In this review of Harley Quinn #64, break out your d-list supervillain scorecard as Harley’s “greatest” enemies team up to destroy Bat-Quinn (but only one-at-a-time). But who is the true mastermind behind Harley’s numerous nemeses?
Harley Quinn #64 main cover by BrandtStein (DC Comics)
HARLEY QUINN #64
Written by ELLIOTT KALAN
Art by CARLOS OLIVARES
Main Cover: BRANDT&STEIN
Variant Covers: DAVID NAKAYAMA, TERRY & RACHEL DODSON, DERRICK CHEW
Page Count: 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
Release Date: 7/22/26
This review contains spoilers
Harley Quinn #64 picks up after the Harley Quinn Revenge Squad leveled part of Mrs. Grimaldi’s apartment and injured both Mrs. G and Bat-Quinn (who the bad guys think is still Harley). Bat-Quinn awakens sometime later strapped to a roller coaster in an abandoned theme park and breaks free. She realizes she has been outfitted with new gear and an oxygen mask to protect her from monochromatic poisoning she received earlier.
Bat-Quinn’s inner monologue has a sizable workout as the grim and gritty heroine searches the park for the missing Mrs. Grimaldi but encounters first of several enhanced baddies including Brock Blomquist, the gun-toting so-called “Super Hunter” followed by the angst-ridden Generation Z Penny Plunderer as the pair unleash their pent-up frustration on Bat-Quinn. Meanwhile, the anti-hero’s monochromatic infection worsens as her face and hair are drained of all color.
Things shift in Bat-Quinn’s favor after 4Forehand (formerly Backhand, as if that matters) confronts her in a hall of mirrors over the savage beating she gave him on live television. Bat-Quinn compliments one of the villain’s many literary quotes which sends him over the moon (not literally). The pair are attacked by Colonel Blimp (in a hover car), but Bat-Quinn gets the drop on the Colonel as he monologues. 4Forehand returns and gives Bat-Quinn a helping hand (it’s funny when you see the artwork).
Another sad sack villain called The Amenity is quickly dispatched as 4Forehand leads Batquinn to Mrs. Grimaldi’s likely location.
Harley Quinn #64 ends as Mrs. G is found safe and sound, held hostage by the mastermind of the entire scheme by none other than Harleen, Harley Quinn’s alternate personality given human form. Batquinn is ready for this to end.
Analysis
Harley Quinn #64 again explores Bat-Quinn’s character through her inner monologue, but to greater effect in this issue as the would-be dark avenger experiences a bit of personal growth. Writer Elliot Kalan balances the rapid-fire action sequences with the rapid-fire dialogue delivery and manages to make Bat-Quinn’s innermost thoughts less grating. But is what Bat-Quinn believes to be character development in fact Harley Quinn’s personality reasserting itself?
The twist reveal of Harleen as the mastermind behind the revenge squad (and Mrs. Grimaldi’s kidnapping) makes sense, but aside from Harley always being her own worst enemy (Harley Quinn #64 makes that statement literal), what prompted the so-called “Quinntellect” break bad? Perhaps a reveal next issue before the “Bad Seeds” event swallows up Gotham. HQ is for sure to be involved where Ivy is concerned.
The revenge squad storyline allows Kalan to come full circle with many of the colorful characters he has created for his Harley run (including Bat-Quinn and Harleen), allowing for Bat-Quinn to stand in as Harley’s proxy (she certainly remembers the details). While this doesn’t appear to be Kalan’s last hurrah, many plot points seeded across the past two years seem to be weaving together for an enjoyable comedy of errors.
Bat-Quinn comes off as vulnerable and thus more likable in her narration than in previous issues. Her deadpan humor is a welcome change even when she’s not trying to be funny.
Carlos Olivares continues to provide wildly energetic artwork that complements the heightened reality of Harley’s world and the colorful backdrop of Throatcutter Hill and its unusual denizens. From the hazy dream state opener to the sprawling shot of the nearly abandoned theme park to Bat-Quinn’s encounters with the various revenge squad members, Olivares nails the assignment.
In service of the dangerous absurdity of Bat-Quinn’s predicament, Olivares’ tight camera angles and dramatic close-ups convey the anti-hero’s current existential crisis and her spreading monochromatic infection (with help from colorist Marissa Louise).
Final Thoughts
Harley Quinn #64 sets up the final chapter of “The Harq Knight Returns” with wild action, humorous callbacks, gritty and colorful action and a wild cliffhanger.
