Fictional character from DC Comics

Not to be confused with Harlequin (disambiguation)

Harley Quinn (Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel) is a fictional supervillain appearing in media published by DC Entertainment. Created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm to serve as a new supervillain and a romantic interest for the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series on September 11, 1992, she was later adapted into DC Comics' Batman comic book canon, beginning with The Batman Adventures #12 (September 1993).

Harley Quinn is a frequent accomplice and lover of the Joker, who was her patient when she worked as an intern psychiatrist at Gotham City's Arkham Asylum.[5][6] Her alias is a play on the name "Harlequin", a character that originated in commedia dell'arte. She has also teamed up with fellow villains Poison Ivy and Catwoman, the trio being known as the Gotham City Sirens; Ivy is a close friend and occasional romantic interest of Harley in some incarnations.[7] Since The New 52 comics, she has been depicted as an antihero and a recurring core member of the Suicide Squad who has left her abusive relationship with the Joker behind; however, in most other media the character is still depicted as a supervillain and the Joker's girlfriend.[8]

Originally voiced by Arleen Sorkin in the DC animated universe, she has since appeared in various other DC projects voiced by actresses such as Tara Strong, Hynden Walch, Laura Bailey, Jenny Slate, Melissa Rauch, Laura Post, and Kaley Cuoco; the latter provided the character's voice in her animated series. Mia Sara portrayed the character in the 2002 television series Birds of Prey. Harley Quinn made her live-action cinematic debut in the DC Extended Universe film Suicide Squad (2016), portrayed by Margot Robbie, who reprised her role in Birds of Prey (2020) and will next appear in The Suicide Squad (2021).

History [ edit ]

Creation [ edit ]

Introduction [ edit ]

The name Harley Quinn first appears in Book II, Chapter I of James Joyce's famous 1939 book Finnegans Wake as part of the chapter's choreographer team Harley Quinn and Coollimbeina, an obvious reference to Harlequin and Columbina the 16th-century commedia dell'arte characters.

Harley Quinn the DC character first appeared in the DC animated universe's Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor",[9] in what was initially supposed to be the animated equivalent of a walk-on role. Several police officers were to be taken hostage by someone jumping out of a cake, and it was decided that to have the Joker do so himself would be too bizarre, although he ended up doing it anyway. Thus they created a female sidekick for the Joker; she would become his love interest. Arleen Sorkin, a former star of the soap opera Days of Our Lives, appeared in a dream sequence on that series in which she wore a jester costume; they used this scene as an inspiration for Quinn.[10] Having been friends with Sorkin since college, Paul Dini incorporated aspects of her personality into the character and even got Sorkin herself to voice the character.[11] Quinn was also inspired by a mutual female friend's "stormy but nonviolent relationship," according to Timm.[12]

Origin story [ edit ]

The 1994 graphic novel The Batman Adventures: Mad Love recounts the character's origin story. Written and drawn by Dini and Timm, the comic book is told in the style and continuity of Batman: The Animated Series. It describes Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel, Ph.D. as an Arkham Asylum psychologist who falls in love with the Joker and becomes his accomplice and on-again, off-again girlfriend. The story received wide praise[13] and won the Eisner and Harvey Awards for Best Single Issue Comic of the Year.[14] The New Batman Adventures series adapted Mad Love as an episode of the same name in 1999. It was the second "animated style" comic book adapted for the series, with the other being "Holiday Knights".

Harleen Quinzel becomes fascinated with the Joker while working at Arkham Asylum and volunteers to help treat him. She falls hopelessly in love with the Joker during their sessions, and she helps him escape from the asylum more than once. When Batman returns a severely injured Joker to Arkham, she dons a jester costume to become Harley Quinn, the Joker's sidekick. The Joker frequently insults, ignores, hurts, and even tries to kill Harley, but she always comes back to him, convinced he genuinely loves her.

Expanded role [ edit ]

After Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, Harley makes several other animated appearances. She appears as one of the four main female characters of the web cartoon Gotham Girls. She also made guest appearances in other cartoons within the DC animated universe, appearing alongside the Joker in the Justice League episode "Wild Cards" and alongside Poison Ivy in the Static Shock episode "Hard as Nails".

Harley Quinn appears in World's Finest: The Batman/Superman Movie (a compilation film consisting of three-part Superman: The Animated Series episode "World's Finest") as a rival and foil for Lex Luthor's assistant Mercy Graves; each takes an immediate dislike for the other, at one point fighting brutally with each other as Lex Luthor and the Joker have a business meeting. In the film's climax, Harley ties Graves as a human shield to a combat robot set to confront Superman and Batman, but Graves is rescued by the two heroes without suffering any further harm. Harley is last seen being hauled off to prison while raving insanely on a news report that Mercy is watching on TV and having a laugh at Harley's expense.

The animated film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker takes place in the future, long after the events in Batman: The Animated Series. It includes a flashback scene in which Harley helps the Joker torture Tim Drake until he becomes "Joker Jr.," an insane miniature version of the Clown Prince of Crime; she then falls down a deep pit during a battle with Batgirl. At the end of the film, a pair of twin girls who model themselves on the Joker are released on bail to their grandmother, who angrily berates them — to which they answer: "Oh, shut up, Nana Harley!" Before this, her costume made several appearances in episodes in the future Batcave.

