Journey to Love

* Cover
* Textless

Harley Quinn: The Animated Series - The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour #1

"**Journey to Love**" is the first issue of the *Harley Quinn* spin-off comic series, *Harley Quinn: The Animated Series - The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour*.

## Synopsis

Picking up directly from the cliffhanger ending of Harley Quinn: The Animated Series, Harley and Ivy are on the run after narrowly escaping Ivy's ill-fated wedding to Kite Man. But who is chasing them, and where will this Thelma-and-Louise journey end? It all starts here!

## Plot

Fleeing from the wedding ceremony, Harley and Ivy are chased down by Commissioner Gordon and the GCPD on Harley Quinn Highway. They manage to escape on a plant ramp made by Ivy, leaving an irate Gordon behind, locked up in his car.

With the excitement over, Ivy feels a bit blue, but doesn't want to tell Harley anything about it. Instead, they get home to Gotham Mall, and Harley does the traditional "carrying the bride across the threshold", to both their amusement. Harley invites Ivy to her "home", a mattress store she took over, and they settle down in front of the TV.

To her horror, Ivy discovers that the whole event is now public, entirely reported by Tawny Young, from Kite Man's rejection to her affair with Harley, and with the arrest of many criminal guests by Batman and the GCPD. Overwhelmed, Ivy goes to cry in the bathroom, where she berates herself for not sacrificing her own happiness and going through with marrying Kite Man, and instead falling in love with Harley.

On the scene to report Gordon's rescue from Ivy's vines, Tawny interviews the commissioner about his botched mission. With the humiliation of it all, an incensed Gordon swears on live TV that he'll never stop chasing Harley until she's brought to justice.

Meanwhile, Harley goes to console Ivy, who still doesn't tell her the truth about her misgivings. Turning the mood to something more tender instead, they make love.

In the aftermath, Ivy admits that the day has been a lot to process to her, but she's going to be fine. They get a sudden "Tawny alert" which informs them of Gordon's resolution, and Harley suggests going to one of the villains' lairs, amongst those arrested after the ceremony. With Bud and Lou in tow, they head for Catwoman's place.

Unbeknownst to them, Gordon has managed to put a tap on them, and knows exactly where they are going...

## Characters

* Poison Ivy

Supporting* Commissioner Gordon
* Doctor Quinzel
* Tawny Young
* Bud and Lou

Cameos* The Joker (flashback)
* Clayface (pictured)
* King Shark (pictured)
* Doctor Psycho (pictured)
* Frankie Muniz (pictured)
* Sy Borgman (pictured)
* Catwoman (pictured)
* Nora Freeze (pictured)
* Jennifer (pictured)
* Kite Man (on TV screen)
* Batman (on TV screen)
* Killer Croc (on TV screen)
* Man-Bat (on TV screen)
* Poison Ivy
* Commissioner Gordon
* Cheryl
* Batman
* Batgirl
* Livewire
* Catwoman

## Trivia

* Promo pictures show a "+13" rating, while the actual comic gives a "+17" one.
* Two variant covers have been drawn by Michael Cho and Davi Go in addition to a a *Birds City Comics* exclusive by Carla Cohen, a *Sanctum Sanctorum Comics & Oddities Store* exclusive by Ssco Saowee and three *7 Ate 9 Comics* exclusives by Natali Sanders, Sannon Maer, and Ivan Tao. In October an additional exclusive variant cover drawn by Zoe Lacchei for New York Comic Con 2021 was released.
* "Journey to Love" became a #1 bestseller in two categories on *Amazon* after its initial digital release.
* A second printing of the issue is ordered for October 19th. It features a new cover by Max Sarin. This cover was actually the first cover Sarin drew for the comic back in February.
* Harley and Ivy looking out over the chaotic city and Harley asking "Isn't it beautiful?" is likely a reference to "The Final Joke" when after seeing the burning city, Harley exclaims "It's so beautiful" before the pair put their arms around each other.
* While beating off the pursuing GCPD cops, Harley breaks the fourth wall to recap events from the series that lead up to what's going on here.
* The flashback of Harley hitting Joker in the groin with her bat is a reference to the same scene in "Being Harley Quinn".
* Soder Cola is a famous soda brand within the DC Universe. Same goes for Big Belly Burger, a fast-food chain.
* There is a poster of Frankie Muniz in Harley's "room". In "Being Harley Quinn", Harley's memories show how obsessed she was with the actor as a kid, to the point that he had to obtain a restraining order against her.
* Harley's "room" is full of references to other versions of Harley Quinn from various pieces of media.
	+ A beaver can be seen on a shelf in Harley's room, a reference to Bernie the Beaver, a taxidermied beaver that Harley believes can talk to her in her New 52 and Rebirth era comic runs.
	+ A bat on the floor is a reference to Harley's bat in the 2016 *Suicide Squad* movie.
	+ The outfit displayed on a mannequin is a reference to her appearance in the 2020 *Birds of Prey* movie.
* One of the pictures in Harley's room is a recreation of the season one poster, which is drawn like a group selfie of Harley and her crew; Dr. Psycho is scribbled out to reflect his betrayal.
* There is also a picture of the Cobb Squad, complete with the symbol of the gang on the frame.
* In one of the Gotham Mall corridors, there is a group picture of Harley, Clayface, and King Shark in which Harley wears the Themyscira shirt and Cobb Squad hat she wore in the opening scene of "Dye Hard".
* The picture of Harley and Ivy, at the time the former was still a therapist, is on Harley's bed. The picture was shown by Ivy in "Til Death Do Us Part".
* Tawny Young's alerts number (829-69) spells out her first name (if typed on a classic phone keyboard).
* Tawny reports that Nightfall has been arrested during the wedding. Nightfall doesn't appear during the ceremony in "Something Borrowed, Something Green".
* Tawny's final bubble should read "Stay tuned" instead of "Stayed tuned".
* When Harley sweeps Ivy off her feet, her black shoe has a red tip, instead of a white one.
* Harley's coloring (make up and hair tips) is inverted in the second frame where she and Ivy are facing the mirror.
* In the bathroom, one of the mirrors displays directions about how to wash one's hands against Covid-19.
* The car Harley and Ivy drive is the same as the one in the episode "Harley and Ivy" in *Batman: The Animated Series*.
* As characters recap earlier events, a *lot* of references are made about previous episodes:
	+ Much of "Something Borrowed, Something Green" is recapped.
	+ The car chase happens on Harley Quinn Highway, planned by Harley in "Til Death Do Us Part", obtained in "So You Need a Crew?" and drove upon in "Harley Quinn Highway".
	+ The President of the United States declares Gotham is no longer part of the United States in "New Gotham". Many police officers join criminal crews in the aftermath.
	+ Harley goes to Apokolips where, after beating Granny Goodness, she obtains a Parademon army in "Inner (Para) Demons". In the same episode, Gordon gets the President to accept Gotham back in the US as soon as Harley is arrested.
	+ Harley beats up Joker and destroys his lair, changing outfits in "Til Death Do Us Part". She spends most of the season trying to get into the Legion of Doom and is formally accepted in *L.O.D.R.S.V.P.*.
	+ Harley broke at least two TVs and one glass table in "A High Bar" and "Finding Mr. Right".
	+ Harley and Ivy are jailed in Peña Duro North Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility in "There's No Place to Go But Down" because Harley killed Penguin in "New Gotham".
	+ Ivy rejects Harley in "Bachelorette" after sleeping with her.
	+ Harley becomes catatonic in "Being Harley Quinn", prompting her crew to jump into her mind to wake her up.
	+ Ivy already wears hair extensions in "A Fight Worth Fighting For".
	+ We learn Ivy's father is abusive towards her in "Harley Quinn Highway".

