>Batman famously has the greatest rogues gallery in pop culture, so when there’s a high-profile new addition, it’s a big deal. And fans were suitably excited to get their first glimpse of Punchline—the Joker’s new partner in chaos—in February’s Batman #89, which has already gone back for a third printing.
>Punchline has inspired waves of social media buzz and reader speculation, and is set to make a major impact on “The Joker War,” which starts in Batman #95. But before that, Punchline has her most significant appearance yet in a “you knew it had to happen” face-off against Harley Quinn in Batman #92 and #93, as current story arc “Their Dark Designs” heads to its twisty climax.
>As Punchline steps out of the shadows and continues to captivate Bat-fans, DC Nation talked to the character’s creators—Batman series writer James Tynion IV and artist Jorge Jimenez—for their insight on how the “anti-Harley Quinn” came to life.
>“I think my favorite trope in all of super-villainy has to be the idea of the henchman. There's always something so eerie about the followers of a truly dangerous person. They raise all sorts of questions of what kind of person would go to work for a lunatic like the Joker. And my favorite character of all has always been the number two...the underboss, helping organize the henchmen and direct them for the final attack. A foil for the super-villain. The character they bounce their horrifying plans off of.
>“Years ago, Harley was in that role in Joker's gang, but she's never going back. I wanted to have a character to bounce off of the Joker, and work as a foil for him in a radically different way than Harley Quinn. Why is she in this game? What is her relationship with the Joker? What does she think about Harley Quinn? We'll be answering all of that and more as the story progresses. Stay tuned!”
Leo Johnson
Yeah great. People are getting sick of Harley Quinn. The solution is obviously to introduce a new Harley Quinn.
This is why US comics deserve to die as a medium.
Oliver Roberts
>Jorge Jimenez
>"As soon as I read the description, I was very clear on what I wanted to do: the anti-Harley Quinn. Could there be anything more fun? I added freckles that give personality to her face, and I have noticed that it is fashionable in makeup to place a point just below the eye, and I thought it would be super cool to add this to her cold and tenebrous look. As soon as I finished the drawing, I felt that this was just what James was looking for, and I was very happy when I found out that I was right.
>“I’m looking forward to seeing how it works when it comes to life in comics, cartoons…and I think I'd love to see cosplay and action figures of this!”
I don't mind Joker having a piece of arm candy to act as muscle and abuse fodder. I doubt it will be a romantic angle again right?
Ryder Adams
Hope she sticks to being a mime
Lucas Long
>the torn boob SEX APPEAL SELLS IN MARKET OF SWEATY NERDS THIS JUST IN
Colton Wood
>Okay, so retailers may not entirely sure what they are advance reordering for. Of for when. With distributors, printers and stores closed. But they have been doing it anyway. Here are a bunch of advance reorders from this past week… and it all seems to be about Batman, the Punchline/Harley Quinn fight and the Joker War bleedingcool.com/2020/03/25/harley-quinn-punchline-fight-tops-advance-reorders/
>people are getting sick of harley quinn The only place I ever really see anti-harley sentiment is here and it's usually anti-feminists angry that feminist like Harley.
Owen Sanchez
She's not a mime and Tynion is actually giving her a lot of dialogue.
Michael Cox
>The only place I ever really see anti-harley sentiment is here Where else would you see it, you dumb fucking retard. It's not like you ever leave the basement.
Brody Russell
>Where else would you see it Anywhere else but here?
i personally dislike harley being an anti-hero and i liked her more when she was a villain
Cameron James
>i liked her more when she was a villain Why?
Ayden Brooks
She cute.
William Gonzalez
What’s with this guy showing up in every thread hoping comics die?
Nicholas Butler
Because she still does villain things but for some reason she's still called a hero
Christian Cox
>Because she still does villain things If that's true then why don't you like her now? Also you did not actually clarify what villain things are.
Joseph Rogers
People are getting sick of what Harley has become more than anything
Julian Murphy
How is Harley still a villain?
Ian Flores
Pretty much. Dykes trying to claim her and Ivy under anything with a comment section is the viper den in which Harley has fallen. None of her current fanbase cares a lick unless she's scissoring Pam at this point. More casual and broader audiences want more crazy love with her and Joker, as seen in SS and not in flopping BoP. Doesnt help that her current character is little more than Deadpool with tits.
I just wished you can COOM to Punchline while also admitting that giving the joker another girlfriend and pitting her against his ex in an artificial rivarly is a bullshit hack move.
Charles Moore
Link
Isaiah Ortiz
Sure, but literally 75% of modern comics are bullshit hack moves, it's redundant to even bring up and makes you look like a newfag for thinking its some revelation
Michael Ramirez
Punchlinefags lose all right to criticize other writers when you're nose deep in Tynion's pubes.
Zachary Morris
pretending it's ok is not better
Jayden Wood
Harley is pretty garbo. Replacing her should have happened ages ago, if only to sap any waning relevance she had left due to the connection.
I agree with him though. The majority of Harley’s modern fanbase are casuals and lesbian shippers.
Dominic Wilson
It's just Harley fags trying their best not to seethe
Evan Smith
>asian with color streaks again Is this really that common in asian americans? Didn't they kick a fuss when they did it in Deadpool 2?
Jackson Phillips
So you don't read comics and think Harley quinn rely on her connection to the joker for success.
Josiah Hall
I've never seen it irl
Dylan Torres
>trade in white basic bitch juggalo for big tiddie asian goth gf Sounds like good deal.
Evan Gomez
She is not asian.
Michael Jones
Not him, but what do you even like about current Harley? The forced victimhood/babbys first female empowerment angle? Or just the oh so original 4th wall breaking humor?
Ayden Sanders
>what do you even like about current Harley? The same things I like about old Harley as a cute and fun badass. I never liked her because she was the Joker's gf and that's something Tynion doesn't get because he's a hack writer.
Jackson Rogers
What the hell is she? We all assumed Asian. Asian mixed with....Russian?
Joseph Moore
>cute bad ass So literally nothing then.
Chase Allen
Not him, but you REALLY come off as a pissy Harleyfag mad she got beaten in a fight.
I feel like an impulsive woman child is the last thing you'd want to associate with feminism
Anthony Wilson
Only dumb assholes on Yas Forums think because feminists like Harley quinn that they're trying to make her their mascot. Don't be another dumb asshole on Yas Forums.
Camden Bennett
Not if you consider being an impulsive woman child empowering,which is what they do.
it's about tone. If someone is doing villainous things but how it's portrayed by the art and writing tries to frame it as heroic, it creates a retarded disconnection.
Jace Smith
Well what villainous things are trying to be passed off as heroic user?
Leo Flores
Probably Russian. Russians on twitter say she looks like of their traditional dolls.
