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 40th 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.
