| Title | : | The Batman Adventures: Mad Love and Other Stories |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1401222455 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781401222451 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 208 |
| Publication | : | First published May 26, 2009 |
The centerpiece of this fantastic collection is the Eisner Award-winning MAD LOVE, the surprisingly dark origin of Harley Quinn, co-starring The Joker and Poison Ivy as well as Batman. Also included are tales by Dini, Timm and others that feature the Scarecrow, Ra's Al Ghul, Mr. Freeze, Batgirl and more.
The Batman Adventures: Mad Love and Other Stories Reviews
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If you're a fan of the 90s animated series and haven't read this collection then what's wrong with you? Don't be like me and wait years and years to crack the pages of this glorious book.
Contained within this compilation is the headlining, "Mad Love" in which we're treated to the origin story of Harley Quinn, Joker's obsessive girlfriend. After many flashbacks, Harley plans to once and for all end the one constant distraction in her relationship with the clown prince of crime - Batman!
Mad Love is spectacular! It felt like I had stepped into a time machine when I started reading. It took me back to the tender age of eight as I sat on my living room floor watching Batman take out the bad guys in the animated series. This was a group of adventures and stories that I had never known!
The other stories are also excellent including a particularly heartbreaking Two Face story as well as an awesome Christmas tale! I very much doubt that the average Batman fan can find anything within these pages to dislike, especially when you have writer Paul Dini once again teaming with artist Bruce Timm. -
Mad Love is the headliner in this collection of Batman stories that seem to share only a Batman: The Animated Series aesthetic. Mad Love is, of course, the origin story of Harley Quinn, and it's by far the best of the lot. It was eventually adapted into an episode of the cartoon series, with only slight changes. It's pitch-perfect, even if a little frantic in pacing. The dialog was dead-on for all of the characters. Far and away the best story in the collection by me. But I'm a huge fan of Batman:TAS, and especially of that version of Joker, so I've got a major bias.
The other stories are pretty good, but honestly no match for Mad Love. There's a mini-anthology about various members of the Rogue's Gallery trying and failing to go legit. It's solid, even if framed around the relativey weak Roxy character. The best of these is the Ventriloquist's vignette. Next is a Batgirl-focused Christmas story, and then a teamup with Etrigan. Both are good, if not particularly memorable stories. Last is a story from Batman Black and White, a heartbreaking Two-Face story that is nearly as good as Mad Love.
Everything that is good and right about TAS is right here. There's a reason why this was the next Batman story I read after All-Star Batman and Robin. This take on Batman, and all of the assorted characters, remains my favorite.
A few more notes: the book also includes some commentary by Dini and Timm, about Mad Love and the other stories, and includes some altered sequences. (Barbara changing into her Batgirl costume while in the middle of a holiday shopping crowd was... ill advised. Glad they changed that one.) Some of the dialog between Harley and Joker was used, almost verbatim, in the amazingly good Arkham Asylum game. -
Honestly? This one had the potential to be putrid. It was not. This volume of collected short stories is heavily inspired and very reminiscent of the Batman Animated cartoon. The art style and the overall feel of the book put the reader in the middle of one of those episodes. If this intrigues you, then you will enjoy this volume.
It is a collection of stories revolving around love, or obsession in this case, and how it affects the various characters in the Batman world. While none of the stories were amazing, the only story that wasn't good was the Batgirl/Clayface story. Everything else was pretty good, in the context of the style of the entire volume.
Most of the stories are by Paul Dini and he seems to get the "feel" of the Animated Series. While not the greatest collection, this was a rather interesting volume. The animated series-themed art and story made for a "different" type of Batman GN. WHile this is hardly rave worthy, it is an interesting addition to my collection. -
Paul Dini created Harley Quinn and in "Mad Love", together with artist Bruce Timm, he writes the origin story of the character where we find out she was a psychologist at Arkham who fell for the Joker's charms in a Stockholm-syndrome kind of way. The "other stories" in the title feature a variety of villains such as the short-lived "Roxanne `Roxy Rocket' Sutton", a jewel thief who flies around on a rocket with an old-timey ray gun, the Ventriloquist, Scarecrow, Catwoman, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Clayface, as well as Ra's Al-Ghul, Talia, and Etrigan who feature in the second long story arc.