Characterization [ edit ]

Harleen Quinzel [ edit ]

Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel is depicted as having been a psychiatrist[6] at Gotham City's Arkham Asylum. Gotham City Sirens #7 (Feb. 2010) shows Harley visiting her family for the holiday season, in which they are portrayed as being very dysfunctional. It is stated the reason Harley pursued psychiatry was to understand her own broken family.[15]

The character's origin story relates that Harleen Quinzel was once a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum and was assigned to treat the Joker. She eventually falls in love with the Joker and becomes his lover and accomplice after warping her mind through a series of lies.[16] She follows suit in the Joker's clown-themed, criminal antics and adopts the name Harley Quinn, a play on "Harlequin" from the character in commedia dell'arte. Speaking with a pronounced Northeastern accent, Harley refers to the Joker as Mistah J and Puddin', terms of endearment that have since been used in nearly every adaptation in which the two characters appear.

Appearance [ edit ]

Suicide Squad (August 2017). Her redesign brings her in line with Harley Quinn as she appears in the fifth volume of(August 2017). Her redesign brings her in line with Margot Robbie 's portrayal of the character in the movie of the same name . Art by Otto Schmidt.

Harley Quinn was first introduced in the Batman: The Animated Series appearing in the style of a jester. She wore a black domino mask, white facial makeup, and a one-piece black-and-red motley outfit with a cowl.[9] Unlike the Joker, Harley's skin is not permanently white in the animated series, as this is reiterated in scenes showing Harley out of costume with a normal skin complexion. Dr. Harleen Quinzel, M.D, is portrayed as having blonde hair and blue eyes. She typically wears glasses, a skirt, high-heeled shoes, and a white lab coat.[17]

In her early comic book appearances until 2011, the character wore her original black-and-red costume from the animated series. In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, Harley Quinn had a revamped look that lasted until 2016. The New 52 showed Harley Quinn with an alternating black-and-red-toned outfit with a sleeveless top, elbow pads, tight shorts, knee pads, and boots. Her hair color was altered to half-red and half-black, like the cap of her previous incarnation. Consistent with a new origin, her skin was bleached as the result of being kicked into a vat of acid by the Joker.[18]

Following 2016's DC Rebirth, Harley Quinn debuted a new look in the third volume of her eponymous series, as well as the fifth volume of Suicide Squad. Her hair color is now blonde with blue dip dye on the left side and pink dip dye on the right, and she sports two new outfits. One outfit consists of tight, blue and red shorts, a ripped tee-shirt, satin jacket, fingerless gloves, fishnet stockings, studded belt, and lace-up boots, much like Margot Robbie's depiction of the character in the 2016 Suicide Squad film. The character's other outfit is a two-tone, black-and-red suit consisting of a full-sleeve top, tight shorts, opaque stockings, garter belt attachments, and boots. She has also been known to wear both red-and-black colored nail polishes on both her fingernails and toenails in an alternating fashion.

Harley Quinn is adorned with various tattoos, including four diamonds on her upper right thigh. Within the DC Extended Universe, both Harley and the Joker have several tattoos, with Harley having them on her cheek, forearm, legs, and abdomen.

Transition to comic books and publication history [ edit ]

After the success of The Animated Series, the character proved so popular she was eventually added to Batman comic book canon.[19] She first appeared in the Batman Adventures comic then original graphic novel Batman: Harley Quinn, as part of the "No Man's Land" story, although she had already appeared in the Elseworlds Batman: Thrillkiller and Batman: Thrillkiller '62 in 1997. The comic book version of Quinn, like the comic book version of the Joker, is more dangerously violent and less humorously quirky than the animated series version. Despite her noticeably more violent demeanor, Harley does show mercy and compassion from time to time; she notably stops Poison Ivy from killing Batman, instead convincing her to leave the hero hanging bound and gagged from a large statue.

A Harley Quinn ongoing series[20] was published monthly by DC Comics for 38 issues from 2001 to 2003. Creators who contributed to the title included Karl Kesel, Terry Dodson, A.J. Lieberman, and Mike Huddleston. The series dealt with her going solo, eventually starting a gang and then fleeing Gotham for the city of Metropolis with her friend Poison Ivy. Quinn dies, only to be resurrected and then return to Gotham. The series ends with Harley turning herself in to Arkham Asylum, having finally understood she needs help. We also learn in issue #8 of the comic that Harley had a relationship in college with fellow psychology student Guy Kopski, whose suicide foreshadowed her obsession with the Joker. Harley later appears in the Jeph Loeb series Hush. She is next seen in a Villains United Infinite Crisis special, where she is one of the many villains who escape from Arkham (although she is knocked unconscious the moment she escapes).

In the "One Year Later" storyline, Harley Quinn is an inmate at Arkham, glimpsed briefly in Detective Comics #823 (November 2006).

Harley next appeared in Batman #663 (April 2007), in which she helps the Joker with a plan to kill all his former henchmen, unaware the "punch line" to the scheme is her death. Upon realizing this, she shoots him in the shoulder.

Harley resurfaces in Detective Comics #831 (June 2007), written by Paul Dini. Harley has spent the last year applying for parole, only to see her request systematically rejected by Bruce Wayne, the layman member of Arkham's medical commission. She is kidnapped by Peyton Riley, the new female Ventriloquist, who offers her a job; Harley turns the job down out of respect for the memory of Arnold Wesker, the original Ventriloquist, who attempted to cheer her up during her first week in Arkham while the Joker was still on the loose. She then helps Batman and Commissioner Jim Gordon foil the impostor's plans. Although Riley escapes, Bruce Wayne is impressed with Harley's effort at redemption and agrees with granting her parole.

Birds of Prey #105 (June 2007) reveals Harley Quinn as the 6th member of the Secret Six. In issue #108, upon hearing that Oracle has sent the Russian authorities footage of teammate Deadshot murdering the Six's employer as payback for double-crossing them, Harley asks, "Is it a bad time to say 'I quit'?" thus leaving the team.

