Springing out of a cartoon series, never the less, Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel started off her story as a kind, smart, and good natured psychiatrist, Harley soon fell head over heels for the witty, charismatic and insane and Batman obsessed, Joker who was her patient. Her falling for him, typical of the phrase 'you can't help who you fall in love with' among other themes surrounding love, and obsession.
William Baker had an abusive father and his mother was an alcoholic. He grew up without much guidance and took advice from a friend that told him money was everything. Using the alias Flint Marko, Baker gambled and stole money which resulted in him being jailed. When he attempted to escape he became trapped in a nuclear facility and became mutated into Sandman. He escaped and went back to robbing which was easier in part due to his powers but he was routinely thwarted by Spider-man.
SC: I give this to... Sandman much to my own surprise. I like how he came up with his alias, and I like sand/glass sculptures. Harley's is great as well... I like that she was so intelligent and proactive.
U: Harley’s origin story is really intriguing and even a bit of a mystery about whether the Joker seduced her or whether she acted out of her own means.
Powers:
The power of awesome. Erm, otherwise, no actual powers. Gifted fighter though and she was an acrobatic in her younger days and so is very agile, flexible, and nimble (just like traditional Arlecchino) oh and having a cool Brooklyn accent can be disarming. Oh and she usually carries a weapon of sorts, oh and her Les Yay Poison Ivy hooked her up with an immunity to most poisons and toxins.
Sandman can alter his entire molecular structure and convert it to sand. Thus, he can shape-shift and manipulate his size. He can harden and form a giant mace or hand to pulverize his enemies. His new ability also allows him to form multiple copies of himself.
SC: Sandy Man... has too much raw power.
U: Although Harley has the giant ridiculous hammer that seems to pop out of thin air, she won’t be a match for a tag team of Sandmen. (But wait maybe she can win if she brings a giant vacuum cleaner instead!)
Even Spidey is no match for an angry Sandman
Costume:
Classy and iconic, Harley's red and black Harlequin suit, a Jester's suit, adorned with diamonds. A subversion of sorts, and yet apt given her personality.
He wears a green striped T-shirt and khaki pants. What’s the point of dressing fancy if you’re going to be drenched with sand all the time?
SC: I agree with Harley. Its another layer that adds to her characterization and personality. She is a character her dresses as she is, if that makes sense. Plus I am pretty sure Sandman is nude and is like Mystique who just makes her body look like clothes. If that makes sense.
U: Whereas Sandman doesn’t even have one, Harley’s costume resembles her own divided state – a mix of red and black representing order and chaos.
To the Winner, The spoils. Wow, whoever designed this must have thought about this for a while to incorporate such complex themes into the character though what they dress...
Personality:
Eclectic, bubbly, crazy, insane, smart, twisted, cunning, crafty, bright, dark, fun, sexy, cool. All that, bottled up, mixed with coca cola and menthos, shaken, and then poured into a red and black Harlequin suit. A jigsaw puzzle that can never be completed, because all the pieces are just a little bit crazy... surreal, bizarre. I need scissors! 61! La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo! La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo! La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo!
Sandman is not entirely evil and had a change of heart which lasted for a time. He was a member of the Avengers as well as a tremendous aid to Spider-man and other heroes. He even earned a presidential pardon for his previous mistakes.
SC: I give this to Harley, she is so silly and sly. Cunning and fun. Twisted and sweet.
U: This one is a tie as both characters are unsure about their perspective towards life and are constantly changing sides between being good and evil over the years.
Aesthetics:
Essentially the same as her costume. Harley is a role, a look, a persona, that not only hides her iconic blonde hair, but her as equally distorted and warped mind. Of course look close enough and Harley's in part symmetrical (rotational) themed outfit, both balanced and and also an example of imbalance as well, hint at the depth of the character.
Sandman has faced numerous setbacks over the years not all of them due to Spider-man. Constant use of his powers causes him a great deal of mental stress and he has also been a cancer patient.
SC: Similar to above. Sandman's hair does him no favors. Harley gets this point for me.
U: Harley – her costume, personality… everything fits perfectly well with her character!
Enter Sandman
Best Story:
Mad Love, easily. Very fun, and critically acclaimed. You should really own a copy, if you don't already.
His membership in the first incarnation of the Frightful Four. All the members wore purple and pink because those are quite frightening colors! They were defeated by the Fantastic Four but there have been numerous Frightful Four that have attempted to be the successor to the first.
SC: I'll score for Harley. Loved Mad Love.
U: Mad Love stories were great and written by Dini who created her. Sandman’s, however, loses points for crashing Reed and Sue’s engagement party.
Mad Love For Harley?
Fun Fact:
Harley is a walking fun fact. How is this for Six Degrees of separation though, Harley Quinn is based off of Arleen Sorkin, who was an actress on Days of our Lives, a show which also had a Dr by the name of Dr. Drake Ramoray, who was in fact fictional actor Joey Tribbiani, who knows Monica Geller, played by Courtney Cox, who was in Masters of the Universe, which is about He-Man, who would so own Wolverine in a fight, the same Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman, who also starred in a movie with Christian Bale, who also plays the Dark Knight, Batman who is the hero to... Joker's villain, the same Mistah J that Harley adores... and it only took six steps to uncover this crafty link. Yeah...
His first defeat by Spider-man was due to a vacuum cleaner.
SC: That's pretty funny about Flint. I'll give him a point here.
U: Sandman’s epitomizes the goofy stories of comic books and how much they have advanced as a medium since.
Media Appearance:
Harley actually started off as a cartoon character first and comic book character second, so there's that and recently she has made waves in the highly popular Arkham Asylum. Oh and Batman Lego!!!!!!!!!
He was a villain in Spider-man 3 but his grand act of villainy and spotlight were stolen by the anorexic Venom.
SC: Harley deserves this. I mean she started as a cartoon!
U: Harley reigns as Queen in this category!
This is much better than a picture of movie Sandman
Current Whereabouts:
Harley Quinn is currently in hiding after seeing her upcoming redesign for the new DC Reboot... oh wait.. "Relaunch" eye witness reports that she has been seen palming desks into her face and head violently whilst screaming expletives and "why me" over and over again. Also according to some witnesses Harley has resorted to taping her bodysuit on with Admantium tape. Screaming out lines about taking away her life, but not her freedom or dignity in a Scottish accent.
He is currently with the Sinister Six and preparing for his act of vengeance against Spider-man for abducting Princess Keemia from his own machinated sand castle into child foster care.
SC: Sandman. Even though he is naked he is still wearing more... okay that's unfair. A few weeks ago this would have been an easy Harley point, but GCS has been on a slide for me. Still she appears more. I give this a draw.
U: Sandman, currently, because he’s not in hiding, well he is from the law but at least he’s with similar thinking pals and not getting a complete makeover!
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