Talking ‘Harley Quinn x Elvira’ With Co-Writer Jimmy Palmiotti

What happens when the Mistress of Darkness crosses paths with Harley Quinn? If you believe Amanda Conner‘s cover for the first issue, it’s all fun and games and joke shop pranks, but only time will tell if this partnership leads to chaotic good or evil. Co-written by Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, with art by Conner and Juan Samu, Harley Quinn x Elvira launches this October, but here’s what Palmiotti was willing to share about the crossover so far:

Rachel Bellwoar: Having completed such a successful run of Harley Quinn comics, what made you want to return to the character now?

Jimmy Palmiotti: Simply put, we thought it would be a lot of fun to do a company crossover with two companies we work for, Dynamite and DC, and the subject matter for this was perfect for us. We love Harley and always entertained by Elvira, and since this is all about Halloween themes, well, it seemed like a no brainer that we should be doing it. That and we have bills to pay and parents to look after.

Bellwoar: Do you think Poison Ivy would be annoyed by the solicitation text’s claim that Harley and Elvira are “the greatest team-up since Frankenstein met his Bride”?

Palmiotti: Ivy understands hype, so she isn’t losing sleep on this one. She knows how annoying Harley could be to some, so she is sitting back to watch the firework show. She also understands that Harley falls in love at the drop of a hat with some and just wants her girl to be happy. Ivy has enough to worry about these days.

Bellwoar: In general, why do you think these two, 4th-wall-breaking icons make such a good match?

Palmiotti: It’s all about attitude and how they see the world and react to it. They are both characters that push through their problems and at times stab through them as well, and have a sense of humor that is part defense mechanism. They understand that the world around them can be cruel at times but spread their light wherever possible.

Bellwoar: Dynamite Comics is Elvira’s home turf. Has it been different writing and drawing Harley Quinn for them versus DC?

Palmiotti: They have been fantastic to deal with. My editor on the Dynamite side is Joseph Rybandt and we have known each other for years and he totally understands our creative process, so nothing is really a problem that we throw his way. We are also lucky enough to get the best editor DC comics has on this Chris Conroy, who has been with Amanda and I almost the entire time we did Harley, so he is well aware how insane we can drive him and deals with it. These two are just perfect for this project and I am glad Nick [Barrucci] and Marie [Javins] figured this out for us.

Bellwoar: Technically “e” comes before “h” alphabetically. Did Harley and Elvira argue over who gets top billing?

Palmiotti: I have no idea what happened behind the scenes on that one, but it’s also not that important to either of them since they are both featured on every single cover. That petty behavior is shared by those with bigger egos. I think the ladies are all just fine with the billing, but we shall see. Maybe they should swap the title every other issue, that will cause some madness in comic shops.

Bellwoar: The pumpkins on the cover would suggest that this story takes place around Halloween. Why time it for that holiday and, for that matter, why Brooklyn, New York?

Palmiotti: Last thing we wanted to do is put Harley in Gotham, since that’s what every other book she is in does and we wanted to make sure Harley is with her supporting cast and not the bat fellows. Coney Island is where we set the series for over 5 years and we keep her there because that is where Harley was born and raised and considers her home. The story itself is about Halloween, but not on Halloween, and you will get why that is the case from the very first issue.

Bellwoar: It also sounds like Elvira’s TV show is being threatened with cancellation. What other shows would you love to see Elvira and Harley guest on if their efforts to save this one don’t pan out?

Palmiotti: I think the perfect world would be an animated series with them both. I think there is room for that – maybe they can lend a hand and fill in for Svengoolie now and again in Chicago when he wants to take a vacation. Honestly, my brain goes right to the two of them hosting a local news station in the middle of nowhere and causing nightly chaos and high ratings. Maybe that’s another story idea for another time. We shall see how this series does first.

Bellwoar: If you could bring one cancelled show back, which would you choose?

Palmiotti: I think we could make a new version of Moonlighting with Harley and Elvira as the two detectives. Maybe a modern version of Three’s Company with Ivy joining the two of them. Oh, are you just talking shows in general that I wish there were more of? I got a list: the original Star Trek, more Game of Thrones, Deadwood, Fargo, 30 Rock, Ren and Stimpy, and Mister Ed. I would definitely want to see more Painkiller Jane for personal reasons

Bellwoar: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Jimmy!

Harley Quinn x Elvira #1 goes on sale October 1st from Dynamite Comics.