This article contains spoilers for Batman: White Knight Presents Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn spent most of her early villainous years hiding in the shadow of the Joker. Being his sidekick and girlfriend often landed her in tough situations, whether it be fighting against Gotham's strongest heroes and villains, or fighting with the Joker himself. In more recent years, most storylines revolving around Harley show her distanced from her lunatic ex. Now, DC Black Label's newest series surrounding Harley shows a different side of her: one that has been in total control since the beginning.
In Batman: White Knight Presents Harley Quinn, readers are introduced to a matured version of the character. The Joker is gone, and she has left the crime fighting world behind. She now lives with her children (and her two hyenas, Bud and Lou, which she calls her "babies"). Her life seems dull compared to the exciting, thrill-seeking lifestyle she once thrived in, but she seems content.
However, this changes when a new villain makes an appearance, and the police want her on the case. A reluctant Harley agrees to help and is shocked by the crime scene they show her. Aspects of the murder link directly to the Joker's old techniques. Harley immediately notices the knots used to tie up the victim as "clown knots." The appropriately-named knots have the appearance of a clown, making them a fitting choice for the Clown Prince of Crime. Between the knots, the stab wounds on the body, and a heel cap left at the crime, it's clear that they're dealing with a female Joker copycat, leaving Harley the most qualified woman for the job.
Ready to catch the new Joker-esque killer, the Maiden of Mischief is back in action, and her detective skills seem sharper than ever. She immediately links this chain of kills to a villain from comics past: the Neo Joker. The moniker was worn by Marian Drews in the Batman: White Knight series back in 2018. The return of this antagonist is hopefully a hint that fans can look forward to the new Harley Quinn series bringing back aspects of the original White Knight storyline.
The issue ends with Harley sporting her original trademark costume, walking alongside Bud and Lou. While the outfit brings back traditional elements of the original Harley, she has clearly grown since her sidekick days. This version of Harley has more initiative and attention to detail than most renditions seen in comics past. Even her new backstory gives her more autonomy than her past origin stories. This time around, it was her that created the Joker, rather than the other way around. A more independent and headstrong Harley will do wonders for the character. Hopefully, readers will get more of this energy from this prior Cupid of Crime.