Punchline Appreciation Thread 2020

[Frontier]

Punchline really feels like a millennial Harley, and honestly to some extent she seems more obsessed with Joker than Harley was. At least willing to go much farther with it than she was, since all Harley ever wanted was Joker to love her back, while Punchline wants to spread what she feels is his message in the most effective way possible.

Did they... make Leslie grow white streaks to make her older since they're not allowed to make her actually old?

The same thought crossed my mind.

[CrimsonEchidna]

Punchline has mastered the most dangerous art of them all, playing a victim. A true Karen.

I can see how she can act as a foil to Harper. While Harper constantly tries to go against social norms for women and doesn't conform, Punchline uses them to her advantage.

I'm glad you pointed that out because that was my big takeaway now after reading the full issue. Punchline was pretty clearly manipulating the public perception people had of her "being a victim" and weaponized it. Same with how I said back that her public apology was almost note for note the same recycle apology a Social Influencer will recite when they get caught in a controversy, you see it fully bloom here. It's why that very first scene she have a giant "Unreliable Narrator" tag stamped on every page, because it's the story that she is relaying to the court.

I also really loved the stuff with Cullen. Yeah his and Harper's argument was pretty by-the-numbers but it was a very effective way of showing how people can go down the rabbit hole of the Conspiracy Theory BS.

[Restingvoice]

I was about the say, Punchline totally seem like the type who would attract a bunch of simps eager to defend her innocence.

They would wreak havoc on Twitter, everyone who dislikes her would be "SJW haters" or "incels". Their go-to defense for Punchline would be "she's troubled", "she was a good quiet kid" and "freedom of speech".

Gosh. Yesh. I love this concept so much. Forget Joker's New Girlfriend, this is how she's gonna stick around.

[Stars & Stripes]

Considering Bluebird showing up in her oneshot in November, I’m curious about the idea of Punchline and Bluebird being archenemies.

I didn’t think they’d actually go with this, but they did.

[Westbats]

I didn’t think they’d actually go with this, but they did.

They pit against each other well. I think however, that Tynion and Johns are setting the stage for what will ultimately be a Free-For-All confrontation between Bluebird, Punchline, and Clownhunter. After all, anyone who connects to Joker has the attention of Clownhunter, and he acts within The Narrows as well.

[OopsIdiditagain]

This issue made me like Harper a lot more. She melds well with Punchline, they make each other more interesting. Hopefully, Clownhunter can do the same for Harley Quinn.

[Mistah K88]

How young is Leslie Thompkins supposed to be? I can buy her being Bruce's age...

I was about the say, Punchline totally seem like the type who would attract a bunch of simps eager to defend her innocence.

They would wreak havoc on Twitter, everyone who dislikes her would be "SJW haters" or "incels". Their go-to defense for Punchline would be "she's troubled", "she was a good quiet kid" and "freedom of speech".

How long do you think it will take until Punchline gets a seat on the Justice League?

I'm not going to lie, at first I didn't think much of Punchline except "discount Harley" with a cool design (and easy for someone to cosplay). However recently, especially with her doing the whole "tragic backstory" schtick, and playing with it. She's going through the cliches that a lot of popular female villains get to make them more "anti-heroine" and sympathetic and taking advantage of those tropes. I'm kind of curious to see where all of this will go.

[OopsIdiditagain]

Wait a minute...

Army of simps - check
Streaming channel - check
Anime Aesthetic - Check

Punchline is an e-girl. All she needs is a sidekick called White Knight...

[prepmaster]

Punchline is not worth simping for.

[Jman27]

read the issue girl is pretty smart excited to see where this goes. I dont know much about Harper and her family but that kinda sucks that her parents where killed by a mind control Cass I can understand how the brother feels

[Frontier]

How young is Leslie Thompkins supposed to be? I can buy her being Bruce's age...

She was an adult when the Wayne's were murdered.

[Jman27]

She was an adult when the Wayne's were murdered.

so its an Aunt May situation trying to de aging her while we aint paying attention

[Frontier]

so its an Aunt May situation trying to de aging her while we aint paying attention

It was the New 52. Everybody had to be young back then .

[Mistah K88]

She was an adult when the Wayne's were murdered.

Right, but Bruce is not a spring chicken himself (He HAS to be at LEAST in his 40's), so perhaps Leslie is a youth vampire.

so its an Aunt May situation trying to de aging her while we aint paying attention

Oh, she's using the same routine as Spider-Man's Dr. Ashley Kafka, who was CLEARLY middle aged in early appearances.

[Restingvoice]

so its an Aunt May situation trying to de aging her while we aint paying attention

OMIGOSH YES she's EXACTLY like Aunt May
She's in her 70s-80s in the 70s
Aged down to Alfred's age in the 80s-90s and they have a tension, so about 60s
Aged down to be in her 40s-50s in New 52 when Bruce is 32 (she has black hair but still has to be old enough to be a doctor in her 20s while helping Bruce as a child)