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Full text of "Harleen Volume 1-3 (Stjepan Sejic)
"
See other formats
—_———— ——
= = - SS te
rg . Sa oe ZU a =
2 4 pu O 3 ea
oan 06 oe
I.
A
L-
=x
E
N
BOOK ONE
STJEPAN SEJIC
STORY AND ART
GABRIELA DOWNIE
LETTERS
STJEPAN SEJIC
COVER AND VARIANT COVER
HARLEY QUINN CREATED BY
PAUL DINI AND BRUCE TIMM
Vs “ai
al
6 range
THE MAN ON
THE GROUND... \®
Aw
\ THE GIANT BEAST...
AND THE BATS.
))| tA Larce crour oF crows
| GETS TO BE CALLED A MURDER,
THEN IN MY DREAM I THINK,
THIS IS A FEAST.
wa ve Wal X
mts
FEAST OF BATS. =
ae 4
THE GREAT BEAST MUST
i _DRAW BLOOD. THE GREAT
BEAST MUST K/LL FOR THE
j FEAST TO BEGIN.
| ——
AND IN MY DREAM I
FEEL GUILTY. I FEEL
RESPONSIBLE.
gil’
AFTER ALL...HE rw
1S MY PATIENT. iS LEAVE HIM
. ALONE!
BE IT
ON YOUR
HANDS, THEN,
» DOCTOR...
HIS BATS
A Panic
NOT
ANYMORE.
1AM YOUR
DOCTOR.
I'M HERE
TO HELP.
WHY DIDN'T
YOU RUN?
YOU WERE
SUPPOSED TO
RUN.
YES, THIS DREAM
(5 DIFFERENT.
sof A tA
* FOR THE FIRST TIME, HIS
FACE IS NOT MONSTROUS.
V/
HE SMILES...AND I MAKE THE
WORST M/STAKE OF MY LIFE...
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I WOULD
THINK BACK ON THIS DREAM AND
FIGHT BACK A LAUGH.
THE WHOLE THING FELT LIKE ONE OF THOSE TRASHY
ROMANCE TALES WHERE A PLAIN, ORDINARY GIRL
MEETS MR. TALL, SEXY AND DANGEROUS. A BEAST
THAT SIMPLY NEEDS HER GENTLE TOUCH
AND A LITTLE BIT OF GUIDANCE.
IN THOSE STORIES, THE GIRL HELPS
THE BEAST REGAIN HIS HUMANITY...
IN THOSE STORIES, THE
BEAST LOVES THE GIRL...
I ASSURE YOU, MINE IS
NOT ONE SUCH STORY.
NO, MY STORY ENDED UP BEING
SOMETHING COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT.
ee | HotComit
WITH A GOOD
INTENTION.
IMEAN, YOU
GOTTA UNDERSTAND,
DOCTOR, WE ALL HAD
OUR BEST INTENTIONS
FOR THE
FIRST FEW MONTHS
WE KEPT OUR PROMISE.
IT WASN'T HARD. WE HAD
THE INSURGENTS ON
THE MOVE...
HELL, THE WAR
SEEMED AS GOOD AS WON...
BUT THAT’S THE THING. WHEN
YOU GOT THE TECHNOLOGICAL
SUPERIORITY, THE
ENEMY ADAPTS.
GOING IN.
WE HAD
A CODE! NO
WOMEN, NO
CHILDREN!
MICKEY
AND I SWORE
TO THAT...
I MEAN,
WE WERE NOTHING
BUT TWO AMPED-UP
JACKASSES WITH MORE
BALLS THAN BRAINS, BUT
WE WEREN'T FUCKING
ANIMALS.
1 KEPT PUSHING HIM. I MEAN,
HOW MANY CHANCES DOES A
GUY HAVE TO...PARDON MY
FRENCH, BREAK OFF A
PIECE OF ASS.
LITTLE BITCH
HAD A RAZOR... OPENED
MICKEY’S THROAT EAR TO
EAR. SO I BROKE MY OATH
THAT DAY. BLEW HER BRAINS
OUT. EMPTIED THE WHOLE
DAMNED CLIP.
SHIT LIKE
THAT, IT SNAPS
SOMETHING INSIDE
YOU START
SEEING THE WORLD
DIFFERENTLY...
¥
PROPER
TERM FOR IT WAS
GUERILLA WARFARE...
WE CALLED IT THE
ROACH WAR.
SEE, THEY
WERE LIKE ROACHES
CRAWLING FROM UNDERNEATH
EVERY FUCKING ROCK. YOU
COULD NEVER GET RID
OF THEM.
SNEAK ATTACKS,
BACK STABS...ON ONE
OCCASION THEY EVEN
POISONED OUR
WATER SUPPLY.
A SIX-MONTH
DEPLOYMENT STRETCHED
INTO THREE YEARS...
WOMEN, CHILDREN...AT THE END
OF THE DAY, THEY WERE THE/R:
WOMEN AND CHILDREN. EACH ONE
OF THEM HIDING A RAZOR, A GUN,
A FUCKING BOMB FOR ALL
I KNEW...
IN A WAR
ZONE, EVERYONE \S
AN ENEMY!
WITHOUT HIM,
I HAD TO BE CAREFUL.
GREW EYES IN THE BACK
OF MY HEAD.
MICKEY AND
1...WE HAD EACH
OTHER’S BACK,
YOU KNOW?
TRAINED
MYSELF TO SEE
THE MURDER \N
THEIR EYES.
I HAD TO GET THEM
BEFORE THEY GOT ME.
ONE DAY
MICKEY AND I WERE
ON A BREAK, VISITING A
LOCAL BAR.
LOOKING FOR
SOME ACTION. DOCTOR,
YOU UNDERSTAND...
THERE
WAS THIS GIRL. SHE
WAS EYEING MICKEY.
50
WHAT ABOUT THE
HOSPITAL?
THEIR HOSPITAL!
THE CIVILIAN USE OF IT
WAS A FRONT. THERE WERE
OVER S/XTY COMBATANTS
THERE! IT WAS MY
CHANCES
HELL, THEY
SHOULD HAVE GIVEN
ME A DAMNED
MEDALS
INSTEAD, I GOT A
DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE
AND AN ARREST, AND HERE I AM.
SPILLING EVERYTHING TO YOU,
DOCTOR...
WO YEARS LATER.
MR. MORRIS FAILED
TO MENTION THAT THE HOSPITAL
HE OPENED FIRE ON ALSO HOUSED
24 INJURED CHILDREN.
THERE WERE WO
SURVIVORS.
AL
“IN A WAR ZONE,
EMPATHY |S A
LIABILITY.
FERC ORT M OF YOUR ENEMY WILL CAUSE
SY YOU TO HESITATE
Center lfor the Study
of CriminalPsychology,
Gotham City.
IT IS AN INSTINCTIVE REACTION
THAT OVERRIDES REGULAR BRAIN
CHEMISTRY WHILE DAMPENING
ONE'S ABILITY TO PROCESS:
nT Oe EMPATHY.
FLIGHT RESPONSE
HAS LONG BEEN STUDIED,
AND ITS UNDERLYING
PROCESSES.
MAPPED.
j
UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS,
I PROPOSE THIS MENTAL
IMMUNE SYSTEM 4G
CAN BREAK.
WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT AN AUTOIMMUNE
DISEASE OF THE MIND. A
SYSTEMIC FAILURE OF A FINELY
TUNED PROCESS IN WHICH THE
BRAIN USES HORMONAL STIMULI
TO ENSURE ONE’S
‘SURVIVAL.
SIMILAR
TO OTHER AUTO-
IMMUNE DISEASES, WHAT
WAS MEANT TO PROTECT
US INSTEAD WORKS TO
DESTROY US FROM
WITHIN.
IT’S NOT HARD TO IMAGINE THIS IN
HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE
SOLDIERS SPEND _
OPPONENT MAY NOT
a GRANT YOUN
RETURN.”
