Harley Quinn doesn't just walk into a room; she blows the door off its hinges and then complains about the interior design. If you've been following the DC release schedule lately, you know things are getting weird. Really weird. We aren't just looking at one version of Harleen Quinzel anymore. Between the main continuity, the "Absolute" universe, and some very specific Black Label projects, 2025 is basically the year of the clown.
The New Harley Quinn Comic 2025 Landscape
Honestly, trying to track Harley’s current status in the comics is like trying to herd caffeinated cats. But here is the gist. The main title, Harley Quinn, is currently being steered by the creative team of writer Elliott Kalan and artist Mindy Lee. They took over around issue #44 as part of the massive "DC All In" initiative.
Kalan—who you might know from The Daily Show or the Mystery Science Theater 3000 revival—has a very specific, rapid-fire comedic voice. It fits Harley’s internal monologue perfectly. The 2025 arc has been focusing on something surprisingly grounded: gentrification. Harley discovers her favorite "dangerous" neighborhood in Gotham, Throatcut Hill, is being turned into a sanitized, upscale boring-fest. Naturally, she decides to "re-break bad" to make Gotham safe for crime again. It’s a hilarious reversal of the typical superhero trope. Instead of saving the neighborhood, she's trying to save its grittiness.
One of the standout issues this year was Harley Quinn #47, which hit shelves in late January 2025. It featured a "Clayface Reunion" dinner party. Imagine every single version of Clayface—Basil Karlo, Matt Hagen, Sondra Fuller, even the obscure ones like Clownface—all in one room. It was messy. It was muddy. It was exactly the kind of chaotic energy fans expect from the new Harley Quinn comic 2025 lineup.
The Absolute Departure
If the main series is too "tame" for you, DC’s Absolute Universe is where things get truly wild. This is a separate timeline overseen by Scott Snyder. In this world, the icons are stripped of their usual resources.
In Absolute Batman #13 (slated for late 2025), we get a version of Harley that might actually scare you. No pigtails. No red and blue spandex. This Harley is the leader of the Red Hood Gang. She sports a buzzcut and black-and-white harlequin face paint. She wears an oversized red hoodie and looks less like a gymnast and more like a street-tough brawler. It’s a total departure from the "fun" Harley we see in the Max animated series. This version is hardened, lethal, and has a much more adversarial relationship with Batman.
Psycho-Dramas and Side Projects
DC isn't just sticking to the monthly grind. They are leaning hard into the psychological side of the character. On October 8, 2025, DC Black Label released Joker/Harley: Malicious Intent.
This is a sequel to the hit series Criminal Sanity by writer Kami Garcia. If you haven't read the first one, don't worry—Malicious Intent is designed to be accessible. In this universe, Harley isn't a super-powered anti-hero; she's a forensic psychiatrist and profiler. She’s not working for the GCPD anymore, though. Now she’s a private consultant, and the story focuses on her obsession with tracking down serial killers. It’s a dark, gritty procedural that feels more like Mindhunter than Suicide Squad.
Then there’s the fanservice—the good kind. Erica Henderson, the Eisner-winning artist behind Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, is handling a new limited series titled Harley and Ivy: Life and Crimes. Launched in November 2025, it’s a six-issue deep dive into the 30-year history of the Harley/Ivy romance. Henderson has been vocal about being a fan of the pairing since the 90s Batman: The Animated Series days. This series is basically a canonical roadmap of their relationship, from the first kiss to the first big fight.
Why 2025 Feels Different for Harley
For a long time, Harley felt like she was stuck in a loop. She'd break up with Joker, join the Bat-family, maybe crack a joke about a mallet, and repeat. 2025 feels like the year DC finally let the character breathe across multiple genres.
You've got:
- The Social Satire in the main Kalan/Lee run.
- The Grimdark Reform in the Absolute Universe.
- The High-Stakes Romance in the Henderson series.
- The True Crime Horror in the Black Label books.
Even the oddball specials are leaning into the absurdity. In March 2025, we got Harley Quinn Fartacular: Silent Butt Deadly #1. Yes, that is a real title. Written by Joanne Starer, it was marketed as the comic with the "highest concentration of gas per page." It’s polarizing, sure, but it proves that DC isn't afraid to let Harley be as immature and gross as she was in her earliest appearances.
Practical Advice for Collectors and Readers
If you're looking to jump into the new Harley Quinn comic 2025 releases, don't try to buy everything. You'll go broke.
If you want the classic, funny Harley who lives in Gotham and hangs out with her hyenas Bud and Lou, stick to the main Harley Quinn series starting with the All-In Vol. 1 TPB, which collects issues #44-49. It’s the perfect jumping-on point.
For the "edge-lords" and fans of Elseworlds stories, keep an eye out for the Absolute Batman tie-ins. The buzzcut look is already becoming a favorite for cosplayers, and those first appearances in issue #13 are likely to become collector's items.
Lastly, check out the variant covers. Elizabeth Torque, David Nakayama, and Guillem March have been putting out some of the best art of Harley’s career this year. The "Summer of Superman" variants and the "Super Smash-Up" covers from the spring were particularly popular among those of us who like our longboxes to look pretty.
🔗 Read more: We're Off to See the Wizard: Why This Song Wizard of Oz Classic Still Rings True Today
To stay current, keep an eye on the monthly solicitations from DC. They usually drop three months in advance, so by the time you're reading this, we're already seeing what's planned for the early months of 2026. Keep your pull list flexible, because with Harley, the only constant is that things are going to change—fast and loud.