A new cover featuring Harley Quinn puts a hilarious spin on a classic Superman tableau. During his days as Superboy, the Boy of Steel was infamously judged harshly by a panel of his peers from the Legion of Super-Heroes. But Harley manages to avoid that kind of scenario in a way only she can.
DC Comics has given fans a small glimpse of what they can expect later this year in its May batch of solicitations. In Harley Quinn’s corner of the DC Universe, her ongoing title is receiving a variant cover courtesy of Daniel Hillyard, which takes inspiration from Adventure Comics #247’s classic cover.
Harley Quinn #40 (2024) | |
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Release Date: | May 28th, 2024 |
Writers: | Tini Howard and Grace Ellis |
Artists: | Natacha Bustos and Hannah Templer |
Cover Artist: | Sweeney Boo |
Variant Covers: | Leirix, Daniel Hillyard, and Caspar Wijngaard |
Driving laws, etiquette, common sense? WHO NEEDS ’EM. Dat’s right, you finks! I’m continuing my greatest higher education-motivated research assignment to date—being bad! And if that wasn’t enough GETTING SCHOOLED for ya in one issue, my collegiate best friends for life forever and always, Grace Ellis and Hannah Templer, have joined forces to tell the true story of the time I dreamed I was sent back ta school! You’ll be calling me Harley Dangerfield by the end of this one on account of all the respect yer gonna be giving me! | |
Unlike the original cover, which depicted Superman being rejected by the Legion of Super-Heroes, Hillyard’s variant shows Harley Quinn showing off and being unanimously approved by previous incarnations of Harley, from Dr. Harleen Quinzel to the New 52 version of Harley Quinn.
Harley Shows Up Superman in a Classic Cover Homage
Superman fans may recall Adventure Comics #247, the comic that introduced the Man of Steel’s classic allies, the Legion of Super-Heroes. The comic’s cover showed Clark Kent as Superboy standing before a tribunal conducted by Lightning Boy, Saturn Girl, and Cosmic Boy, all of whom disapprove of Superboy’s membership. Of course, the issue clarifies that Superboy’s trials to gain Legion membership were rigged to see if Superboy would prioritize human life and the young heroes do allow Superboy to join the Legion of Super-Heroes. The cover has been lampooned several times, including during DC’s crossover with the Looney Tunes.
While Superman (or Superboy, rather) was judged based on his heroism, there is no telling what Harley Quinn is being judged for by her variant peers. Her fashion, humor, and chaotic adventures are all likely choices. But while Superman failed on his classic cover, Harley passes with flying colors. Granted, Harley’s jury is absolutely rigged in her favor as no one would approve of Harley as much as she approves of herself. Even if it’s just a humorous take on a classic comic cover, Harley Quinn shows the Man of Steel how it’s done in this cute parody art.
Harley Quinn is Superman’s Better in This Comical Cover Art
Hillyard’s variant wouldn’t be the first to lampoon a classic DC Comics cover and it sure won’t be the last. But it gets a lot of mileage out of Harley showing up Superman on one of his most notable covers of all time. When it comes to parody, no one in the DC Universe does it better than Harley and this variant knocks it out of the park by playing up her love of the spotlight and love of herself. Harley Quinn might not be Superman, but she shows the hero a thing or two in this hilarious send-up.
Harley Quinn #40 is available on May 28th from DC Comics.
