In this review of Harley and Ivy: Life & Crimes #4, after narrowly escaping the Joker and a collapsing building, Harley and Ivy lead the GCPD on a wild (and partially naked) chase across Gotham City.
Harley and Ivy: Life and Crimes #4 main cover by Erica Henderson (DC Comics)
HARLEY & IVY: LIFE & CRIMES #4
Written by ERICA HENDERSON
Art and Main Cover: ERICA HENDERSON
Variant Covers: LEIRIX, MIRKA ANDOLFO
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 3/11/26
This review contains spoilers
Harley and Ivy: Life & Crimes #4 begins with Harley and Ivy attempting to evade the GCPD after their tryst was rudely interrupted. Despite their recent romantic encounter, the duo direct the blame at each other while scrambling for an escape route (and anything that passes for clothing). After a failed attempt to escape with Ivy’s giant vines, the pair end up in a brawl with the GCPD.
Despite being outnumbered, Harley and Ivy fend off the officers and swipe a nearby police car. During the subsequent high speed chase, Harley and Ivy argue and grow closer as they bare their souls to one another.
The pair eventually ditch the squad car and Harley hotwires a motorcycle, suggesting they visit her former mentor in New Jersey as a place to lie low. For however long it takes to get from Gotham City to New Jersey, the pair ride on with a renewed sense of purpose and understanding. But how long can that last?
Harley and Ivy: Life & Crimes #4 ends in Bensonhurst, New Jersey where they abandon the stolen motorcycle and Harley rings the buzzer for a nearby apartment building. Harley’s old mentor opens the door, and it’s none other than “Ma” (Red Tornado) Hunkel (Justice Society of America), who appears to be disappointed about her former protege’s current life trajectory.
Analysis
Harley and Ivy: Life & Crimes #4 takes the frank openness of last issue’s “one act play” format and takes it on the road, featuring a frantic police chase (and partial nudity). Writer/artist Erica Henderson ramps up the action, tension and absurdity (including a multi-page sequence where the duo attempt to evade police while fully unclothed). Henderson cleverly obscures these risque images (which includes climbing over a fence) with creative camera angles and a strategic use of silhouette, in what would otherwise be an extreme example of a “DC Black Label” situation.
Henderson continues to balance Harley and Ivy’s growing emotional bond with a smattering of slapstick silliness from Harley. It’s likely that Henderson intended to visualize the duo’s exposed emotional vulnerability though their nudity rather than just as a sight gag, (as “in the raw” takes on multiple meanings here). Watching the partially clothed Harley and Ivy evade police while simultaneously arguing and revealing their innermost fears to each other makes for a truly wild sequence that thrills and informs.
Harley and Ivy: Life & Crimes #4 showcases Henderson’s talent for sequential storytelling, especially with the pacing. Henderson utilizes the unique format to extend scenes by the use of small inset panels amid larger ones, and by adding silent panels in between which allow for story beats beats. Here the moments can linger and build for a larger emotional impact. The establishing shots also pull the camera back to take in more of the gorgeous background art across the issue. (Henderson also slips in a quite literal sound effect when Harley kicks a GCPD officer south of the waistline).
Bonus points to any reader who noticed the nod to Action Comics #1 in the panel where Harley and Ivy abscond with a stolen motorcycle, or the quick visual gag of Harley and Ivy during their brawl with the GCPD. Henderson’s art is worth a reread just to catch all of these small touches. Henderson’s sketchier art style matches the look and tone of the classic Batman: The Animated Series (including the series’ “Dark Deco” design), but with more of a mature approach.
Introducing Harley’s early connection to Ma Hunkel is a nice twist, (although her influence clearly didn’t keep Harley on the straight and narrow if Bruce Timm and Paul Dini’s “Mad Love” is considered canon here). Expect more fireworks from Ma Hunkel and her new wards as the story continues.
Final Thoughts
Harley and Ivy: Life & Crimes #4 offers up more Harley and Ivy bonding time amid a requisite amount frenetic action and sight gags. The mix of slapstick and emotional vulnerability is crucial to properly define both these characters and their romantic bond. The art is a masterclass in storytelling techniques.
