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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... Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline 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! Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline 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. Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline 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. Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline 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 Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline HotComic.net HotComic.net “HEAVEN HELP ME... “A SMALL | PART OF ME.) ; K WANTS TO z'\ LET HIM IN.” i) pI) I: {ARLEEIN @ BOOK TWO - IN STORES OCTOBER HotComic.net BLACK LABEL Read more FREE comics on ReadComicOnline HotComic.net ¢ ee 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 pustisHER 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 8& SUPPORT SERVICES DAN MIRON vp - PUBLISHING OPERATIONS NICK J. NAPOLITANO vp - MANUFACTURING ADMINISTRATION & DESIGN NANCY SPEARS vp - sALEs MICHELE R. WELLS vp x EXECUTIVE EDITOR, YOUNG READER 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, 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. 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