My favorite supporting character in DC Comics’ Absolute Universe is Harley Quinn. Everything about her is cool; She’s a genius, an incredible leader for the Red Hood Gang, and an anarchist ready to break down the oppressive Gotham City system. So when writer Scott Snyder announced that issue No. 22 of Absolute Batman would be Harley’s origin story, I was pumped.
One of the things I couldn’t wait to learn was why she was nothing like the Harley Quinn on Earth Prime. Most of the characters resemble their counterparts in some way. In this case, the only similarities are their name and that they both wear red. And while they also both have a sense of humor, Absolute Harley's is more sarcastic instead of self-deprecating or goofy. It made me wonder if there was a version like the classic in this universe. Well, there is, and it’s something out of an A24 or NEON movie.
Absolute Batman No. 22
- Writer: Scott Snyder
- Artist: Werther Dell'Edera
- Colors: Frank Martin
When people think of Harley Quinn, the Joker is one of the first things that comes to mind. It makes sense because, for years, they were attached at the hip. He was the one who saw her “potential” and turned Dr. Harleen Quinzel into his psychotic sidekick. Having Absolute Harley not attached to the Joker romantically - or even created by him - was very refreshing indeed. However, I never realized that no matter the reality, Joker and his “puddin’” are connected. In this case, it isn’t in the way you’re thinking. It’s much worse.
Here, Harley’s mother was a neuro MD who worked for JK Pharmaceutical (JK is owned by Jack Grimm, a.k.a. Joker). At first, she researched ways to slow down cognitive decline. Eventually, she left the pursuit and spent the majority of her daughter’s life trying to expose Jack Grimm. During this time, Harley searched for her father, who she learned was unaware that he had a daughter.
As time went on, things got worse for Harley’s mother. Her obsession with Grimm was so bad that the father and daughter duo made a plan to try to get her help. The idea was for him to meet and use her birthday as the excuse. Sadly, this turned into the worst day of Harley's life.
One day, Harley finds a secret passage in her mother’s closet that leads to a lab full of monstrous creatures. Among them were deranged versions of Tweedledum and Tweedledee and Calendar Man. Horrified by what she’d seen, Harley screams and is greeted by something more disturbing: Her mother. And thanks to the blood on her apron and face, she appeared more like a harlequin. What's worse is she says that she’s working for Grimm and that the things they're doing to these people are helping them.
Harley runs away and hears someone asking if she’s okay. She thinks it’s her dad until it’s revealed to be Jack Grimm himself. Unfortunately, both things are true. Yes, The Joker is her father. When she runs out of the house, Jack says to his “Harley”, “Give her time, Puddin’,” adding to the already sick version of his partner in crime, who we now know is the monster behind all of Batman's enemies, Dr. Arkham.
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