Comic Book Review: Harley Quinn #55

In this review of Harley Quinn #55, with Fire & Ice on her trail again in Coast City, Harley improvises a jailbreak for the Gunbuddies, while the mysterious Deconspirator continues to wreak cruel havoc in Throatcutter Hill.

HARLEY QUINN #55
Written by ELLIOTT KALAN
Artist: CARLOS OLIVARES
Main Cover: YANICK PAQUETTE
Variant Covers: DAVID NAKAYAMA, MAHMUD ASRAR, JESSICA LUNA, TK
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 10/22/25

This review contains spoilers

Harley Quinn #55 continues the mayhem from last issue as Harley goes from being imprisoned in an RV by the Gunbuddies, to being locked up with them in a Coast City jail. The bickering between the three women begins in line for their mugshots, and continues in a shared jail cell, (where for some reason they are allowed to keep their masks and costumes). The argument turns physical, but Harley quickly takes advantage of a trusting guard to make a break for freedom.

Harley’s escape takes a quick U-turn after literally colliding with Fire & Ice out on the street. Outmatched, Harley evades the heroic duo by ducking back inside the jail and springing the Gunbuddies for backup (or maybe cannon fodder). Mayhem ensues as the five women battle each other across the city, while working through their various personal issues.

Meanwhile back in Throatcutter Hill, an elderly couple run afoul of the nefarious Deconspirator as he tightens his malevolent grip on the neighborhood. In Coast City, Fire and Ice are somehow outsmarted (and humiliated) by Harley’s antics as Mayfly and Gunbunny make a breakthrough before Mayfly gets hit with a tranquilizer dart.

Harley finally hear about the devastation happening in her neighborhood just before she catches a dart too. Sometime later Harley comes to and realizes that she and Mayfly are the newest human prey for the so-called “Super Hunter” (AKA Gunbunny’s dad).

Harley Quinn #55 ends back in Throatcutter Hill as the Deconspirator introduces himself to Harley’s irascible landlady Mrs. Grimaldi and her nephew Richie.

Analysis 

Harley Quinn #55 is another humdinger of an issue, a symphony of beautifully choreographed chaos full of character development, wild plot twists, slapstick humor and clever one-liners, countered by the increasingly dire threat from the mysterious Deconspirator back in Harley’s beloved neighborhood. Writer Elliott Kalan crafts more enjoyable controlled mayhem as Harley is forced to align with her former kidnappers against Fire and Ice in Coast City.

While Harley is getting along with her Quinntellect these days, their rapport isn’t without some friction, while Fire and Ice bristle at the other’s style of superheroing but still manage to keep their eyes on the prize. The Super Hunter is still a mostly one-note character (if a tad ominous with his collection of superhero trophy heads), but next issue should hopefully add more layers beyond his obsessive riff on “The Most Dangerous Game” and being Gunbunny’s disapproving dad.

Guest artist Carlos Olivares continues his run with another solid fill-in for series artist Mindy Lee. Olivares’ style matches Lee’s in capturing the slapstick nature and heightened reality of Harley’s world while also easily shifting into tense drama (with help from colorist Marissa Louise) in the scenes with the dreaded Deconspirator, (anxiously awaiting the inevitable showdown with Harley, should be epic).

Through Kalan’s lively script and Olivares’ dazzling artwork, Harley is constantly in motion throughout Harley Quinn #55, whether dodging Fire and Ice, throwing down with the Gunbuddies in jail, or even while delivering insightful and/or hilarious dialogue.

Final thoughts 

Harley Quinn #55 is another winning issue, effortlessly ratcheting up the tension back in Throatcutter Hill, while Harley is stuck in a comedy of errors (or airheads?) out west. Story and art are superb.

Adam Koppel

Who strikes fear into the darkest of hearts in Gotham City? Not me, I'm too busy reading comics and writing reviews.