The book is great fun to read and, as a fan of the animated series from the 90s, it felt like I was reading episodes from that series, especially as Dini and Timm basically ran that series for years. Harley Quinn is a fine villain and has developed into a more interesting character over time but it's still good to see where it all began and "Mad Love" is a must-read for all Batman fans. Just don't expect the overly dark Batman of today in this book as the stories are cartoony and light (most of the time). -
Nice. Harley gets the drop on Batman, suspends him inverted over a tank of piranha -- so Bats can see the poor fish "turn their frowns upside-down", as it were. How will the Caped Crusader ever get free?
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Harley, why you so obsessed with this psychopath?! Homeboy's not even impressive haha
This definitely felt like a throwback to Batman: The Animated Series. There is lightness here that you don't always get with Batman, especially nowadays. I always like reading about Harley's background, how awesome she (*cough* she got closer to killing Batman than you did, Joker. *cough* Even he said it *cough*), and the fact that she's in her original costume! Yes, it is very form fitting but at least her skin is covered.
Her relationship with the Joker will always make me cringe but here it is not portrayed in a romantic light. The struggle of wanting and not wanting out of an abusive relationship comes through a bit.
The dialog fits all the characters perfectly and the artwork makes me feel like I'm watching the cartoon again. Shut up, I know I'm a child! :P -
Divertidísimo.
Con lo mucho que me gusta Harley tendría que habérmelo leído mucho antes pero bueno, dicen que mejor tarde que nunca.
Aw, c'mon, Puddin', don't ya wanna rev up' your Harley?
Vrrooom, vrrooom. -
Beautiful drawings with many good stories specially
Batman Black & White: Two of A Kind 5/5 introducing Harvey Dent
Mad Love 5/5 Joker And the birth of his Queen Harley Quinn <3 -
Dialogue: A
Artwork: A+
Plot: A
Characters: A
I rated all those categories very well, but I just can't rate this a four. I think the three star/"liked it" is most appropriate because I did like this. Maybe it's just too short and a little too comical for a four star rating.
But I loved the artwork in this. It was the 1990s cartoon artwork, and it just really worked for this story. It made some of the scenes that would have maybe been violent or dark in any other art seem a little comical. On one hand, this was a good thing and I liked the mood it gave off. On the other hand, it made Harley Quinn's origin story more of a joke. I mean, she loves the Joker so it seems fitting, but she actually has a pretty rough and depressing origin story.
At the end of this, Bruce Timm (illustrator) wrote that Harley's origin story was inspired by a female friend of his that was struggling in an abusive relationship until she finally left "her Joker." That was pretty cool and a little known fact, I imagine.
Overall, I don't know that I would consider this mandatory reading aside from the fact that I believe it's Harley Quinn's origin story. -
Me leí Batman: Amor Loco en su edición en inglés hace algo más de dos meses y me encantó, así que cuando me compré esta edición bolsillo de ECC no me lo pensé a la hora de releerla.
Amor Loco es maravillosa. Dini y Timm se unieron para darle un origen a Harley Quinn y no decepcionaron. Es también un ejemplo perfecto de lo que es estar en una relación tóxica, por mucho que en los últimos años las jovencitas de medio mundo hayan idealizado la relación entre el Joker y Harley. Y qué voy a decir del dibujo, si a estas alturas ya he dicho mil veces que me encanta el estilo de la serie de animación de Batman.
Esta edición cuenta además con varias historias más del Caballero Oscuro. En ellas hacen aparición personajes tan conocidos como Hiedra Venenosa, Dos Caras, Catwoman, el Espantapájaros, etc.
Un mini tomo que, por su precio, merece muchísimo la pena comprar si quieres tener en tu estantería la historia más icónica de Harley Quinn. -
More like 2.5 stars. Seriously NOT a fan of the artwork in this one, though I can see why many people would be. It's basically cut right from an episode of Batman: The Animated Series. Not my thing though. I did like seeing Harley as a semi-complex character, instead of a childish, dumb and oversexualized bimbo with some sort of split personality disorder (how else do you explain her former life as a doctor in the New 52?) yet to be identified. Overall, fun, but more for kids or fans of the show from ye olden days (which are also known as the 90s in some circles).
