Riddler, Joker, and Harley, oh my!

Posted on by phil.wrede
In the lair where Batman’s foes often set up shop (a playset from the Batman ’66 TV series), the Riddler (an action figure based on Frank Gorshin’s portrayal from the same TV series) sits comfortably in a chair, saying to himself, “What’s the hottest club in Gotham City? The courthouse! No one can refuse an invitation!”
A loud noise from off-panel startles the Riddler; he says, “Eh?” A mysterious voice replies, “…And you think my jokes are bad?”
Entering from outside are the Joker (an action figure based on Heath Ledger’s incarnation from The Dark Knight movie) and Harley Quinn (an action figure who looks like her original appearance in Batman: the Animated Series). The Joker carries a metal pipe in his hands, while Harley holds her trademark oversized wooden mallet. “I have another one for you,” the Joker tells the Riddler, “whose name is still on the lease for this place?”
The Joker pulls a playing card from inside his jacket; predictably, it’s a joker card. “Mine!” he declares. Harley moves forward and says, “Ya gotta honor a contract!”
The Riddler stands up, aggressively spitting back, “When has the Clown Prince of Crime ever honored a contract?” The Joker answers, “When I hid all my neat little toys in the building’s walls!”
The Joker smiles at he turns to Harley, saying, “Looks like we have a squatter! Now, normally, I encourage that sort of behavior.”
Joker and Harley advance on the Riddler, with the Joker saying, “But, I need this property free of tenants.” Harley adds, “Consider this your 30-day notice, retroactive to a month ago!”
Joker and Harley knock decorations off the main table in the lair, making loud crashing noises. “I just got it the way I like it!” the Riddler moans as he cowers. “You’re too attached to material things,” Joker replies.
The Joker spreads his hands gleefully. “I’d say you got me hopping mad…” he begins.
And as Harley jumps on the table, bringing back her mallet to absolutely wallop the Riddler, the Joker continues, “…but that’s a bad joke.” Harley disagrees as she declares, “I liked it good enough, Puddin’!” Powerless, the Riddler asks himself, “What’s black and blue, and green all over?”
The credits for this comic strip, listing the original creators of each character and series, the use of fonts by Blambot, and the photography, script, and lettering, which were done by me, Phil Wrede.

These Batman ’66 playsets that McFarlane Toys puts out have been an absolutely godsend to me, creatively speaking. The way I normally do my comics, putting the figures over stock photographs, works pretty well, most of the time, but there’s no real substitute for actual objects in actual physical space. I’m so charmed by how this turned out…

1 thought on “Riddler, Joker, and Harley, oh my!”

  1. Pingback: The Rumble in the Riddle! – PizzaRat dot Net

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