WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Batman #93 by James Tynion IV, Guillem March, Javier Fernandez, Tomeu Morey, David Baron and Clayton Cowles, available now.
After making a few cameo appearances, the Joker's new girlfriend and sidekick, Punchline, finally made her debut in Batman #92. There was a lot of anticipation surrounding the character's introduction, not the least of which because Punchline is, essentially, the new Harley Quinn.
While the two characters are ultimately different, as shown by the new character's origin story which was revealed in the Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular special, plenty of fans were eager to see the two characters meet.
Of course, Harley is no longer the villain she once was, but she is still a ruthless fighter. However, Alexis not only has a murderous rage and apathy in her heart -- she also has a sharp disdain for Harley Quinn, as seen in the Prelude to Batman #92 Instagram comic. It's this hatred of her rival and Punchline's steadfast nature that made readers worried for Harley when the two finally met in Batman #92.
Now, their confrontation stretches into Batman #93 -- and it takes a violently brutal turn that may spell the end for Harley Quinn.
In Batman #92, Harley Quinn and Catwoman find themselves in the sewers of Gotham City, hunted by the Designer's zombies. Selina leads the both of them to the Underbroker's bank for criminals, an underground establishment where they come face-to-face with Punchline. The meeting between the Joker's former girlfriend and his new partner is loaded with tension and insults fly left and right until, finally, the two start to fight.
However, with so much going on and Bruce Wayne's family fortune at risk, the end of the confrontation wasn't featured in the issue. This fight instead continues in Batman #93, where Harley swings her mallet and Punchline wields her knives.
The two keep arguing: Harley is trying to tell her that Joker is simply using and manipulating Punchline, but she shows to be a much darker and more twisted character when she explains what the Joker truly represents to society. Punchline is clearly something entirely different than Harley ever was, even at the heyday of her time as Joker's partner.
Then, things take a potentially fatal turn when Harley takes aim at Punchline with a machine gun. Even that doesn't phase her. The Joker's new sidekick avoids the bullets and, with great speed and prowess, lands behind her rival. Without hesitating, she slices Harley's throat with her knife.
With blood gushing from her neck, Harley falls to her knees and Punchline viciously reigns victorious. To her, it doesn't even seem like it's all that difficult to take out Harley. It appears she is beyond certain of the outcome of their meeting. Next, she orders her goons to dump Harley's body in the waters of the sewer before she turns her attention to Catwoman.
Harley is left with a life-threatening injury in the waters underneath Gotham City. From the look of things, it sure seems like Punchline has just murdered Harley. She's just fallen victim to the Joker's new girlfriend, who has proven herself superior and far more dangerous.
Although she's near death, it's likely Harley will survive this encounter. However, she may be out of the fight for a while while she tends her wounds.