In Countdown #43 (July 2007), Harley appears to have reformed and is shown to be residing in an Amazon-run women's shelter. Having abandoned her jester costume and clown make-up, she now only wears an Amazonian stola or chiton. She befriends the former Catwoman replacement Holly Robinson and then succeeds in persuading her to join her at the shelter, where she is working as an assistant. They are both brought to Themiscyra by "Athena" (really Granny Goodness) and begin Amazon training. Holly and Harley then meet the real Athena and encounter Mary Marvel. The group reveals Granny's deception, and Holly, Harley, and Mary follow her as she retreats to Apokolips. Mary finds the Olympian gods, whom Granny had been holding prisoner, and the group frees them. Harley is granted powers by Thalia as a reward. Upon returning to Earth, the powers vanish, and Harley and Holly return to Gotham City.

Gotham City Sirens [ edit ]

Harley Quinn joins forces with Poison Ivy (Pamela Isley) and Catwoman (Selina Kyle) in the series Gotham City Sirens. Having moved in with Pamela Isley at the Riddler's apartment, she meets up with Catwoman, who offers for the three of them to live and work together. A new villain who tries to take down Selina Kyle named the Boneblaster breaks into the apartment and the three of them have to move after they defeat him. Later, after a chance encounter with Hush, the Joker attempts to kill her, apparently out of jealousy. Quinn is rescued by Ivy and Catwoman, and it is later revealed her attacker was not the real Joker, but one of his old henchmen impersonating him.

In Gotham City Sirens #7, Harley Quinn visits her family in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, during the holiday season. Harley's father is a swindler who is still in jail, and her brother, Barry, is a loser with dead-end dreams of rock stardom. Her mother, Sharon, wants her to stop the "villain and hero stuff." The dysfunctional, "horrible" experience while visiting family causes her to return home to the Sirens' shared Gotham City hideout where Harley, Catwoman, and Poison Ivy spend the rest of Christmas together.[15]

Following several adventures with Catwoman and Ivy, Harley betrays them and breaks into Arkham Asylum, intending to kill the Joker for his years of abuse towards her. However, Harley ultimately chooses instead to release the Joker from his cell, and together the two orchestrate a violent takeover of the facility that results in most of the guards and staff members either being killed or taken hostage by the inmates.[21]

Harley and the Joker are eventually defeated by Batman and Catwoman, and Harley is last seen being wheeled away while bound in a straitjacket and muzzle.[22] Shortly afterward, Poison Ivy breaks into Harley's cell and attempts to kill her for her betrayal, but instead offers to free her if she helps her kill Catwoman, who had left both of her fellow Sirens behind in Arkham. Harley agrees, and the two set out to trap Catwoman.[23] During the ensuing fight, Catwoman says she saw good in them and only wanted to help. As Batman is about to arrest them, Catwoman helps the two of them escape.[24]

In August 2016, the debut of the six-issue miniseries Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death reuniting Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman. Harley appears in the debut issue as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, Ph.D., with continued appearances throughout the series.[17]

The New 52/Harley Quinn Rebirth [ edit ]

Following DC's 2011 relaunch of its titles, Harley Quinn's costume and appearance were fully revamped. The New 52 shows Harley Quinn with a sleeveless top, tight shorts, and boots. Her hair color has also been altered to half-red and half-black, and her bleached white skin is the result of being kicked into a vat of acid by the Joker.[18]

After a falling out with the Joker, she goes into a murderous frenzy, directed towards people responsible for the Joker's imprisonment. Captured by the Black Canary, she is forcibly inducted into the Suicide Squad by Amanda Waller. However, when she discovers the Joker is rumored to be dead, it takes a further toll to her already-addled mind, and betraying the Suicide Squad, she puts their safety and secrecy at risk by turning herself into the Gotham Police Department to gain access to the skinned face of the Joker.[25] Her plan pays off, and she manages to recover the face; though, in a further psychotic episode, Harley captures and ties up Deadshot, and places the skinned face of the Joker over Deadshot's face, to carry on a "conversation" with her dead lover. Deadshot lures Harley in close, shooting and severely injuring her during the conversation.[18] After the Joker returns to Gotham in the "Death of the Family" storyline, he forces her to disguise herself in his old Red Hood costume and trick Batman into coming to the chemical plant where they first met. Batman falls into a tank and demands Harley to tell him where the Joker is. However, she only replies, in tears, he is no longer the Joker she fell in love with.[26]

Harley Quinn in the New 52, art by Clay Mann and Seth Mann

On July 16, 2013, DC announced that a new Harley Quinn ongoing comic book series would begin publication in November 2013, co-written by Amanda Conner and her husband Jimmy Palmiotti, cover illustrated by Conner, and story illustrated by Chad Hardin.[27][28] The series has notably become distanced from the "Batman Family" of DC publications in both tone and premise, with Harley no longer having any significant connection to either Batman or the Joker following the "Death of the Family" storyline. In the series, Harley Quinn has become a landlady at Coney Island, is a part-time member of a roller derby team, and has returned to her work in psychology under her real alias, indicating that Harley's real identity is not public knowledge in the new status quo. She also befriends an elderly ex-U.S. agent named Sy Borgman.[29]

