Welcome to Cover Girl! For this feature, we gather a team of WWAC contributors to analyze a new or recent and notable comic book cover featuring one or more women. This month, Carrie McClain, Kayleigh Hearn, Nola Pfau, Louis Skye, and Emily Lauer talk about the cover of Harley Quinn 2024 Annual #1 by Erica Henderson!
What is your initial reaction to this cover as a piece of comic art?
Carrie McClain: Had to tap into my pre-pandemic brain and unlock some not-quite-core memories of those American Express, I mean Mastercard commercials from the ’90s. The “Priceless” soundbite echoed in my head when I took a look at this cover and found Zatanna, hilariously.
Kayleigh: My initial reaction was “I love Erica Henderson.” If you read superhero comics, you’ve seen roughly 856 swimsuit pin-up covers in your life, but Harley Quinn 2024 Annual has so much character and personality that it’s endlessly charming. The details! Her mismatched earrings! The initials and card suit symbols on her sun chair! A hair barrette shaped like a Q! Every line on this cover has been meticulously thought-out — the best kind of fan service.
Nola Pfau: I picked up the Mastercard reference immediately, and it was delightful. That aside, I follow Erica on various platforms, and I’m always appreciative of her homemade fashion, so it’s cool to see her lean into doing a fashion cover here!
Louis Skye: I don’t know this Mastercard reference, I’m afraid. It looks like a magazine spread with all the items and prices listed. Except this is a fun version! What with the heavy-duty cone (priced at $70????) and Zatanna, whose expression truly is priceless.
Emily Lauer: I, too, recognized the reference to that credit card ad campaign immediately, and it brought me back to the heft and distinctive smell of print magazines, which I haven’t experienced in decades. That makes me curious about the intended audience for this cover! Americans in their 40s or older?
Kat Overland: Emily, that was my second thought — will the kids even get this reference? Or is this just for olds? (The first thought was this is so fab!)
What do you think the artist is trying to achieve?
Carrie: I’m guessing play up the spontaneous and fun nature of Harley in her villainous, IT GIRL or whatever era she might be in–while also reminding us that Zatanna exists and is around for the ride?
Kayleigh: Harley looks expensive. And I’d know that even without the helpful captions.
Nola: Oh gosh, so many things at once! Harley the Criminal, a classic summer fashion photoshoot, a little bit of slapstick comedy. There are a bunch of different influences here, and it’s great to pick them all out.
Louis: Whimsy! Joy! Happiness (specifically targeted at me with how cute it is). This is such a fun, summery cover. I love how relaxed Harley is, and stowaway Zatanna is totally in for a very unexpected ride. I just noticed the swimsuit is $755 bucks. Yeah, Harley stole that from some posh Gothamite. You go, girl.
Emily: Since that original ad campaign was about achieving the priceless by spending money, I’m particularly interested in the roles of a) Zatanna and b) murder here! I think Henderson is drawing interest in playing with these associations.
Kat: Harley loves a plush life! I think this is a clever way to show off Harley’s love of luxury — and the crime that gets here there.
What does this cover tell you about the character?
Carrie: It’s Harley “My Way” Quinn (Oh, did I tell anyone that I’m halfway through her animated show? I know I’m late!), and she’s gotten into so much more mess and she’s making the worse—er, best of it!
Kayleigh: It tells me that Harley is funny, a character trait that should be inherent to her but is sometimes obscured by the confetti cannon that is her “sexy chaos goblin” role across DC media. The absolutely giant woven hat that nearly blocks out everything beyond Harley – including Zatanna, the book’s guest star, and that pesky murder scene in the background – is a sight gag worthy of Bugs Bunny. And, of course, Harley Quinn was a cartoon long before she was a comic book character.
Nola: It tells me that Erica Henderson needs a Harley Quinn ongoing, STAT.
Emily: I would read that extremely enthusiastically.
Louis: That Harley knows how to have a good time. And we should all be taking a cue from her. Oh, and she’s definitely going to be getting into some hijinks. She’s got that pre-hijink smirk on her face. I’ve gotta read Harley Quinn 2024 Annual #1! [Editor’s note: out on April 30th!]
