AFTERMATH OF IT ALL, FULL a Py) e IT! I WOULD BE THE ONE WHO OF IDEAS, FULL OF PLANS... o (by \ ) ‘SAVED HIM. I WAS THE ONLY “ ONE WHO COULD. H IT WAS AN EGOTISTICAL, SELFISH THOUGHT, “WITH THAT. I MEAN, LET'S Mate ielaad any CARED ABOUT HIM... - ~ AND IN MY DREAMS, HE DID JUST THAT. © IT FELT RIGHT. ALMOST PROPHETIC. DELUSIONAL THOUGH IT WAS IN THE END, I TRULY BELIEVED IT. FIRST, I WOULD ‘SAVE HIM... i THEN I WOULD SAVE "THIS CITY OF MONSTERS. WHAT A WONDERFUL DREAM IT WAS... “IT HAD BEEN FIVE MONTHS SINCE BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT ss ID LIKE 1 SAID, FIVE MONTHS LATER DREAM WAS ABOUT TO END. Diodati ial eo BOTH BECOME MURDERERS. 7 WELL, 1 GUESS THIS 16 IT. YOU KNOW, Ag IT WAS A BACK IN MY EARLY Hy JOKE. BUT THE TRUTH CAMPAIGNING DAYS, I USED i 15, IN ORDER FOR GOTHAM TO TO SAY, “JUSTICE 'S BLINDFOLDED, 1 BECOME A CITY OF LAW AND ORDER, WITH ONE HAND TIED BEHIND HER A RIGHT HOOK |S NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED BACK, BUT I’LL MAKE SURE SHE 4 » TO PUT THE SWORD BACK IN CAN AT LEAST THROW A JUSTICE’S HANDS. MEAN RIGHT HOOK.” ANP MAKE NO MIZTAKE, THAT IF OUR PURPO7E HERE TONIGHT. We WILL UNLEAGH HORRORS UPON THE CITY AND THEY WILL 766, THEY WILL REALE THAT THE ONLY WAY 10 FIP THI¢ APNE 17 TO VO WHAT NEEVZ 10 4 BE DONE 4 €XECUTIONERA! 4 v0 ae wth LOOP NEEP 66 FPILED.. “va THEN SO BE IT!” AND HE SAYS YOU'RE THE ONE TO KICK IT OFF. HAVE Fut IN YOU NEED FERTILE SOIL TO DO YOUR... THING, RIGHT? THE GROUNDHOG SENT US! SEEMS AN EARLY SPRING \S \N ORDER. THIS SHOULD GET YOU STARTED. Le in Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline GOTHAM NOW, RISE \S YOURS FOR THE EVERYBODY... AND SHINE... TAKING! A PAROLE? ALREADY? MUST BE MY GOOD BEHAVIOR! OW NO, JUST THE CONTRARY! WE WANT YOU TO D0 WHAT YOU DO BEST: STEAL, BURN, WND KILL, THAT PUTS DOESN'T IT? HEY, THAT MAKES ME SOUND LIKE SUCH A ONE-NOTE VILLAIN! MAYBE, BUT NO ONE PLAYS THAT NOTE GETTER. HOW KIND! BUT WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU? I'VE READ THE PAPERS, AREN'T YOU PEOPLE ALL OUR ABOUT EXECUTING PURPOSE IS NONE CRIMINALS? (1's RIGHT OF YOUR BUSINESS, THERE IN THE NAME... NOW LEAVE! BUT I GUESS YOU CAN'T TEACH A MAD DOG SANE TRICKS! \ ALL RIGHT, UGLY! TIME TO GO BACK TO THE SEWERS! HEY, PSYCHOS! THESE GUYS ARE THOSE EXECUTIONERS AND THEY'RE HERE TO Kil US ALLS AH YES, THIS IS GONNA BE A WONDERFUL NIGHT! NIGHT. T WAS THE NIGHT SHIFT DOCTOR ON DUTY AND I'D PLANNED ON SOME PRIVATE THERAPY WITH MR. JAY... g IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A WONDERFUL WHAT I DIDN‘T. PLAN ON WAS... WELL... ARMAGEDDON. ARE YOU CRAZY? GET THAT WATER CANNON OUT OF HERE! IF MR. FREEZE GETS TO IT WE'RE FUCKED! COMMISSIONER! A CIVILIAN! COMMISSIONER DOCTOR, STAY DOWNS WHAT WAIT, THE EXECUTIONERS? DION’T HAPPEN?! WE