Under Conner and Palmiotti's writing, Harley was reinvented as an antihero who, after being released from the Suicide Squad and having her public files erased, values human life more or less and actively tries to improve life in her neighborhood, with mixed results. While the comic book version of the character is still romantically linked with the Joker, a more recent development has Harley also romantically involved with Poison Ivy. Harley Quinn series writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner confirmed the two characters are in a non-monogamous romantic relationship.[30] Between issues #11–13, Harley formed a brief partnership with an amnesiac Power Girl and battled the Clock King and the Sportsmaster before Power Girl's memory was restored, and she left Harley at the top of the Eiffel Tower as punishment for her deceit.[31] Harley attempts to coerce a romantic connection with her tenant Mason but was unable to make the date due to the multitude of responsibilities in her life, balancing her two jobs with her commitment to her roller derby team and her career as a crime-fighter.[32] With support from Ivy, Harley makes amends with Mason and turns to the Internet to recruit other strong, young women in a crime-fighting team she is forming.[33] This team, dubbed the Gang of Harleys (due to all members fashioning themselves after Harley and taking on similar codenames), comprising young women of various ethnic backgrounds and one gay man called Harvey Quinn, then fights Captain Horatio Strong, a sea captain who becomes superhumanly strong after eating an addictive alien sea-plant, in homage to Popeye. Harley agrees to help a woman whose daughter has been kidnapped by a gang in Hollywood.[34]

Harley Quinn has featured a few standalone specials which are not directly connected to the main series and feature multiple artists. In the scratch and sniff-themed Annual issue, Harley briefly returned to Gotham to save her girlfriend Poison Ivy, as the Arkham Asylum employees monitoring her had brainwashed her to create a hallucinogenic pathogen.[35] In Valentine's Day Special, Harley returned to Gotham to win a prize date with Bruce Wayne (who, unbeknownst to her, is Batman) and finds herself fighting animal rights activists-turned-supervillain blackmailers. She shares a brief intimate moment with Bruce Wayne. At Coney Island, Batman informs Harley that while he still distrusts her, he admires her attempt at heroism and promises not to interfere. Harley kisses Batman and tells him to get "lessons" on kissing from Bruce Wayne, to which Batman privately grins.[36]

In Futures End, a series set five years in the future, Harley mails herself to the Bahamas in an attempt to save money on airfare. The plane carrying her crashes over the ocean while flying through a storm, and Harley is washed up onto the shores of an island inhabited by an uncontacted tribe. The tribe quickly declares her a goddess and is determined to have her meet their god-king who turns out to be the Joker.

After a fight and reconciliation, Harley learns the Joker has been living on the island as a god and making the inhabitants dress up as various superheroes and track him down while playing tricks on them. It is announced she and the Joker are to be married. She is initially excited about the pending marriage until she discovers the two will be sacrificed to the island's volcano as their wedding ceremony ends.[37]

A spin-off series entitled Harley Quinn and Power Girl was launched in June 2015. The series is set to run six issues and takes place while Harley has the amnesiac Power Girl convinced the two are a crime-fighting duo.[38] The story follows the two when they are sent to a part of deep space known as La Galaxia Del Sombrero during the unseen events mentioned in Harley Quinn #12 and then chronicles their journey to return to Earth.[39]

Harley has broken up with the Joker and has a romantic relationship with Poison Ivy.[40]

Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti's four-year run on Harley Quinn, after almost a hundred issues, came to an end with Harley Quinn #34 "That's all folks!"[41] The series has continued, however, and features a new team of creators.

The ongoing series has no apparent connection to Suicide Squad other than her new hairstyle, dyed for her by one of the tenants in her Brooklyn apartment and a few guest shots from characters like Killer Croc and Deadshot. Harley has once again met up with Power Girl and even her new sidekick Terra. She has faced down multiple villains from the Penguin to the corrupt mayor of New York and is in the process of running for mayor herself when the previous mayor tried to solve the homeless problem by feeding them to cannibals. She also runs a "vigilante for hire" group; she calls her Gang of Harleys and has numerous other allies and stalkers, including Red Tool (a parody of Deadpool), Harley Sinn (a former nemesis) and various other allies she has made along the way. The mayor countered by kidnapping her friend Mason and killing him. Harley got revenge, and then she and Ivy went to visit with her family. On her return, a Man-Bat was seen around town, and Tony went missing. Not feeling very good after the death of Mason, Harley ordered her gang to stay out of it and was summarily ignored. They went to Arkham to ask Langstrom if he was behind it but found him gibbering in his cell. He did, however, mention there was "another." Meanwhile, Harley went hunting for the Man-Bat and took it down, only to find out it was Tony. Kidnapped moments later, they awoke in Langstrom's lab to find that his wife Francine was the newest Man-Bat, and she then jabbed Harley with the Man-Bat potion.

After that mess, a few of her old criminal buddies, including the Penguin, the Mad Hatter, the Scarecrow, Solomon Grundy, False Face, Mr. Freeze, and numerous other Batman villains took advantage of Harley's grief over her dead friend Mason to split her from her team. This was a temporary measure, and soon, Harley freed them from mind control and apologized for some things she said while on truth serum. Working together with all of her friends and allies like Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, and Power Girl, Harley took the gang down. A few weeks later, the Riddler showed up late for the fight while Harley and her gang were eating at the reformed Condiment King's new hot dog stand, and they easily beat him up too. This was followed up by a one-shot issue in which we see a decimated future where Red Tool has tracked down Old Lady Harley at future cyborg Tony's request. We learn she married pretty much everyone she knew at one time or another and the world was mostly destroyed when her Gang of Harleys became several Gangs and tore each other to pieces after Coach was killed/absorbed by Brainiac. Harley finds her old original gang, beats them up, and retakes control. This leaves Coach/Brainiac in charge, and he heads out with Red Tool to go home. Back in the current time, she recently went on a one-woman rampage on Apokolips before coming back to Earth with a new friend she rescued from Granny Goodness named Tina to deal with a realtor and a cult run by a skeleton-headed goof calling himself "Lord Death Man" whom she heard about on a literal pirate broadcast. It turns out he set it up himself because he is in love with her and thought it was fun walking into her traps, being unkillable. Harley used the money he paid her to save her building and surrounding businesses from a land developer, whom she then catapulted away. When last seen, Harley was reading one of her own comics and a woman calling herself Jonni DC, Continuity Cop was threatening to stop her, and the preview predicted Harley would destroy the DC Universe. After her mother was temporarily retconned and a series of pointless adventures through multiple continuities, everything was restored to normal, except for an alternate past superhero with no concept of a "gray area" being pulled into Harley's world.

