*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Harley Quinn has always intrigued me and after hearing the author talk about it more at the ALA Annual conference, I knew I had to read it. So when I saw this graphic novel up for grabs on Netgalley I had to check it out. I was not disappointed.

Harley Quinn is such a complex character with a simple outlook, which really comes across here. She's in high school, living with drag queens, friends with Ivy, and looking for entertainment. She is such a fun character. Then there is Ivy who is politically-minded, a social justice warrior fighting for equality and honestly the best person ever. I really liked how Ivy was portrayed and couldn't help but wonder if she'd one day be Poison Ivy, because I would totally get it. The Joker does make an appearance and what a take-- not one I've seen before and I kind of liked it. Bruce Wayne also makes an appearance... Between knowing the two are there it made me wonder if things could have been different for Harley if... well, I don't want to spoil things, but it truly comes back to the theme of the book.

This is a timely novel, bringing up gentrification and the rich crushing the not so well off. It is beautifully written and the artwork is lovely. I would love to read more, but I think this is a standalone and it does work as a standalone.
I hope many people give this one a try and see how amazing it is!

'Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass' by Mariko Tamaki with art by Steve Pugh is part of the DC Ink line of reimagined graphic novels for young adults. This is the best of the series so far in content and scope.

Harleen Quinn's mother sends her off to her grandmother's house to live when she gets a new job. Harleen has $5 in her pocket and discovers that her grandmother has been deceased for quite a few months. She is taken in by Queen, a large cross-dresser. Harleen starts school and makes friends with Ivy, a girl who likes plants. Harleen finds out that a program of gentrification is happening in the neighborhood and her friends' lives may be forced to change.

I really loved this story and art. The character feels like the one I know. There are some other characters in different forms in this. I loved this version of Harley more than others I've read. The art by Steve Pugh is so good. I kept just looking at the way he composed pages.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Ink and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

Loved it! I am a huge Harley Quinn fan. The art was great. A very fast read! Highly recommend.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Thank you Netgalley for providing me an e-ARC of Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass by Mariko Tamaki in exchange for an honest review.

It’s absolutely zero secret that I love Harley Quinn; my thigh tattoo & Funko pop collection would clue you into that. No matter the amount of fictional characters that I fall in love with, no one has managed to knock Harley Quinn off the pedestal that I’ve placed her on.

I heard about Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass at some point last year & quickly added it to my 2019 Anticipated Reads. I squealed when I received the e-mail stating that Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass was available to be read. Bless DC Ink & Netgalley for making my entire month.

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass is a coming-of-age story of our favorite DC anti-hero/villain (depending on how you look @ it..). Mariko Tamaki definitely took creative license & went her own way when it comes to Harley Quinn & the other Gothamites’ origin stories. Which is totally okay! I’m always here to see others’ visions & interpretations of the characters I love.

As usual with any Harley Quinn story, I found myself getting emotionally attached. Yeah, it’s an issue that I have. I was so proud to see Harley Quinn making new friends in high school, especially when that main someone was none other than Ivy. There’s even a portion of Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass that reads, “From the moment Harleen met Ivy, she knew Ivy was a super special person” & I’m pretty sure that one line made my heart grow three more sizes.

Ivy is a Woke Queen & so we get a lot of her standing up for the environment, obviously & female rights. A majority of the story shows Ivy & the gang trying to get the film club to show more films directed by females. Of course, in good ol’ Harley fashion, she takes things in her own violent & extreme ways. Although the Harley Quinn origin story may stray from comic canon, Mariko Tamiko still nailed it with her personality & dialogue.

There’s some LGBTQ+ rep, because YASS! DRAG QUEENS! In fact, Harley moves in to an apartment building owned by Mama & their relationship is so stinkin’ precious. & Ivy is, of course, the lesbian that we all know & love.

The Joker does have his part in this story which I won’t dive too deep into, because — well, spoilers & stuff. I have a love/hate relationship with The Joker that I will not discuss, because I’m not here for a Joker debate. There’s a plot twist I was kind of meh with & seen coming, but other than that, I was happy with the direction his story took.

And illustrator, Steve Pugh did a heck of a job! I loved the character designs of Ivy & Harley & the rest of the cast! Everything looked amazing.

As a dedicated Harley Quinn fan, I will say that this is a good & worth-it read. It does take a different path, in terms of origin, but it’s still fun & not a waste of time.

I feel like I liked the idea behind this story and how Harley was lashing out and fighting back against the system and how she wanted to help everyone. But I don’t know if i was a fan of the way the story turned out. Like with the Catwoman graphic novel, the story just didn’t quite do what I was expecting and I guess I just wanted something more....positive? I don’t really know.

Really enjoyed this Harley Quinn origin story! It was fun to see teen aged Harley and Poison Ivy, and the family that took Harley in. I was a little unimpressed by the Joker's first look, but hey, he grew out of it. The coloring and designs were well done, and the story telling was great.