“ACKNOWLEDGING THE HUMANITY *iT I5 A COURTESY YOUR
THESE WERE
THE WORDS OF
MR. MORRIS'S SUPERIOR
OFFICER, WHO TO THIS
DAY DEFENDS KIS
SUBORDINATE'S.
ACTIONS. THESE
WORDS SPEAK TO
THE HEART OF THE
PROBLEM AND DEFINE
THE CORE OF MY
HYPOTHESIS.
IN A WAR ZONE, THIS STATE
OF HYPERAROUSAL CAN
SAVE LIVES.
THIS
INSTINCT ISA PART
OF A GREATER
MECHANISM.
A KIND
OF A MENTAL IMMUNE
SYSTEM DESIGNED TO
PROTECT US FROM IMMINENT
THREAT BY MANAGING BODY
CHEMISTRY IN A WAY THAT
MAXIMIZES OUR CHANCES
OF SURVIVAL.
BUT WHAT
IF THIS MECHANISM
\S OVERUSED?
AND FOR
EXTENDED PERIODS
OF TIME?
TO PUT IT
BLUNTLY, THIS MAY
RESULT IN PERMANENT OF COURSE, STATISTICS OF RECIDIVISM
DETERIORATION OF . STRONGLY INDICATE
EMPATHY WHICH, WHICH IDENTIFYING SUCH AN THAT THERE |5 A LARGE
UN... MIGHT LEAD AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE ISSUE NOT ONLY WITH PETTY
TO DEVELOPING INA DISTANT WAR ZONE owever, CRIMINALS RELAPSING INTO
ANTISOCIAL 'S UNLIKELY. WE NEED LOOK THE LIFE OF CRIME, BUT ALSO
BEHAVIORS... NO FURTHER FOR A WITH THE (NCREASING
WAR ZONE THAN THE SEVERITY OF THOSE
STREETS OF CRIMES...
GOTHAM
ITSELF.
MY POINT
1S, WITH A THOROUGH
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INMATES OF
ARKHAM ASYLUM AND BLACKGATE
PRISON, \N PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOTHAM
POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE COULD DEVELOP
A METHOD FOR DETECTING STAGES
OF DETERIORATING EMPATHY...
THIS WOULD ENABLE
US TO.
ssl DENTIFY
SOCIOPATH IN THE
MAKING...
SHONDRA,
I’M $0000 NOT
IN THE MOOD FOR
THAT SHIT RIGHT
NOW! RIGHT,
I'D SAY YOU'VE
HAD ENOUGH
OF THISL
lM
NOT DRUNK! I’M
MISERABLE!
CAN YOU HEAR IT,
SHONDRA? MY CAREER
IMPLODING. @
PRETTY SURE
THAT WAS A CAR
BACKFIRING! ‘
I’M SERIOUS! I WASN'T LET ME GUESS, YOU
EVEN HALF DONE AND THEY JA WENT ALL 8/6 WORDS
WERE ALREADY CHECKING 3 ON THEM?
THEIR WATCHES. es
Le A SCIENTIFIC
SYMPOSIUM...
I WASN'T
GONNA EXPLAIN CRIMINAL
PSYCHOLOGY WITH
HAND PUPPETS!
J HARLEY! THEY
ARE MONEY PEOPLE!
YOU BRING THE WHOLE
PUPPET SHOW
IF NEEDED.
“THIS IS.
STAB ME ELMO AND
HE NEEDS SERIOUS
THERAPY!”
50 WHAT ABOUT YOU? HOW
DID YOUR THING GO?
HARLEEN, “i
I’M PROPOSING
PHARMACEUTICAL
SOLUTIONS TO TREAT
FORMS OF
DEPRESSION.
1S MONEY
IN THAT!
TO FORGET ABOUT
THIS DAY AND JUST
SLEEP THROUGH
THE WEEKEND.
MAYBE LOOK
THROUGH SOME
JOB APPLICATIONS
ON MONDAY?
MY PRESENTATION
WENT FLAWLESSLY.
WOW...
AND THEY USED
TO CALL ME
CYNICAL.
1 SEEM TO
REMEMBER PEOPLE
CALLING YOU MUCH
WORSE THAN
TUE. LOW BLOW,
SHONDRAL
WHATEVER!
ALL I’M SAYING IS IF
YOU WANT THE RESEARCH
CASH, YOU LEARN TO PLAY
THE MONEY CROWD.
THE WAY I SEE IT,
RICH FOLK HAVE LONG LINES OF
ZEROES ON THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS AND
SHORT ATTENTION SPANS. SO, THE FIRST
THING YOU GOTTA DO IS MAKE THEM
SEE HOW YOUR THEORY WILL
_ > MAKE MONEY.
OKAY, WELL...
MAYBE TRY L/STEWING
POINT I’M TRYING FOR A CHANGE. ANYHOW,
TO MAKE |S, YOU'RE A WELL- g THINGS WILL TURN FOR THE
MEANING PERSON WITH GOOD BETTER. IT’S IN YOUR
INTENTIONS. PROBLEM IS, ROADS TO HOROSCOPE,
TWO THINGS ARE USUALLY WELL AND THE YOU KNOW!
PAVED WITH GOOD UNEMPLOYMENT ar
INTENTIONS. LUNE.
DOCTOR,
SHONDRA. I DON’T
BELIEVE IN MAGICAL
‘STARS!
YEAH, SO
YOU KEEP TELLING
ME.
=~ WHATEVER! IT’S GONNA
. BE A GREAT WEEK FO}
zi CANCER!
YEAH, YEAH!
JUST YOU REMEMBER:
‘STARS GOT YOUR
x!
f
E ' f $
FOR A PHYSICIAN, SHONDRA
WAS UNCHARACTERISTICALLY
‘SUPERSTITIOUS. NEVERTHELESS,
: HER LITTLE PEP TALK
MADE ME SMILE.
4%
IT WAS A COMFORTING F
THOUGHT, THE STARS 4 gg
WATCHING OVER ME. # %
po tes. rok &
| LWAS A THIRTY-YEAR-OLD
PSYCHIATRIST. SINGLE. ONE
| FRIEND. NO PETS. MY FAMILY ®
4] WAS SIX STATES AWAY.
gee aE
fit
——S | BECAUSE THAT WOULD
:
MEAN AT LEAST
SOMEONE DID,
— —_
= = UNFORTUNATELY,
THAT WAS PURE
WISHFUL THINKING.
STILL, SHONDRA WAS RIGHT
ABOUT ONE THING, AT LEAST.
WAS BUILDING MY ROAD TO
HELL ONE GOOD INTENTION AT
‘A TIME. I DIN'T EVEN SEE IT =
HAPPENING. —aae
-— | |
F-
Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline
THEN AGAIN, THAT’S THE THING
WITH ROADBUILDING. YOU GET
A LITTLE TUNNEL-VISIONED.
r 25
2 i 4
YOU TEND TO KEEP YOUR EYES
TO THE GROUND SO MUCH THAT BY
THE TIME YOU'RE AT THE GATES OF
HELL, YOU DON’T EVEN REALIZE IT.
NOT EVEN WHEN YOU
CAN FEEL THE FLAMES...
NOT EVEN WHEN YOU CAN
SMELL THE SMOKE...
ow) —
ROMANCE: MR. TALL-DARK-AND-HANDSOME
|S JUST AROUND THE CORNER TO SWEEP
YOU OFF INTO A LIFE OF ADVENTURE.
4. RY
*YOUR LUCKY
NUMBER IS FOUR.”
I MEAN, TRUTH BE TOLD, IF I WAS
A SUPERSTITIOUS PERSON I WOULD
HAVE CALLED US STAR-CROSSED,
PICKED
A HELL OF A
NIGHT FOR A
WALK!
a fii
THINKING BACK ON iN
IT ALL, I CAN'T HELP BUT |
WONDER...IF I HAD READ
THAT HOROSCOPE, WHAT
WOULD IT HAVE SAID
FOR THAT DAY?
