Welcome Back, Harley Quinn: Season 3 Blossoms

DC/WB's Harley Quinn animated series returns (July 28 on HBO Max), with much manic promise in store for Season 3, with Kaley Cuoco resupplying her apt vocals for the titular and wacky anti-heroine. 

Season 2 ended with a love bond between the irreverent clown and Lake Bell's practical Poison Ivy, leaving poor ol' Kite Man bummed and dejected. Fans now wonder if the relationship(s) will go down the path of salacious sexiness or boring political correctness? (Let's hope the former rules.)

Doctor Psycho really stole the show in previous outings, in the first season acting as a crass, misunderstood underdog, scorned even by the Legion of Doom, but in his second fling, his ascent held such evil gusto to rival even that of Lex Luthor and the Joker combined: no small, devious feat to say the least. 

But where is the damn doc this time? Why no publicity stills? Has the small, great one been put out to pastor? Say it ain't so.

It does appear that Clayface, King Shark, Frank the Plant and (albeit more or less cameoed) Sy Borgman are back, along with (whoa!) Batman, Batgirl, Catwoman, Robin, Nightwing, the Riddler, Clock King, Mad Hatter, Bane, Golden Glider, Plastique, Amanda Waller, James Gordon, Two-Face, Superman, Ocean Master, Swamp Thing, Nora Freeze, John Constantine, James Gunn, Billy Bob Thornton and (oh! by jingo) RoboCop's ED-209 (or so the teaser and related rumors flaunt), in addition to some (just for the f***in' fun of it) Court of the Owls hijinks. If that's what's in store, how bland can things possibly go and/or be?

Also, the first two seasons weren't ashamed to pile on the shamelessness, in language and more-than-suggestive situations. Kids today are too timid to consume anything like this Quinn cartoon, but adults (at least those of an against-the-cancel-culture grain) can enjoy every smidgeon of the over-the-top shenanigans.

That Season 3 exists is a good thing. Perhaps the show's trailblazing continuation will cement a Season 4. I'm not a betting man, but in this instance, I'd bet on it and be happy to slap down more than a stolen dollar to see it through. 

I saw the Long Halloween (Part 2)...

The Long Halloween (Part 2), directed by Chris Palmer and scripted by Tim Sheridan (based on Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale's hot-selling DC series) hits the spot with rueful tricks and tragic treats, as Batman, Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent continue their investigation of the haunting Holiday Killer.

This chapter comes in the wake of the Joker's raucous, Arkham escape, while the Falcone/Maroni war prevails in its Fistful of Dollars context. Meanwhile, stealthy Catwoman claws from the shadows, assisting the Dark Knight when things turn grim, as often they will in forever-autumnal Gotham.

Poison Ivy (more poisonous than ever), the Scarecrow (scarier than ever) and Mad Hatter (madder than ever) become the main, interfering antagonists at various phases (Solomon Grundy and Calendar Man pay return visits, too), but the Long Halloween (Part 2) is the tale of how Dent birthed Two-Face.

As one might deduce, the identity of the Holiday Killer skids from Two-Face's manifestation, but why spoil the inadvertent hows and whys? Let's say that the crossroads are as heartbreaking as they are ghoulish, placing the saga on an impassioned plane, with insinuations of Robert Louis Stevenson, John Wyndham and Mario Puzo to ensure the sinister segments fit. 

That's high praise and warranted, for once the nefarious wreckage clears, the Long Halloween (as a seamless whole) is a memorable, noir-ish experience aimed at adults, but it sure as hell wouldn't hurt kids to watch. Within its costumed catacombs are quality life lessons for those of any age.

Pop some corn and gather up the family to view the complete saga for a fulfilling, growing-pains experience.

I saw Batman v Hush...

"Batman: Hush" is DC/WB's latest, animated (aimed for home viewing) effort. It's based on Joseph Loeb/Jim Lee/Scott Williams' graphic series, adapted by Ernie Altbacher (who injects plot twists) and directed by Justin Copeland. 

It introduces a swathed-faced villain who intends to destroy Bruce Wayne's life and reputation by trampling on Batman's crime-fighting legacy. In the process, Hush hordes the ever tempting, eternal Lazarus flames. The story's novelty is deciphering the villain's identity and the cause of his crusade. In other words, what's the bastard's secret (is he an antagonist we already know) and why is he so hush-hush about it? (Shades of "Mask of the Phantasm", you say? Maybe just maybe...)

Other villains appear throughout the eerie exploit as Hush does his dirty deeds (and in some instances, toys with them to achieve his goal), which include the Riddler, Bane (a Hush forerunner one could argue), the Scarecrow; the Joker; Harley Quinn; Clayface; Lex Luthor; Lady Shiva (quite civil with the Dark Knight this time out) and Poison Ivy (who'll make one itch with her Orion Slave Girl looks and ways).  

