Harley Quinn #62 is written by Elliott Kalan and published by DC Comics. Artwork is by Carlos Olivares, colours by Marissa Louise and letters by Lucas Gattoni. Main cover art (left) is by Brandt&Stein.
Harley Quinn (2021-) #62 is available from today, 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
We got a real special show for you folks this month—you’re gonna love it! I, the one and only true Harley Quinn, will be appearing for one night only on Throatcutter Hill’s premier public-access TV station. Sure, the folks working there don’t know it quite yet—but when I get there, I’m sure they’ll see things my way and air my show! This is a real wacky one—we got so much formal experimentation in here that you’ll be going “Great Tom King’s Ghost!” by the end of the issue!
Review
Harley and the Quintelligence are still very much living separate lives, and this issue wastes no time leaning into that. We open on a breaking news segment on Gotham Hero Heat, where a brand new villain is being interviewed live on air, complete with a cheeky little “what’s your origin?” moment.
No spoilers on who they are, but their particular feature is genuinely interesting, and the puns and one-liners that riff on it are gloriously, unashamedly goofy. The kind of goofy that makes you groan and grin at the same time. Batquinn, meanwhile, is still doing her very best impression of the Caped Crusader, and honestly, long may that continue.
The main event is a live TV showdown between Harley and the new villain, which makes for entertaining and suitably chaotic reading. There is real fun to be had in the spectacle of it all, and when this issue is firing, it is firing.
I will say, I am starting to feel a lull in the story. The thing is, a pattern has started to emerge over the past few instalments. A new, smaller villain gets introduced, Harley has a beef with them across a couple of issues, and then we reset and repeat. When the villain is compelling, it works an absolute treat. When they are not quite landing, it makes the whole thing harder to invest in, and this issue sits a little closer to that end of the scale. There are genuine highlights here, but there are also stretches where the momentum stalls and I found myself questioning where it was all going.
What has made this run so special is its unhinged humour, its willingness to take big swings, and a plot that never quite goes where you expect it to. These past few issues are not a drop in quality so much as a reminder of just how high the bar has been set. When a series operates at this level of consistently brilliant, even a slight dip feels noticeable. But as always, Harley Quinn finds a way to keep you hooked, and that in itself is no small thing. Still entertaining, still unmistakably Harley Quinn. Just not the series at its most electric.
Verdict
Harley Quinn #62 has its moments of genuine fun, from a goofy new villain to Batquinn’s ongoing caped cosplay, but a familiar formula is starting to show its cracks. When the revolving door of smaller villains lands well, this series soars. When it does not, even Harley’s chaos cannot quite paper over the gaps. A mid-tier entry in an otherwise brilliant run.
⭐⭐⭐
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We are also members of the Forbidden Planet Affiliate Program.