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The stories here are nice and sweet, but a bit too campy for my taste. I never watched Dini's Batman animated series, so I don't have any nostalgic feelings about this kind of stories, and I am more used to the more realistic and darker Batman. Still, it was a pretty fun and refreshing read, especially after the travesty that was the Suicide Squad movie. It's like, each time DC releases yet another shitty movie, I at least feel obligated to read a better comic, so that's something, eh?
As a side note, no way in hell am I going to watch Hack Snyder's Justice League. Fool me thrice, DC. -
You can find my review on my blog by clicking
here.
Have I mentioned how big of a fan I am of the classic Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)? It is the prime example of quantity and quality in television, and it withstands the test of time like no other animation today. Developed by Bruce Timm with major contribution as a writer by Paul Dini, the show has lived long enough to be known by fans as an indisputable classic in the superhero game. The recent true story shared by Paul Dini himself in the graphic novel Dark Knight: A True Batman Story also cemented my utmost respect and love for the mastermind behind some of the greatest stories out there. Do you know what else he is credited for in his long list of accomplishments as a creator? The origin story of the punny and crazy clown character known as Harley Quinn.
In Batman: Mad Love and Other Stories, writer Paul Dini and artist Bruce Timm collaborate to create one of the most iconic stories ever conceived in DC Comics’ history. Unveiling not only the deranged transformation of Arkham Asylum’s psychiatrist Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel into the strangely beloved sidekick of Joker, it also highlights the unrequited love that has taken form in an abusive relationship from which she struggles to exit yet longs to believe in. The story thus presents us her hopeless attempt to seduce the Joker of her worthiness as she takes it upon herself to finish off the one person getting in her way of obtaining the Joker’s complete and undivided attention, and that’s none other than Batman himself. This volume also contains several stories of varying quality that either Paul Dini or Bruce Timm have worked on and that withholds the characteristic artwork style of Batman: The Animated Series.
Many do not like the very foundation on which the infamous relationship between Harley Quinn and Joker is based on, but the origin story shows that it is not glorified and that the consequences, through light humour, of such a toxic relationship are real. Then again, no one said that these two villains were to be put on a pedestal to be the example to follow in real-life. The origin story we get here is quite brilliantly conceived and truly delivers Harley’s personality without ever stumbling. The puns are hilarious, the dialogues are kept to a minimum and always delivers the punch, and the artwork is heavily reminiscent of the classic Batman animated TV series. The latter even gives this story an edge as the style is too iconic to despise and easily pulls on your nostalgic cords to make each read a memorable and fun one.
All the other stories that are added in this collection tackle various different themes, and are all entertaining in their own way. Most of them also tackle ideas of rehabilitation, such as the first story in Batman Adventures Annual #1 where Scarecrow, Harley Quinn and the Ventriloquist vainly attempt to diverge from their life of villainy. The last story from Batman: Black and White #1 called Two of a Kind is also beautiful and cruel as it shows Harvey Dent being cured from his dissociative identity disorder. Although short, its ending will leave you feeling a void in your heart and in awe at Two-Face’s inevitable fate. There are also other stories with less relevance but yet still so entertaining, such as Batman seeking the help of Etrigan to stop Ra’s Al-Ghul from bringing chaos to Gotham, or the holiday special featuring Batgirl as a thief is on the loose in a shopping mall.
In this yet-again sterling creation, Paul Dini delivers with the help of Bruce Timm the origin story to one of the greatest—or at least iconic—villains whose mad love for the Joker draws an abusive relationship that defines their dynamite duo.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog:
https://bookidote.com/ -
Mad Love was the only story that was worth the time, but it was a hell of a story! The style, similar to the 90's animated tv series was beautiful an made me feel so nostalgic.
It was great to see the original take on Harley Quinn's backstory and how she used to behave compared to more recent approaches. And the commentary was so touching, I really enjoyed it. -
Batman: Mad Love and Other Stories was a fun collection of Batman comics from the 1990's animated series era including the introduction of the iconic Harley Quinn.
Batman: The Animated Series was one of my favorite shows as a kid and this collection perfectly captures the aesthetic of that series. The art style is spot on compared to the TV show and reading the comics made me feel like a kid again sitting down to watch an episode of the show.
