Absolute Batman #22 Review – The History Of One Absolute Harley Quinn

Absolute Batman #22 (DC Comics, 7/8/26): Writer Scott Snyder and Guest Artist Werther Dell’Edera continue Absolute Batman’s evasion from the Robins while Harley explains her historical connection to Grimm. This issue delivers a multitude of surprise twists, even if not all of them are clear. Verdict: A keeper for Absolute Harley fans.

• Writer: Scott Snyder
• Artist: Werther Dell’Edera
• Colorist: Frank Martin
• Letterer: Tom Napolitano
• Cover Artist: Nick Dragotta (cover A)
• Publisher: DC Comics
• Release Date: July 8, 2026
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 28
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of Absolute Batman #22:

First Impressions:

Absolute Batman #22 is a tad frustrating because there are aspects of this comic I like, particularly the shocking trauma of Harley’s origin, but the aspects I don’t like leave you with a “That doesn’t make sense?” taste in your mouth.

Recap:

In Absolute Batman #21, we got a smorgasbord of in-process plot threads, from the conclusion of Absolute Batman’s first encounter with the Robins to a funeral for Jim Gordon. A lot of things happened, even if all the pieces didn’t come together.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

Absolute Batman #22 begins with another skirmish in progress between Absolute Batman and Harley versus the Robins. The latter team of Slade Wilson’s mechanized fighters is starting to feel the burn of failure and argue over whether or not to rest and regroup. Jason is particularly stubborn and averse to retreat. During the fight, Harley decides to lay her history bare to Absolute Batman, who isn’t particularly interested in hearing it.

Harley explains that she and her mother took up residence in Gotham years ago. Her parents divorced before she was born, and since then, her mother has devoted her medical and scientific prowess toward gathering enough evidence to expose Grimm for crimes against humanity. The flashbacks in the issue center on Harley during her thirteenth year.

Through a series of surprise twists and turns, we learn who Harley’s biological father is, we see the disturbing cost of obsession on Harley’s mother, and we witness Harley’s miraculous understanding of Gotham’s hidden underground tunnels – an understanding that well exceeds Bruce’s.

How is the story in Absolute Batman #22?

At the risk of sounding flippant, Absolute Harley has been the least interesting reinterpretation within the Absolute Universe, so this was Scott Snyder’s opportunity to put some meat on the bone for her character. On that point, Snyder succeeds in giving Harley an intriguing backstory that gives her motivations and decisions a clear foundation. After this issue, her character feels fleshed out.

However, the logistics of Harley’s backstory are either inconsistent or unclear. For example, we learn that Harley’s mother has a connection to Ark-M in the 13-year flashback. “But, wait,” you say. “Ark-M wasn’t built until just after Bruce became Batman. How could her past be connected to a facility that wasn’t built until much later?” Well, my friend, I’m getting long in the tooth, so either I’m misremembering the start of the series where Ark-M’s construction was a major plot point (remember Bruce asked Joe Chill to sneak in to find out what they were building), or we have a timing inconsistency. ” That’s one of several examples that leave you regularly saying to yourself, “Huh? How did that work out?” which pulls you out of the story. A big no-no.

To be fair, if there were a detail that said something to the effect of “No, the outer building was built early in the series, but the underground facility was in operation for years,” I’d be okay with it. It’s those little nuances that get lost in the bombast, such that a small reminder/primer would have been helpful. Therein lies the risk of carrying too many open threads at once for too long – the smaller threads don’t connect when they’re picked up way later, or they get lost in the mix.

How is the art in Absolute Batman #22?

Likewise, the art is fine. Werther Dell’Edera doesn’t outright try to ape Nick Dragotta’s style, but there is enough similarity in the energy, the over-the-top presence, and the visual framing to give you the impression of Dragotta’s work, which is a net positive for consistency.

That said, Dell’Edera gets much looser with the pencils/inks in the smaller panels and the high-action scenes, so the linework gets uncomfortably close to losing clarity. In other words, some of the panels look great, but others look sketchy and almost sloppy. There should never be a panel where you either don’t know what you’re looking at or the characters look like blobs. Also, a no-no. Style is never a substitute for clarity.

Characters

Absolute Harley Quinn takes center stage as the narrator of her backstory while she aids Absolute Batman’s escape from the Robins. This issue doesn’t necessarily grow or expand her character in the present, but it does fill in a lot of the missing pieces of her past to give her substance. If the goal was to flesh Harley out, Snyder succeeded.

Originality & Concept Execution

What makes this issue valuable are the twists. Some you might see coming. Others you will not. For example, we get our first introduction to Absolute Calendar Man, which is more grotesque than anything you would guess. Therefore, Snyder earns his praise for uniqueness and originality.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Solid action, energy, and pacing
• Dell’Edera maintains consistency with Dragotta’s art
• The twists in Harley’s backstory are intriguing.

Room for Improvement

• Dell’Edra’s art gets a little too loose, verging on sloppiness in spots
• The chronological timing of Harley’s past is confusing
• The Robins, for all the hype, are still a non-factor.

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 2.5/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1.5/2

Final Thoughts:

(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)

Absolute Batman #22 unveils the secret history of Absolute Harley Quinn with more than a few surprises to give her character life and purpose. Scott Snyder’s backstory is interesting enough, and guest artist Werther Dell’Edera’s artwork is a fine example of maintaining consistency with the series without copying the main artist. The central plot doesn’t move, but if you’re interested in Harley, this one’s for you.

---

---

---

As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.