DC KO: Harley Quinn vs Zatanna #1 review

You know the drill by know. Super-people fight to the death for cosmic reasons. Here it’s hero vs villain. Or maybe hero vs anti-hero, given how in love DC Comics creators and fans are with Harley Quinn.

The story begins with the women in a hall of magical objects, which you might expect to give Zatanna an advantage. Harley agrees, so strikes quickly, using the handle of her giant mallet to attack the vocal chords.

Harley gives chase to the fleeing Zee, whomps her with the business end of her comedy hammer, then impales the hobbled heroine with her stick.

One revival later, courtesy of the Heart of Apokolips gamesmaster, the combatants, now in a more Harley-centred realm, are allowed to choose their forms. Harley goes for a new look, Zee stays with her classic outfit, declaring she can beat Harley without her powers.

And she does, after a vicious bout of hand-to-hand/stabbing.

The game resets, and Harley tweaks the terms and conditions.

Harley has another advantage.

Harley wasn’t gaslighting Zee, but she is soon taunting the magician.

Eventually, the mocking gets to Zee, and she lets loose with an uncontrolled power blast, one too strong for trainee witch Harley.

Well, this isn’t the perfect Christmas gift for Zatanna fans. She’s about as effective as the proverbial traf ni a dniw lennut. In Round One she panics without her powers, there’s no Plan B. In Round Two she’s nothing but Plan B, deciding to take on a dirty scrapper without using her abilities. And in Round 3 she allows herself, a lifelong magic user and longtime Justice Leaguer, to be rattled… sure, she wins the game, but only because former psychiatrist Harley pushes her buttons.

Why should Harley be able to use Zee’s magic? Zatanna can summon and manipulate mystic energies because she’s Homo Magi, Harley almost certainly isn’t.

And what’s with Zee being unable to see Harley’s room?

Writer Leah Williams didn’t impress me with her Power Girl work and I remain unimpressed. She seems to like Harley but not Zatanna. And even though the DC KO set-up allows for randomness, the lack of internal logic is a little much.

Twice in the issue Harley mentions someone or something named Jaina, presumably not the Wonder Twin Jayna. Google says there’s a World of Warcraft character with the name, but really, who knows?

I do know the nature of this event means everyone gets resurrected, but does the violence have to be quite so nasty?

The issue concludes, as do all the DC KO bouts, with a couple of JLU Watchtower-set pages showing a Darkseid-possessed Booster Gold battling a Quantum Quorum member, this time Gorilla Grodd.

The art by Mirka Andoldo has a loose energy to it, with more of a manga vibe than I like, but the storytelling is decent; It’s fine, as are the letters of Steve Wands and colours of Romulo Fajardo Jr.

Sarah Stern’s cover colours are as vibrant as you could wish for, but Jorge Corona’s illo isn’t as good as others he’s producing for this event; Zee’s face, in particular, is hideous.

This comic, along with this week’s other Vs book, Titans #30, was released day and date on the DC Infinite app’s Ultra level. I’m really glad I didn’t spend extra money to get it.