=
% “THE STARS MAY BE LOOKING AT
YOU, BUT THEY ARE UP TO WO
GOOD, SO MIND YOUR STEP.
"" '
wy !
SHEALTH: POSSIBILITY OF |
NOISE-INDUCED MIGRAINE.
AVOID STRESSFUL a
SITUATIONS.
Kd
A
sw AND A/M.
THE MAN I WOULD
SOON LOVE.
IT..WASN'T LOVE AT
FIRST SIGHT, MIND YOU.
\
o LET’S BE HONEST:
THEN AND THERE, IT WAS
VERY LIKELY THE LAST THING gy Ane
TO EVER CROSS MY MIND
WOULD BE A BULLET. ,
| // aL
L {Ny
JASN
WE GOT
SOME GIFTS TO
UNWRAP, AND YOU
KNOW HOW I LOVE
THAT WEW GUN
CAREFUL OUT THERE,
MA‘AM! GOTHAM STREETS
ARE DANGEROUS AT
NIGHT, DON’T’CHA ...
KNOW?! 7)»
ni
I REMEMBER IT CLEARLY.
/ ful MY HEART BEATING ITS
A] 4 WAY THROUGH MY CHEST,
J, MY EARS RINGING.
7 - a
I’M FROZEN IN THE STREET. 7,
DEATH HAS PASSED ME... | 'T’S DONE...
IT’S DONE..!
THE WORST OF
IT IS DONE!
BUT LIKE I SAID, IF THE
‘STARS TOOK PART IN THAT
NIGHT, THEY. MISCHIEF
.
TLL HAVE
HOW
COME YOU LET
HER LIVE?
BECAUSE HER
EYES MADE ME
A PROMISE,
SAM!
yes. CA PROMISE?
THEY PROMISED
TO SEE ME EVERY
NIGHT IN HER
DREAMS.
I NEVER
TOOK YOU FOR
‘A ROMANTIC.
YOU KNOW, THIS SMILE
HIDES A WHOLE
LOTTA--
SHITE
YOU KNOW, I GET THE IDIOTS
HANGING TO THE BACK OF THE
TRUCK DYING, BUT YOU'RE
THE DRIVER! WE HAVE
SEAT BELTS FOR
A REASON!
7
§
LOOK ALIVE, BOYS!
ITS THE BATS
I MEAN JUST BECAUSE WE'RE
CRIMINALS DOESN'T MEAN
WE HAVE TO BE DUMB
\ CRIMINALS!
ea
* BOB, YOURE MY \
| NUMBER ONE GUY
NOW!
UH...OKAY,
Boss!
ANYWAYS, MY
APOLOGIES, BATS! I HAD SOME
COMPANY RESTRUCTURING TO DO,
BUT NOW YOU HAVE MY FULL
ATTENTION! HOW MAY I ae
ASSIST YOU? =
DROP THE
WEAPONS!
JUST LIKE THAT,
HUH? SERIOUSLY? WHEN
HAS THAT EVER WORKED
RY
ical? POINT I’M MAKING
1 MEAN, ~<@ (5..,WE GOT OUR
By” YOU GOT YOUR MEAN BAT- ” SO WHERE'S
J PLANE THING...WHAT’S IT GONNA THE STICK?
BE? YOU GONNA OPEN FIRE
(ON US? GONNA START
KILLIN’?
IT’S MORE
OF A BAT,
HA! AND
E
I REMEM
ONE THOUGHT RUNNING
THROUGH MY DAZED MIND.
I’M TRAPPED...
I’M TRAPPED BETWEEN
‘SMOKE AND FIRE.
AND TAM
TERRIFIED.
*" GOOD. I'LL
NEED YOU TO KEEP
YOUR HEAD DOWN AND
FOLLOW US! CAN YOU
Or
THE
FUCK OUTTA
HERE,
WE'RE
GOING FOR THE
SUBWAY ENTRANCE
AROUND THE
CORNER.
OKAY, CHANGE OF PLANS! THIS
WAY! STICK TO THE WALL AND
‘STAY LOW!
ee ee
THERE’S STILL
MUNIATIONS IN THAT becadgbadet?
ALLEY...GOD KNOWS: LADY,
WE WERE THE
BACKUP!
GET CAUGHT IN
ANOTHER :
BLAST.
AS WE PASSED THE SMOKE,
CROUCHING AND DESPERATELY
HUGGING THE WALL, WE COULD
SEE GLIMPSES OF THEM.
IN THAT MIST, THERE WERE MONSTERS AND
SIRENS AND THINGS WITH WINGS AND TEETH.
HEY, BAT!
You GOT us
BLINDED?
WELL HOW’S
THIS FOR ECHO-
LOCATION? MAKE
SOME NOISE,
Boys!
THAT'S
IT! SMOKE
HIME
FINE...
ONE-ON-ONE
THEN. bf
I HAD EVERY
INTENTION OF PAINTING
THE TOWN RED TONIGHT. |
MIGHT AS WELLDO
IT WITH yup 4
es oH
TWAS LIKE A K/D IN A HORROR STORY |
IN
RAILWAY TUNNEL. I KNEW SOMETHING
WAS LOOKING AT ME FROM INSIDE OF IT.
THERE WAS A MALEVOLENCE
IN THE MIST, WATCHING...
AND I JUST KNEW IF I MADE A ’
SINGLE MOVE IT WAS GOING TO... e,
x
2 qe
eu EG
o IN MY FEAR-PARALYZED STATE
CAN DO NO MORE THAN WATCH.
CLAWING ae Gees
AND TE
HotGamic net
BUT I DON'T. AND I’M
NOT THE ONLY ONE.
A GUST OF WIND CLEARS ENOUGH
OF THE SMOKE FOR ME TO SEE
OTHERS SIMILARLY TRANSFIXED BY
THE MADNESS OF THE MOMENT.
INSTEAD, WE RUSH TO THE
RAILING TO SEE THE SPECTACLE, *
LIKE A BLOODTHIRSTY CROWD fe -
OF ANCIENT ROMANS.
ww
FOR A SECOND...IT COMES OVER ME.
I REMEMBER BEING HELD AT GUNPOINT
AND I TOO FEEL IT. THE RIGHTEOUS | __
INDIGNATION THAT CALLS FOR BLOOD... | ummm
FOR A SECOND 1 WANT |S
TO CHEER AS WELL.
AFTER ALL...HE \
\S THE JOKER! / A MURDERER...
Y
BUT I’M SNAPPED Y
OUT OF IT BY A f ‘ ~
STRANGE THOUGHT... t 7
INSTEAD OF SICKENING ~*
CRUNCHES, THE SOUNDS
HIS PUNCHES MADE
WERE...
> Boa id Mane
wel e met Se
> es
1 DECIDED To Keep Tue pial eS
EVENTS OF THAT FATEFUL ag a
NIGHT TO MYSELF. aay
Tin ee | Ss
WHO KNOWS, MAYBE IF I HAD TOLD
SOMEONE ABOUT THAT NIGHT, THINGS
WOULD HAVE GONE DIFFERENTLY.
MY L/FE WOULD HAVE @
BEEN...DIFFERENT. |
; { Tk = BUT I KEPT QUIET. THE LAST FOUR
if iit t YEARS WORKING AT THE CENTER
= ae TAUGHT ME TO KEEP MY HEAD DOWN.
hy = if '
TO NOT ATTRACT ATTENTION.
SEE...1 HAD THIS FLING WITH A DIDN'T HELP THAT TWO OF THE ‘SUFFICE IT TO SAY, WORD GOT
PROFESSOR BACK IN MY COLLEGE PEOPLE WORKING AT THE CENTER AROUND. AND I GAINED A...LET’S
DAYS AND PEOPLE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT. HAD GONE TO SCHOOL WITH ME... CALL IT A REPUTATION.
