Kite Man Becomes Harley Quinn’s Nemesis in Amazing Looney Tunes Tribute

Summary In a hilarious Looney Tunes tribute, Harley Quinn and Kite Man go head-to-head in a series of wild and wacky stunts.

The back-up story pits Harley against Kite Man in a Road Runner vs. Wile E. Coyote dynamic, leading to an unexpected victory.

This zany and clever homage to classic cartoons perfectly showcases Harley Quinn's crafty and happy-go-lucky nature.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Harley Quinn #38!Kite Man finds himself playing Road Runner to Harley Quinn's Wile E. Coyote in her amazing Looney Tunes tribute. A short back-up story puts a humorous spin on Harley and Kite Man's dynamic and sees Harley pull off the wacky, yet perfect homage to one of the biggest cartoon rivalries of all time.

In Harley Quinn #38's backup story "Harley Quinn (Clownicus Heroicus)" by Brandt & Stein, Harley is knocked over by Kite Man after a bank robbery, infuriating Harley. She decides to get revenge on Kite Man through a series of violent stunts, none of which seem to work out in her favor.

After a series of losses, Harley gets a brilliant idea. She paints a hole on the side of a brick wall, which Kite Man readily flies into. Unfortunately for him, the wall is on the side of the police station, making Harley Quinn the victor of their war.

Harley Quinn and Kite Man Hilariously Honor Looney Tunes

In the canon DCU, Harley Quinn and Kite Man don't have much of a relationship. But the two knew each other quite well in Harley Quinn: The Animated Series, where Kite Man had a large supporting role for the first two seasons. Kite Man was never Harley's favorite person in the world, largely due to his annoying personality and the fact that he was dating and later engaged to Poison Ivy while Harley was struggling to understand her feelings for Ivy. Kite Man has made a few cameos in the current Harley Quinn run, but not much beyond that.

The backup story here follows the same beats a Road Runner / Wile E. Coyote story would and even has a few deep-cut references to the cartoon's history (such as Harley wearing a similar costume as the Coyote's Acme Batman suit in "Gee Whiz-z-z-z-z-z-z"). The short story has a fantastic awareness of the tropes found in Looney Tunes shorts and even subverts them. Rather than being tricked by her own painted hole in the wall, Harley uses the physics-defying stunt to defeat Kite Man. This kind of story is perfect for a zany and hilarious character like Harley Quinn.

Harley Quinn is the DC Universe's Very Own 'Looney Tune'

While Harley Quinn isn't likely to make a habit out of chasing Kite Man in increasingly cartoonish and over-the-top ways, this story works with a character like her due to her fluid and wacky nature. Sure, a story like this could feature any number of DC heroes. But it's funnier and feels more authentic with a character who is as crafty and happy-go-lucky as any cartoon from the Looney Tunes canon. Harley Quinn can be a serious character when she wants to be, but it's hard to deny she fits in perfectly in a brilliant Looney Tunes homage like this.

Harley Quinn #38 is available now from DC Comics.