Controversy [ edit ]

In September 2013, DC Comics announced a contest for fans and artists, "Break into comics with Harley Quinn!",[42] in which contestants were to draw Harley in four different suicide scenarios. This contest drew controversy not only because it was announced close to National Suicide Prevention Week, but because some artists did not like the sexualized portrayal of Harley in the fourth scenario, in which Harley attempts suicide while naked in her bathtub. After seeing the reactions to the contest, DC apologized, saying they should have made it clear it was a dream sequence that was not supposed to be taken seriously. In the final version, the bathtub scene was cut and replaced with Harley sitting on a rocket while flying in space.[43][44]

Harley's Little Black Book [ edit ]

Harley teamed up with major DC characters in Harley's Little Black Book, including Zatanna, Wonder Woman, Superman, Lobo, a version of herself, and other superheroines in a world in which they tried to kill Hitler.

DC Universe [ edit ]

DC Comics began the next relaunch of its entire line of titles called DC Rebirth in June 2016. In December 2017, DC opted to rebrand its titles under the "DC Universe" name, using the continuity established from DC Rebirth.[45][46] Within the DC Universe, Harley Quinn is featured in a third bi-monthly volume of her eponymous series, starting with Harley Quinn vol. 3 #1 (October 2016).

Suicide Squad [ edit ]

[47] Art by Harley Quinn attacks guards at Belle Reve.Art by Stjepan Šejić

Harley Quinn has a recurring role in the comic book title Suicide Squad, which debuted its fifth volume with Suicide Squad vol. 5 #1 (October 2016). Following the events of DC Rebirth, Harley Quinn sports two new outfits following in DC Universe. She wears tight blue-and-red shorts, a ripped white tee shirt, a satin jacket, fingerless gloves, net stockings, and boots. Her other outfit is a two-tone, black-and-red suit consisting of a full-sleeve top, tight shorts, opaque stockings, garter belt attachments, and boots. Harley Quinn is adorned with tattoos, and her hair color is blonde hair with blue dip dye on the left side and pink dip dye on the right to match the movie and her new hairstyle in 52.

Unlike her counterpart in the New 52 series (who may be a sequel to this series after Harley finishes her time on the Squad, even going so far as to erase her public criminal record although both versions got the dip-dyed hairstyle at the same time), she is still fairly dark and resists any attempts at labeling her a hero, no matter how many lives she saves or how many times she steps up to take command of the situation. She tends to swap her carefree joking attitude for the occasional sulk. So far, the events of the Squad do little to affect the DC Universe outside of their immediate mission. She is still officially done with the Joker in a romantic capacity and still Poison Ivy's on-again, off-again girlfriend.

The ongoing fifth volume of Suicide Squad shows Harley Quinn as an unpredictable and dangerous inmate at Belle Reve Penitentiary, attacking the facility's security forces when given the opportunity.[47] Harley Quinn becomes the leader of the Suicide Squad in issue #20, following Rick Flag's apparent death. The members of the team under Harley's leadership include Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, the Enchantress, Katana, and Killer Croc.

Harley Quinn DC Black Label [ edit ]

Harley Quinn is a major character in DC's first Black Label comic series, an adult-focused imprint, in Sean Murphy's 8-part standalone story Batman: White Knight (more information provided in other versions section).

Harleen, a limited series created by Stjepan Sejic, due to debut on September 25, will provide new insight into the character's origin story and will be her first solo comic series within the new imprint.[48]

In addition to her own origin story, Harley Quinn will also feature in Kami Garcia, Mike Mayhew, and Mico Suayan's Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity. The series re-imagines Harley Quinn as a forensic profiler who helps the police on their trail of the Joker and is due for release on October 2, 2019.[49]

Other versions [ edit ]

In other media [ edit ]

Film [ edit ]

Harley Quinn was initially set to appear in Batman Unchained , the fifth film planned for the original Batman film series. [60] [61] She was to be featured as the Joker's (Jack Nicholson) daughter, who allies herself with the Scarecrow to get revenge on Batman for her father's death. [62] However, due to the critical and commercial failure of Batman & Robin , this film was cancelled.

, the fifth film planned for the original Batman film series. She was to be featured as the Joker's (Jack Nicholson) daughter, who allies herself with the Scarecrow to get revenge on Batman for her father's death. However, due to the critical and commercial failure of , this film was cancelled. The Batman: Arkham version of Harley makes a cameo appearance in the 2018 film Ready Player One.[63]

DC Extended Universe [ edit ]

Margot Robbie portrays Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn in the DC Extended Universe.[64]

Animation [ edit ]

Television [ edit ]

Animation [ edit ]

Web series [ edit ]

Video games [ edit ]

DC Animated Universe games [ edit ]

DC Universe Online [ edit ]

Harley appears in the DC Universe Online video game, with Arleen Sorkin returning as her voice. Harley is the basic Legends PVP character granted to Villains without having to spend Marks of Legend. To date, this was the last time Arleen Sorkin voiced the character; as of 2016 , Harley Quinn is now voiced by Jen Brown, starting with a DLC episode based on the Gotham City Sirens.

