DC Comics did something weird back in 2014. They decided that reading a comic book wasn't enough; you needed to smell it too. This wasn't some high-brow experimental art piece. It was the Harley Quinn Annual #1, better known to collectors and confused shop owners as the Harley Quinn scratch n sniff comic.
It was gross. It was brilliant. It was pure Harley.
Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner were the creative powerhouses behind this era of Harley Quinn. They didn't just write a story; they built a subculture around the character that moved her away from being just "Joker's girlfriend" and into her own chaotic, Coney Island-based world. But when the "Director’s Cut" idea for an Annual came up, they leaned into the old-school gimmickry of 1950s cinema. Remember "Smell-O-Vision"? This was the modern, ink-stained equivalent.
The Logistics of a Stinky Comic
Printing a scratch n sniff comic isn't as simple as rubbing a perfume sample on the cover. DC had to work with specialized printers to embed scent oils into microcapsules within the ink. When you scratch the page, those tiny bubbles pop.
The scents were categorized. Some were pleasant. Some were... not.
There was a genuine concern at the time about international shipping. Because the comic emitted strong odors, there were rumors that customs agents in certain countries might flag the shipments as potentially hazardous or just plain "off." It sounds like a joke, but when you have 10,000 copies of a book that smells like "Cannabis" (more on that in a second) sitting in a warm shipping container, things get complicated.
The Scent List Breakdown
- Leather: This one actually smelled pretty good. It was meant to evoke Harley’s gear and the gritty New York vibe.
- Pizza: Honestly? This one smelled more like stale oregano and cardboard than a fresh slice from Joe’s, but it fit the Coney Island setting.
- Sunscreen: A hit of nostalgia. It captured that chemical, coconut-heavy scent of a public beach in July.
- The "Secret" Scent: This is where the controversy lived.
That "Cannabis" Contention
If you talk to any collector about the Harley Quinn scratch n sniff comic, they’ll bring up the weed scent. Technically, DC called it "Cannabisylocibe." It was a cheeky, made-up word to bypass sensors, but the intent was clear. It was supposed to smell like marijuana.
In the story, Harley visits a botanical garden. She's surrounded by exotic, hallucinogenic plants. The scent was meant to immerse the reader in her "trippy" experience. However, the actual smell was a bit of a letdown for the rebels out there. Most readers reported it smelled more like mown grass or a bag of cheap herbal tea than high-grade kush.
Still, the PR move worked. Headlines across the nerd-sphere screamed about DC printing a comic that smelled like drugs. It was the kind of "bad girl" marketing that cemented this specific run of Harley Quinn as the definitive version for a new generation of fans.
Why This Gimmick Actually Worked for the Story
Gimmicks usually suck. They feel like a desperate plea for a five-dollar bill. But Palmiotti and Conner understood that Harley Quinn is a character who breaks the fourth wall, if not physically, then certainly tonally.
The plot of the Annual involves Harley trying to break Poison Ivy out of Arkham Asylum (or rather, a specialized detention center). It’s a road trip story. It’s a buddy-cop movie on acid. By adding the scents, the creators turned a standard comic into an interactive toy. It matched the "anything goes" energy of the art.
You’ve got to admire the commitment. They didn't just do one scent on the cover. They integrated the smells into the narrative flow. You were prompted to scratch specific circles as you turned the pages. It slowed the reading process down. It made you linger on the art. In an age where digital comics were starting to take over, this was a loud, stinky argument for the necessity of physical print.
Collecting the Harley Quinn Scratch n Sniff Comic Today
If you’re looking to buy this now, you need to be careful. Scents don't last forever. Microcapsules degrade. If you buy a "VF/NM" (Very Fine/Near Mint) copy that’s been sitting in a hot attic for a decade, that pizza scent might have morphed into something truly demonic.
What to Look For
- The Variants: There were different covers. The main one features Harley surrounded by various "smell bubbles."
- The "Scratch" Status: A "pristine" copy technically shouldn't be scratched. But a scratch n sniff comic that hasn't been smelled is like a car that's never been driven. Collectors are split on this. Most prefer "unscratched" for the grade, but the value doesn't plummet as much as you'd think if the bubbles are popped, provided the page isn't torn.
- The Smell Test: If you're buying in person at a con, don't be the person who scratches a vendor's book without asking. That’s a quick way to get banned from a booth.
The Legacy of the Odor
We don't see this often anymore. Why? Because it’s expensive and it makes the warehouse smell like a chemical factory. But the Harley Quinn scratch n sniff comic remains a high-water mark for the "New 52" and "DC Rebirth" era. It represented a time when DC was willing to be irreverent.
It wasn't trying to be The Watchmen. It was trying to be a fun Saturday morning cartoon that you could smell.
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Interestingly, this wasn't the first time comics got smelly. Archie Comics and even some indie labels tried it in the 80s and 90s. But Harley did it with a level of self-awareness that those earlier attempts lacked. She knew it was a gimmick. She leaned into it.
Practical Advice for Preservation
If you own a copy and want to keep the scent alive for another ten years, keep it cool. Heat is the enemy of the chemical bonds in those scent capsules. Store it in a "Mylar" bag with an acid-free backing board. Don't press the book. If you put it in a comic press to get rid of spine ticks, you will likely pop every single scent bubble simultaneously, and your house will smell like sunscreen and "Cannabisylocibe" for a month.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts
If you're looking to add this piece of history to your long box, your best bet is searching for Harley Quinn Annual #1 (2014) on secondary markets. Avoid copies labeled as "Digital Editions" for obvious reasons—your iPad cannot smell like pizza yet. Check the seller's notes specifically for "scent integrity" if you actually plan on scratching it. For those more interested in the story than the gimmick, the "Harley Quinn by Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti Omnibus" collects the entire run, though you'll have to provide your own smells.