GOT A CALL FROM STRANGE, Sad apt re ore THE EXECUTIONERS. GORDON, WHAT...WHAT HAPPENED? £ WHAT? NO! THEY SET THEM FREES THE INMATES ARE TEAMING UP AND TAKING HOSTAGES! THEY'VE STOLEN THEIR WEAPONS BACK AND NOW ALL HELL HAS BROKEN LOOSE! AND WE'RE GETTING REPORTS THAT KILLER * AND BATG/RL ARE CROC \S RUNNING AROUND WE'VE TRYING TO SAVE THE THE HALLS EATING GOT BATMAN IN HOSTAGES FROM PEOPLE! THERE FIGHTING FREEZE. IF YOU HAVE 3 WE BANE. SOME VACATION GLIMPSED DAYS YOU CAN TAKE, HIM ALIVE THIS WOULD BE A INSIDE. GOOD TIME TO > DoIsc SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS ARE THE ONLY THING STILL WORKING.. DOCTOR! Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline LOVE MAKES YOU DO CRAZY THINGS. T WAS NEVER BRAVE. NEVER HAD A REASON TO BE... THAT DAY, AS I RAN INTO THE HAUNTING DARKNESS OF AN ARKHAM CROWNED BY FIRE...I FOUND MY REASON. THE POWER WAS OUT. IN A STRANGE WAY, MAYBE IT WAS FOR THE BEST. GORDON SAID THE CAMERAS WERE OPERATIONAL, WHICH MEANT THE SECURITY STATION WAS STILL RUNNING ON ITS OWN EMERGENCY GENERATOR. I MADE MY WAY THERE, TRYING: TO FIND JAY. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, | ON THE BY THEN I KNEW MY i DARKER SIDE... WAY AROUND ARKHAM. s. OTHERS DID TOO. WAYLON, STOP! YOUR... YOUR CONDITION DOESN’T HAVE TO DEFINE You! I’M PAST FIGHTING THIS “CONDITION” DocToR. UKE T TOLD YOU...WE LIVE IN A MAN-EAT-MAN WORLD. ME? I'M TOP OF THI sd OH, I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR You! YOU'VE e@ EATEN PLENTY WHAT’S THE BIG. & TODAY! IDEA?! SA aul > \ ‘ NOW oo | |. LEAVE! THAT’S...1. THINK THAT’S KILLER: CROC? (1S Wyt i, co AND DON’T THANK AFTER ALL, YOU'RE ONLY TRIALY SAVED IF YOU J LEAVE THIS 1GOTTA FIND A WAY OUT OF THIS FUCKING PLACE... IGOTTA GET OUT! HEYA, GEORGE! HOW'S LUCK TREATING YA TODAY? GET-- GET BACK OR T+ RELAX, GEORGE! IT’S JUST ME, YOUR OLD PAL JAY! I WOULDN'T HURT YOU! YOU BROUGHT ME THAT F/LE/ REMEMBER? J LEFT OR Y-YEAH...I RIGHT CORRIDOR, THEY HELPED YOU, SO | BOTH HAVE STAIRCASES THAT YOu'LL HELP LEAD DOWN THERE. 2 ME? THING 15, I’M PRETTY SURE I HEARD MR. ZSASZ DOING HIS 6tG, WHILE Hisles one Cs THEM, ao THE MAIN EXITS ARE ‘di Ick ONE AND a BLOCKED, 1 HAPPEN TO PRAY! KNOW YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY OUT OF THE ASYLUM THROUGH THE BOILER ROOM! 10 SAY YOUR ODDS ARE PRETTY MUCH FIFTY-FIFTY. LF! e >) * tay a “IT DOESN'T GET ee y r oy STOP RIGHT MORE FAIR THAN Ang : Z, THERE! \DENTIFY THAT!" } — i d ey YOURSE WAIT! I KNOW HIM! THAT’S HARVEY DENT, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY! Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline YUP. THE MURDEROUS JANIAC WITH A JUSTICE MW TO REMEMBER MY NAME. FETISH WAS THE ONE MAN g z 5 Ss " e { 5 . = S ‘Oe 7 g : NIGHT SHIFT? \ y I...UH, I’M GETTING MY FILES. MY...UM~ RESEARCH? Y-YEAH. AND 1...1 SHOULD baie REORT YOU'RE WITH, WITH THEM, At THE EXECUTIONERS? WHAT WAS IT? PEOPLE IN PROLONGED TECHNICALLY WELL, ISI STRESSFUL SITUATIONS THEY'RE WITH PLEASE, THAT THE BIG MIGHT PERMANENTLY LOSE ME. MR. DENT. YOU'RE QUESTION? THE ABILITY TO FEEL A 600 MAN. WHY DO EMPATHY? WHY== GOOD PEOPLE JUST SWAP? 1 BELIEVE YOU ae HAD A THEORY ON 2 THAT? HOW'S: TWENTY YEARS AS A PROSECUTOR, DEALING WITH THE WORST GOTHAM HAS TO OFFER, PUTTING THEM BEHIND BARS ONLY TO SEE THEM ESCAPE OR BE RELEASED OVER AND TWENTY YEARS LISTENING TO EVERY EXCUSE IN THE BOOK. “IT WAS THEIR HARSH LIFE.” “IT WAS OVER AGAIN? THEIR ABUSIVE FAMILY.” SIT WAS. THE FUCKING volcEs”! mn NO, POCTOR! WERE ON MY TNE ©) NOW. Tn YOUR PATIENT A AND YOU WILL 4 : LgTEN! AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I GET IT NOW. I CAN COMMISERATE. NOW I TOO CAN HEAR THE VOICES, td AN? YOU WILL HELP WHY THIS? WHY ~ ATTACK ARKHAM YOU BELIEVE . ASYLUM? 'N REHABILITATION 70 MUCH, epee “40 90-9 < IT! HELP Me, vocton! ONCE ” AGAN, THE JOKER HAD HUH? 7 ECATED FROM ARKHAM. I Ag TIRED OF INNOCENT PEOPLE DYING BECAUSE THOFE OF UF IN {POWER LACKED THE COURAGE 10 UE THE ONE THING THAT COUL? PERMANENTLY PROTECT 5 OTH ie cATDEN?. HE GNORV ne KEPT OUT oF” | THE HAND? OF W7TICE. Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline eur / ONLY TO KILL TWELVE 4 PEOPLE DOEWNT LEAVE THIF ROOM, O-OKAY. fae ON 1 FOUGHT iis WITH A PGE WHO KEPT ENDING JOKER BACK TO ARKHAM ON. RECOMMENDATION? FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU, BUNZEL. v AND THE REAL MICKER 19, EVEN HE le VIN'T THINK THE JOKER BELONGED HERE. \" THE W76E ENT Hi TO. ARKHAM BECAUZE HE THOUGHT _ sOKER WOULD BE AN EVEN WORZ€ THREAT AT \" BLACKGATE! TH WAG ” yr THe COMARVICE OF OUR LEGAL WeTem AT IT FINEST AND NG verge IT! — THAT VAY I LOOKE? AT ARKHAM, ) IN THE AZTANCE ANZ THOUGHT, WHAT IF WE WU9T RELEAZED ALL OF THEM? ~ eveRY LAgT BEAST CAGED WITHIN, AN? WHAT IF 75 P WE LET THEM RIP AND TEAR TAROUGH TH CURZED CITY UNTIL EVEN THE ZOFTEAT BLEEDING HEART WOULD FINALLY ADMIT THERE § Ai WA NO nan fOr IN A GAP ATTACK, We DROPPED "i THAT IZEA. IT WAZ WRONG. kh NE WERE ENBARKAZZED OF THI7 VARKNEZ7 GROWING y ITH UF, gy “BUT NOW... EWE ap THING? CLEARLY. IRROR PAINE? N94 He 766 THe TAIN? NYO ANG THAT'Z A PROBLEM... HOW CAN NE PROFECUTE VL IF IT LVEF WITHIN. 097 cf \ vert THe Our vovELE ILI LE- reneroenee vou nuar | lees HEAPED. CON FOR seNTINENTAL Y Fn it YOU 240? et YouRyeLt Heed CON? ay ae THE WORLD AND YOU” INR. DENT. KNOW WHAT? YOU YOU...YOU WERE MoH. IT HELPED SAYING WE, U9 9766 THE WORLP _DFFERENTLY > HeLrer UF DATINGUIZH THE NNOCENT FROM) Ka THE GUILTY. WELL... THERE'S: ME, A SIMPLE PROSECUTOR. AND THEN THERE’S THE JUDGE. ‘I JUST MAKE THE CASE, BUT HE DECIDES WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES... MR. DENT, v a PLEASE! \ NO!