Harlequin Valentine is a short update of the Commedia dell'arte legend of Harlequin and Columbine, giving the tale a contemporary setting while sacrificing none of its original magic, whimsy and romance. Having giving his heart freely, the lovestruck prankster Harlequin pursues his Columbine through her city, before the story gets a modern twist which wraps it up neatly. Gaiman's writing is relaxed and unforced as always, allowing the story to unfold at its own natural pace, and drawing the reader along all the while. Bolton's painted artwork, meanwhile, strikes just the right balance between fantasy and photo-realism, matching the dynamic of Gaiman's words. Harlequin Valentine is a short story, certainly, but it's no less affecting for it. --Robert Burrow