Harley Quinn #59 is written by Elliott Kalan and published by DC Comics. Artwork is by Carlos Olivares, and colours by Marissa Louise.
Harley Quinn #59 is available in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
It’s finally time—Harley Quinn and Althea Klang go on a date… to the death! Honestly, I didn’t think I was gonna say yes to Althea, but then I got a ton of fan letters in the mail with your signatures on them demanding that I do it! You’re not gonna want to miss this outrageously spicy issue of Harley Quinn. And by spicy, I mean the food we’re going to eat!
Review
Harley and Althena finally go on a date after a record-breaking will-they-won’t-they that puts Ross and Rachel to shame. What starts out like any other date, nice outfits, cautious optimism, the vague hope no one ends up concussed, very quickly descends into chaos. Hospitals are involved. There’s swinging from a blimp. Chicken fingers make an appearance. Honestly, it’s remarkably civil by Harley standards.
Harley and Althena have been circling each other for quite some time now, and what’s particularly interesting is how little we actually know about Althena — something the comic very knowingly acknowledges. It’s deliciously meta. Harley calls herself self-absorbed, which immediately makes you question her reliability as the narrator. Oddly, despite being completely unhinged, I’ve never really thought of Harley as unreliable. Yes, she talks to herself. Yes, she refers to her personified brain as “Quinntelligence”. But she’s felt strangely self-aware throughout this run. That one-offhand comment, though — accurate, hilarious, and just pointed enough — makes you reassess her perspective. Perhaps we should have been doing that all along.
The two of them actually address what this “relationship”, for lack of a better word, is. With Harley still dating Ivy (and the book openly acknowledging that), the conversation becomes surprisingly thoughtful. It’s progressive without being preachy, chaotic without losing its heart. Sweet — but bonkers. Bonkers — but sweet. That balance is where this issue shines.
Throatcutter Hill and its rotating cast of secondary characters are firmly established at this point, and here the date is spectacularly derailed by two particularly memorable interruptions. Do they stand out in the best possible way? That’s debatable. But they absolutely stand out. There’s a brief clash that I genuinely wish we’d seen more of — it’s sharp, kinetic, and over far too quickly. That said, the emotional focus rightly remains on Harley and Althena, so narratively it makes sense… even if I’m greedy and wanted a few more pages of mayhem.
Overall, Harley Quinn #59 is a solid entry in the run. It feels like a story driver — less acrimony, more forward motion — and that shift is welcome. Without venturing into spoiler territory, the book continues to explore the same thematic ground it’s been treading for the past ten issues or so. The ideas are strong, but they’re beginning to feel a touch familiar. I hope this instalment serves as a line in the sand — a moment of definition.
There is progression here. Not explosive, not definitive, but tangible. The romance edges forward. The direction sharpens slightly. Whether it delivers the fully unhinged payoff we’re all half-expecting remains to be seen.
Issue #59 is absolutely worth adding to your shelf — physical or digital. It delivers everything you’ve come to expect from Harley Quinn: sharp dialogue, chaotic energy, beautifully dynamic artwork, and a cast of morally questionable oddballs who are impossible not to enjoy. Crucially, it also begins to offer answers to the bigger questions hovering over this run. Messy, meta, romantic, ridiculous — and very, very Harley.
Verdict
Harley Quinn #59 delivers long-awaited romantic payoff with exactly the amount of chaos you’d expect. Harley and Althena’s date is messy, meta, unexpectedly thoughtful, and just the right side of explosive, balancing emotional progression with blimps, hospital visits, and very on-brand absurdity.
While some of the broader themes are beginning to feel familiar, this issue nudges the story forward in meaningful ways and sharpens the direction of the run. Sweet, unhinged, and undeniably entertaining — a solid and satisfying chapter in the Throatcutter Hill saga.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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