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS x OKAY,
THAT TEND TO STICK TO YOU WHO DID YOu
##%E TO
TEND TO...DEFINE YOU i GET IT?
IN THE EYES OF SOME.
YOU KNOW WHAT? AFTER MY
WEEKEND I'VE GOT ZERO
PATIENCE FOR YOUR
BULLSHIT, PAULINE!
QUINZEL, DR.
MATHEWS’S OFFICE,
NOW!
‘OH, DON'T YOU
GIVE ME THAT CRAPS HOW
DID YOU DO /T? DID YOu $#5¢
SOMEONE FROM THE FINANCE BOARD?
UH, DR. MATHEWS?
OH, I’M SORRY,
1 DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS
SOMEONE ELSE IN HERE. I’LL
WAIT OUTSIDE.
HEY, I REMEMBER
YOU. YOU WERE AT MY
PRESENTATION...AND
THEN YOU LEFT.
NO, NO,
QUINZEL! COME IN.
FoR You!
4 I’M GOOD WITH FACES. PLUS U...SORRY
GOOD MEMORY. I TEND TO REMEMBER PEOPLE a
— — LEAVING MY PANEL WHEN I’M. T’M RAMBLING. I TEND
TRYING TO PRESENT MY TO DO THAT WHEN I’M
LIFE’S WORK. NERVOUS.
ALL 28 :
OF THEM...
WELL, I ASSUME AND I NEVER REALLY HAD
HE'S HERE TO COMPLAIN A VERY STRONG FOOT
ABOUT ME BORING HIM 4 TO STAND ON IN THE
OR SOMETHING! INSTITUTE, SO...
—— ———
FIRST OF ALL, I I'D SIMPLY THAT BEING
WASN'T BORED BY —_ HEARD ENOUGH SAID, ALLOW ME TO
YOUR PITCH. OF IT TO UNDERSTAND _ ACTUALLY INTRODUCE
= TS POTENTIAL. MYSELF.
MY NAME
Saas ed IS LCS
= FOX.
“SEE _ AMONG OTHER THINGS,
1 AM THE CHIEF SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
wos TO THE WAYNE FOUNDATION, AND I’M HERE }
TO TELL YOU WE ARE INTERESTED IN
FUNDING YOUR RESEARCH.
‘ALSO, SORRY FOR
SAYING YOU WERE
BORED.
YOU EVER
CONSIDERED SEEING
A THERAPIST FOR
THAT?
100,
| EVERY MORNING
P. WHEN I BRUSH
MY TEETH.
€
\
a
EXCELLENT! I’LL GET THE
PAPERWORK STARTED ON
OUR END.
(OW AND HEY, IF IT.
ALL WORKS OUT, WE ARE MORE
THAN LIKELY GOING TO END UP WITH
‘SOME PHARMACEUTICAL WAYS
OF TREATING THIS
CONDITION.
rm
SURE MR. WAYNE
WILL RECOGNIZE
THE POTENTIAL
PROFIT \N
THAT!
L...MAY HAVE
A BIT OF FEAR OF
SUCCESS SO I TEND TO
SELF-SABOTAGE AT
TIMES...
or |
COURSE!
UH, I
" & MEAN, YES. VERY
INTERESTED.
DR. QUINZEL, MR. WAYNE
'$ NOT DOING THIS FOR ANY SUCH
CYNICAL REASONS.
AAAAARGH,
SHONDRA, TLL
KILL YOu
AAAND HERE'S
THAT RAMBLING
AGAIN.
~ HER! eet
50... THE
RESEARCH GRANT?
INTERESTED?
$0, THE FIRST 4
% THING YOU GOTTA DO IS MAKE
Be THEM SEE HOW YOUR THEORY
WILL MAKE MONEY.
L...UH. I DIDN'T MEAN TO IMPLY THAT. IT’S
MORE THAT I'M STRUGGLING TO FIGURE
OUT WHY SOMEONE LIKE MR. WAYNE
WOULD INVEST IN, WELL...
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MR. WAYNE:
HAS A PERSONAL
‘I MEAN...YEAH. THE ONLY
REAL COST WILL BE THE
SECOND PHASE WITH THE
BRAIN ACTIVITY
———
HE WOULD ==
LOOK FOR ANY
PLAUSIBLE WAY TO
HELP REDUCE IT.
1, FOR ONE,
CONSIDER YOUR THEORY
PLAUSIBLE ENOUGH TO
MERIT THE REQUESTED
FUNDS.
"IT HELPS THAT
YOUR PROPOSED
RESEARCH BUDGET
1S EXCEEDINGLY
MODEST.
WHICH MEANS...OH GOD, NOW I GOTTA FIND
OUT HOW TO ACTUALLY GET ACCESS
TO ARKHAM, BLACKGATE, AND
THE GOTHAM POLICE...
NEUROIMAGING.
EVERYTHING
BEFORE THAT
15 INTERVIEW
WORK.
WELL, I SUPPOSE THAT'S
SETTLED THEN. GOOD LUCK,
DOCTOR. PLEASURE
MEETING YOU!
RELAX,
ARKHAM SHOULDN'T
BE A PROBLEM. MR. WAYNE
HAS FUNDED ITS REPAIRS
AND SECURITY, SO THEY
OWE US,
SAME GOES
] FOR THE GOTHAM PD.
WE CAN MAKE SOME
h CALLS.
I
MEANWHILE
TLL ASK FOR PERMITS
FOR ACCESSING
BLACKGATE.
r PREFERABLY
WITHOUT THE
| =) D.A.'S OFFICE HEARING =
ABOUT IT.
EVER SINCE
MY EXPERT WITNESS
TESTIMONY ON THE NYGMA
CASE, DENT HAS BEEN ON A 5
WARPATH AGAINST THE
CENTER.
WELL, I'LL GET IN CONTACT WITH AU/GO
STRANGE AT ARKHAM AND MAKE
SURE HE’S UP TO DATE
WITH ALL OF THIS.
I DON'T THINK
STRANGE WILL BE OVERLY
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT WAYNE
PUSHING A STAFF MEMBER ON HIM.
THE LEAST I CAN DO |S GREASE
THE WHEELS BY VOUCHING
FOR YOU.
@ PEOPLE DON’T
I THINK
THAT WILL BE ALL, VGHANCE AROUND
OR. QUINZEL. f
YOU'RE FREE TO HERE.,.50...
BECAUSE
OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH PROFESSOR
COLLINS?
YOU ALSO SCORED TOP GRADES WITH PROFESSORS CHEN
‘AND PHILLIPS. ONE OF WHOM IS A CROTCHETY WOMAN OLD
ENOUGH TO HAVE MADE MY OWN COLLEGE CAREER
ALLIVING HELL. YOU DON’T PASS HER CLASS
WITHOUT PUTTING IN THE WORK.
EVERYONE HAS Aes
q N.
PAST, HARLEE! ‘AND You
‘SHOULD KNOW,
HELPING PEOPLE GET OVER
THEIRS IS IN OUR JOB
DESCRIPTION.
{ >
‘AND THERE IT WAS. ONE THING \¥
; HEY,
WENT RIGHT FOR ME, AND ONE (iy) = HARLEY! TM NOT
PERSON HAD MY BACK, AND I DONE TALKING TO.
FELT LIKE A MILLION BUCKS. You!
HEY,
PAULINE!
RIGHT
HERE!
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AND THAT WASN'T THE ONLY
IMPROVEMENT. MY PREVIOUSLY
SHIT-YOUR-PANTS-TERRIFYING
NIGHTMARES SUBSIDED.
IT TOOK TWO WEEKS,
FOR MY TRANSFER
TO BE CLEARED, AND
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I HAD WO
PROBLEM
WITH THAT.
WN C
AFTER ALL, I HAD
EARNED MY MOMENT
|| OF GLOATING, AND YOU
BETTER BELIEVE I WAS
GOING TO ENJOY /T!
