Harper Row: Fan Favourite

[Judo Grip Batman]

I don't particularly dislike her. I think my problem is that she's just been so...forced on readers. There was nothing at all subtle about her introduction into the Bat-Verse. The first thing we really saw her do is save Batman's life.

It was almost like the editorial powers-that-be/Scott Snyder were telling us: "SEE! HERE'S THIS PERSON YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT! BUT SHE'S SAVING YOUR HERO'S LIFE! WE DEMAND THAT YOU LOVE HER AND WORSHIP HER AS YOUR NEW FAN-FAVOURITE!"

It was just clumsy, is all...I hate to turn this into another Morrison vs. Snyder thread...but look at the difference between Harper's introduction vs. that of a very similar character, Ellie the former prostitute (isn't that a great title?) in Grant's run. We saw a very little bit of her on the streets in the adjectiveless Batman run..just enough to let us know Bruce knows her.

Then we saw him offer her the opportunity to get off the streets and work at Waynetech. This showed us Bruce Wayne's oft-forgotten human side.

Then we saw her actually working at Waynetech...and now we see she may play a crucial part for the end of Inc. The whole thing feels much more subtle than being bludgeoned with the Harper-fan-favourite-hammer.

[InformationGeek]

I It was just clumsy, is all...I hate to turn this into another Morrison vs. Snyder thread...but look at the difference between Harper's introduction vs. that of a very similar character, Ellie the former prostitute (isn't that a great title?) in Grant's run. We saw a very little bit of her on the streets in the adjectiveless Batman run..just enough to let us know Bruce knows her.

...

Ah, who are you talking about?

[JasonTodd428]

I don't particularly dislike her. I think my problem is that she's just been so...forced on readers. There was nothing at all subtle about her introduction into the Bat-Verse. The first thing we really saw her do is save Batman's life. It was almost like the editorial powers-that-be/Scott Snyder were telling us: "SEE! HERE'S THIS PERSON YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT! BUT SHE'S SAVING YOUR HERO'S LIFE! WE DEMAND THAT YOU LOVE HER AND WORSHIP HER AS YOUR NEW FAN-FAVOURITE!"

No, the first time we see her is at the party in Batman #1 as just a face in the crowd. We learn later in issue 12 that Harper had attended that party but still that was her first appearance. It was several issues later that she saved Batman's life and even then I didn't get the sense that anyone, be they the writer or editorial was forcing her down our throats or shouting to all the world that WE MUST LOVE HARPER ROW. That seems to be an exaggeration on your part.

It was just clumsy, is all...I hate to turn this into another Morrison vs. Snyder thread...but look at the difference between Harper's introduction vs. that of a very similar character, Ellie the former prostitute (isn't that a great title?) in Grant's run. We saw a very little bit of her on the streets in the adjectiveless Batman run..just enough to let us know Bruce knows her.

Then we saw him offer her the opportunity to get off the streets and work at Waynetech. This showed us Bruce Wayne's oft-forgotten human side.

Then we saw her actually working at Waynetech...and now we see she may play a crucial part for the end of Inc. The whole thing feels much more subtle than being bludgeoned with the Harper-fan-favourite-hammer.

And yet someone always managed to turn things into a Morrison vs Snyder thing. I see very little difference on the surface between the ways the two were introduced to fans myself at least based your description of how Ellie was introduced (I don't read Inc. so you would know more than me on that score.) and I hardly think that fans are being intentionally "blugeoned" by Harper-fan-favorite" hammer at all. That just happens to be some people's reaction to it is all. It's just some PR jargon in the same vein as "An Epic Storyline that will change everything". Companies use all kinds of jargon to sell their product but that doesn't necessarily make it true particularly with something subjective as comics. Happens so often across all products that I tend to ignore it myself as being pretty much meaningless prattle that is overused.

In any case I suppose it's to each his own.

[Coal Tiger]

...

Ah, who are you talking about?

A minor character Batman meets at various points in Morrison's run. She was a young prostitute that Batman encountered early on, Batman told her that the Wayne corporation was hiring receptionists. Later on in Batman 701 he encounters her again and it's clear that she's no longer a prostitute, and later again in the first volume of Batman Inc, you see her as a receptionist in Wayne Tower.

She's basically an indication that Batman does more good for Gotham than just punching villains.

[InformationGeek]

Oh... that girl with the facepaint. Forgot all about her. I wouldn't really call her a fan favorite either though (I especially can't since she leaves no impression on me).

[Coal Tiger]

Oh... that girl with the facepaint. Forgot all about her. I wouldn't really call her a fan favorite either though (I especially can't since she leaves no impression on me).

