{"version":"1.0","type":"link","provider_name":"Hardcover","provider_url":"https://hardcover.app","cache_age":86400,"title":"Lizard's review of Harley Quinn: The Animated Series 2: Legion of Bats!","url":"https://hardcover.app/books/harley-quinn-the-animated-series-2-legion-of-bats/reviews/@l1zardg0d","author_name":"Lizard","author_url":"https://hardcover.app/@l1zardg0d","description":"\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;Overall, I would recommended this to newer comic readers who want to see representation in their comics, fast paced stories that tie into a main plot, and if they are looking for a simple, easy to follow, feel good collection.\u0026lt;/p\u0026gt;\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;The good: \u0026lt;/p\u0026gt;\u0026lt;ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Great rep for marginalized people overall! I loved the person using crutches to hit Clayface (I would do this with my crutches if it was socially accepted) and seeing the variety of people shown. I LOVED the way White Rabbit was portrayed in this series, the design choice to show her power without erasing her ethnic Indian features was very, very well done! \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;/ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;I\u0026amp;#39;ve only watched the first season or so of the Harley Quinn Animated Series and I didn\u0026amp;#39;t know this was the second in this series, but I didn\u0026amp;#39;t feel lost at any point. I have some background knowledge of the Bat world, however I didn\u0026amp;#39;t need to rely on it in order to enjoy the story and dynamics. I\u0026amp;#39;d be hesitant in recommending this series without the warning that the characterization of everyone is much more \u0026amp;#39;modernized\u0026amp;#39;. If you enjoy the way the characters are handled in this series, then you may have a hard time enjoying the full line of comics of the same characters. \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;/ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;The not so good:\u0026lt;/p\u0026gt;\u0026lt;ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;The plot is spoon fed to the reader. Yes, it\u0026amp;#39;s great for people who want a simple read or who may be intimidated by the complexity of comic plots. If you\u0026amp;#39;re looking for any more kind of depth than just absorbing what\u0026amp;#39;s in front of you, this isn\u0026amp;#39;t it. The best way I can describe the plot portrayal is imagine a plot aimed towards middle schoolers that includes adult content. If you\u0026amp;#39;re still confused, imagine Hazbin Hotel plot explanations but has less edge, a fraction of curse words, tiny bit more \u0026amp;#39;spicy\u0026amp;#39;, and accurate representation. It\u0026amp;#39;s not really a bad thing, however I wish the plot wasn\u0026amp;#39;t so in your face and predictable.\u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;/ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Have you watch the Animated Series of Harley Quinn on HBO max? If not, you should watch the new season 3 of Animated Series of Harley Quinn on HBO max. Also have you read the first edition of Harley Quinn Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour? If not, you should also read the first edition of Harley Quinn Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour. I\u0026amp;#39;m being serious when I ask this: was there a required amount of times the author had to advertise the show and first edition? We got it the first five times you told us, you don\u0026amp;#39;t need to tell us another twenty times. This makes me not want to pick up the first edition or show, it feels like paid ads (this is a comic book, not YouTube). \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;/ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;I love representation of marginalized groups, please don\u0026amp;#39;t get me wrong, especially as someone who belongs to a few. I love the fact this was written and illustrated by a team of mostly marginalized people who have lived experience. But at some point, when does representation become a checklist for performance? Making (nearly) every character, side character, and NPC have some form of queerness and/or disability errs on the side of unrealistic and borders into performative. I think if there was less advertisement, aforementioned previously, I would be more willing to overlook it, however when you add it into context, it starts to look intentional rather than just a state of being. Some of the quotes also rubbed me the wrong way and read too \u0026amp;#39;social media correct\u0026amp;#39; such as the scenes between Firefly and Austin (example below), the random mentioning of Miia being a transwoman, or Tawny and Vixen discussing disability and dating. \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;/ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;blockquote\u0026gt;Firefly: \u0026amp;quot;You have *no* clue how to take care of yourself!\u0026amp;quot;\u0026lt;/blockquote\u0026gt;\u0026lt;blockquote\u0026gt;Austin: \u0026amp;quot;I\u0026amp;#39;m disabled, not an infant that needs taking care of. Plus, I\u0026amp;#39;m your *older* brother and it\u0026amp;#39;s *past* time you start respecting me.\u0026amp;quot;\u0026lt;/blockquote\u0026gt;\u0026lt;ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Being disabled had nothing really to do with their story line. While Firefly and Austin\u0026amp;#39;s dynamic can be a good place to delve into, it\u0026amp;#39;s a blip of an event about 4 pages long (mainly of fight scenes) and felt more like the author included it for a kudo point with no actual merit. Same goes for the Tawny Talks portion about Vixen dating Elle (a disabled person) and Miia\u0026amp;#39;s identity, the former is a feel good throwaway quote about ableism and Miia being trans was just used to explain how the resources weren\u0026amp;#39;t going to her (and a random joke about a villain being an ally later on). All of these examples felt like they were thrown in to remind the audience that these characters are marginalized and it became a primary, or in some cases, their only, distinguishing feature. The biggest faults of these \u0026amp;#39;blips\u0026amp;#39; may be due to the fast paced plot and perhaps may be some of my own if they are discussed further in the show (if so, why not just label it as a companion collection than as a standalone collection?).\u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;/ul\u0026gt;","thumbnail_url":"https://assets.hardcover.app/edition/31626124/ef4d375b334166f73f3b924b4f7c56f5422d680f.jpeg","thumbnail_width":333,"thumbnail_height":500}