Lego series [ edit ]

Batman: Arkham series [ edit ]

Harley Quinn appears in the Batman: Arkham franchise. Arleen Sorkin reprises her role from the DC Animated Universe in the first game, whereas Tara Strong assumes the role for the remainder of the series.[88][89]

In Batman: Arkham Asylum , she dons a new costume based on a nurse uniform. She takes control of Arkham, allowing the Joker to escape, releases Poison Ivy from her cell, and kidnaps Warden Quincy Sharp. She is ultimately defeated by Batman and locked up in a cell.

, she dons a new costume based on a nurse uniform. She takes control of Arkham, allowing the Joker to escape, releases Poison Ivy from her cell, and kidnaps Warden Quincy Sharp. She is ultimately defeated by Batman and locked up in a cell. In Batman: Arkham City , she is shown wearing a biker-girl themed costume in this game, using a low-key version of her usual makeup, with heavy eye shadow in lieu of her domino mask. Harley also appears as the primary antagonist of the Harley Quinn's Revenge expansion pack, wherein she seeks revenge on Batman for the Joker's death in the main story. By this point, Harley has dyed her hair completely black and wears almost all black, with a "J" necklace and mourning veil.

, she is shown wearing a biker-girl themed costume in this game, using a low-key version of her usual makeup, with heavy eye shadow in lieu of her domino mask. Harley also appears as the primary antagonist of the expansion pack, wherein she seeks revenge on Batman for the Joker's death in the main story. By this point, Harley has dyed her hair completely black and wears almost all black, with a "J" necklace and mourning veil. Harley Quinn appears in Batman: Arkham City Lockdown , where she kidnaps a reporter to use as a hostage in order to free the Joker. After luring Batman into a trap, she tries to execute the bound and gagged reporter but is stopped by one of Batman's batarangs.

, where she kidnaps a reporter to use as a hostage in order to free the Joker. After luring Batman into a trap, she tries to execute the bound and gagged reporter but is stopped by one of Batman's batarangs. Dr. Harleen Quinzel appears briefly in Batman: Arkham Origins , which takes place before her transformation into Harley Quinn. She interviews the Joker at Blackgate Prison and falls in love with him after he confesses his fascination with someone whom he considers special to him (Batman). She later appears amongst the prison's other staff members held hostage by the Joker when he takes over the facility, but she is rescued by Batman. Quinzel is last seen escorting the Joker to his cell after he is defeated by Batman.

, which takes place before her transformation into Harley Quinn. She interviews the Joker at Blackgate Prison and falls in love with him after he confesses his fascination with someone whom he considers special to him (Batman). She later appears amongst the prison's other staff members held hostage by the Joker when he takes over the facility, but she is rescued by Batman. Quinzel is last seen escorting the Joker to his cell after he is defeated by Batman. Harley returns in Batman: Arkham Knight . Following the Joker's death in Arkham City , she became a competent gang leader and took over the remains of his gang. She is one of the villains recruited by the Scarecrow to help him kill Batman. During the main story, she tries to release and recruit the victims of the Joker's blood transfusion who were not affected by the cure, all of whom started to display traces of his appearance and behavior, but they all end up dead after she is betrayed by one of the Joker patients that were working with her. Afterward, she is imprisoned by Batman in one of the Joker victims' cells left vacant. Apart from the main game, she is a playable character via downloadable content. She was included in her self-titled expansion pack, which also features four challenge maps and a story-driven mission for the character. In her mission, which takes place a few weeks before the main story, Harley breaks into the Blüdhaven prison to free Poison Ivy on Scarecrow's orders, defeating all police officers in her path, as well as Nightwing. [90] At certain points, her Harleen and Harley personas are heard fighting for control of her body. Harley also makes Batgirl: A Matter of Family DLC mission, set before the events of Arkham Asylum , where in she dons her classic outfit from the comics and battles Batgirl and Robin alongside the Joker.

. Following the Joker's death in , she became a competent gang leader and took over the remains of his gang. She is one of the villains recruited by the Scarecrow to help him kill Batman. During the main story, she tries to release and recruit the victims of the Joker's blood transfusion who were not affected by the cure, all of whom started to display traces of his appearance and behavior, but they all end up dead after she is betrayed by one of the Joker patients that were working with her. Afterward, she is imprisoned by Batman in one of the Joker victims' cells left vacant. Harley appears as a playable character in the mobile game Batman: Arkham Underworld . She is unlocked after the player completes a mission for her, and wields a special pistol, grenades, and a baseball bat. She can also summon her pet hyenas.

. She is unlocked after the player completes a mission for her, and wields a special pistol, grenades, and a baseball bat. She can also summon her pet hyenas. Harley will appear as a playable character in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.[91] In the game, she is part of the Suicide Squad who got the mission to take down Brainiac and Superman who is mentally controlled by him.

Injustice series [ edit ]

Harley Quinn appears as a playable fighter in Injustice: Gods Among Us , voiced by Tara Strong. [92] In the alternate universe depicted in the game, Quinn establishes the Joker Clan to honor the Clown Prince of Crime after he is murdered by Superman. She is part of Batman's Insurgency and is tempted in the story to revert to her older ways when an alternate Joker arrives in her dimension until Lex Luthor manages to convince her the Joker is manipulating her for his ends. In her arcade ending, she fatally slits the Joker's throat after a wedding gone wrong. [93]

, voiced by Tara Strong. In the alternate universe depicted in the game, Quinn establishes the Joker Clan to honor the Clown Prince of Crime after he is murdered by Superman. She is part of Batman's Insurgency and is tempted in the story to revert to her older ways when an alternate Joker arrives in her dimension until Lex Luthor manages to convince her the Joker is manipulating her for his ends. In her arcade ending, she fatally slits the Joker's throat after a wedding gone wrong. Harley Quinn appears as a playable fighter in Injustice 2, with Tara Strong reprising her role.[94][95]

