Why So Serious?
The New Yorker|August 14, 2023
The delights of "Harley Quinn," on Max.
By Inkoo Kang
Why So Serious?

Batman doesn't get much crimefighting done in the Max animated series "Harley Quinn," a bright-hued, pointedly buoyant riff on a comics franchise that's come to be defined by its shadows. For most of the show's run, Gotham's best-known millionaire orphan has been in a coma, in convalescence, in a swoon over an ambivalent Catwoman, or in prison (for tax evasion, because Batman is nothing if not a problematic fave). The city is up for grabs, and every baddie is eager to make his name. Supervillainy is a kind of stardom, after all; you have to be camera-ready, create a memorable spectacle, and know your competition. Reputation is everything. That's why, when the Joker (voiced by Alan Tudyk) is dumped by his girlfriend, Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco), he's quick to spread the narrative that she's a "crazy bitch," and that he broke up with her. Tired of being seen as a mere sidekick-a cutesy accessory to some guy-Harley sets out to earn her own fame as one of Gotham's premier scoundrels.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE NEW YORKERView all