The eponymous Mad Love comic details the origin of Harley Quinn and her relationship with the Joker. This specific comic is why I wanted to read this collection as I am planning to read all of Harley's storylines as she is my favorite character in the DC universe. Mad Love shows Harley reminisce about how she met the Joker and became involved with him. She also comes to the realization that Batman is the cause of all problems in their relationship and she decides to get rid of him. I really enjoyed this story and how it wraps up.
There are a few other comics in here following some other iconic characters including Poison Ivy (another favorite), Scarecrow, Two Face, Raʼs al Ghul, and Batgirl. Two Face's story in particular was quite heartbreaking and actually makes you feel bad for the guy despite his villainous status. Batgirl's story was another good one and involved Clayface.
Batman: Mad Love and Other Stories ended up being a great collection and I would highly recommend it for fans of the 1990's animated series. -
"Face it, Harl. You´re a certified nutzo wanted by the law in two dozen states...an hopelessly in love with a murderous, psychopathic clown.
At what point did my life go looney tunes?
How did it happen? Who´s to blame?
Batman, that´s who! Batman! It´s always been Batman!!
Coming between me and my puddin´ from the very beginning..."
Um Joker ihre wahnsinnige Liebe zu beweisen, will Harley Batman für ihn zur Strecke bringen. Aber sie hat Mr. J´s Narzissmus nicht bedacht, denn es kann nur einen geben, der Batman zur Strecke bringen darf.
Egal, ob man noch vom letzten schlechten Buch frustriert ist oder vom Herbstwetter: MAD LOVE gibt die unbändige Freude am Leben zurück: Quietschbunt, grell, überdreht, irrsinnig witzig - Paul Dini und Bruce Timm sind ein Traumteam und MAD LOVE das Beste, das einem an einem grauen Tag passieren kann!
Zur Ausgabe selbst: Die Deluxe Edition beinhaltet die Story mit einem Vorwort von Dini und einem Nachwort von Timm, die original Layouts in s/w sowie die original Color Guides jeweils für das gesamte Comic. -
Mostly brilliant, very much cut from the same cloth as Batman: The Animated Series, as one would fully expect given the participation of Messers Dini and Timm.
The tone felt a little off in places as the stories could veer into some surprisingly dark territory (the relationshiop between Joker and Harley Quinn is depicted as being quite physically abusive, there is also (implied) date rape, the fatal bombing of an office building and a gruesome murder before all's said and done, which is all in pretty stark juxtaposition to stories featuring "fun" characters like Batgirl or Roxy. Also, the 7 page hallucination sequence contained in the Etrigan story was over-the-top, as even the creators admit in the afterword.
Still, definitely a good read for all you Bat-fans out there! -
Todos en algún momento de nuestras vidas tuvimos un "Mad Love"..
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One of the most well executed origin stories, organically delivered with pathos and emotional depths which lends understanding to Harley's innate nature.
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,,Wie fühlt es sich an, so abhängig von einem Mann zu sein, alles aufzugeben - und nichts dafür zu bekommen?''
,,Es fühlt sich an ... wie ein Kuss.''
Schon wieder ist Batman dem Joker durch die Lappen gegangen! Dabei dachte er, dass er seine Nemesis diesmal endlich erwischen könnte. Vor lauter Wut wirft er seine Freundin und sein gleichzeitiges Helferlein Harley Quinn raus - und sie fasst einen Entschluss: Wenn sie es schafft, Batman für ihren Puddin' einzufangen und seinem Leben ein Ende zu setzen, dann wird er sie mehr lieben als jemals zuvor. Wenn es doch so einfach wäre ...
The Batman Adventures: Mad Love and Other Stories umfasst nicht nur die auf Papier gebrachte Folge Mad Love der beliebten Batman: Animated Series aus den 90ern, sondern auch eine dreiteilige Kurzgeschichten-Serie über Poison Ivy und Harley Quinn sowie eine Batgirl-Story, in der Harley die Gegnerin darstellt.
