The Batman Adventures: Mad Love Sketch Cover Prelim 01

When I saw a reprint of "Mad Love" on the shelves, I had an image in my mind of what to put on that blank canvas. That moment in the flashback of Dr. Harleen Quinnzell finding that rose with a note from The Joker was the catalyst that sent her down the road to love...and madness. I wanted to do my version of that solitary moment while simultaneously tapping into that noir vibe those BTAS title cards always had. Etched with 6H graphite, here we have Harleen seated staring at the rose in her office with the shadow of the Clown Prince of Crime to the left. I didn't want to have any hint of her Harley Quinn persona in the office; the point was to show a period of her life that was orderly and career-driven. The hint of her loosening up and being drawn into the Joker's world is a subtle smirk and a lock of hair in her face. I want the eye to travel to the left as it notices a face on the wall behind her where her own shadow would be. The idea is his darkness is absorbing a naiive Harleen into his control. I've always seen Joker's manipulation of Harley as a simultaneous joke on the medical system at Arkham Asylum, how the doctors, in his eyes, are not so far removed from the madness they are charged with treating. It's not just the escape that has him laughing hysterically in the car beside Harley. It's his self-perceived brilliance and ego at pulling off another perfect punchline: Harley Quinn herself. Regarding the background, which I decided should not be cluttered, I also threw in a Rubiks cube on the filing cabinet, which will be completed. I wanted to show off her intellect beyond the degree on the wall. There will be deep shadows from the light source off camera and night blue tones after I complete the inking stage. I also have plans to do a tribute to her cocreators, Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, and her original voice actress, Arleen Sorkin, on the back cover, but more on that later. For now the focus is on the front cover. More as it develops.