When it comes to the ladies of Batman’s rogue’s gallery, Harley Quinn is by far
the most famous, but did you know that Harley actually got her start in the Batman animated
series?
She was so popular that she was instantly adapted into the comics and video games!
Harleen Quinzel grew up fascinated by criminals and the psychology of serial killers.
Realistically, this odd obsession would have been enough for any parent to dose her up
on all sorts of medications, but considering that her father was a con man, her mother
was a bit of a jerk, and her brother was a dead beat…
Yeah, that never happened.
Despite this, Harleen was able to rise up and even graduate with a degree in psychology
from the prestigious Gotham City University.
Shortly after graduating, she landed an internship at Arkham Asylum as a therapist for several
of the inmates.
It was in these therapeutic sessions where Harleen met one of the most dangerous criminals
who ever lived, the Joker.
Harleen was amazed by the Joker’s mind and grew closer and closer to him.
All the while, the Joker was manipulating Harleen.
The young intern quickly fell in love with the the clown prince of crime and helped him
escape from Arkham Asylum multiple times.
It wasn’t long before Harleen adopted the Harley Quinn persona and became an accomplice
to several of her puddin’s schemes.
After that…
there’s nothing really of note to talk about since for a while, Harley’s character wasn’t
really developed outside of “SHE’S THE JOKER’S GIRLFRIEND!”
But the Joker isn’t the only important figure in Harley’s life in fact, she’s got quite
the budding relationship with Poison Ivy.
After Gotham City was reduced to ruins in an earthquake, the Joker blasted Harley away
in a rocket where she landed in Poison Ivy’s greenhouse and after a rough introduction,
the two become fast friends!
In fact, the two eventually become so close that Ivy injected Harley with a chemical compound
so that she would be immune to EVERY poison and toxin, allowing Harley to not be poisoned
by Ivy’s venomous touch.
It’s also worth noting that Harley and Ivy are close.
Like really REALLY close to the point where it’s speculated and heavily-implied that
the two might be in love with each other.
This has been hinted at SEVERAL times in the comics and might help explain why Ivy hates
Harley and Joker’s relationship so much.
Well, that and the fact that anyone in their right mind would definitely hate what the
Joker’s done to Harley.
Speaking of which, Harley and the Joker’s relationship is highly abusive.
It’s been made abundantly clear that the Joker only uses Harley for her undying loyalty
and sees her as entirely disposable.
For example, in Harley’s revised New 52 origin, the Joker PUSHED Harley into the same
vat of acid that he fell into!
The chemicals bleached her skin just like his!
Plus, in Harley’s solo run from 2001, the Joker attempted to shoot her several times
when she was no longer of use.
No matter what though, Harley keeps going back to Mistah J. regardless of what abuse
he puts her though.
As I said, Harley has never been too developed as a character and for a long time she was
simply written as just an accessory to the Joker.
The New 52 seeked to change this a little bit and make her a more independent character,
by allowing her to become a prominent member of the Suicide Squad.
In fact, after the Death of the Family storyline in the Batman comic, she does a pretty good
job at going solo as an anti-hero.
Oh, and she’s basically DC’s version of Deadpool by constantly breaking the fourth
wall.
In her own book, Harley acts as a landlady for an apartment building that she owns, competes
in roller derby, has a fling with Deadshot, and even teams up with Power Girl for a little
bit!
She’s even apparently building a “Gang of Harleys”.
As far as powers go, Harley has high intelligence thanks to her studies and great gymnastic
ability as she has been practicing since she was a little girl.
Not only that, but the chemicals that Poison Ivy gave to Harley not only gave her an immunity
to poisons and toxins, but they also increased her strength, agility, and even gave her a
little bit of a healing factor!
If you’re wanting to dive into Harley’s world then I’d suggest that you check out
Batman Adventures: Mad Love, Gotham City Sirens, and despite it not being a main continuity
story, read Injustice: Gods Among Us because it has perhaps my FAVORITE version of Harley!
If you’d like to see me do a video on Harley’s best friend, go ahead and click on Poison
Ivy, but if you want to see a video on another main member of the Suicide Squad then, click
on Deadshot!
You can click this video to learn more about another villain, the Reverse Flash or click
on this one to learn about the time that Bruce Wayne became an agent of Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D.!