"Absolute Batman" #22 reveals Harley Quinn as the Joker's daughter, a major twist on her established origin.
"Absolute Batman" #22 delivers a shocking twist, revealing Harley Quinn as the Joker's daughter, a significant departure from her long-established role as his lover. For decades, Harley's origin centered on her transformation from Arkham Asylum psychologist to the Joker's devoted accomplice, a narrative explored across comics, films, and television.
In the ongoing "Absolute Batman" series by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, Harley Quinn has been portrayed differently. Introduced in issue #13, she leads the Red Hood Gang, a group allied with Batman. She previously assisted Batman against Bane and currently serves as his tech support, a position that placed her alongside Alfred Pennyworth.
Issue #22, titled "The Crooked House" and drawn by guest artist Werther Dell'Edera, digs into Harley's past. Through flashbacks, she recounts to Bruce Wayne being raised by a single mother, a neurologist who once worked for the Joker's company, J.K. Holdings, and later sought its downfall.
Harley never met her father directly but corresponded with him as a teenager. The day he was scheduled to visit, she found her mother ensnared by the Joker, forced to create monsters in his "Ark M" base. There, Harley confronted her father: Jack Grimm, the Joker himself, fundamentally altering her relationship with the villain.
This new origin reinterprets elements of Harley's classic "Mad Love" story. While the original depicted Harley as a psychologist twisted by the Joker, "Absolute Batman" reassigns this manipulation to her mother, identified as "Dr. Arkham." Grimm even uses the pet name "Pudding" for her, a term traditionally associated with Harley.
The flashback shows Harley's initial disbelief and rejection of Grimm as her father, leading her to run away and live with the Red Hoods. In the present, she shares this story with Batman, who recently discovered the Joker and Scarecrow might have orchestrated his entire life, including his parents' murder.
Harley appears to have reconciled with the truth, or lack thereof. The issue concludes with her muttering, "Even if it's true, even if it's not true..." This suggests her resolve not to let the revelation define her, contrasting with Batman's ongoing struggle against the Joker's attempts to invalidate his existence.
"Absolute Batman" has become known for its bold narrative choices and significant character reinterpretations. This latest twist on Harley Quinn's lineage continues that trend, adding unsettling layers to her connection with the Joker. Issues #1-22 of the series are currently available.
