Girl of Lunacy: Twelve Moments that Outlined Harley Quinn

How does a psychiatrist turned henchgirl develop into one of the vital common characters within the DC Universe? This month marks the 30^th anniversary of Harley Quinn’s debut, and it’s wonderful to consider the legacy she’s had. She’s stepped out of the Joker and Batman’s shadows to star in her personal comics, TV exhibits and flicks. How did we get right here? To have a good time three a long time or Harley’s marvelous mayhem, let’s check out twelve of the moments that made her the celebrity she is right this moment.

Her First Look

On the 11^th of September within the yr 1992, followers world wide tuned in to look at Batman: The Animated Collection, unaware of the historical past that was being made earlier than them. The episode was known as “Joker’s Favor” and it centered across the Clown Prince manipulating a median man named Charlie. When breaking the story, author Paul Dini thought it might be enjoyable to place a girl within the Joker’s gang, much like the moll characters from the Adam West Batman collection.

Dini bought the thought to solid his pal Arleen Sorkin after seeing her in a jester outfit on the cleaning soap opera Days of our Lives. It was an ideal selection. Sorkin’s vocals gave Harley the comedically anarchic character that helped flip the character right into a celebrity.

It’s exceptional how a lot the character has developed since this debut look. In “Joker’s Favor,” Harley Quinn and the Joker present no signal of being a pair. Harley references magnificence college somewhat than medical college. There’s additionally a second the place she quotes The Arsenio Corridor Present (ask your dad and mom about it).

This was initially meant to be Harley’s solely look, however there was one thing magical about Sorkin’s efficiency. No one might overlook the way in which she stated “Mistah Jay” or landed a wonderfully timed punchline. Harley Quinn had arrived and the DC Universe would by no means be the identical. 

Harley Meets Ivy

Just a few months later, on January 18^th, 1993, viewers witnessed the start of a stupendous relationship. Batman: The Animated Collection paired Harley Quinn with Poison Ivy in an episode appropriately titled “Harley and Ivy.” The remainder is historical past.

After being kicked out by the Joker, Harley has an opportunity assembly with Poison Ivy and the 2 femme fatales start a Thelma and Louise-style crime spree. The chemistry between the 2 characters was robust from the beginning, with Harley because the comedic foil to Ivy’s straight lady. In actual fact, the dynamic was so enjoyable that writers continued to pair the 2 up in future episodes, tie-in comics and extra.

Harley’s friendship with Ivy basically modified her character, serving to her evolve as a person, and have become one in every of DC’s most lovable feminine duos.

Harley Will get an Origin

On December 13^th, 1993, DC printed The Batman Adventures: Mad Love, a status one-shot that exposed Harley’s origin for the primary time. Flashbacks confirmed how the Joker’s now-infamous companion was as soon as a psychiatrist named Dr. Harleen Quinzel. After touchdown a residency at Arkham Asylum, Dr. Quinzel started periods with the Joker and the Clown Prince used the chance to emotionally manipulate her. A romance bloomed, with Harleen leaving her outdated life behind to develop into Harley Quinn—a charismatic agent of chaos who solely had eyes for “her puddin’.”

The one-shot was written by Dini and Bruce Timm, two of the enduring creators behind a few of the biggest Batman: The Animated Collection episodes. Freed of the constraints of community tv, the comedian allowed for a deep exploration of what drives Harley in addition to the darkish aspect of her relationship with the Joker, and readers responded strongly. The e-book received an Eisner Award for Greatest Single Difficulty and was later tailored right into a 1999 episode of The New Batman Adventures. If you wish to perceive Harley Quinn as a personality, Mad Love is important studying.

Harley’s First Motion Determine

In 1997, Kenner launched a Harley Quinn motion determine as a part of their The Adventures of Batman and Robin toyline. Why is that this an enormous deal? As a result of in 2022, Harley merchandise is all over the place, with a whole bunch of motion figures, statues, dolls, t-shirts, backpacks and just about each different product you may think about accessible in some type or different. For those who’ve ever been to a comic book conference (or a Sizzling Matter), you’ve in all probability seen it.

This humble motion determine is the place all of it started, making this five-inch magnificence traditionally important. Harley’s first determine got here with a boxing glove rocket launcher and a flag gun. For those who had been among the many younger followers who snagged it when it was first launched, take excellent care of it, since you personal a chunk of Harley Quinn historical past.

Harley Heads to Mainstream Continuity

By 1999, it was clear that Harley added one thing really distinctive to Gotham Metropolis. The one drawback was that one thing was lacking from mainstream continuity. That modified when the nonetheless highly-read Batman: Harley Quinn #1 was printed as a part of the Bat-Household’s yearlong “No Man’s Land” storyline, establishing Harleen’s place within the DCU. Dini, Harley’s co-creator, as soon as once more wrote the script, giving her an origin that was fairly much like the one she had within the animated collection. Within the course of, the comedian additionally arrange her friendship with Poison Ivy and her poisonous relationship with the Joker. Harley Quinn was lastly canon and Gotham Metropolis was a greater place for it. (Properly, for anybody who wasn’t one in every of her victims.)
 

