Harley Quinn is the hero the Suicide Squad need right now.
It's taken a while, given it's short, choppy structure, but "The Black Vault" is rapidly approaching its conclusion. And this arc seems to be getting better as it moves towards the finish line, with issue #7 offering one of the better-paced and more memorable chapters to date.
Chaos continues to unfold at Belle Reve as the titular vault drives everyone into a bloodthirsty frenzy. Everyone, that is, except Harley Quinn, who has suddenly been rendered sane and lucid for the first time in years. That's certainly a promising development, though a bit worrisome as well. Describing Harley in binary terms like "sane" or "insane" is a little reductive and doesn't really get to the root of her particular brand of madness. But writer Rob Williams seems to understand that. What's interesting about his portrayal of Harley in this issue is that she isn't a drastically different character. She's a bit more lucid, perhaps, but the biggest difference now is that she's not empowered by the utter fearlessness and disregard for her own safety that's usually her greatest weapon in battle. For once, Harley Quinn is afraid. Honestly, it might be neat to see this revamped Harley stick around past the end of "The Black Vault."
The rest of the main story in this issue is pretty much violence and carnage, with a healthy dose of black humor thrown in for good measure. It's a great fit for Jim Lee's kinetic, detailed art style, naturally. Lee's work remains strong even after seven issues, and even with so many inkers on board in this installment. His action scenes are a thrill to see unfold, and he does a fine job of depicting Harley in her semi-normal new mindset. Alex Sinclair's colors are also great about conveying the violent, chaotic nature of the script and generating a sense of unease and mounting doom. The strong emphasis on blue tones adeptly shows the growing influence of the Black Vault.
It doesn't hurt that this issue boasts one of the stronger backup features to date. This time it's the Enchantress' turn at bat. This story stands out mainly because Williams finds a more creative structure than "Waller interrogates a prisoner and repeats their origin story back to the." Instead, the script organically explores the June Moone/Enchantress connection as she confronts a demon and is tempted by freedom. Christian Ward's surreal art is a perfect complement to this supernaturally charged story. His character designs are suitably creepy, and his ethereal colors really tie the whole package together.
The Verdict
While this arc has been fairly uneven in quality overall, this issue showcases the new Suicide Squad at its best. It features plenty of detailed action and carnage, but also an intriguingly different take on Harley Quinn. And with the Enchantress backup story ranking among the best of the series so far, there's no element of this issue that doesn't work.
Editors' Choice
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