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass takes a few liberties with Harley's story but stays true to her character. From meeting Ivy to the queens that taught her to love being a clown, the story entertains as Harley makes her own way to wrong injustice and comes out swinging with her bat. Geared toward older teens, the story can be read by kids and adults alike for a laughing good time full of diversity and fun. The art is cutesy and perfect for Harley and the colors are little monochromatic to set the mood. As a Harley fan, I enjoyed the new take on Harley. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

I really wanted to like this one. I think Harley is an amazing character, but I just don't think this book really captures her. I think the high school setting did not work this book or for Harley's character. I also wasn't crazy about the artwork which wasn't really my style.

Man, this seemed like such a good idea.

Take Harley Quinn, everyone's favorite lovable psychopath, and send her back to her high school days. There, she meets Ivy, a vegetarian fighting for human rights, and John Kane, a rich asshole who desperately needs a mallet to the face. Harley lives with drag queens and eats nothing but chocolate and peanut butter bars. She's the perfect YA unvillain.

As the book spells out for you, this is basically a fairy tale retelling, without the fairy tale part.

This seems like SUCH a good idea. But there's a problem.

Harley's brand of psychotic is not meant for YA. She's utterly and completely damaged, and while in her solo comics she's lovably so, that doesn't work in this arena.

Props to Tamaki for not making the relationship between Harley and the Joker into a romance, but we were tilting towards that direction before she self corrected, and I'll take it.

I don't know if this is going to be a one off, but I really hope so. Leave Harley to the adults. Let kids find it on their own, without dumbing it down. Even if it is done with beautiful art.

I had a hard time putting down Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass. It was a story that had comedy, action, drama and plenty of huge explosions. Hearing this tale through the voice of the anti-hero herself made it that much more fun to read. There were times when it wasn’t clear what was going to happen next but the journey was never boring or dull. If you are a fan of this character then you might want to check this graphic novel out.

While I liked elements of this Harley Quinn tale, some of the setting/context/characters didn't sit so well with me.
Harley's drag queen family? Cool. The fact they're supporting? Eeeeeeh ...
The Gotham High setting? Cool. Putting everyone in a high school setting? Eeeeeeh ...
The film club and Joker plot lines? Eeeeeeh ...

Coming from a multitude of "teen" centered graphic novels under DC, we have Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass coming on September 3rd, 2019. Written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Steve Pugh.

We have covered Teen Titans: Raven and Catwoman in the past, so today is a special day, we get to cover Harleen Quinzel and what made her the infamous, Harley Quinn. What needs to be understood about this series is that it is meant for YA/teens. The same coming-of-age story that we might enjoy as 20+ adults, is not the same one they will tell here. Harley Quinn becomes a coming-of-age teen-centered narrative in Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass and it is wonderfully written and illustrated. Might be one of our favorites out of the bunch that has come out thus far. With that being said, as Catwoman introduces young Bruce Wayne, we get a young Joker being established in this novel.

Coming from Tamaki's previous work, her narrative is not a concern whatsoever. She does the prose narrative so well, so going into Harley I was nervous about the change in pace and character. But y'all, Harleen Quinzel is written so well in Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass. One aspect that I wasn't expecting was to love the character more than I love the actual grown-up and initial character in the DC Universe. The voice of Harleen is so loud that you can hear it, the voice sounds just like she would. Hands down, an incredible writer to grab onto for Harley Quinn. Similarly to the previous installments (Catwoman and Raven), the colors are diluted. There are various colors being used, such as Harley Quinn, in general, but they work here. The main color, red, is what is important, and it is used in this novel without being diluted. In Chapter 7, towards the end, there is a scene with Harley and Joker where the colors are insanely charming. Beginning on PG. 130, it uses red, green, blue, and yellow. It reminded me of a three-dimensional effect.

This novel is one of my favorites and if a YA/teen wants to get into the character without grit, this is a great way to do it. I am enjoying these novels because they truly showcase the non-grit version of these characters for kids/teens. They change the narrative, meaning the way they came to be (just a tad) and then make it favorable. Harley, throughout this entire novel, is standing up for a political cause.

Overall, I suspect you’ll already know if you’ll like the story based on whether the premise of a teen Harley befriending a student activist Ivy while being taken in by drag queens appeals to you. If so, there’s a lot to like here.

I wasn’t sure how well this setup would work, especially once the Joker appeared. By now, I’m reflexively wary of new takes on the Joker (and the people who admire them), but everything clicked into place, and I genuinely liked this angle. By the end it’s very clear he’s a villain, and Harley retains agency over her own story.

I went in hoping this would be a Harley Quinn book I could recommend to teens in clear conscience, and overall it is. I’m not sure the art or story will grab them right away, but I’m also seeing it without finished colors, and those might push it over the edge.

