Harley Quinn, vol. 2: Harley Destroys the Universe collects issues 50-54 and 56 of Harley Quinn written by Sam Humphries and Mark Russell with art by Sami Basri, Lucas Werneck, Mirka Andolfo, John Timms, Whilce Portacio, Agnes Garbowska, John McCrea, Kelley Jones, Jon Davis-Hunt, Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Scott Kolins, Dan Jurgens, Guillem March, Babs Tarr, Tom Grummett, and Cam Smith, colors by Alex Sinclair, Gabe Eltaeb, Arif Prianto, John Kalisz, Michelle Madsen, Andrew Dalhouse, Romulo Fajardo, Jr., and letters by Dave Sharpe. This is the second volume after Humphries took over as head writer and picks up on the story threads he began in Harley Quinn, vol. 1: Harley vs. Apokolips, with Harley threatening the foundation of the DC Universe.

This story serves both to commemorate the series 50th issue and works to further cement Harley Quinn as DC’s version of a Deadpool character who can comment on and satirize the publisher while appearing in DC’s own books. Humphries also digs deep into DC lore, featuring Jonni DC – a character that first appeared in Ambush Bug between 1986-1992 – and was a female version of Johnny DC, the company’s in-house promotional mascot who first appeared in Green Lantern no. 17 in 1962. In this, the story similarly recalls the 1996 one-shot, Sergio Aragonés Destroys DC. The fallout of the story leads to Captain Triumph, a character who first appeared in Crack Comics no. 27 from 1943, becoming trapped in the present. Quinn must help Jonni DC return him to the past and learn about the dangers of nostalgia, while the story offers an opportunity for her to wear her DC Bombshells costume.

The next story features new villain Minor Disaster, the daughter of Green Lantern super-villain Major Disaster, who first appeared in Green Lantern no. 43 from 1966. Minor seeks her father’s approval and, seeing Harley Quinn gain fame through the internet, she decides to take Quinn down in order to prove herself. The volume concludes with “Pettergate,” written by guest writer Mark Russell. This story easily fits in among the fun one-off narratives in Harley Quinn, with her trying to rehome cats and facing chauvinist pet stores in a thinly-veiled satire of so-called meninists on the internet. It features clever writing and even a cameo from Catwoman, closing out the volume in good form. Overall, Harley Quinn, vol. 2: Harley Destroys the Universe improves on the first volume and shows that the title is under good stewardship. ( )