Harley Quinn #65 Review

 

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.

 

 

 

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Harley Quinn #64. 

 

 

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Harley Quinn #63. 

 

 

For what happened before that, see my preview of Harley Quinn #62. 

 

 

For what happened even before that, see my preview of Harley Quinn #61.

 

 

For how this story arc started, see my preview of Harley Quinn #60. 

 

 

  

Mr Terrific: Year One #5 Preview

 

 

Michael Holt has a lot to blame himself for. But he's not dwelling in self-pity and recrimination. He knows where that got him last time. Instead, Michael is revisiting his past to help him repair rifts in the space-time continuum before they cause irreparable damage. 

Are you enjoying this journey back into Michael's past? And are you ready to see what happens next? 

Darkseid is.

Here's all the info from DC Connect: 

 

Mr Terrific: Year One #5

Writer: Al Letson

Artist: Valentine De Landro & Edwin Galmon

Colorist: Marissa Louise & Edwin Galmon

Letterer: Lucas Gattoni

Cover Artists: Edwin Galon; Ken Lashley with Juan Fernandez

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Issue Length: 32 pages

Release Date: September 24, 2025

 

Guest-Starring Black Lightning!

Maybe super-heroics are best left to those with superpowers and science best left to the scientists. At least, that’s what Michael Holt tries to tell his old friend Jefferson Pierce—Black Lightning himself—as Athena Prescott’s reign of terror grows into something altogether otherworldly…and threatens to bring Gateway City to its knees.

Meanwhile, in the present, Mr Terrific desperately searches for a way home, lest he remain trapped in the Palace of Eternity with a mysterious enemy who wants him dead!

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

Supergirl #5 Preview

 

Kara Zor-El had a rough return to her home town, when a girl she protected in Kandor decided to steal her identity as Linda Danvers and Supergirl. But with Lena Luthor's help, Kara and Lesla-Lar are working together to protect the citizens of Midvale. Their pets are a different matter though. Krypto the Superdog and Kandy the Super-Rabbit need to resolve their issues. Streaky the Supercat doesn't get along with anyone. And does Tiny Titano yearn to go big again and rain destruction on Midvale? 

Here's all the info from DC Connect: 

 

Supergirl #5

Writer: Sophie Campbell

Artists: Rosi Kämpe & Paulina Ganucheau

Colorists: Kendall Goode & Marissa Louise

Letterer: Becca Carey

Cover Artists: Sophie Campbell; Stanley “Artgern” Lau; Chrissie Zullo-Uminga, Adriana Melo & Giuliano Peratelli; Chuma Hill; Dan Mora

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: September 10, 2025

 

While Supergirl’s away, the Super-Pets will save the day!

 

When Kara is called away to solve some super-problems in Metropolis, Lena Luthor and the Super-Pets are left to defend Midvale. Can Streaky and Krypto finally put their differences aside for the greater good? Or will they end up fighting like cats and dogs? You won’t want to miss this fun-filled flipbook adventure featuring the newest additions to the Super-Pet family, Titano and Kandy!

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

The Unchosen #2 Review

 

Writer & Artist: David Marquez

Colorist: Marissa Louise

Letterer & Designer: DC Hopkins

Editor: Lauren Sankovitch

Cover Artists: David Marquez & Nick Derington

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: August 13, 2025

 

When Aida awakened in a pit, Alex and Vasha found her. The girl didn't recognize them and ran away to find her mother. Soldiers tried to arrest her. Then four people appeared, wielding astonishing powers. While Vasha fought them off, Alex summoned a glowing portal. As she fell through it, Aida glimpsed memories of her mother. What happened to Aida’s mother? And what do Alex and Vasha want with her? Let’s leap into The Unchosen #2 and see!

 

Story

In David Marquez’s story, Alex and Vasha brought Aida to their school. Alex agrees to help her find her mother. But first, Aida must learn to protect herself. Otherwise, people like the soldiers, and the dark-garbed warriors Vasha fought would capture her. Aida doesn't understand the dangers surrounding her. She yearns to return to the hillside cabin she shares with her mom.

 

As she attends to her studies, Aida feels like she doesn't fit in. She cannot use The Word like the other students. Her friend, Daniel, may be a slow learner. But even he admits that she seems to be taking too long to master the basics. The Novitiate needs people to fight those who use their power to inflict pain and destruction. Yet like the legendary Korra, who struggled to master air-bending, Aida feels like a failure.

 

The Unchosen #2 takes us into Aida's memories. Or at least, those she can remember. After Alex and Vasha brought her to the school, Aida awakened from a nightmare involving her mother. Daniel was the first to welcome her. Despite her fears, Daniel assured Aida that if Alex and Vasha sought her out, she belonged.

 

Aida and Daniel may not run with the cool crowd. Still, the friends realize that responsibility comes with power. The first time we saw Daniel, he cradled a bird in his hands and cried because he couldn’t revive it. Aida struggles with her anger, and her frequent use of profanity shows she doesn’t respect the damage that words can inflict. Still, we learn why Alex befriended Aida’s mother, and why he believes Aida can wield The Word responsibly in The Unchosen #2.