‘THE DAY I LEFT
THE INSTITUTE WAS:
A HAPPY DAY,
I FELT LIKE I WAS LEAVING
ALL THE BULLSHIT BEHIND
ME AND I WAS WALKING TO
A BRIGHT FUTURE.
1 GUESS THERE IS SOMETHING
TO BE SAID ABOUT WALKING
TOWARD THE LIGHT.
KNEW NOTHING OF MY FUTURE.
STARING AT THE LIGHT, I CARED
LITTLE ABOUT THE SHADOWS.
ALL I KNEW...
BY WEEK TWO, THEY
WERE REPLACED BY BRIEF,
UNSETTLING DREAMS.
(IN THEM, THE MIST WAS STILL
THERE. BUT THE MONSTERS
SEEMED ABSENT.
AND I WAS VERY MUCH
OKAY WITH THAT, TOO.
Your
WAME AND THE
PURPOSE OF
YOUR VISIT!
OH, I’M
OR. HARLEEN
QUINZEL. I START
WORKING HERE
TAKE OUT SOME
FORM OF GOVERNMENT-
ISSUED 1.0. AND POINT IT
AT THE CAMERA!
THAT'S
0 YOU HAVE A
FORMAL LETTER OF CLEARED. dl
INTRODUCTION?, TLL TAKE
Tm IT FROM HERE,
ACTUALLY MY PRIYA.
BOSS SHOULD
ODD NAME.
HEY, DR.
UH...QUINTZLE? IS
THAT RIGHT? ‘MIDDLE NAME
FRANCES.
IT’S QUINZEL.
THAT'S
HARLEEN QUINZEL. A MouTieUL.
ANYHOW,
TM TIM. TIM
» BRONSON.
I’M THE CHIEF OF UH, SPEAKING OF SECURITY...1 WAS
SECURITY HERE. 7] A HALF STEP AWAY FROM A FULL
PELVIC EXAM THERE.
\S THAT THE STANDARD
OPERATING PROCEDURE,
OR...?
OH, THAT...
7 WE'RE ON A/GH ALERT AT
LEAST UNTIL HIS TRANSFER.
1S COMPLETED.
SEEM
TROUBLED! HAVE YOU
CONSIDERED THERAPY?
IT'S DONE WONDERS
FOR ME!
Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline
T NOTHING?
OKAY, HOW ‘BOUT THIS: ~
THEY SAY THAT THE DEFINITION
OF MADNESS |S DOING THE SAME
THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN
AND age ttre DIFFERENT
COME TO THINK
OF IT, YOU SURE DO
KEEP BRINGING ME BACK
HERE OVER AND
OVER AGAIN!
1 PREFERRED THE OLD
SECURITY STAFF...THEY HAD
A SENSE OF HUMOR.
WHAT
HAPPENED TO
THEM?
YOUR ESCAPE
HAPPENED.
1S ON ME, THEN...WELL
NOW I JUST FEEL LIKE A
COMPLETE JACKASS.
TAKE HIM
‘WOULD
IT HELP IF
ISAIDI
SORRY ‘BOUT
THAT, DOC.
NO, NO,
IT’S FINE.
HE’S A BIT
INTENSE THE FIRST
TIME YOU MEET HIM,
BUT YOU'LL SHAKE IT
OFF FAST.
Oe THEN IT ALL FELT LIKE NOTHING MORE
THAN A TERRIFYING COINCIDENCE.
BUT KNOWING NOW WHAT T
NEVER KNEW THEN...I CAN'T.
HELP BUT ONCE AGAIN THINK
OF SHONDRA’S STARS.
I MEAN, WE BOTH ARRIVED AT |
ARKHAM ON THE SAME DAY.
WE WENT THROUGH THE SAME
THINGS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS...
5) "mer AND SMILE,
JACKASS!
5 0"
I KNEW NONE OF THAT BACK
THEN. FOR ME, IT WAS SIMPLY
A FRESH START.
I REMEMBER THINKING, /7’S A NEW
PLACE. NO OLD BAGGAGE. I'LL 00 MY
RESEARCH, AND I'LL FINALLY SMILE
AND MAKE SOME FRIENDS.
THINKING ABOUT IT, IT ALL FEELS SORT OF
COSMIC... THE TWO OF US, LIKE TWO INTERSTELLAR
OBJECTS GRAVITATING TOWARD EACH OTHER ON A
COLLISION COURSE...
OH, THERE WOULD BE CHAOS
AND DESTRUCTION...
BUT MY WHAT A
SIGHT \T WOULD
MAKE.
OKAY, STAND
STILL...
OH, YOU PROBABLY
SHOULDN'T SMILE.
TURNS OUT, ARKHAM
WAS NO PLACE FOR SMILES
OR FRIENDSHIPS...
NOW
THEN, OR.
QUINZOLLE...
HERE YOU
DocToR
Doc!
DOC HARLEY...OKAY.
WAY, YOU'LL WANT
TO CHECK IN WITH
OR. STRANGE.
OH
) FOR CRYING
OUT LOUD...
ARKHAM
'5 A PLACE OF
HEALING.
AND
I VERY MUCH
INTEND TO KEEP
T 50.
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YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE THIS I LOOKED OVER HM...THAT’S FINE. SO, YOU I’M LOOKING
INSTITUTION OWES MR. WAYNE A YOUR RESEARCH ARE SEARCHING FOR FOR IDEAL CANDIDATES
GREAT DEAL, AND BECAUSE I PAPERS... WHAT, EXACTLY? FOR THE FIRST ROUND
RESPECT DR. YOUR FIRST OF BRAIN MAPPING.
MATHEWS. STAGE IS INTERVIEWS?
BUT THIS ‘STANDARD THERAPY
|S WHERE MY PROCEDURES,
GOODWILL CORRECT?
ENDS.
YES, YES. HOOK THEM UP TO
LOCATE MACHINERY, ASK THEM MORE
PINPOINT HOT SPOTS OF ‘QUESTIONS, AND HOPE THINGS
THE MEART OF BRAIN ACTIVITY GO BEEP AND YOU GET A 1... THAT'S
MADNESS? THROUGH... CONDITION NAMED NOT WHAT I’M
AFTER YOU. TRYING...
OR. QUINZOLE--
QUINZEL.
MHM...LISTEN. IN ALL HONESTY I THINK | THEIR IDEALISM DOESN'T LAST, HERE IS ALL I REQUIRE OF YOU.
fh YOURS |S JUST ONE OF MANY CRACKPOT | LONG IN ARKHAM, AND I’M DON'T STIR THE POT. DON’T AGITATE THE
THEORIES I'VE SEEN IDEALISTIC YOUNG THINKING YOURS WON'T PATIENTS. AND YOU ARE FREE TO DO
PSYCHIATRISTS BRING TO THE TABLE EITHER. YOUR BUSINESS.
( LOOKING FOR THE HOWS AND
THE WAYS OF OUR...
K RESIDENTS.
OH, I NEED ACCESS TO ‘THE FILE
PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS DONE ROOM WILL HAVE
THOSE.
WITH INMATES ON
THIS ist WELCOME TO
ARKHAM.
HE SAID WELCOME,
BUT LET’S BE HONEST,
THIS WAS ARKHAM. > A SMALL, WINDOWLESS OFFICE
a WITH A MISSPELLED NAME WAS
AS GOOD AS IT GOT.
AND I WAS OKAY WITH THAT. BEATS
A CUBICLE, AND ANYWAY, I HADN'T
GONE THERE FOR COMFORT. I HAD
A JOB TO DO.
IT COMPRISED PEOPLE WHO.
WOULD BE MY PERFECT
EXAMPLES OF THE ABSOLUTE
DETERIORATION OF EMPATHY.
eae
HAD A SIMILAR LIST FOR BLACKGATE
PRISON, BUT AS I WASN'T ALLOWED
THERE AT THE MOMENT...WELL, YOU
KNOW HOW IT GOES. YOU PLAY THE
CARDS YOU HAVE, NOT THE CARDS
YOU WANT.
