July 2008: 24th: Er, so did anyone
else know that Lovers and Madmen was released
in hardback? Yeah, me either. Totally flew under the radar. Harley gets a
pretty steady stream of appearances in Batman Strikes,
but nothing in the mainstream series upcoming, until the Joker hardback graphic novel is released in
October. Mistah J, meanwhile, is getting plenty of press with the new
Joker's Asylum mini-series, a Birds
of Prey storyline, upcoming Gotham After
Midnight appearances and a new Batman
Confidential storyline. I imagine he'll also continue to appear
in Batman: RIP. I can confirm: Harley did NOT
appear in The Dark Knight. I honestly
didn't think she would, but those rumours were pretty persistent. I'm glad
- the character did not belong in that film. I'm very pleased, that my devotion
to eBay paid off: I scored both Jailbird Harley and the NYCC Harley with accessories
exclusives. Yay! My Birds
of Prey DVD set is in the mail, en route to me right now, so expect
a page on both that and Gotham Girls to
be forthcoming over the next couple of months. I'd also like to promote my
new website: JokerxHarley.com
June 2008: 29th: The first review of The Dark Knight has appeared in Rolling Stone.
It is mildly spoilery in that it quotes a few lines of dialogue, and
refers obscurely to plot points, but doesn't give too much away. It contains
the following quote about Heath Ledger: "I
can only speak superlatives of Ledger, who is mad-crazy-blazing brilliant
as the Joker." Amongst other effusiveness and gives the film 3.5 out
of 4 stars. Only two weeks
to go... 15th: I have been really remiss
with updating the news page. I apologise!
At the recent NYCC, the Tonner Harley Quinn
collector figure was released in an exlusive run of just 100 with a
couple of accessories. You can find this doll fairly easily at the moment,
but not with the accessories. She was only $150 too! I am desperately seeking
one. Harley was indeed in Strikes
#45, but the rest of her appearances in Countdown were fairly disappointing.
Principally because she was sharing the issues with a huge cast. There's
not a lot of wiggle room there. There was a significant indication that
she's still in love with her Puddin' though - let's cross out fingers HARD
for a reunion and soon!
February, 2008: In Harley news, looks like she's next making an appearance in The Batman Strikes! #45 as well as earning some new Greek-Goddess granted powers over in Countdown. *drifts away on a cloud of
adoring admiration for that Bust...*
12th: OK DC is reaching a new level in shameless promotion. I
mean, I thought they were hitting it pretty hard, but WHOAH DC, you are
really setting the standard for tie-in merchandising. I say that with no
rancour, I am a shamelessly consumeristic person and I squee gleefully over
every new goodie you dish out. Ok, this
is a Harley Quinn website but given that Harley IS
Mistah J's girlfriend, and Mistah J IS an
awesome divine force of miraculous nature, and a movie featuring Mistah
J IS coming out in July and there IS a lack of Mistah J websites online and this website
IS going to feature more Mistah J info
in future, I've decided to also include more Joker news on this page. And an
upcoming Joker graphic novel is on its way out - unfortunately, Wizard
seems to have removed the page on their website that gives it a bit of
an overview, but Harley WILL be in it, which is awesome, and the depiction
of The Joker (apparently, coincidentally) is very similar to TDK's chelsea-grinned
version. It sounds like it's going to be an interesting story. Ok, so
just as an overview, the new things coming out this year related to Mistah
J? And that's
just so far. Don't forget there'll be all the official TDK merchandise too.
5th: Check this out! How freaking awesome is this? A Joker Cane Prop, one of those splashy, special limited edition collectibles! WANT. Apparently, it's "unlike anything produced before"! WOW! We'll forget that Jurassic Park trifle, but it DOES look pretty damn speccy. Listen to this: "The two-piece solid wood staff section features varnished card suits, and the metal tip hides a Joker "gas nozzle", activated by a twist of the wrist!" SQUEEEE! Also, more
on the Harley in Dark Knight rumour from the same source who sez: Oh yeah,
I also bought the new hardcover edition of The Man Who Laughs,
another
January, 2008: Another slice of exciting news... a beautiful new 13" deluxe Harley Quinn action figure is due to hit stands in August! Complete with fabric costume and personalised accessories... it is VERY gorgeous and will retail for $79.99 (soo... $80 smackers)... more information at this link!. Also, just a heads-up that The Batman version of Harley is appearing in a Harley & Ivy teamup in the latest issue of Batman Strikes - that's ish #41. The dynamic between these two very different, but very cool versions of our favourite bad gal pals is quite a treat to read! Th-th-th-that's all folks!
