HARLEY QUINN X ELVIRA #1 – New Comic Review

Harley Quinn X Elvira #1, by Dynamite Comics on 10/1/25, finds Harley Quinn setting out on a quest to throw the ultimate Halloween bash, fueled by wasted potential, questionable costumes, and a side order of pie (Elvira required).

Credits:

• Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner
• Artist: Amanda Conner, Juan Samu
• Colorist: Amanda Conner, Walter Pereyra
• Letterer: Dave Lanphear
• Cover Artist: Amanda Conner (cover A)
• Publisher: Dynamite Comics
• Release Date: October 1, 2025
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 22
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of HARLEY QUINN X ELVIRA #1:

First Impressions:

There’s more wackiness than wisdom as this comic tries to juggle its titular characters, clobbering readers with jokes and visual meandering. The art hits comic timing with every panel, while the writing stumbles through out-of-character dialogue and flimsy logic. If Harley Quinn ever needed an identity crisis, she found it here.

Plot Analysis:

Harley Quinn wakes up, exchanges banter with her pet beaver, and argues with the neighborhood cookie scouts. Feeling denied a real Halloween after a bout of the flu last year, she enlists her crew (Big Tony, Red Tool, and Bernie) for a wild scheme: throw Brooklyn’s biggest Halloween party ever. Harley is dead set on recruiting Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, to elevate her bash to legendary status. Never mind that Elvira hasn’t agreed yet.

Elsewhere, Elvira’s facing career catastrophe. Her horror TV show’s been axed for space in a puppet-driven network, rendering her days of spooky stardom nearly extinct. She gets word of her impending unemployment and even her luxury penthouse is about to get hijacked by puppet people. The Cassandra Peterson vibes are strong. Elvira is resourceful but frustrated, snarky but sentimental.

Ever the “problem solver,” Harley tracks Elvira to New Jersey, executing the kind of half-baked plan & pursuit only Harley Quinn could mastermind. The float idea gets wilder as her crew supports every bonkers idea Harley spouts. Harley and Elvira finally intersect in a sequence involving bazookas, exploding houses, and an obligatory diner detour for pie. Minutes later, Harley seals the deal: Elvira will co-host the bash, get accommodation, cash, and a bidet for her trouble.

Things wrap with Harley celebrating successful recruitment and dreaming up a parade, not realizing her plans are, as usual, built on a mountain of chaos and half-truths.

Story

The writing swings frantically between slapstick humor and plot contrivances, yet fumbles character depth every step of the way. Harley Quinn’s voice abandons any trace of her classic mayhem and cleverness. Her choices are random, her lines generic, and her signature spark filtered out entirely. Elvira fares a little better, but the dialogue is crammed with forced jokes and one-note riffing on TV tropes. The nonsensical string of events drags the narrative into incoherence

Art

The comedic art shines, with exaggerated expressions, playful crowd scenes, and visual gags that land even when the writing faceplants. The layouts capture movement and energy, and characters burst off the page. Amanda Conner and Juan Samu’s stylized pencils are the saving grace. They make the comic fun to look at, even when the story isn’t fun to follow

Characters

Harley Quinn is reduced to the worst version of herself. A plot device, not a character, with little motivation besides generic zaniness. Her emotional beats vanish beneath layers of tired jokes. Elvira brings her iconic look and sass, but gets shoehorned into Harley’s manic orbit, losing her signature spooky charisma in the process. Supporting cast? About as flat as a pancake. One-offs that serve the next punchline and disappear.

Positives

The visuals explode with personality and comic rhythms, keeping the energy high despite a rocky narrative. Physical comedy and background details inject some much-needed charm. Elvira’s presence in the story is a visual breath of fresh air, offering style and spectacular costuming at every turn

Negatives

The writing not only fails both Harley and Elvira, it actively tramples their canonical personalities in the rush for cheap laughs. Harley is so wildly out-of-character she feels interchangeable with any other zany sidekick. The plot twists and logic gaps pile up, making the story nearly impossible to care about. Dialogue veers into the realm of self-parody, and the supporting cast is a blurry parade of forgettable filler

Art Samples:

Final Thoughts:

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HARLEY QUINN X ELVIRA #1 is less “world’s finest tricksters” and more “world’s loudest train wreck.” The art delivers punch after punch, but the plot throws Harley’s character under every passing bus, even the ones Elvira tried to avoid. If you love cringe-worthy misfires and want to see Harley Quinn at her absolute worst, saddle up. Otherwise, let Elvira’s bidet have the last word. It’s a cleaner escape than this issue offers

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