Harper Row: Bluebird Appreciation 2023

[Stars & Stripes]

For better or worse, we still got some Bluebird content to tide us over with Harper playing a prominent role in "Punchline: The Gotham Game", continuing her rivalry with the new clown-based villain in Gotham. In addition, 2023 will see her appear on The CW's "Gotham Knights" TV series, played by Fallon Smythe. While early reception towards the show has been negative, here's hoping we see her get a better shine on the show.

Last year's Bluebird thread

As always, here's the reading guide, courtesy of Westbats:

So, new year, new opportunities. With Harper recently appearing in Punchline Special 1 and Dark Knights: Death Metal 5 and there being groundwork for her and Leslie Thompkins in the Punchline backup stories, 2021 looks to be a year where she can get a bit of the proverbial limelight.

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For new readers, I have compiled a list of appearances, with major issues being placed in bold.

Batman Volume 2 #1 First non-speaking appearance.
Batman Volume 2 #7 First speaking appearance, name dropped as well.
Batman Volume 2 #12 "Origin" issue, circling back to Batman Volume 2 #1. First appearance of Cullen Row.
Batman Volume 2 #18 First time Harper is in the prototype suit. First appearance of Marcus Row.

Detective Comics Volume 2 #21 Follow-up to Batman Volume 2 #18.

Batman Volume 2 #25 Flashback, gives insight to Harper's problem solving skills.
Batman Volume 2 #28 Batman Eternal preview, first appearance of Harper as Bluebird.
Batman Volume 2 #29 Cameo appearance during Batman: Zero Year.

Batman Eternal 2
Batman Eternal 5
Batman Eternal 12- 17
Batman Eternal 19
Batman Eternal 25-26
Batman Eternal 36
Batman Eternal 41
Batman Eternal 42
Batman Eternal 43-52

Batman Volume 2 #35 Cameo appearance during dream sequence, showing some future iteration of the Bluebird suit.
Batman Volume 2 #39 Fighting with the Bat-family.

Detective Comics: Endgame #1 Cameo appearance.

Batman Volume 2 #40 Fighting with the Bat-family.

Batman and Robin Eternal 1-14
Batman and Robin Eternal 17-26

Batgirl Volume 4 #47 Teams up with Batgirl, Spoiler, and Operator.
Batgirl Volume 4 #49
Batgirl Volume 4 #50
Batgirl Volume 4 #51 Makes front page.
Batgirl Volume 4 #52 Cameo appearance with Spoiler.

Detective Comics Volume 1 #943 First Rebirth appearance.
Detective Comics Volume 1 #944
Detective Comics Volume 1 #945 Reveal that Harper is bisexual.
Detective Comics Volume 1 #946
Detective Comics Volume 1 #950 Cameo appearance, tries to console Cassandra Cain.
Detective Comics Volume 1 #956
Detective Comics Volume 1 #964 Cameo appearance.

Punchline Special #1 Major part of the story, takes Harper out of retirement, Bluebird comes back.

The Joker Appears in Punchline backup stories as a co-lead in issues 1-15.

Punchline: The Gotham Game #3 - 6 Appears to do battle with Punchline once more, teaming up with Nightwing & Batman. (Last known appearance)

Future State: Gotham #5 One-panel cameo where she teams up with Batwoman to take down Killer Orca.

Dark Knights Death Metal #5 Cameo appearance.

[Frontier]

Happy New Year to Harper and fans .

[Westbats]

Thank you very much Stars & Stripes for utilizing my reference list from a couple years back, I wasn't sure how I was going to move that info to this new discussion thread. Happy New Year to everyone!

Besides The CW's Gotham Knights, this year will also have Bluebird on at least one guaranteed cover (Punchline: The Gotham Game #5), the previous cover being the Jen Bartel Batman 109 variant.

I've also got a couple artwork projects in the works for Harper Row, so we can look forward to that too.

I was able to read Punchline: The Gotham Game #3 at last and it definitely feels like Punchline is intentionally targeting Harper and Cullen. To what end, I've got no clue. Can't wait to see more Harper next month though.

[Stars & Stripes]

I do wonder what people would think if Harper was set up as a sidekick/ally for Nightwing instead of Batman. Saw some good discussion on Reddit about it today.

[Westbats]

I do wonder what people would think if Harper was set up as a sidekick/ally for Nightwing instead of Batman. Saw some good discussion on Reddit about it today.

I feel like people would start comparing Harper to Damian, and be upset that Dick isn't spending time with him instead. I feel like Tim would be an interesting mentor/partner for her, given their team-up in the pages of Batman Eternal.

[Frontier]

I feel like people would start comparing Harper to Damian, and be upset that Dick isn't spending time with him instead. I feel like Tim would be an interesting mentor/partner for her, given their team-up in the pages of Batman Eternal.

Tim basically trained her and as of now she's age equivalent to a lot of the main teen Bats.

[Westbats]

Tim basically trained her and as of now she's age equivalent to a lot of the main teen Bats.

Exactly, there's a lot of storytelling potential for her to have a mentor who's close in age but a wide gap in experience.

[Stars & Stripes]

What would be a good place for Harper after her role in the Punchline mini concludes?

[Westbats]

Personally I hope for a Harper-led miniseries, but I would say Batgirls or Tim Drake: Robin would be good places for her to show up. I remember Becky Cloonan years ago saying that Harper was a favourite of hers (given Becky did artwork for Batman 12) so I would like to see a team up between Steph, Cass, and Harper.

[Stars & Stripes]

I brought this up in another thread, but giving Harper her own teen-oriented OGN would not be a bad idea. You could really let her shine as Bluebird under this format.

[Stars & Stripes]

Hoping she gets a bio in the DC Pride book coming out in May.

[Westbats]

I’m super excited for the Cover B variant for Punchline: The Gotham Game 5 with Harper on it.