Joker has a new moll – the Grison, a Portugese thief who happens to be an old college chum of Harleen Quinzel’s. She is determined to dis-place Harely Quinn as the Joker’s #1 gal pal, and she’s doing a fair job of it, too. But here’s the thing about Mr. J – how seriously can you take him on any given day?

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on the Carpenter’s deadline for Harley to pay up on all the upgrades for Mr. J’s latest ha-ha-hacienda. All the scores Harley had lined up to pay for the construction were co-opted by the Grison, who then gave the loot to the Joker as tribute to join his gang.

This story may or may not be turning point in Harley’s criminal career, where she went from being the Joker’s doormat to her own person. If it’s not, it’s at least the beginning of her growth as a character. And who better to handle it than co-creator Paul Dini?

The artwork by Brett Blevins is perfect, though toward the end of the story, it appears the quality begins to slip a little. It seems to lack the polish of the previous pages, and becomes a little sketchy in comparison. But Alex Sinclair deserves a special shout-out for his typography. He’s incorporated his lettering into the artwork, elevating it to a separate illustrative element, rather than simple words on a page.

Overall, the story (both issues, and all the previous back-up installments) is a worthy entry to the canon of Harley Quinn.

Rating: 9/10