Spoilers for Batman #110 ahead!
Batman just tentatively accepted Harley Quinn into the Bat-Family—a risky move on his part, and it is one that may not be paying off, as Harley is causing Batman’s reputation to tank. In Batman #110, the Caped Crusader learns his recent alliance with Harley Quinn is potentially backfiring on him.
Batman finds himself in a precarious position in Gotham. Public opinion had been slowly turning against Batman and his allies, thanks in large part to the city’s new mayor, Christopher Nakano, who has mounted a crusade against masked vigilantes. A coordinated attack on Arkham Asylum has left many dead, and inspired the creation of a para-military unit called the Peacekeepers, under the direction of Simon Saint. Saint has ties to Scarecrow, who has returned in a new and more horrifying form. One of the Peacekeepers’ first recruits is Sean Mahoney; Mahoney had been a guard at Arkham during the attack and is falsely believed to be a hero—leading to Saint seeking him out, and in Batman #110, the Dark Knight meets Mahoney, leading to a fight between them.
As soon as the two engage in combat, Batman discovers Mahoney already had a deep-seated hatred for him, feeling that Batman’s presence led to the Joker and other villains. Batman learns Mahoney planted a bomb in City Hall on Saint’s behalf. As Mahoney continues to taunt Batman, he chides him for allying himself with Harley Quinn; Mahoney tells him the citizens of Gotham cannot trust him when he is working with “thieves and killers” like Harley Quinn. Mahoney swears to Batman that he will not only kill him, he will take down every member of the Bat-Family as well.
While Mahoney’s clear grudge against Batman may have tainted his views on the Dark Knight’s strategy and tactics, he has a valid point about working with folks like Harley Quinn. Mahoney is correct in his assessment that Harley has been a murderer in the past; there is also the possibility she could kill again. Mahoney’s belief that Harley is souring the people of Gotham on Batman could be correct as well—there are no doubt people who remember Harley’s crimes with the Joker or may have been victims themselves. How might these people feel seeing Batman, who fought Harley on many occasions, now ally himself with her? Harley has charted a path towards redemption, but this may not matter much to the average Gotham citizen.
Batman needs all the allies he can get, especially now. His recent, and hesitant, embrace of Harley Quinn may not have been his smartest move in the eyes of Gotham City. Batman #110 is written by James Tynion IV, with art by Jorge Jimenez, colors by Tomeu Morey and letters by Clayton Cowles.
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