I don't really see any connection either, aside from them being young girls with dark hair. Snyder clearly intends Harper Row to be a supporting character, while Morrison intended Ellie to be a background character that was more of an example of what Batman can do than a fully fledged character. You could make the argument that Harper hasn't earned her importance yet or deserve a full issue devoted to her, but that doesn't really have anything to do with anything Morrison's done, since the intent behind either character is so different.

[JasonTodd428]

I don't really see any connection either, aside from them being young girls with dark hair. Snyder clearly intends Harper Row to be a supporting character, while Morrison intended Ellie to be a background character that was more of an example of what Batman can do than a fully fledged character. You could make the argument that Harper hasn't earned her importance yet or deserve a full issue devoted to her, but that doesn't really have anything to do with anything Morrison's done, since the intent behind either character is so different.

I agree that Harper hasn't earned her importance as yet but I thought the issue that was devoted to her was a good background issue on the character and very much needed in order to establish her as a supporting character rather than a background one. At the very least it helped explain why she was motivated to help Batman much better than her sudden earlier appearance did.

[Mr. Holmes]

I don't particularly dislike her. I think my problem is that she's just been so...forced on readers. There was nothing at all subtle about her introduction into the Bat-Verse. The first thing we really saw her do is save Batman's life.

It was almost like the editorial powers-that-be/Scott Snyder were telling us: "SEE! HERE'S THIS PERSON YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT! BUT SHE'S SAVING YOUR HERO'S LIFE! WE DEMAND THAT YOU LOVE HER AND WORSHIP HER AS YOUR NEW FAN-FAVOURITE!"

Yeah, it did feel like a very calculated move.

[JasonTodd428]

Yeah, it did feel like a very calculated move.

How so? (*10 char)

[X-23_1977]

Should have been an other option.

I feel she has the chance to be a very good supporting character if given the chance. Scott Snyder created her due to not being able to use Cassandra Cain, he felt bad about not being able to use Cass. So he created another character to use.

So while I would love Cass back personally, I do like Harper and I hope she stays around but I have a sick feeling she will be the 'death' in Death of the family.

[Judo Grip Batman]

No, the first time we see her is at the party in Batman #1 as just a face in the crowd. We learn later in issue 12 that Harper had attended that party but still that was her first appearance. It was several issues later that she saved Batman's life and even then I didn't get the sense that anyone, be they the writer or editorial was forcing her down our throats or shouting to all the world that WE MUST LOVE HARPER ROW. That seems to be an exaggeration on your part.



And yet someone always managed to turn things into a Morrison vs Snyder thing. I see very little difference on the surface between the ways the two were introduced to fans myself at least based your description of how Ellie was introduced (I don't read Inc. so you would know more than me on that score.) and I hardly think that fans are being intentionally "blugeoned" by Harper-fan-favorite" hammer at all. That just happens to be some people's reaction to it is all. It's just some PR jargon in the same vein as "An Epic Storyline that will change everything". Companies use all kinds of jargon to sell their product but that doesn't necessarily make it true particularly with something subjective as comics. Happens so often across all products that I tend to ignore it myself as being pretty much meaningless prattle that is overused.

In any case I suppose it's to each his own.

Eh....as far as I remember it's the first time I've started a Morrison vs. Snyder debate on these pages, so I'm not going to feel guilty about it. But yeah, you're right, Harper did first appear in Batman # 1, even though all she did was stand there for a couple of panels.

To me, her sudden re-appearance and role in saving Batman's life later in the run just didn't work. It was odd that instead of all his allies, it's this random girl who saves him and then disappears for a while before we finally get to her origin. She's not a terrible character per se, but I do feel there's a certain amount of forced 'you will like this character' stuff going on...and I felt it way before the PR-heavy 'fan favorite' solicitation.

But yeah, to each is own.

[HXHAlex]

I don't like her

Mainly my gripes against her stem from her getting attention and priority over already existing and loved female Batmanverse characters that have been given the shaft (Steph and Cass)

[The Greatest Hero]

I like her fine, I guess. I thought her brother was annoying as hell and needed to grow a pair, but she was ok.

I wouldn't call her a "fan favorite;" she's only been in one full issue and two pages of an old one. Maybe she'll show up and stick around, but I honestly don't care at all. It would be cool for a new character to be introduced that could be around for decades, but I really don't see that happening with her. She'll grow stale, Snyder will leave Batman, and no other writer will do anything with her.

[Quinnhop]

I'd like her if she didn't just look like Lisbeth Salandar but acted like her too.

She could be an amazing Oracle. An Oracle on the street, doing Oracle things on the run from her laptop and smartphone.

[Punter23]

Never read her. So no idea, I'm gonna go with no because I have no idea who she is.