## Gallery

*See also: All images from "Journey to Love"*

### Covers

Digital coverVariant cover by Davi GoVariant cover by Michael ChoVariant cover by Carla Cohen version 1Variant cover by Carla Cohen version 2Variant cover by Ssco SaoweeVariant cover by Natali SandersVariant cover by Sannon MaerVariant cover by Sannon Maer (textless)Variant cover by Ivan TaoMax Sarin cover (2nd print)Variant cover by Zoe Lacchei
### From the issue

Harley and Joker flashbackHarlivy on the roadHarlivy look upon the city's chaosBridal carryHarley's roomTawny reportsOverwhelmed IvyIrate GordonHarlivy hugIvy takes out her frustrationsHarlivy road trip
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harley Quinn Animated Series Getting Comic Book Sequel Titled "The Eat, Bang, Kill Tour" Jamie Lovett, *Comicbook.com* (June 14, 2021).
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 DC September 2021 Solicitations webhead, *Comic Releases* (June 18, 2021).
3. ↑ *Speaking of Harley Quinn I forgot to let ya know...* Tee Franklin, *Twitter* (July 3, 2021).
4. ↑ Harley Quinn: The Animated Series - The Eat, Bang, Kill Tour *DC Print Subscriptions* (June 10, 2021).
5. ↑ HARLEY QUINN: THE ANIMATED SERIES: THE EAT. BANG! KILL. TOUR #1 *DCcomics.com*, accessed August 5, 2021.
6. ↑ *Oh shit! I'm just seeing this EXCLUSIVE @bird\_comics GORGEOUS variant cover of the #HarleyQuinn #EatBangKillTour by Carla Cohen...* Tee Franklin, *Twitter* (August 13, 2021).
7. ↑ 09/14/2021 HARLEY QUINN THE ANIMATED SERIES THE EAT BANG KILL TOUR #1 SSCO SAOWEE VARIANT *Sanctum Sanctorum Comics & Oddities Store* (August 20, 2021).
8. ↑ *ON SALE SATURDAY 21ST AUGUST 12PM ET/5PM UK TIME...* 7 Ate 9 Comics, *Twitter* (August 19, 2021).
9. ↑ *on sale this Sunday August 22nd at 2pm EST / 7pm UK time...* 7 Ate 9 Comics, *Twitter* (August 20, 2021).
10. ↑ *Available NOW! The #HarleyQuinn #EatBangKillTour variant cover by Ivan Tao! Visit @thecomicmint (US) & @7ate9comics to grab this #Harlivy cover before it sells out as this has a very limited run.* Tee Franklin, *Twitter* (September 1, 2021).
11. ↑ *The #HarleyQuinn #EatBangKillTour has a @NY\_Comic\_Con EXCLUSIVE cover by @ZoeLacchei. You can get this copy from @trinitycomics11 at booth L27 only 1000 copies are available.* Tee Franklin, *Twitter* (October 3, 2021).
12. ↑ *Let’s FUCKN gooooo!!! #HarleyQuinn #EatBangKillTour number 1 bestselling book in 2 categories and 4 Superhero comics & graphic novels...* Tee Franklin, *Twitter* (August 4, 2021).
13. ↑ Harley Quinn Animated Series: The Eat Bang Kill Tour Gets 2nd Print Rich Johnston, *Bleeding Cool* (September 22, 2020).
14. ↑ *Second printing! LOOKIT my name on that cover. Whew! You have til Sunday to preorder it...* Tee Franklin, *Twitter* (September 23, 2021).