Und was soll man sagen? Mad Love ist definitiv zurecht eine so bekannte und kultige Folge der animierten Serie über den Dunklen Ritter. Schrill, bunt und charmant witzig mit einer Prise schwarzem Humor wird neben Harleys Plan ihre Origin-Geschichte gezeigt. Und obwohl es so unterhaltsam ist und man auf jeder Seite etwas zu lachen hat, verliert die Geschichte doch nie ihren ernsten Unterton, der im Kern eine toxische Beziehung behandelt. Man erlangt viele Einblicke in Harleys messerscharfen Verstand und zollt ihr Respekt dafür, dass sie es, im Gegensatz zum Joker, schafft, Batman in eine tödliche Situation zu bringen, und muss gleichzeitig mit Bedauern feststellen, dass dieser Verstand im Punkt der Liebe zum Clown des Verbrechens komplett erblindet. Dieses Mischmasch aus Intelligenz und Naivität ist sehr gut dargestellt Antworten darauf bietet, wie sie den Joker überhaupt kennenlernte und wie ihr Leben davor aussah - und eines sei gesagt, die Freundin des Jokers ist nicht ohne.
Es handelt sich also um eine sehr spannende, witzige und kurzlebige Geschichte voller Action, aber auch mit einer emotionalen Thematik, die einem die harte Realität einer Missbrauchsbeziehung in einer bunten Comic-Welt zeigt. Insbesondere die letzten Seiten können dem ein oder anderen auch Tränchen in die Augen treiben.
Während also Mad Love ein Highlight ist, sind die anderen Geschichten eher mittelmäßig bis schlecht. Die Abenteuer von Ivy und Harley in drei Teilen sind zwar ähnlich schrill und charmant wie Mad Love , sind allerdings auf Kurzlebigkeit ausgelegt und bieten nur wenig Stoff, der einen im Nachhinein begleitet. Die Freundschaft zwischen der quirligen, stets gut gelaunten Harley und der zynischen, schnell genervten Ivy ist wirklich süß und ein schöner Gegensatz zu der Beziehung zum Joker; denn obwohl Ivy auch ab und an von Harley genervt ist, verzeiht sie ihr doch immer wieder und bleibt an ihrer Seite. Störend sind eher die sexualisierten Zeichnungen der beiden Freundinnen, die sie in unnötigen Situationen knapp bekleidet oder sogar völlig nackt zeigen. Daraus ergeben sich teils absurde Situationen, die besonders in der letzten, sehr abstrusen Geschichte auch wenig Unterhaltung bieten können, da sie nur dazu da scheinen, dass man ein paar weibliche Geschlechtsmerkmale zu sehen bekommt.
Die Short-Story Batgirl: Tag Eins bietet eine sehr lahme Originstory von Batgirl, die weder spannend noch humorvoll ist. Sie sticht jedoch nicht nur durch den Mangel an irgendwas Besonderem heraus, sondern auch durch die alles andere als schmeichelhaften Zeichnungen. Sie adaptieren nicht wie die vorherigen Geschichten den flächigen Stil mit kräftigen Farben der animierten Serie, sondern sind sehr voluminös gezeichnet. Dadurch nehmen die Figuren sehr viel Raum ein und wirken aufgebläht wie Quallen, was einfach nur grotesk aussah.
Insgesamt ist die Titelgeschichte eine sehr empfehlenswerte Story, die die ideale Mischung aus Witz, Charme, Abenteuer und ein wenig Tiefgang ist. Die restlichen Kurzgeschichten kann man jedoch getrost weglassen, da sie keinen bleibenden Eindruck hinterlassen und höchstens einen kleinen Einblick in die Freundschaft von Harley und Ivy werfen. Dazu gibt es allerdings sicherlich interessantere Ausarbeitungen.
Harley Quinn - Mad Love: 4/5
Batman: Harley & Ivy - Busenfreundinnen: 3.5/5
Batman: Harley & Ivy - Dschungelfieber: 3/5
Batman: Harley & Ivy - Hurra für Harleywood!: 2.5/5
Batgirl - Tag Eins: 2/5 -
I read this book via Kindle Unlimited.