Harleen is sent to Gotham to live with her grandmother, but her life takes a drastic turn once she gets there. The story unfolds as the teen makes decisions, starts to discover who she is, makes friends, and faces danger, unfairness and bad people.

I love this new spin on a favorite character. Harley Quinn gets a bit of an update....she's facing current issues and learning as she goes. I like how she is portrayed as a strong, intelligent and driven teen, who also has some issues. She meets up with real evil....and makes some iffy decisions. The Joker is interesting and different in this story. At first, I just didn't want the character to be different. But as I saw more of the character and Harley's interactions with him, I found myself enjoying the change.

There is one point in the story where Harley refuses to put on a skimpy outfit and designs her own instead. I love that! She refuses to walk around half naked to gratify anyone else.....and designs something she wants to wear. She isn't afraid to say NO, I'm not going to wear that. Love it!

The storyline is well written and enjoyable. The artwork is great! Loved it! I'm curious where the story will go from here. I will definitely read the next graphic novel, if this continues as a series.

**I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book from DC Entertainment via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass is one of the most fun graphic novels I’ve read in years. Tamaki’s ability to completely capture HQ’s voice is so incredibly well done. The plot was wonderful. I loved the cast of characters so much and the immersive integration of the LGTBQ+ community in this work. I hope that this team get to write a few more books set in the DC universe because this was just spectacular.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Harley Quinn is one of those characters that everyone loves no matter what she does and this graphic novel provides a new backstory for her that makes her actions understandable. When we meet Harley she is venturing to Gotham to live with her grandmother while her mom works on a cruise. When she arrives in Gotham she finds her grandmother has died but the landlord takes pity on her and allows her to stay, the landlord and the other drag queens of the building adopt into their family. While going to Gotham High she meets Ivy who becomes
her best friend, and through this friendship she is exposed the corrupt nature of Gotham. The Kane Corporation is slowly taking over Gotham and turning it into a capitalist society by taking down the mom and pop stores and putting in housing/etc.

Really loved this comic and the color choices for each chapter of the book all relate back to how Harley is feeling and reflect the underlying tension of the book so well. I would love for this to become a series and see it grow because Tamaki and Pugh really seem to understand the world of Gotham so well.

Ahahaha I frickin' loved it!! Now, look, I don't know much about Harley Quinn but this was a fun, mischievous little comic. Harley Quinn is shipped off to her "grandma's house" in Gotham City and is the new kid in high school. Hijinks may ensue!

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass from @netgalley, and I had such a great time reading it!

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass puts a fresh spin on @dccomics beloved Harley Quinn, following a young Harleen as she works to find how she fits into her new home. Nothing goes quite as planned for Harley, though, after she moves to Gotham to live with her grandmother. Upon arriving, she finds that a corporation is consuming Gotham, destroying families and homes to expand their enterprise. With her newfound friend Ivy by her side, she fights to stop the destruction of a city she’s learned to love, but when she’s approached with a proposal from a mysterious Joker, Harley must decide how best to save the day.

Author Mariko Tamaki creates a fantastic story in Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass, one that explores many of today’s issues in the context of a superhero story. Gentrification, corporate greed and institutionalized sexism are all issues that Harley Quinn faces, making this one of the most important superhero stories you could read today. Art from Steve Pugh beautifully captures the spunk and fight in Harley’s character. I fell in love with the way that Poison Ivy was portrayed in this graphic novel, and I hope that we will see more of her character in the future!

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass comes out on September 3rd, and you will not want to miss it!

Randi’s Recommendation-
This book is a great starting point for people who want to read comics, but feel overwhelmed by the lengthy backstories required to understand many of the characters. As a stand-alone graphic novel, which is the first in a series of young adult titles coming to DC Comics, Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass is welcoming to readers of all levels of superhero knowledge. Additionally, those who appreciate beautiful comic art will be dazzled by the work in this book.

This is definitely an origin story for the books! Harley is one of my favorite little naughty girls and this GN did her justice. From the beautiful art work, detailed story and flawless characters - in a very flawed way - every piece of this story worked for me.
I will admit that I am not a comic girl - I don't read the original comics, so this is me just loving her through the cartoons, movies and more. I felt like this really introduced Harley in a light that we hadn't seen before. I definitely enjoyed it!

Harley is one of my favorite characters. In this prequel, Harleen is a teenager who is rebelling against everything. Angry at the world, she can choose to fight the change with Ivy or team up with The Joker.

This is the first title in DC's line of original graphic novels for MidGrade and YA readers.

A good look at how the choices you make as a teenager can have long-reaching consequences. 

She is still the character we know and love, but here she is a teen and much more relatable to younger readers. 

I would recommend it if you are a DC lover too!

NetGalley/DC Ink  August 27, 2019