The Arkham Video games

In 2009, Rocksteady Video games launched Batman: Arkham Asylum, a groundbreaking action-adventure console recreation that adopted a very gritty method to the Darkish Knight’s world. In a nod to Batman: The Animated Collection and its now fully-grown followers, Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprised their roles as Batman and Joker, so it was solely pure that Arleen Sorkin would additionally return to voice Harley Quinn.

The Maid of Mischief was given a completely new search for the online game, dropping her jester outfit in favor of a red-and-blue bodice and thigh-high boots. Batman: Arkham Asylum and eventual franchise it birthed would show to be so common that Harley’s comics and merchandise started to take their cues from this new design, all whereas introducing our favourite Gotham troublemaker to a wider viewers than ever earlier than. Most fun of all, Harley’s confirmed to be one of the vital enduring parts of the franchise, along with her most up-to-date Arkham Universe journey, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, due on consoles subsequent yr.

Harley Quinn Will get Taken to Activity

When the DC Universe was reinvented for the New 52 relaunch, Harley Quinn was given a dramatically completely different new look, a brand new origin and an all-new crew. 2011’s The Suicide Squad #1 positioned Harley on Activity Drive X and he or she’s been making an attempt to ditch the lethal crew ever since. Since this preliminary outing, Harley Quinn has develop into an iconic a part of the Suicide Squad, showing in a number of runs of the comedian and each Suicide Squad movies (extra on that later).

As part of the relaunch, Harley’s origin was additionally reworked. A lot of the parts from Mad Love had been preserved, however now, in a reference to his origin, the Joker additionally pushed Harleen right into a vat of chemical compounds to finish her transformation. Together with altering her mentally, the acid additionally bleached Harleen’s pores and skin, creating her acquainted white pallor, which before now was created by make-up. The New 52 additionally retired Harley’s jester outfit for good, giving her an ensemble much like the one she wore within the Arkham online game collection.

These modifications proved to be controversial, however the New 52 did introduce one other change that almost all followers have rallied behind—it completely separated Harley from the Joker. In 2012’s Suicide Squad #15, she even went so far as biting off a chunk of his tongue, proclaiming that she didn’t belong to him. Harley and the Joker had damaged up many occasions earlier than, but it surely normally wasn’t lengthy earlier than Harley got here again, repeating the cycle of toxicity and abuse. Now, her emancipation from the Joker has develop into an accepted—and anticipated—a part of her story.

Injustice For All

In 2013, NetherRealm Studios launched the online game Injustice: Gods Amongst Us. The combating recreation from the minds behind the Mortal Kombat collection would go on to spawn a franchise that included a sequel recreation, a preferred comedian collection and a 2021 animated movie.

Injustice tells the story of a superhero civil conflict that ignites between Batman and Superman after the Man of Metal murders the Joker. But, between the surprising betrayals and dramatic deaths of beloved characters, it’s simple to miss the truth that Injustice places Harley Quinn entrance and middle in a method no different DC occasion ever actually has earlier than. The primary recreation has her be a part of Batman’s military, combating alongside the Darkish Knight and his allies. The sequel follows Harley as Batman’s most trusted companion and ends along with her changing into part of the Justice League. The tie-in comedian Injustice: Floor Zero is instructed from Harley’s perspective, giving readers a firsthand have a look at how she got here to phrases with the Joker’s loss of life, her PTSD stemming from his previous abuse of her and her gradual journey to heroism. After which there’s the now-iconic change between Harley and Inexperienced Arrow.

The story could also be known as Injustice, but it surely introduced nothing BUT justice to Harley followers hoping to see her tackle a much less villainous position.

Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner

Additionally in 2013, the artistic husband and spouse crew of Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner started a four-year run on Harley Quinn that may go on to redefine the character even additional, introducing new parts to Harley’s world that may have life exterior the comedian web page.

Palmiotti and Conner co-wrote the tales throughout their time on the e-book, with Conner additionally illustrating the dynamic covers.

Conner and Palmiotti’s Harley Quinn noticed their protagonist depart Gotham behind for a brand new life on Coney Island, the place she joined a curler derby crew and have become a landlady to a bunch of eccentric tenants. Harley’s outfit was as soon as once more redesigned, this time to include parts from her unique jester outfit blended with the bustier and hotpants launched within the Arkham video games. The collection was a top-seller for DC, which continued when it was relaunched in 2016 as part of DC’s Rebirth occasion. In actual fact, Conner and Palmiotti’s mark on the character was so distinct and defining, that it may be argued that they’re essentially the most consequential creators Harley has had since Paul Dini and Bruce Timm.