I'm not a massive DC reader, not because I don't like DC, but more so I never know where to start. This is a perfect starting place for those with only a general understanding of the DC universe. Batman v Joker: the never-ending dance, only this time, with Harley. This book starts with Joker planning to kill Commissioner Gordon, but Batman foiling his plans after Harley sent him a gag gift with a hint about what was happening. Joker is furious and Harley starts to reflect on how she met the Joker in Arkham Asylum as an ambitious young psychologist who was quickly swept in by his charms. She realises that Batman has always been getting in the way of her and the Joker's relationship and deludes herself into thinking if she uses one of the Joker's failed plans to kill Batman, the Joker will love her for it.
Despite how fun this comic is, it's so sad. It shows how toxic and creepy Harley and the Joker's relationship is and the levels of manipulation throughout it. Harley remains optimistic she can make the Joker love her but it's clear that's not really true and he's more interested in killing Batman than he is in loving her. The art in this comic is so fun, bright and really enjoyable. I like when Batman books don't closely follow Bruce, I think he's a bit annoying sometimes, so I liked Harley being the main character in this book. -
ya no i ate this up it was so good!
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Fun read. Both interesting and refreshing to read Batman stories with a much different tone than I'm used to.
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En realidad la puntuación es de un 4,5 pero aún no tenemos esa dichosa opción de agregar una media estrella así que mi modo.
Amor loco y otras historias era una lectura que tenía pendiente desde hace unos meses y que doy gracias de no haberla pospuesto por más tiempo hasta hace un par de días. Empezaré con lo obvio: ME HA ENCANTADO. Y no hablo solamente por Amor loco, sino también que incluyo el resto de las historias que recopilan el tomo y que he disfrutado cada una de ellas.
Amor loco fue una de mis favoritas (además de que era la razón por la cual quería leer este recopilatorio de historias). Me asombró ver como una mujer fuerte y segura como Harleen Quinzel se haya convertido en Harley Quinn: una mujer enamorada, obsesionada y dependiente de un payaso psicopata y homicida. Se me hizo increíble en ver ese momento en que ella comienza a ver el Joker como, citando las propias palabras de Harley, un "alma torturada que pedía a gritos amor y aceptación"... Al igual del hecho de que ella culpa a Batman por arruinar su relación con el Joker.
¡Batman! ¡¡Siempre ha sido Batman!! ¡Siempre ha estado
ahí para arruinarme la vida y cortarme el rollo!
No hay duda que es la clase de amor que puede llevar a un de obsesión y de locura del cual puede terminar rematadamente mal, especialmente si se trata de un amor tóxico, y continué como una especie de bucle sin fin. Supongo que se me hace difícil comprender como es que alguien como Harley haya terminada enamorada del Joker; pero bueno, como dice Paul Dini en el Prológo del tomo: "Bienvenido al mundo de Harley Quinn".
A todo esto, me termino gustando mucho (más de lo que esperaba) y algo me dice que no será la última vez que lea algo de Harley o del Joker o de Batman.
En cuanto al resto de las historias que componen el volumen me han gustado que cada uno se enfocase a un villano diferente como Catwoman, Scarface o Ra´s Al Ghul y otros más. De todas, me quedó con Demonios, que fue un cómic muy impresionante y épico (por así decirlo); La sala de estudios y Espectáculo de marionetas, no pensé que me iban a gustarme tanto (sobretodo el primero); Tal para cual, simplemente triste y, en cierta forma, muy trágico; y El alegre San Nicolás, que me dio muchísima risa por no mencionar que aparece Batgirl.
Pero usted no lo sabía, ¿verdad? No quería conocer a la auténtica Molly Randall. Para usted, no era nada más que otra cara bonita, otra diversión para una noche.
Amor loco y otras historias ha sido un volumen que me ha gustado bastante y que me encantaría volver a releerlo una, dos, cinco o diez veces (o al punto de perder la cuenta). Aunque me encantaría leer más historias de Batman o de sus villanos.
P.D: Nunca se me olvidará ese momento en que Batman le echa en cara al Joker sobre lo cerca que estuvo por morir en manos de Harley y ese "pastelito". -
Ah Mad Love!
So this is the first glimpse of Harley's origin in comic book form. Sure, it came afterwards in the Animated series, but here is where it all began, and it is tragically marvelous. This collection of tales by Dini is simply amazing:
World: Timm's art is iconic, it defined a generation of what Batman and his world looked like, I'm willing to say that he's more influential than Burton. The world building here is stunningly good. It is mainly used to build characters, but the world itself acts as a character for which these tragic characters play in.