AND MY, WHAT A DECK IT WAS. EVERY
PSYCHOLOGIST’S DREAM. THE STUFF
THAT CAREERS ARE BUILT ON.
BACK OF THE LINE
FOR YOu.
I CAME TO ARKHAM WITH
A LIST IN HAND. A VERY
SPECIFIC LIST.
THE KINGS,
QUEENS, JACKS,
AND ACES OF
THE CR/MINALLY
INSANE
AND YES...
A JOKER
AS WELL...
1 WASN'T NEARLY
READY TO DEAL
WITH HUM... BUT
THAT WAS FINE.
I HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH
ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY
DISORDERS TO GO THROUGH.
THE WAY I SAW IT, BY THE TIME
I WAS DONE WITH THEM, MY
NIGHTMARES WOULD HAVE GONE.
AWAY, AND HE WOULD SHRINK
IN THE EYES OF THIS...WELL...
YOU GET IT.
TEMPORARILY.
THING.
FOR A WMLE MY SLEEP IMPROVED, BUT
AS MY NTERVEW UST GREW SHORTER,
THOUSATS TURNED TO
‘A WATCHED POT
NEVER BOILS, YOU
“D JUST NEVER KNOW.
SLEEP AGAIN. DAMN, DOC.
YOU LOOK T/RED. HOW'S
THE JOB TREATING
You?
FINE. I b
(GET BY TWO Cups
OF COFFEE AT
YEAH...THIS PLACE HAS A WAY
HOW MANY ily OF DRAINING THE LIFE JUST HANG
A DAY? / = OUT OF YOU... IN THERE, DOC,
’ OKAY?
WE ALL NEED
> OUR VENTS AND IT GETS
I'D RATHER « 5 PICK-ME-UPS. BETTER, OR YOU
NOT TELL. ? GET WUMB.
=a
$0, WHAT'S.
YOURS?
‘ee,
DARTS AND
WHISKEY.
1S THE PICK-
ME-UP?
DAMNED IF
I KNOW.
THAT CHEERFUL
NOTE, I’M OFF TO
THE ARCHIVES
AGAIN.
BY THE WAY, YOU WANT
THE COFFEE MACHINE ON
THE SECOND FLOOR,
TRUST ME.
MUCH
STRONGER.
WELL, DOCTOR?
BACK FOR ANOTHER
INTERVIEW?
IT WAS A STARLIT NIGHT, I
WAS WALKING IN THE GRASSY
FIELD, AND THEN I
SAW HIM.
HE WAS
LOOKING AT THE
‘STARS, SMILING LIKE
NOTHING HAD
HAPPENED.
I WAS HOPING
TO SEE YOU AGAIN. I STILL
HAVE SO MUCH TO TELL
You.
REMEMBER HOW
1 TOLD YOU ABOUT
MICKEY AND THAT BITCH
THAT SLIT HIS
THROAT?
50 THERE WAS MICKEY
FUNNY THING, IN THE STARLIGHT,
I THOUGHT: HE’S LOOKING UP AND
SMILING TWO SMILING.
SMILES! AND THEN,
ONE ON HE TURNS TO ME
HIS MOUTH AND THE AND SAYS...
OTHER ONE WHERE HIS
THROAT OPENED
uP.
WELL, I
‘SAW MICKEY LAST
NIGHT...
) FOR MORE THAN
THREE WEEKS I'D BEEN
AVOIDING HIM.
FOR ALMOST A MONTH
HE HAD /NVADED MY
DREAMS.
AND THAT DAY I KNEW THERE
WAS NO ESCAPE FROM IT.
OKAY, HARLEY! YOU'RE A GROWN
WOMAN WHO SAT FACE TO FACE
WITH KILLER CROC.
NOTHING!
I SAID THAT, BUT I
4 REMEMBER MY HANDS
SHAKING AS I CARRIED
BOXES WITH TAPES OF
1 | HIS, INTERVIEWS.
PUTTING THE FIRST TAPE
IN WAS ITS OWN SPECIAL
KIND OF NIGHTMARE.
a
SS
me
MY FAM/LY?
IT’S A SAD STORY,
REALLY. VICTIMS IN
A FIRE DOWN AT
THE DOCKS.
THIS WAS WRONG. WHATEVER:
1 SAW THAT NIGHT IN THE
STREET, IT WASW’T THERE IN
THOSE TAPES.
$0, “JOE,” HOW DID YOU COME TO
CRAFT THIS PERSONA OF
THE JOKER?
JUST GONNA
SUMP RIGHT INTO
THAT ONE?
MY PREVIOUS
‘SHRINKS WOULD USUALLY
BUTTER ME UP BEFORE
GOING THERE, BUT
YOU...
YOU'RE A
GO-GETTER, I
LIKE THAT!
$0, MY ONLY CHANCE TO SURVIVE WAS
FOR ME TO GET GOOD WITH THE
BOSSES, YOU KNOW.
SURVIVAL
OF THE FITTEST
AND ALL THAT.
HE NEVER SAW
BUT THEN, THE TAPE
STARTED ROLLING AND IT
ALL JUST FELT...
|
UNDERWHELMING.
1 GUESS, MY REAL FAMILY WAS.
THE CIRCUS THAT GAVE ME
THE ROOF OVER MY
1S THAT WHY
YOU ADOPTED THE
CLOWN IMAGE?
CLOWN? I WAS
THE STRONGMAN!
THIS WASN'T THE GRINNING MAN WITH THE COLD VOICE
WHO HELD ME AT GUNPOINT. FOR A MOMENT I FOUND
MYSELF QUESTIONING MY OWN MEMORIES: MAYBE I
JUST SAW HIM IN A MORE TERRIFYING LIGHT? AFTER
ALL, HE NEVER REALLY PULLED THAT TRIGGER.
BUT THEN, AS I KEPT
WATCHING, I STARTED
NOTICING IT.
YOU SEE, I WAS A C/TY ORPHAN.
ONE OF MANY SPEWED OUT
BY GOTHAM’S DARK
ALLEYS. 2
IN A WAY I WAS
ADOPTED BY THE MOBS
CHIEF HITMAN, JOHNNY
»_ “STITCHES” DENETTO.
I STARTED AS HIS.
EYES ON THE STREET AND
GRADUATED TO BEING HIS
“CLEANUP” ASSISTANT
ON HITS.
THEN, ONE DAY,
HE GETS INTO SOME BAD
DEALINGS AND THE BOSSES WANT
TO TAKE HIM OUT. TAKE US BOTH OUT.
ME COMING. SO, THE BOSSES
ASK ME, “WELL, KID? IS IT DONE?”
AND I’M TRYING TO SOUND SMOOTH
$0 I GO, “ASK SAL THE MORTICIAN:
1 LEFT OLD JOHNNY ‘STITCHES’
IN STITCHES!”
AND THE BOSSES
WENT, “WHATCHA DO?
MAKE HIM LAUGH? GET A LOAD
OF THIS JOKER!” AND IT STUCK!
ONE VIDEO AFTER Beg
SL ANOTHER... aaa
ALL SPOKEN IN THIS
UE AFTER LIE CALM, ALMOST WAR AND MY SON'S LAST ee
AFTER LIE. renereete eg WORDS WERE, "SMILE, IN ONE OF THE TAPES HE AND THEN THERE WAS
: 3 DAD...FOR ME... REMAINED SILENT ANI Ce Wega He Sra
AND THEN THEY POURED AND I :
Wako warn s ALL THIS PAINT OVER ME, R 0m. 1 KeeT 4 AE NAPPING.
i AND I KNOW IT’S JUST A Go)
PRANK BUT TURNS OUT
TM SEVERELY
ALLERGIC
“Aion a Rs ON
IT WAS ALL AN ACT. IMPROVEMENT. :
A COMEDY ROUTINE
FOR M/S OWN AMUSEMENT.