_NO MORE y EAUING, VOCTOR "% YOU ARE ACCUZE? OF \ MOAT VANGEROUZ CRIMINALS (N10 HEL? Hem Hel E) a “APE THEIR ge "PUNIPHMENT! oS nd in NOW THAT’S CHEATING! TAY! OW NOW! DON'T THINK YOU'RE DISTRACTING ME THAT EASILY, DOC! I THOUGHT I WAS YOUR FAVORITE HOMICIDAL MANIAC! AND HERE IT FIND YOU HAVING ‘A ONE-ON-ONE WITH ANOTHER FREAK! FOR SHAME! NO WAY! HARVEY DENT, AS I LIVE AND BREATHE! Sir Py EID: + SOMETIME TO SEE IT, BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET OTHERS MAKE DECISIONS OR YOU... NOW DON’T WORRY, HARVEY. I’M NOT GOING TO KILL YOU. I’M GONNA DO WHAT MY HAIRSTYLIST ALWAYS SAYS... NOW, ME? I’M AN INDEPENDENT FELLA, A REAL IN-THE- MOMENT KIND OF f GUY. ww JUST GOING TO EVEN OUT A You BiT! UD Y-YES! I MEAN, WITH MY HELP WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO REDUCE YOUR SENTENCE AND THEN... HOW COULD I SAY NO TO THIS / Le I MEAN...WE COULD... HARLEY, DON’T KID YOURSELF. MR. BRONSON! OH THANK GOD YOU'RE ALIVE! , COME ON, LET’S GO! YOU CAN SURRENDER TO THE POLICE gem OUTSIDE AND I'LL TESTIFY THAT YOU SAVED MeL THE EXECUTIONERS: ARE COPS/ WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THOSE OUTSIDE ARE ANY DIFFERENT? WOULD YOU BELIEVE ME IF I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T KILL YOUR FRIENDS? NO! PLEASE, MR. BRONSON, JUST LISTENS a WASN'T HIM! BECAUSE IT WAS HARVEY 1 DON'T KNOW WHO THIS 1S. HIS FACE IS MANGLED. IN A MOMENT OF ADRENALINE-FUELD PANIC I GRAB DENT’S GUN, DENT... D.A. HARVEY DENT? YES, HE'S RIGHT THERE! DOC...WHAT KIND OF GAME ARE YOU PLAYING? I JUST WANT TO HELP. D NONE (T WAS A MOMENT OF INESCAPABLE FINALITY. ALL HE EVER WAS, ALL HE EVER WOULD BE, GONE. AND THE SAME WAS TRUE FOR HARLEEN QUINZEL. I REMEMBER TWO THINGS WITH ABSOLUTE CLARITY. FIRST, I COULDN’ BLINE I COULDN'T DROP IT BECAUSE BUT IN A DESPERATE MOMENT OF AND SECOND... I WAS CONSIDERING PULLING THE SELF-~PRESERVATION, MY MIND. I COULDN'T DROP TRIGGER ONE LAST TIME... NOTICED SOMETHING...SOMETHING THE GUN. 4 ABSURD. SOMETHING...FLUINNY, (T'S ALL JUST... FUNNY! 1 MEAN, YOU WERE RIGHT! HE IT DOESN'T WANTS TO MATTER HOW GOOD SANG GOTHAM YOUR INTENTIONS a a i I WANTED ARE. J TO HELP... I MEAN... ‘BUT I'M gust JUST ASK HARVEY MONSTER... j HERE. © va lIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS ‘ CITY. IN THE END...WELL, LOOK AT US. BOTH MURDERERS. AND THE FUNNY THING {S, I JUST NOTICED IT! IT’S BEI STARING Us EN S IN THE FACE! ALL OF OUR GOOD INTENTIONS: WERE JUST A Lp ol nO > ot “euch GU “e 50% 1 SURRENDERED MYSELF INTO HIS ARMS. A PLEASANT MIST ENVELOPED MY MIND AS I SANK INTO HIS KISS. WHY NOT, I THOUGHT. IF HE COULD BE THE JOKER, I COULD BE HIS MARLEQUIN. ‘AND WHO KNOWS... MAYBE SOMEDAY MY LOVE COULD CURE HIM. ‘I CHUCKLED TO MYSELF. r cE FOUND HOW