In this review of Harley Quinn #58, Harley attempts to help her neighborhood in the aftermath of The Deconspirator’s chaos, but while Althea Klang is still around, a new antagonist makes themselves known, and Richie Grimaldi scores a date with a Gunbuddy.
Harley Quinn #58 main cover Yanick Paquette (DC Comics)
HARLEY QUINN #58
Written by ELLIOTT KALAN
Art by CARLOS OLIVARES
Main Cover: YANICK PAQUETTE
Variant Covers: DAVID NAKAYAMA, INHYUK LEE, ELIZABETH TORQUE, HAINING
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 1/28/26
This review contains spoilers
Harley Quinn #58 begins as the community of Throatcutter Hill mourn the loss of one of their own as Harley and her new allies, The Gunbuddies and Convoy survey the wreckage Deconspirator left in his wake. Harley realizes there is still one more menace to remove from her beloved neighborhood: Althea Klang, Harley’s enemy/frenemy/current crush. At Nowegosoe tower (it’s an acronym), Harley does her level best to annoy Althea into leaving (cue the humorous montage) while Ms. Klang misinterprets Harley’s actions as affection.
Time passes and Harley has run out of ideas to drive Althea out of town (after bagpipes and using Richie Grimaldi’s sound enhanced armor) , when a zeppelin appears in the sky overhead, wreaking more havoc for the embattled neighborhood neighborhood. Richie gives Harley a lift to Althea as the new menace reveals himself to be (one-off) Batman villain, Colonel Blimp. The colonel bloviates as he struts down the gangplank, declaring himself in charge of Throatcutter Hill.
Harley, Althea and head stooge Amygdala make short work of the colonel whose assortment of vintage firearms prove lacking. In a swift turn of events, Colonel Blimp begs for sanctuary from Harley, and if that isn’t bad enough, a helicopter suddenly appears, demanding Colonel Blimp’s surrender in the name of former (gross-out) Harley nemesis Guy Mandrake. Apparently the recent power grab in Gotham City is forcing D-list villains to fight over the remaining scraps, including Harley’s neighborhood.
After Amygdala’s failed frontal attack, Harley repels a missile attack with only her trusty baseball bat. The redirected missile obliterates the helicopter, but the pilot parachutes to, well, not to safety, because Harley’s there, but at least he’s not dead. Harley’s about had it with all of the chaos, and declares Throatcutter Hill to be off limits.
Harley Quinn #58 ends with armored Richie dragging Colonel Blimp’s “Crime Zeppelin” to the local dump, while Harley tells Althea to get gussied up because they’re finally going on a date.
Analysis
Harley Quinn #58 certainly packs the story with enough goings-on, from the aftermath of The Deconspirator’s reign of terror, to all-new attempted reigns of terror in what isn’t already on fire. Writer Elliot Kalan redirects Harley’s focus back to safeguarding her neighborhood from a new threat, outside agitators, aka Gotham’s D-list. Of course, it isn’t Harley’s fault that she was absconded with her now friends, The Gunbuddies (and Convoy).
Kalan continues to populate this series with previously established absurdist nemeses that fit seamlessly into the heightened reality of Harley’s world. From Colonel Blimp, a previous one-off Batman villain, to Guy Mandrake, a previous one-off Harley antagonist (although only by proxy as Guy doesn’t make an actual appearance). The hits just keep on coming as Harley juggles the well-being of her friends and neighbors while she attempts and fails to rid frenemy/love interest Althea Klang from Nowegosoe Tower.
Harley and Althea might finally, after many issues, attempt to see if they can at least make it through one date without being targeted by some oddball with a grudge and a dream. Harley is also a source of comfort for her neighbors, attempting to console those who mourn the loss of one of their own. Richie Grimaldi shows a little growth after recently investing in villain armor as he scores a date with Gunbunny (much to Mayfly’s dismay). Kalan’s script, as usual, is peppered with clever one-liners and expositional speeches that inform and entertain.
Carlos Olivares continues to delight with his wild and imaginative artwork, from exaggerated facial expressions and body language to the lived-in feel of the Throatcutter Hill neighborhood, (complete with battle damage). Olivares’ scale and scope explore the neighborhood, and emphasize the looming almost-threats of both Colonel Blimp and Guy Mandrake, as Olivares’ pacing adds to sense of urgency, while still throwing in some clever sight gags and a montage.
Final Thoughts
Harley Quinn #58 keeps the story moving with another strange adventure that piles onto the already beleaguered anti-hero’s to-do list, with a mix of absurdity and genuine warmth. The inventive and detailed art matches the frenetic pacing of the script, making this title a joy to read month-after-month.