A GAME HE PLAYED WITH EACH AND
EVERY PSYCHIATRIST ASSIGNED TO ‘espa nce uel al
BSI cAes a REMINDER Tus Tus COOL-AS-h- CUCUMBER
‘ACT WAS A LOAD OF CRAP.
THE ONLY TAPE THAT
CAPTURES THE REAL HIM,
IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT.
THAT FUCKING
MONSTER!
‘A MONSTER, JUST GIVE THOSE
HUH? BARS A GOOD
# PUSH!
HEH! WE'RE ALL
MONSTERS IN A CIVILIZED OUTSIDE
CAGE, IT JUST TAKES THE OF YOUR CAGE IS
RIGHT KIND OF PAIN AND MY GOTHAM.
FEAR TO BREAK Te TE
THE LOCK CITY OF MONSTERS!
seems AND IT’S AN HONEST
YOU'RE ALMOST PLACE!
THERE YOURSELF,
THE MAN ON THE STREET, HIS TONE OF
VOICE WAS COLD, LIKE SHATTERING
GLASS, LIKE THAT NIGHT.
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WE'RE ALL MONSTERS SO I BROKE MY OATH
BUT, MORE THAN THAT, INA NED CAE, THAT DAY...BLEW HER
IT WAS WHAT HE SAID. ! BRAINS OUT...EMPTIED 1 WAD TO
RIGHT KIND OF PAIN THE WHOLE DAMNED INTERVIEW HIM. nee Peaeeo tr
AND FEAR TO BREAK CLip...SuIT LIKE THAT, . .
THE LOCK. IT SNAPS SOMETHING
> INSIDE OF YOU...YOU
SEEMS YOU'RE peta
ALMOST THERE WoRLD
YOURSELF,
Pied DIFFERENTLY.
| MORE THAN EVER, -
je KNEW THIS.
AND WITH THAT FEAR, AND ALL THE WEIGHT
OF MY THOUGHTS, MY DREAMS WORSENED
TO A LEVEL I THOUGHT UM/MAG/NABLE.
ww a
te
1 SWEAR, I WAS NEVER DELUS/ONAL, BUT...
THERE WERE MOMENTS WHEN I COULD ALMOST |=
SEE THE MIST GATHER IN MY WAKING HOURS. a
A =
AND WHEN ANYONE
LAUGHED, I FLINCHED...
ALTHOUGH, BEFORE YOU
DO THAT, I READ THIS
BOOK ABOUT
$0, I TURNED TO THE ONE PERSON
‘I COULD TRUST, THE ONE PERSON
THAT COULD HELP ME. Y
NO CRYSTALS,
NO DREAM CATCHERS,
MOSTLY BECAUSE SHE HAD _ NO ROSARIES OR LUCKY
ACCESS TO THE STRONGEST y CLOVERS. pues,
KINDS OF PHARMACEUTICALS. ‘acne
HORSE TRANQUILIZERS,
ELEPHANT DOWNERS! SOME-
THING THAT WILL KNOCK ME THE
HELL OUT FOR EIGHT HOURS OF
HONEST-TO-GOD DREAMLESS
‘SLEEP!
UNFORTUNATELY...
PILLS DIDN’T WORK.
$0, I STARTED MY
OWN RESEARCH
NO SPICY
FOOD...
A CHIROPRACTIC
ADJUSTMENT SOLVED
MY NIGHT TERROR
— PROBLEMS...
HEY, I SAID
(T WORKED!
NOT HELPED!
RIN FACT, THIS WOULD HAVE
} GONE ON FOR GOD KNOWS
HOW LONG IF IT WEREN'T».
L FOR THE PHONE CALL.
AGAIN...NADA.
ZILCH. ALSO, BACK THEN, I
GENUINELY THOUGHT THAT WAS
THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE
ORDEAL MY BONES AND
TENDONS WOULD EVER GO
THROUGH. Hl
SNH
hi.
HE WANTS TO
MEET ME?
LIKE, /W
PERSON?
UHHH...
SEVEN IS FINE.
WAIT, DID YOU
SAY A.M.?
S
IAN
\N
SS
wa... ~—a
MILK/HONEY/VINEGAR/
TWELVE DIFFERENT
KINDS OF TEA BEFORE
IN THE END, ONLY
ONE THING WORKED.
MME HARVEY,
PLEASE!
I HAVE THE TIME TO
LEAN BACK AND ADMIRE
THE BEAUTY OF
HER.
WF I LIKE TO COME HERE SOMETIMES,
4. EARLY. BEFORE ANYONE ELSE
'S AROUND... z
UNLIGHT
SHE IS
A BEAUTIFUL CITY DISPERSES THE
SHADOWS FROM HER
e Dorrie” ALLEYS AND ROOFTOPS,
THINK? AND SHE IS JUST...
5 BEAUTIFUL.
YOU TO REFUSE THE
WAYNE GRANT.
DR. QUINZEL!
Ok, MR. DENT!
” TD ALSO LIKE
YOU TO END YOUR
RESEARCH.
et
EXCUSE
you?!
BRUCE WAYNE IS...HE’S A GOOD MAN. HIS a ] SEE, BRUCE IMAGINES THE CRIMINAI
OF THIS CITY AS BROKEN, BUT
FIXABLE.
WHOLE LIFE, HE’S DONATED TO CAUSES I FAIL TO
LIKE YOURS, DESPERATELY TRYING TO
SEE WHAT THAT HAS
UNDERSTAND THE WHY BEHIND
THE MINDLESS VIOLENCE THAT TO DO WITH MY RESEARCH! 1 ASSUME
4 AND ALSO, WHAT GIVES YOU SHARE THIS
BEFELL HIS FAMILY. ‘ YOU THE RIGHT-- OUTLOOK IN THE
ss SAME WAY I
ONCE DID.
LET ME FINISH,
PLEASE.
MR. DENT, I’M SURE THIS LITTLE SPEECH FINE. WHILE YOUR BOSS
TT eee a eee ee eTOR, "GOES ON FOR A WHILE LONGER, BUT TRIED TO SLIP IT UNDER THE
THAT WOULE MAKE HONEST PEOPTE OF, SINCE I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME RADAR, ONE OF YOUR COWORKERS
GOTHAM WEVER LEAVE THEIR al] . THESE DAYS LISTENING TO THE SELF- ANONYMOUSLY CALLED MY OFFICE
VEme aaaat (7) seseioine peoLoces oF parinrs [AND INFORMED US ABOUT
IN ARKHAM, 1’D RATHER NOT DO IT YOUR RESEARCH...
HERE BS WELL. COULD YOU GET,
TO THE POINT?
OH, I HAVE
A DECENT ENOUGH
IDEA OF WHO IT MIGHT
HAVE BEEN...BUT D0
60 ON.
A THREAT TO THE VERY
NOTION OF PROTECTING
LAW AND ORDER \N
GOTHAM.
RIGHT NOW,
EIGHT OUT OF TEN OF
THE MOST-HARDENED
CRIMINALS ARE SITUATED NOT
IN MAXIMUM SECURITY
FACILITIES LIKE BLACKGATE,
BUT IN ARKHAM
ASYLUM! l
THE BREAKOUT
RATE THERE |S SO HIGH
THE BLOODY PLACE MIGHT
AS WELL HAVE REVOLVING
DOORS INSTALLED!
YOU PUBLISH YOUR
RESEARCH AND EVERY DEFENSE
LAWYER LOOKING TO BUILD A CAREER %
WILL JUMP ON IT LIKE A RAB/D DOG,
AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, EVERY TRIAL
WILL BE NOTHING BUT LAWYERS TELLING
SOME SOB STORY ABOUT HOW THEIR
CLIENTS LOST THEIR ABILITY TO
FEEL EMPATHY.
HOWEVER...
I'VE DEALT
WITH THEM FOR
LONG ENOUGH
TO KNOW
BETTER.