Kissies.
23rd: This is not the sort of news I want to be bringing to you all today. I am so sorry to have to report that Heath Ledger has been found dead in his apartment at the tender age of twenty-eight. This is a tragedy by anyone's standards; however this death has been made personal and significant to me by the fact his last role is that of The Joker in the upcoming The Dark Knight film. Indeed, not just this... but if it hadn't been for how thrilled and exited I was about his performance, how highly I was anticipating what I was sure was going to be the ULTIMATE live-action Joker to date, then it's possible the Haven would not be here in its new form right now. It was the small snippets of Heath's Joker that reminded me of how much I adore Joker and Harley Quinn, that got my passion all fired up once more, that prompted me to rejoin the fandom. I can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I was. I saw a big-screen preview of TDK when I went and saw I Am Legend a couple of weeks ago and nearly turned to jelly in my seat. My boyfriend is still saying I was more excited about the preview than I was about the film we saw! I truly believe Heath's Joker is going to be a stunning and groundbreaking performance. I know the role is now being blamed by some parties as to bringing about Heath's death, so challenging and psychologically disturbing a role it must've been to play, but I won't comment on that. I will also not comment on the drug overdose aspect except to say no one knows what he was going through, so no one can judge his actions. All I will say is that the amount of effort and dedication he clearly put into this role, the character of which means more to me than I can express, is incredibly meaningful to me and I am deeply appreciative towards him because of it. Thank you Heath, for your Joker. Thank you also for the ways in which you touched so many lives in many ways... as an actor, an artist, a partner, a friend, a son and a father... my deepest and heartfelt condolences to his friends, family and all loved ones at this difficult time. May they somehow find peace and solace and come toether to support each other as they deal with this tragic event.
I will be opening a tribute page to Heath this week. I would like to invite all Joker and Harley Quinn fans who were as excited about Heath's portrayal of Joker as I was, to please email me with your thoughts on this talented young actor, who locked himself in a hotel room for a month to get into Mistah J's head. They will appear on the website this week. Thank you. Please keep it respectful, I will not post anything I deem inappropriate or hurtful. The Sydney Morning Herald has an excellent section dedicated to Heath with all the breaking news as it comes.
18th: Some news already! Thanks to Gladrial! :D Welp, the first seven issues
of Harley's own title, which ran for almost four years, has just
been released as a hardcover volume. Now you don't have to thumb through
your precious first print issues! Maybe they'll release the entire series?
Let's hope! If you want to watch the entire series of the Gotham Girls web-show, its wikipedia entry has links to them all.
Well, okay, I've heard a rumour there is some new merchandise coming out, to gear up for The Dark Knight. Amongst this is a re-release of The Killing Joke, complete with some new figures... including The Joker is that 'tourist' outfit... purrrs... who can wait? I think there might also be some Harley Quinn stuff coming out too. But I'll let you guys know more, when I know more! :) In addition to this, Salvation Run is up to issue three. The Joker and a bunch of other villains from across the DC Universe have been marooned on an alien planet and left to fend for themselves. How will they survive? Who will kill who first? Mistah Jay's already been givin' 'em Hell, never fear. :D Purrrs! 'The Last Laugh' is being released as Trade Paperback in May. Expect a lot of Joker stuff to hit the shelves in preparation for the film, if we're lucky they'll plug Harley a fair bit too. Joker's already appearing in a tonne of comics at the moment. Did you all pick up Justice League Unlimited #41? Harley and Joker are together in this one and hit TJL's base to celebrate Joker's anniversary with Batman. It's worth it just to see Joker in Batman's cape and cowl, and Harley getting protective of her man towards the 'dame in fishnets'. I also recently picked up the new The Dark Knight Returns The Joker action figure. Yeah, it's not my ideal Mistah Jay, but how could I say no? Those pouty lips! ;) If you know something I don't, then please, by all means: SEND IT IN. Remember, this page is also welcoming of RUMOURS. We love to speculate! Have a happy! :D |