The Dragon's Cache: Harley Quinn #65 Review

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Harley Quinn #65 Review

Writer: Elliott Kalan

Artist: Carlos Olivares

Colorist: Marissa Louise

Letterer: Lucas Gattoni

Cover Artist: Brandt&Stein

Variant Cover Artists: David Nakayama; Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson; Derrick Chew

Dark Knight Returns 40^th Anniversary Variant Cover Artists: Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer

Editors: James Reid, Arianna Turturro & Rob Levin

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99 US/Variant $4.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: August 26, 2026

When Batquinn kept sending people to the hospital, her injured enemies formed a club. But instead of meeting once a week for games, movies, and snacks, the Harley Quinn Revenge Squad armored up. Then they abducted Batquinn and gave her a new suit. And when she awakens in her last battleground, the grim sentinel of justice has a new mission: escape the rollercoaster of death and free Mrs Grimaldi from her captors.

With the Monochromatic Man's poison flowing through her veins, can Batquinn survive the bullets, missiles, and power saws long enough to rescue her landlady? And what joker selected a carnival for the battle of Batquinn's life? Let's leap into Harley Quinn #65 and see!

Story

After Batquinn’s attack, Backhand armored up and became 4orehand. But when he attacked her at the carnival of death, Batquinn liked one of his philosophical quotes. So, he led her to the benefactor who financed his new armor. Harleen carries a bat. She holds Mrs Grimaldi hostage. But all Harleen wants is for Batquinn to hang up her cape.

Harley Quinn #65 follows Batquinn’s insistence upon fighting for justice. Former friends become enemies when they get in her way. Harleen and Chicken Fingers insist on trying to reason with her. They want her to consider how her new serious approach to life has driven people away. Yet Batquinn doesn't want to weigh the merits of her new approach against her former way of living. She's finally taking her life seriously, and they're wrong if they don't share her new worldview. Plus, Batquinn is dying. She may only have a little time left. In her final moments, Batquinn doesn't want to abandon the mission that gives her life meaning.

Amid all the violence, Elliott Kalan's story highlights how much Harley Quinn's friends care about her. They want her to realize that happiness and devotion to a cause are not necessarily the same thing. Harleen and Chicken Fingers admit that using violence to solve problems often feels like winning. But Batquinn hurts others because she has been hurt. And even if she survives the Monochromatic Man's poison, Batquinn cannot have a life until she addresses why she is hurting and learns to move on in Harley Quinn #65.

Art

Harleen rests her baseball bat atop a shoulder and waves away Batquinn’s assertions that she’s better the way she is now. Batquinn raises her fists, and her cape flutters as Harleen says something the grim sentinel of justice takes for criticism. Despite his arrival on a two-page spread, Chicken Fingers battles Batquinn across panel-packed pages. Yet even with his newfound powers, Chicken Fingers’ expression reveals the strain the battle takes on him.

As Carlos Olivares delivers an action-packed finale to The Harq Knight Returns, Marissa Louise adorns Harley Quinn #65 with bright colors. A transparent shield covers Batquinn's gray face, while her gray hair flows with her every movement. She may wear a red-and-blue uniform. Still, Batquinn retains her black bat ears. As Chicken Fingers battles Batquinn, his red, blue, and yellow costume evokes the reader’s discomfort when Superman and Batman clash. Yet the gray-and-white Monochromatic Man’s actions illustrate Chicken Fingers’ concerns about using his superpowers.

Lucas Gattoni places black uppercase dialogue in white balloons. Harleen speaks into pink clouds, evoking her former status as Quintellect. While the Monochromatic Man’s balloons are bordered in gray, Batquinn’s white thoughts appear in black boxes adorned with a Bat symbol. Yet sound effects proliferate as the battle for justice grows increasingly intense, and the Monochromatic Man’s poison drains Batquinn’s vitality. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

Final Thoughts

Pamela Isley loves Harley Quinn. Still, the way Harley Quinn made light of everything she did hurt Mayor Isley's credibility. So after Pamela pushed her away, Harley tried to do as her beloved friend suggested. The Alpha Energy that Superman shared with all the Omega Tournament participants made that job easier. But in her pain, hurt by Ivy's betrayal, Harley drew inspiration from Ivy's nemesis. Now, as she nears her end, Batquinn must decide if she wants to keep punishing Ivy for pushing her away and herself for letting Ivy down in Harley Quinn #65.

Rating 9.8/10

To look inside see Harley Quinn #65 Preview.