Batman: The Enemy Within [ edit ]

Harley Quinn appears in Batman: The Enemy Within (the sequel to Batman: The Telltale Series), voiced by Laura Post.[96] This version of Dr. Harleen Quinzel was driven insane following her father's long bout with mental illness and eventual suicide. Attempting to avoid her father's fate, she joins a criminal organisation called the Pact to steal a virus able to cure her hereditary condition. This depiction initially reverses the dynamic between Harley and the Joker. Quinn manipulates and abuses her former patient at Arkham Asylum, named "John Doe", who is infatuated with her. As the series progresses, John's confidence will increase, and depending on the player's choices, he will either aid Bruce Wayne in capturing Quinn or transform into the traditional version of the Joker. In the latter outcome, Harley will become the Joker's girlfriend and the two use the virus to threaten Gotham City.

Other appearances [ edit ]

Harley Quinn appears in Infinite Crisis as a playable character, voiced by Tara Strong. [97]

as a playable character, voiced by Tara Strong. Harley Quinn is among the villains summoned by Brainiac to retrieve Starites in Scribblenauts Unmasked .

. Harley Quinn appears as a playable character in the mobile game, Suicide Squad: Special Ops , based on the film.

, based on the film. She appears as a playable character in DC Legends and DC Unchained .

and . In Mortal Kombat 11, Harley Quinn appears as a DLC costume skin for Cassie Cage.

Novels [ edit ]

Harley Quinn has her own novel adaptation from comics as part of the DC Comic Novels series. Mad Love was released in November 2018 and written by Pat Cardigan and original co-creator Paul Dini and published by Titan Books.

The Refrigerator Monologues [ edit ]

The Refrigerator Monologues is a 2017 novel. Harley Quinn is recast as Pauline Ketch, one of the six women who share their stories in the Hell Hath Club. She is openly contemptuous of the other women, claiming that her "Mr. Punch" (Joker) will rescue her one day. She hates Grimdark (Batman) for what she sees as causing gentrification in Gigonol (Gotham) and the fact that his no-kill rule often leads to lifetime crippling and manslaughter. Pauline started as the neglected daughter of a wealthy man who burned her house and other rich houses to the ground. After being caught by Grimdark, she is incarcerated in Sarkaman Asylum, claiming she only got of prison due to her father's wealth. There, she becomes fascinated by the comatose Mr. Punch, who has bright yellow hair, red eyes, and is covered in burn scars. Pauline cozies up to a nurse so she can dress in an official and "help out" delivering meds, allowing her to grow closer to Mr. Punch. Pauline pretends to Mr. Punch's psychologist, and he gives her the nickname "Pretty Paulie." She starts to give Mr. Punch fewer meds than before (it turns out they never affected him in the first place), before finally revealing she knows Grimdark's name, having encountered him at society balls in his civilian identity before he captured her.

Satisfied she has Punch's attention, Pauline reveals her identity and they escape Sarkaman together. Pauline forces Mr. Punch to keep her around as his partner-in-crime by withholding Grimdark's name, relishing his abuse, and the havoc they wreak. Mr. Punch is unable to have sex with her, possibly because he lusts for Grimdark, requiring them to use an elaborately carved sex toy. When Pauline finally reveals Grimdark's name, she and Mr. Punch have an enthusiastic night of genuine sex before he drowns him in the bathtub. As she tells her story, Pauline briefly returns to reality and realizes Mr. Punch was only using her, only to escape back into her delusions immediately afterward. However, later on in the story, she is shown to be having a quiet relationship with Bayou (Mera) suggesting that hope is not lost for her.[98]

Reception [ edit ]

Harley Quinn has become one of DC Comics' most popular characters.[99] The 2016 relaunch of her comic shipped more copies than any other DC Rebirth title and was one of the best-selling comics of the year.[100] DC Comics co-publisher Jim Lee refers to Harley Quinn as the fourth pillar in their publishing line, behind Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.[101] Harley Quinn currently stars in four separate ongoing series — three eponymous titles and Suicide Squad. Only Batman and Superman have comparable numbers of monthly appearances, making Harley DC Comics' most prominent and profitable female character.[101] Kevin Kiniry, vice-president of DC Collectibles, says Harley Quinn is always a top-seller and she "can go toe-to-toe with Batman and the Joker as one of the most fan-requested and sought-after characters."[101] In 2016, Harley Quinn's Halloween costume ranked as the most popular costume in both the United States and the United Kingdom and it remains a popular subject for cosplay.[102][103] To celebrate the character, DC Comics declared the month of February to be Harley Quinn Month and published 22 Harley Quinn variant covers across their line of comic books.[104] IGN's 2009 list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time ranked Harley Quinn as #45.[105] She was ranked 16th in Comics Buyer's Guide's 2011 "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list.[106]

Harley Quinn has been interpreted as having a dependent personality disorder, as well as showing typically villainous antisocial behavior.[107][108] Kate Roddy describes Harley Quinn as an "ambitious career woman who gives up her autonomy to become an abused sidekick" and discusses fan responses to the character.[12] Margot Robbie stated "there could be elements of manic depression, definitely PTSD thing. Loves to analyze people and someone like the Huntress who has massive childhood trauma that's just like, that's so exciting to her... Oh I want to get in their brain and pick it apart!"[108]

Chris Sims describes the approach of Batman: The Animated Series as showing "a version of the character who is having adventures right now" and regards that choice as being a key part of Harley Quinn's production. Chris Sims describes her as the Joker's Robin.[109]

Collected editions [ edit ]

Harley Quinn (2000–2004) [ edit ]