Harley and Ivy’s First Kiss

Because the day they met—again in 1993, for these following alongside—Harleen Quinzel and Pamela Isley have been inseparable. By 2016, they’d appeared in numerous comics collectively, headlined their very own restricted collection and had been members of the Gotham Metropolis Sirens alongside Catwoman. It had all the time been clear that they had been the perfect of mates, however there remained hypothesis that there is perhaps one thing extra there. 1997’s Batgirl Adventures hinted on the notion, however for years, the thought of Harley and Ivy as a pair was one thing that solely existed in fanfiction or on message boards. One thing hinted at, however by no means formally confirmed. That every one modified with Bombshells.

Based mostly on a bestselling line of DC collectible statues, DC Comics: Bombshells was an alt-universe collection that reimagined DC’s biggest feminine characters as WWII-era heroes and villains. In DC Comics: Bombshells #42, Harley and Ivy share a romantic stroll via the streets of Berlin. The moon is shining, the snow is falling and the 2 start flirting. After some playful banter, Ivy invitations Harley in for a kiss and the couple embrace in a stupendous splash web page. This wasn’t fanart, this was Harley and Ivy kissing in an official DC publication. This ceaselessly modified their relationship, with a kiss following in mainstream continuity (2017’s Harley Quinn #25) and their love story changing into a cornerstone of the 2019 animated collection.

Enter Margot Robbie

In some ways, Margot Robbie will be thought-about the casting that launched a thousand cosplays. In 2016, Activity Drive X got here to the large display screen for the primary time within the David Ayer-directed Suicide Squad…and naturally, Harley Quinn was on the roster.

Robbie’s portrayal as Harley was a gamechanger for the character. From head to toe, the gifted actress embodied Harley in each single body in her massive display screen debut, and the followers took discover. Step into any comedian conference and also you’re more likely to see a number of Robbie-inspired Harleys…possibly even a military of them.

Robbie’s tackle Harley was so common that she was later given her personal film in 2020, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), and as soon as once more joined the ranks of Activity Drive X for James Gunn’s 2021 movie, The Suicide Squad, giving viewers extra laughs, motion and gratuitous violence.

Her Personal &%#@ing TV Present

In 2019, Harley Quinn got here full circle by returning to animation, however this time, she was the star.

Harley Quinn (which simply completed its third season on HBO Max) stars Kaley Cuoco as a Maid of Mischief who’s on a hilarious, usually explosive journey of self-discovery. The present’s grownup humor takes no prisoners, but it surely’s greater than a comedy. Harley’s journey is an emotional one as she leaves the Joker and involves phrases with the abuse she suffered at his palms and ultimately falls for her finest pal Poison Ivy. There’s additionally a septuagenarian cyborg (who first appeared within the Conner/Palmiotti comedian) with a sea monster for a sister, a Joker redemption subplot, a still-can’t-believe-we-saw-that Court docket of Owls orgy and a couple of billion jokes made at poor Bane’s expense. Briefly, it’s all the pieces we love about Harley—pure, joyful, unadulterated chaos. And it’s not stopping any time quickly. The collection is getting a fourth season AND an animated spinoff centering round Kite Man, one of many present’s standout characters.

Not unhealthy for a personality who was initially solely supposed to look in a single episode!
 

A lot of individuals hope to develop into profitable earlier than they flip thirty, and Harley Quinn can relaxation simple understanding she’s completed that. Within the three a long time since her debut, Harley’s grown as a personality, stepping out from the shadow of the Joker and blazing a remarkably impartial path that continues to shock us. Plus, and that is exceptional for a thirty-year-old character, it actually does appear to be her journey’s simply starting. Will she develop into one in every of Gotham’s biggest heroes? Will she revert again to her personal model of villainy? Will her relationship with Poison Ivy develop into one in every of DC’s most enduring pairings? Will we get extra motion pictures? Extra video video games? A live-action TV present, maybe? (She’s already getting her personal audio collection.)

We will’t say what could lie forward, but when there’s one factor we’ve discovered from Harley, it’s that she by no means fails to shock us in essentially the most fantastic methods.

Harley Quinn thirtieth Anniversary Particular by Paul Dini, Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, Chad Hardin, Stjepan Sejic, Stephanie Phillips, Riley Rossmo and extra is now accessible in print and as a digital comedian e-book.

Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, motion pictures and comics for DCComics.com, is an everyday contributor to the Sofa Membership and writes our month-to-month Batman column, “Gotham Gazette.” Comply with him on Twitter at @TBUJosh.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed on this column are solely these of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and don’t essentially replicate these of DC Leisure or Warner Bros.