REVIEW: Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn #1

One of DC’s most notoriously twisted minds gets the nightmare treatment in Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn #1. Her trip through the nightmare realm and her actual deepest, darkest fear, is the most unexpected in the series so far.

It’s hard to out-crazy a crazy character like Harley so writer Tini Howard takes a unique approach to stop this from being predictable. Firstly, we address the purple elephant in the room. A gang of Jokers attack her but she easily takes them down while instantly recognizing she’s being manipulated, even lamenting on how unoriginal the Joker premise is. Insomnia (presumably) throws a couple more nightmare scenarios at her but Harley is having none of it. She breaks the game and the second half of the issue sends her on an even wilder ride. No spoilers but the multiverse comes into play, literally and figuratively.

The art is a fun grab bag of different art styles and character appearances. Since the story involves multiple nightmares and the multiverse, every few scenes, there’s a change in the art. From Batman the Animated Series to Dark Metal, countless versions of Harley, the Joker, and the Justice League are represented. It keeps the issue fresh and adds to that wild ride vibe. It’s a very colorful issue and filled with different environments ranging from Arkham to the high seas. This is supposed to be a nightmare but dare we say, this issue looks kinda fun. A bold approach for the art team of Hayden Sherman and Triona Farrell.

There is also a Harley side story included where she meets a dark and grizzled future version of herself. A total change in tone and art from the main issue, this is giving serious Terminator 2 vibes. Present Harley is just as confused as readers as to what is going on and is slowly piecing together the surreal trip Future Harley is taking her on. The art here is dark and very stylized thanks to Ben Templesmith. But seriously, what is going on here? Where does the rabbit hole Present Harley goes down in the issue lead? Why is Future Harley so serious yet so cool? Leah Williams has set up something intriguing for the finale next issue.

Back to the Knight Terrors. Where is the line between being good and being a hero? This is what Harley is struggling with. She wants to be a “good” but equally important “normal” person. Not a hero, not a fighter, just a doctor and good girlfriend. And interestingly enough, her dream in a way actually is Poison Ivy’s Nightmare from Knight Terrors: Poison Ivy #1. Harley might just be the key to the entire Knight Terrors saga. Has she broken the nightmare cycle or is she just caught in the deepest, most manipulative nightmare of them all? Knight Terrors: Harley Quin #1 is a must read for those following the entire series.

Writing – 4.5 Stars
Art – 4.5 Stars
Coloring – 4.5 Stars

Overall – 4.5 Stars

Written by; Tini Howard and Leah Williams
Art by; Hayden Sherman and Ben Templesmith
Colors by; Triona Farrell and Ben Templesmith
Letters by; Steve Wands and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Published by; DC Comics

Author Profile

Christopher R. Ford

Writer, author, and blogger. Published author of three children's books and also writes for the boy Creators For The Culture. Part-time sneaker head, full time nerd.