The following contains spoilers for Harley Quinn #22, on sale now from DC Comics.
Harley Quinn just adopted a brand-new pet -- and it is nothing like a hyena.
Two of Harley's best known companions are her pet hyenas, Bud and Lou, but she has had many pets before. During the time that Harley was living in New York's Coney Island, she owned an apartment building in which an entire floor was dedicated to rescued animals, mainly dogs and cats. In Harley Quinn #22 by writer Stephanie Phillips and artists Matteo Lolli and David Baldeón, Harley's latest pet is a talking parasitic alien, who she decides to name Parry and dress up like a cat.
Parry first appears at the end of Harley Quinn 2022 Annual #1 in the "What Happens in Vegas..." story written by Phillips and illustrated by Baldeón. After going to the Moon and back (literally) as a member of Luke Fox's Task Force XX, Harley receives a massive payday and vacations to Las Vegas with her friend Kevin to celebrate. While in their hotel room, the two are attacked by an FBI agent looking for Parry, who is revealed after Harley knocks the agent unconscious.
What Is Harley Quinn's New Pet Like?
Sporting four legs, sharp teeth and tentacles, the pink alien has a crass vocabulary and shows animosity towards Kevin. In the issue, Parry threatens to "remove the skin from [Kevin's] face and wear it like a mask" and tells Kevin that they were once able to control the minds of others, but controlling someone "too dumb" like Kevin would be "almost no fun."
Harley Quinn Was Just Murdered
Aside from Parry's bullying of Kevin, Harley Quinn #22 is also the issue that kills off the clown protagonist. Parry alerts Harley to a trespasser standing on top of the ferry she purchased and turned into her new home, and after she goes to speak with the mystery figure, she is shot and killed. The issue serves as the beginning of a murder mystery arc in which Harley tries to uncover her killer -- but now her state of mind is in question.
To bring Harley back, Kevin goes to the League of Assassins and convinces their leader Angel Breaker to dip Harley into a Lazarus Pit. The Lazarus Pits have the power to heal, rejuvenate and even raise the dead, but they have been unpredictable in recent time with the potential for dangerous side effects. Harley emerges from the pit with a sinister smile and stare, saying, "I believe I have a murderer to find."
Harley Quinn #22 is written by Phillips with interior and main cover art by Lolli, other interiors by David Baldeón, colors by Rain Beredo and letters by AndWorld Design. Variant covers for the issue are contributed to by Stjepan Šejić, Baldeón, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Natali Sanders, Frank Miller and Ryan Sook. The issue is now on sale from DC Comics.
Source: DC Comics