Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass

Most of the characters in the Batman universe have been around for decades, and we know them so well. We know their schemes and quips, we know their trademarks, and much of the time, we even know how Batman will defeat them. But that’s not the case with Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass, because this graphic novel offers a completely new take on the beloved Harlequin of Crime.

Offering a teenage version of Harley’s origin story, we meet Harley as a troublemaking teen sent to live with an elderly relative, only to end up living with a troupe of drag queens trying to prevent the gentrification of their Gotham neighborhood. With schoolmate and social activist Ivy by her side (and a vandal Joker on the loose), Harley discovers herself and what she stands for as she develops into the character we know, love, and fear.

Breaking Glass boldly updates the entire gimmick, giving Harley a completely new source for both her criminality and her penchant for costumes, while still feeling true to the character. After all, her relationship with the Joker in Breaking Glass is just as screwed up as it is in the traditional comics, but this one is sharp, fresh, and different.

This version of Harley isn’t crazy, she’s just naive and enthusiastic, and it makes her more unpredictable and likable. Here’s hoping we get to see more of this alternate Gotham.