Story: Wonderfully paced, there are so many tales here and all of them are great. From Harley to Dent, Crane to Ivy all of the tales mainly focus on the rogues and they get a huge chunk of development. Emotionally strong and tragic is the order of the day, you will shed a tear for these misguided individuals.
Characters: This is the best part about this book. I could go on all night about the depth of character for each story, I could tell you how deep Harley is as a character and how much her relationship can mirror so many of us who have been in unhealthy relationships, I could say about Harvey and his duality, but I'm not, experience this book yourself and be amazed. This is not simply a comic book based on a cartoon show. The depth of character is astounding and a testament to Dini and Timm's writing. Just read it.
I'm not saying much about this book because it simply is amazing. Just read it if you love Batman or comic books or have fond memories of the cartoon.
Onward to the next book! -
Mad Love is required reading for anyone who enjoyed Batman: The Animated Series. It’s tragicomic, appropriate for everyone despite dealing with fairly mature issues, and fearlessly turns Harley Quinn from hench-wench to a complex character in her own right. The rest of the stories collected are a good and varied representation of Paul Dini and Bruce Timm’s impeccable work together, showcasing what great storytellers they are- but they pale in comparison to Mad Love.
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This was a fun read. Nice and short but oh so entertaining. I enjoyed reading a little more about Harley's beginning's. The art and story were both great, a wonderful Harley story to introduce the character.
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Mad Love is a essential Harley Quinn/Joker/Batman story and nobody can resist Bruce Timm's charm.
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This is a collection of stories based on Batman: The Animated Series. All the stories were written by Bruce Timm, co-creator of the show and Paul Dini, who helped develop the show and who wrote a number of episodes.
“Mad Love” which features the origin of Harley Quinn is the stand out of course but there are two other stories that I also liked a lot.
“Mad Love” is comedic with dark undertones. Paul Dini’s script and Bruce Timm’s artwork work really well together. Little jokes in Harley's daydream sequences such as Jerry Lewis as a preacher (“Do you take this laadyy…”) and a toy Batmobile and Robin action figure on fire add to the fun. You can tell that Timm is a director and animator. The facial expressions, dynamic poses, and use of single page panels for dramatic effect are all well done. The script and the art really flow.
“Demons” is an all-out adventure. The artwork by Glen Murakami and Bruce Timm is very Jack Kirby in a number of panels. The story features The Demon, a character created by Kirby. We get Kirby Krackle, a Kirby style monster, and a dynamic Kirby-like two page spread. The story is dedicated to Jack Kirby.
“Two of a Kind” which first appeared in Batman: Black and White is a full noir. Every page is done in a nine panel grid with black, white, and grey artwork. A dark story with a dark ending.
The other stories are okay. I’d rate them 3 to 4. Bruce Timm is his usual excellent self. It’s really interesting seeing a story with art by Dan DeCarlo of pin-up art and later Archie Comics fame. John Byrne tweaks his style a little for his story and does some animated-like poses and facial expressions. Klaus Janson draws in his regular style which I like but stands out as different from the rest of the stories.
“Puppet Show” has art by Mike Parobeck and Matt Wagner. I’m a fan of both artists but especially Mike Parobeck. I discovered him through his work on the Batman: The Animated Series comic book. He soon became a favorite. I was devastated when he passed away in 1996 at the age of 30. Although he drew in an animated style, it was very different from Bruce Timm.
I first read these stories when they were released in the 90s. As a fan of Batman: The Animated Series it was a real pleasure reading them again in this collection. -
A great collection of comics by Batman the Animated Series creators Dini and Timm, each tale is fun, has adult themes and humor, and has a colorful artistic visual style. Mad Love is a great origin story for Harley Quinn and this version of the Joker is more fun than the overly bloody and serious one popular now. The Going Straight stories are all solid, highlights being the Ventriloquist and Scarecrow, Demons with Ra's al Ghul is good not great, Cruise to Nightmare and Jolly Ol' St. Nicholas are quick fun, and Two of a King is a fantastic Two Face short comic and maybe my favorite of the collection