However, Catwoman has the meatiest part, with emphasis on her strained relationship with the Caped Crusader. The legendary love/hate tit for tat defines the story as much as its Hush element. To increase that amorous angle, Selina Kyle is rendered with heightened sexiness (well drawn, that is). It's almost impossible to pull one's eyes from her.

Dick Grayson/Nightwing also influences the conflict, assisting his mentor to squash Hush's spree, though (thank goodness) without  the contention that's stained their previous reteamings. Damian Wyane, Amanda Waller, Alfred Pennyworth and Lois Lane fill the gaps, while Commissioner Gordon and Batgirl do what they can to maintain the "peace"; it's always nice to see father and daughter on crime-fighting sprees.

Superman makes an appearance, as well, albeit tricked into taking a stand against his Gotham pal (boo!). On the possible plus side, their clash holds its own with "Batman v Superman'"s fierce finale, even if stationed much earlier in the plot.

I wouldn't put "Hush" in the same avant-garde category as "Gotham by Gaslight" or "Batman Ninja". It's more straightforward than those and more on par with the "Son of Batman" submissions. That still categorizes it as quality entertainment.  

On that note, I believe "Hush'"s content is worthy of a live-action translation. Who knows? With more mega-buck Batman flicks on the horizon, it wouldn't be surprising if "Hush" (or various parts of it) affected them. 

I saw Batman & Harley Quinn ...

In popularity, Harley Quinn has grown increasingly hotter, and whether the snobs wish to admit it, it all comes down to a little, roughhouse flick called “Suicide Squad” and of course, Margot Robbie, the woman who redefined our perception of the character.

DC/WB Animation was wise to capitalize on such, even if Robbie's version is but a spectral impression within its latest offering. “Batman and Harley Quinn”, directed by the ever diligent Sam Liu and scripted by Quinn's creators, Paul Dini and Bruce Tim, is a rollicking extrapolation that keeps its roots in Batman '90s cartoonery, but remains ever mindful of Quinn's blossoming, sex-symbol status. 

The film is also a departure from DC/WB's "Son of Batman" submissions, downplaying the dark and cynical. That's not to say that “Batman/Quinn” lacks its sullen moments, for it does cover a controversial, beaten-into-the ground, current-affairs topic, but predominately it's just plain fun, perhaps because Quinn is just that. (And wait till you see the colorful opening credits and nightclub sequence! Somewhere up there, Adam West is smiling.)

The plot concerns Poison Ivy (Paget Brewster) and Floronic Man (Kevin Michael Richardson) daring to change Earth's populations into animal-plant hybrids. (I must confess, Floronic Man is a character I was unfamiliar with, but whom I like: a villainous Swamp Thing, if one will.) Ivy and Florinic's "go green" zeal is contemptuously self-serving and even more so, ironically apocalyptic, leaving Batman/Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy) and Nightwing/Dick Grayson (Loren Lester, formerly "Batman: the Animated Series'" Robin) no choice but to yank it.

Alas, our crusaders require help in the matter and reluctantly recruit Ivy's ol' pal, Quinn (Melissa Rauch) to track the vegetated fiends. However, as witnessed in "Suicide Squad" and "Assault on Arkham", enlisting any baddie for any good cause can often lead to more trouble than it's worth. Quinn, therefore, remains predictably unpredictable, driving Batman and Nightwing batty throughout their arduous cause. 

BTW: As one may have heard, Quinn and Grayson do engage in a lovely, S&M tryst. It's the sort of thing that would have once had parents in an uproar, but since today's timid tots don't watch these sorts of things, any discussion of the featured physicality has shifted solely to us approving, dirty, old men. (For the record, Quinn had a sultry romp with Deadshot in "Assault", so for those in the know, the Quinn/Nightwing coupling isn't all that shocking.)

One could easily argue, though, that Quinn's oozing sexuality makes her the movie's constant concentration. And how could it be otherwise? She's no longer merely the Joker's cute sidekick, but a crass, hot vixen who more than holds her own and contrary to what one might expect, hits the moral, high road in the end, even if such sadly slips during the after-credits tag-on. 

On the whole, “Batman/Quinn” is a neat way to spend seventy minutes. Still, for Quinn's pop-cultural impact to grow, we need Robbie back in the role, whether it’s in the proposed “Joker vs Harley” movie, a straight-forward “Suicide Squad” sequel, or any upcoming Batman, Nightwing, Wonder Woman and/or Justice League entries. 

Whatever the format or intent, with the living, breathing embodiment of Quinn at one's disposal, it only makes sense to exploit her for all it's worth. For now, this latest, contagious endeavor must suffice, but if there's anything "Batman/Quinn" confirms, more of our clownish cutie is unequivocally guaranteed.