GOES . THIS FILE HIDDEN THE ARKHAM |) INTHE JOKER'S INVESTIGATION, CELL. SIR? ("5 SHE HAD SOME INITIAL INTEREST IN THE JOKER a AS A CANDIDATE FOR TESTING HER “IN A WAR ZONE, THEORIES, BUT AFTER A CERTAIN P EMPATHY |S A L/AB/LITY. POINT HE BECAME THE MAIN j ACKNOWLEDGING THE HUMANITY FOCUS OF HER OF YOUR ENEMY WILL CAUSE YOU ‘STUDY. C TO HESITATE. IT IS A COURTESY YOUR OPPONENT MAY NOT GRANT YOU IN RETURN.” THAT'S QUITE W-WHAT?- CHILLING. ae ‘ You KiLLED. 1 Kew \WAYS PICUTRED WE ai SoM Leree inl 1 MEAN, KILLED THAT PART Yes. 175 poets REGRET, GUILT... OF OURSELVES TAKEN ALMOST pede EMPATHY...THEY FIRST. WORD FOR WORD " a, BRING ABOUT FROM HER OWN A MURDERER. IM HESITATION. RESEARCH. HE NOW WATCH : | THIS) FROM ONE 4 Cer coke OF WER JOKER ees 7 SESSIONS.. AND ON THE STREETS, HESITATION WILL GET YOU CAUGH HE SAW HER AS HIS TICKET OUT OF ‘ARKHAM. a ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS MAKE | HIMSELF THE PERFECT PATIENT, > THE PERFECT VALIDATION THE JOKER'S A MASTER MANIPULATOR. WHEN THE EXECUTIONERS MADE THEIR MOVE ON ARKHAM, HE'D ALREADY PRIMED HER TO SACRIFICE HERSELF FOR HIM. HARLEEN FELL FOR HIS. LIES. IF I MAY, MASTER BRUCE, THAT KISS SEEMED AWFULLY GENUINE,..ON BOTH THEIR PARTS. WELL, LOVE |S A BIT TOO STRONG OF A WORD... BUT THEY DO SEEM CRAZY ABOUT ONE ANOTHER: THEN AGAIN, IN GOTHAM CITY, CRAZY CERTAINLY ‘SEEMS TO BE CONTAGIOUS. | THAT. YOU'VE NEVER Ss MET HARLEEN, ALFRED. SHE WANTED NOTHING MORE THAN TO HELP! HE TOOK HER WORK AND HER K/NDNESS AND USED IT AGAINST HER! SEARCH. J PUT HER RIGHT IN THE JOKER'S PATH. YES, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE BEGINNING OF HER JOURNEY, BRUCE. BUT DR. QUINZEL TOOK THE WRONG TURNS ‘ON HER OWN. PERHAPS. GIVEN YOUR HISTORY, IT MAKES SENSE YOU WOULD SEE IT LIKE THAT, BUT WE CAN'T KNOW FOR ‘SURE. HOWEVER, IF DR. QUINZEL'S FATE WEIGHS SO HEAVILY ON YOUR HEART, THEN TAKE MY ADVICE. IF SHE IS LOST, THEN BE A BEACON. Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline “vA LIGHT IN THE STORM TO OW HER THE WAY BACK.” Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline ALL, THIS [5 MME TERS Wiis Wort. t BECAUSE : CAN a STILL bs HIM. ; “J =| Ba THERE'S A SMALL, we0, [ th _ ie HAT | JAKE UP. Tl) au “abit ue “sn RIGHT? “GOTHAM IS THE CITY WHERE ALL THE ANGELS FLY ON WINGS OF ICARUS, DOCTOR. “UP, UP, UP THEY GO... “AND DOWN, THEY FALL.” Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline 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 3. FEBRUARY, 2020, 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 DE 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. “THERE WAS A BROKEN MAN IN THE ABYSS... «al REACHED DOWN TO HELP HIM... ‘ul REALIZED TOO LATE, HE WASN’T SLIPPING... «,..HE WAS DRAGGING ME.” 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).