AND WE'VE
COME TO SEE YOUR
WORK FOR WHAT
ir ead 7 * 5 OKAY, LISTEN, MR. DENT...I’M WELL IT'S CERTAINLY BETTER THAN
<~ - AWARE IT WILL MAKE PROSECUTING PROGRESSIVELY LONGER
PEOPLE A MORE NUANCED INCARCERATIONS THAT
BUSINESS, YES. aa ONLY END UP MAKING THESE
BUT IT WILL RESULT IN PEOPLE FIND THEIR ONLY
‘A SIGNIFICANTLY SENSE OF COMMUNITY
GREATER REHABILITATION AMONG OTHER
PERCENTAGE... » CRIMINALS.
= IF MY
<4 THEORY |S PROVEN
> CORRECT--
SEE THIS? IT’S A
DOUBLE-HEADED
COIN. HEADS ON
‘SEE, I BET THAT STORY
WORKS REAL WELL AT YOUR
BOTH SIDES. 4
IT WAS GIVEN
TO ME BY A MOTHER
WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS
KILLED BY A PAROLED
CRIMINAL.
SHE SAID,
“YOU TAKE THIS,
MR. DENT. YOU
KEEP IT AS A -
REMINDER. “"SBNN
_ tuese monsters
Geese
HI THEIR WAYS, cS _
i THERE (5 A GOOD SIDE ™ un tiey MAY SEN
THEY MAY FLY, BUT.
TO THEM, BUT THEY ARE m
> LIKE THIS COIN. WHEN THEY LAND, THEY'LL ONLY
IN: ad SHOW YOU MORE OF THE SAME.”
J BUT HERE'S THE THING WITH
i
\. DOUBLE-HEADED COINS,
sh THEY'RE NOT REAL
~ COINS. ih
JUST LIKE YOUR
LITTLE METAPHOR:
THEY ARE A FANCY BIT
OF BULLSHIT MADE
GET YOURSELF A
REGULAR OLD COIN,
p> Me. DENT. _
IT MAY MAKE
YOU SEE THE WORLD
¢ DIFFERENTLY. OH, AND
I'M NOT BACKING 4
OFF.
MME ELECTION FUNDRAISERS. IT'S
SS—, PUNCHY, IT’S GOT A NICE
> LITTLE GIMMICK WITH THE
DOUBLE-HEADED:
IN FACT, I’M
©) wwsr GETTING
Dy s7arren.
ee pl
il
IT’S KINDA FUNNY,..ALL OF OUR
BIG WORDS AND MORALIZING AND
YET WITHIN FIVE MONTHS WE WOULD
BOTH BECOME MURDERERS.
a
THAT DAY, HOWEVER, WHILE NOT QUITE
MURDEROUS, I DID EVER-SO-BRIEFLY
ENTERTAINING SOME VIOLENT FANTASIES
FEATURING THE ESTEEMED MR. DENT.
u al
THe NY,
SS
| Q
HE'S DOWN
THE HALL. YOU CAN'T
MISS IT.
WE KEEP
HIM SEPARATED
FROM THE REST OF THEM
AS HE’S GOT A TENDENCY
TO START SHIT.
MEAN, FOR ALL I KNEW
HE COULD BE THE OWE...
THE PERFECT
CANDIDATE FOR
MY STUDY.
IT'D BEEN
AND ANYWAY.. OVER A MONTH.
IT WAS THE SMUG TONE
WITH WHICH HE SIMPLY
DEMANDED 1 ABANDON. &
MY WORK. Ba
IT INFURIATED ME
IN WAYS I NEVER
THOUGHT POSSIBLE.
AND $0, DRIVEN BY THIS RAGE AND
BARELY SUPPRESSED TIDE OF PROFANITY
ADDRESSED TO HARVEY DENT, I THREW
ALL CAUTION TO THE WIND.
I HAD A JOB TO DO.
THANK YOU,
MR. BRONSON.
SURELY HE WOULDN'T
REMEMBER ME.
TA
DR. HARLEEN
QUINZEL. I'VE BEEN
ASSIGNED TO
YOUR...UH...
CASE.
SO, WHICH ONE ARE
YOU? ONE OF MY PREVIOUS
ONES OR A BRAND-NEW
BRAIN-TINKERER?
I CAN'T
REALLY SEE YOU ALL
. THE WAY OVER THERE /W
THE DARK.
COME
CLOSER, I WON'T
BITE.
REINFORCED
GLASS AND ALL.
J .
wa
YOU KNOW...
FUNNY THING
ABOUT GETTING YOUR
HEAD SLAMMED INTO A
WALL REPEATEDLY...
IT DOES A
NUMBER ON YOUR
MEMORY...
THEN AGAIN,
ELECTROSHOCK
THERAPY PROBABLY
HASN'T DONE MUCH TO.
HELP WITH THAT
EITHER...
WHAT
I MEAN (5,
YOU LOOK LIKE
SOMEONE 1’VE
MET,..BUT,..NOT
ENTIRELY! ft
THERE YOU ARE/ 1
NEW YC
EMED FAMILIAR,
ey ST Cpe asf aa \ alata ~D,
/
YOu TELL
ME! THAT’S WHY YOU'RE
HERE, AFTER ALL: TO PICK
THROUGH MY BRAIN,
MAKE SENSE OF MY
STORIES.
IVE
READ UP ON
THEM.
EM As IT TURNS
OUT--ALL AT THE
‘SAME TIME-~
YOU WERE
A RICH MOBSTER,
THROWN INTO A VAT OF
ACID, A FAILED COMEDIAN,
ABUSED BY YOUR FATHER,
MOTHER, BROTHER, AND...
PROUD OF THAT z
&
1 COULD
HAVE TOLD YOU
‘STORIES LIKE THOSE
‘AS WELL!
A MATRON
OF AN ORPHANAGE THAT
DOUBLED AS A SWEATSHOP
PRODUCING GOLF
BALLS.
PERHAPS.
BUT
INTERESTING
UES. .
TRU
'S SO BORING
ANYWAY.
Ber _ORY...FACTUAL... d
MISSES THE SOUL TRUTH IS A
OF THINGS. LOW-GRADE ARTIST ALWAYS ON
THE BRINK OF CAPTURING THE ESSENCE
OF THEIR MODEL, BUT ETERNALLY FA/L/NG.
I PREFER
THE LIES, ILLUSIONS.
A BIT OF MAKEUP AND
A WHOLE LOT OF
STORIES,
THEN.
PZ)
INTERESTED
MONSTER IN THOSE. ff
STORIES? /
Ps
VERY WELL,
MR. JOKER, HOW
ABOUT YOU TELL
ME A STORY OF
GOTHAM.
PLEASE,
DOCTOR...
CALL ME
SAY.
© ‘REMEMBER THINKING,
THIS 1S FINE. I CAN
CONTROL THIS SITUATION.
IT WAS NEITHER THE FIRST
NOR THE LAST TIME I WAS
WRONG ABOUT THAT.
a |
END OF CHAPTER ONE
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“HEAVEN
HELP ME...
“A SMALL
|
PART OF ME.) ; K
WANTS TO z'\
LET HIM IN.” i) pI)
I: {ARLEEIN
@ BOOK TWO - IN STORES OCTOBER
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LABEL
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¢
ee
ANDY KHOURI
EDITOR
MAGGIE HOWELL
ASSISTANT EDITOR
DARRAN ROBINSON
PUBLICATION DESIGN
BOB HARRAS SENIOR VP - EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, DC COMICS
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HARLEEN |. NOVEMBER, 2019. PUBLISHED BY DC COMICS, 2900 W. ALAMEDA AVENUE, BURBANK, CA 9150S. GST N°
1S RI25921072. COPYRIGHT © 2019 DC COMICS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, ALL CHARACTERS FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE,
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a
L
=
=
»
“THE ROAD TO
HELL
IS PAVED WITH
GOOD
INTENTIONS.
“ON THAT ROAD
ISAWA
PALE
MAN,
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).
net