In this review of Harley Quinn #48, Harley’s secret rendezvous with Poison Ivy becomes an unwelcome throuple when a member of Batman’s rogues gallery (no, not that one), crashes the party.
Harley Quinn #48 main cover by Elizabeth Torque (DC Comics)
HARLEY QUINN #48
Written by ELLIOTT KALAN
Art by MINDY LEE
Main Cover: ELIZABETH TORQUE
Variant Covers: DAVID NAKAYAMA, JORGE FORNÉS, BAILIE ROSENLUND, RYAN BENJAMIN
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: February 26, 2025
This review contains spoilers
Harley Quinn #48 begins in Slaughter Swamp, as Harley and Poison Ivy try for a romantic getaway (it’s hard to find time for a relationship when both members of a power couple have successful solo titles). Ivy presses Harley on her recent troubles, as Harley’s judgmental inner voice also berates her. Ivy’s not the psychiatrist here, but she thinks Harley just wants everyone to like her (which is a stunning inner conflict for an anti-hero to have).
As Harley ticks off her numerous personal and professional issues, a pair of Professor Pyg’s musclebound dollotrons emerge from the water. Harley and Ivy dispatch the mind-controlled automatons with ease, realizing too late that they were just decoys. Professor Pyg tranqs them both and takes them back to his evil scientist lair which is also conveniently located in Slaughter Swamp.
Pyg ties Harley up, and promises that his mind control procedure will make Ivy a perfect girlfriend (by drilling a hole in her head). Harley breaks free and takes out her frustrations on a large group of dollotrons before turning her attention to Professor Pyg. Harley works through her inner rage during a brutal multi-panel brawl with Pyg, and also achieves a breakthrough about her relationship with Ivy.
Harley then discovers that Ivy was awake the whole time, (her enhanced body filters toxins; how did I know this and Harley didn’t?) Harley’s annoyed by the ruse, but realizes that Ivy did it to help her work through her issues. Pyg vacillates between his creepy mother fixation and his creepy mad scientist vibe as Harley continually pummels him.
Harley Quinn #48 ends as Harley and Ivy embrace while watching Professor Pyg’s lab burn down. Pyg is sprawled somewhere in the swamp, as the various dollotrons wander aimlessly around the burning structure.
Analysis
Harley Quinn #48 isn’t quite as entertaining as the previous four issues of this story arc, but it’s still wildly enjoyable. Writer Elliot Kalan provides more of his humorous and insightful dialogue, especially for Harley’s inner voice, which seems to act as her conscience and as a pseudo-therapist for the conflicted anti-hero. The sight gag of a shaky caption box for her inner voice as Harley regains consciousness in Pyg’s lab is hilarious.
Poison Ivy fits seamlessly into Harley’s strange world without contradicting her own solo title’s current storyline and their chemistry is palpable, even if they have unusual ideas about monogamy.
It is easier to root for Harley as an anti-hero, than as just a straight-up villain, and that’s important since she’s also the main character. She has shown remarkable growth just in these five issues, with her new role as protector of her old neighborhood, her relationship with Ivy.
Mindy Lee’s art continues to be a perfect fit for this series, mixing her energetic, cartoonish style with facial expressions that speak volumes with a single look. This hybrid style reflects the more oddball nature of the character, while mixing in elements of the more grounded person she is attempting to become.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this creative team brings new depth and dimension (along with plenty of laughs), to the fan-favorite power couple, despite some outlandish guest stars and circumstances.