Vol. # Title Material Collected Pages Publication Date ISBN 1 Preludes and Knock Knock Jokes Harley Quinn vol. 1 #1–7 192 December 2007 978-1401216573 2 Night and Day Harley Quinn vol. 1 #8–13 and Harley Quinn: Our Worlds at War 190 June 2013 978-1401240417 3 Welcome to Metropolis Harley Quinn vol. 1 #14–25 288 March 2014 978-1401245955 4 Vengeance Unlimited Harley Quinn vol. 1 #26–38 314 September 2014 978-1401250683 The Deluxe Edition 1 Harley Quinn By Karl Kesel And Terry Dodson: The Deluxe Edition Book One Harley Quinn vol. 1 #1–8 224 September 2017 978-1401276423 2 Harley Quinn By Karl Kesel And Terry Dodson: The Deluxe Edition Book Two Harley Quinn vol. 1 #9–19 288 November 2018 978-1401285098

The New 52 Harley Quinn (2014–2017) [ edit ]

Vol. # Title Material Collected Pages Publication Date ISBN 1 Hot In The City Harley Quinn vol. 2 #0–8 224 October 2014 978-1401254155 2 Power Outage Harley Quinn vol. 2 #9–13, Harley Quinn Futures End #1, Harley Quinn Invades Comic-Con International San Diego and material from Secret Origin #4 208 April 2015 978-1401257637 3 Kiss Kiss Bang Stab Harley Quinn vol. 2 #14–16, Annual #1, Harley Quinn Holiday Special #1 and Harley Quinn Valentine's Special #1 168 December 2015 978-1401262525 Harley Quinn and Power Girl Harley Quinn and Power Girl #1–6 152 March 2016 978-1401259747 4 A Call to Arms Harley Quinn vol. 2 #17–21 and Harley Quinn Road Trip Special #1 176 June 2016 978-1401269296 5 The Joker's Last Laugh Harley Quinn vol. 2 #22–25 and Harley Quinn: Be Careful What You Wish For 144 September 2016 978-1401271992 6 Black, White and Red All Over Harley Quinn vol. 2 #26–30 144 January 2017 978-1401272593 Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #1–6 152 February 2017 978-1401267858 Harley's Little Black Book Harley's Little Black Book #1–6 256 August 2017 978-1401269760

DC Rebirth Harley Quinn (2017–2018) [ edit ]

Vol. # Title Material Collected Pages Publication Date ISBN 1 Die Laughing Harley Quinn vol. 3 #1–7 168 March 2017 978-1401268312 2 Joker Loves Harley Harley Quinn vol. 3 #8–13 144 June 2017 978-1401270957 3 Red Meat Harley Quinn vol. 3 #14–21 168 September 2017 978-1401273699 4 Surprise, Surprise Harley Quinn vol. 3 #22–27 and Harley Quinn 25th Anniversary Special 168 January 2018 978-1401275266 5 Vote Harley Harley Quinn vol. 3 #28–34 168 May 2018 978-1401278823 6 Angry Bird Harley Quinn vol. 3 #35–42 192 August 2018 978-1401281526 The Deluxe Edition 1 Harley Quinn: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 1 Harley Quinn vol. 3 #1–13 304 September 2017 978-1401273682 2 Harley Quinn: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 2 Harley Quinn vol. 3 #14–27 and Harley Quinn 25th Anniversary Special 384 July 2018 978-1401280659 3 Harley Quinn: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 3 Harley Quinn vol. 3 #28–42 392 January 2019 978-1401285531

DC Universe Harley Quinn (2018–present) [ edit ]

Vol. # Title Material Collected Pages Publication Date ISBN 1 Harley vs. Apokolips Harley Quinn vol. 3 #43–49 168 December 2018 978-1401285074 Harley Loves Joker Harley Loves Joker #1–2 and back stories from Harley Quinn vol. 3 #17–25 128 December 2018 978-1401283490 2 Harley Destroys the Universe Harley Quinn vol. 3 #50–54 and #56 160 April 2019 978-1401288099 Old Lady Harley Harley Quinn vol. 3 #42 and Old Lady Harley #1–5 152 July 2019 978-1401292164 3 The Trials of Harley Quinn Harley Quinn vol. 3 #55 and #57–63 208 October 2019 978-1401291914 4 The Final Trial Harley Quinn vol. 3 #64–69 and Harley Quinn: Villain of the Year #1 208 March 2020 978-1401294557

Harley Quinn Omnibus [ edit ]

Title Material Collected Pages Publication Date ISBN Harley Quinn Omnibus By Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti 1 Harley Quinn vol. 2 #0–16, Annual #1, Harley Quinn: Futures End #1, Harley Quinn Invades Comic-Con International San Diego, Harley Quinn Holiday Special #1, Harley Quinn Valentine's Special #1, Harley Quinn and Power Girl #1–6 and material from Secret Origin #4 768 September 2017 978-1401276430 Harley Quinn Omnibus By Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti 2 Harley Quinn vol. 2 #17–30, Harley Quinn Road Trip Special #1, Harley Quinn: Be Careful What You Wish For Special Edition, Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #1–6 and Harley's Little Black Book #1–6 864 October 2018 978-1401284565 Harley Quinn Omnibus By Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti 3 Harley Quinn vol. 3 #1–34 and Harley Quinn 25th Anniversary Special 800 October 2019 978-1401294465

Harley Quinn One-shots and Limited Series [ edit ]

Title Material Collected Pages Publication Date ISBN Harleen Harleen #1–3 200 February 2020 978-1779501110 Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass Original Graphic Novels Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass 208 September 2019 978-1401283292

See also [ edit ]

References [ edit ]