 

Art

Aida remembers standing on the hillside beside her mother. After gazing down into the valley and out to sea, she awakens in a darkened room. Out in the hall, Aida sees the moon rising above a river twisting between hills through towering wall windows. When she whirls at Daniel’s appearance, the boy moves to leave before a view of a distant waterfall. The two regard each other in close-ups. Then, David Marquez pulls back to reveal how their Asgardian surroundings dwarf the young students.

 

After Aida leaves the bluish-gray hall, she bursts into Alex's office. Like Vasha, he wears white and red. His brown robe links Alex with the book-filled shelves covering the walls and the desk filled with papers. Two green objects unite Alex with Aida. Golden trees grow between the towering wall windows and glow in the dark alcoves of the dining hall, imbuing the school with a regal flair. Yet Marissa Louise saves the most vibrant coloring for an evening rendezvous. Orange, red, and purple fill the skies as Alex and Vasha accompany Aida. When Aida arrives for her fateful meeting, yellow and orange rage in The Unchosen #2.

 

DC Hopkins fills white dialogue balloons with uppercase black letters that grow bold for intonation, swell for volume, and shrink for lowered voices. Off-camera dialogue appears in beige and lavender narrative boxes. The merged halves of the same person stand before two types of writing. An unseen breeze whips Aida's hair as furious white scribbles and colors banish the darkness. Thanks to Image Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

School dominates our lives and shapes our characters. Yet few students choose the schools they attend. Then, there are the people we must befriend, or at least learn to get along with. As Aida struggles to understand why she must attend this school at the end of the world, the girl wrestles with why she cannot master the basics of the curriculum in The Unchosen #2.

 

Rating 9/10

 

For how this series began see my review of The Unchosen #1. 

The Unchosen #1 Review

 

Writer & Artist: David Marquez

Colorist: Marissa Louise

Letterer & Designer: DC Hopkins

Editor: Lauren Sankovitch

Cover Artists: David Marquez & Peach Momoko

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 9, 2025

 

Aida should be studying. She needs to master her abilities. But as Cyndi Lauper sings, "Girls just want to have fun." So, Aida plays Hide And Seek with Daniel in the forest. She wants her friend to find her. Instead, Aida finds Daniel clutching a small bird. Tears run down Daniel's cheeks. Why is Daniel so upset about finding a dead bird in the forest? Can Aida lessen Daniel’s sadness? Let’s leap into The Unchosen #1 and see!

 

Story

Daniel shoulders an important responsibility. But he cannot relight the spark inside the Painted Bunting. So, Aida takes his hands in hers and closes her eyes. When she opens them, nothing has changed. Aida’s eyes glisten. Then their classmates discover them. Ezra jeers Aida and Daniel for attempting something beyond them. Purple stars sparkle in his eyes. Esra extends a hand and speaks a different language. The bird's limbs twitch. It opens its eyes. The Painted Bunting opens its beak as if to fill the forest with its chirping song. Then Aida punches Ezra on the nose.

 

David Marquez introduces us to a school for people with extraordinary abilities in The Unchosen #1. The story opens with the event that brought Aida to the school. After this brief interlude with the bird, we return to the moment her life changed. Aida awakened in a pit. Devastation surrounded her. Her teachers, Alex and Vasha, were the first people she saw. But she didn't know who they were. Frightened, Aida sought her mother. But amid the blasted ground and buildings, her mother was nowhere in sight.

 

The Unchosen #1 reveals a power struggle between two schools. While bullies like Ezra may inhabit Aida's school, her teachers, Alex and Vasha, seem better suited to caring for her. But the instructors of the opposing school fight to include her in their ranks. Even if Aida doubts her abilities, yearns to return home, and utters colorful metaphors.

 

Art

Marissa Louise welcomes us into a forest infused with green vitality. Despite the densely packed trees, sunlight pierces the canopy, dappling the brown trunks yellow. The boys' gray calf-length socks contrast with the girls’ gray hose as the students gather clad in their gray and red shorts, skirts, blazers, and ties. Compared with their staid attire, the blue, orange, and green plumage decries the tiny bird's demise. Ezra's nose splatters his face and white shirt with red when Aida punches him. Yet the bully's blonde hair shines as brightly as Aida's yellow boots.

 

But then, Alex shares Ezra’s blonde hair in The Unchosen #1. Their teacher strides in with a red-trimmed brown cloak over his brown slacks. Like Alex, Vasha also appears as Aida first saw her in the brown pit. Her white hair, scarf, and boots contrast with the black catsuit that enhances her fighting skills. Vasha’s white cloak’s scarlet interfacing shines whether attacking soldiers or confronting the representative of a rival school. When she removes her jacket and gloves, tattoos cover every visible part of Vasha’s arms, torso, and fists.

 

DC Hopkins fills white dialogue balloons with uppercase black letters that grow bold for intonation, swell for volume, and shrink for lowered voices. Incantations appear as white symbols amid red and purple. Sound effects heighten a confrontation, while Aida's redacted dialogue enhances the appeal of this colorful, energetic, and action-packed debut. Thanks to Image Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Viktor Krum's Durmstrang and Harry Potter's Hogwarts utilize different curricula. The Unchosen #1 introduces us to two more schools with opposing viewpoints. One, like Freddie Mercury, says, "We want it all, and we want it now." The other, like Axl Rose, urges us to "Take it slow, and things will be just fine."

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.