On
the wings of hype, Any DC comics fan knows about the power couple
that is Harley Quinn and the Joker. No-one in their right mind would
call that relationship healthy, of course, but hey, everybody needs
someone to love. Harley and Mistah J have become a genuinely iconic
duo ever since her first appearance in Batman: The Animated Series.
That’s right, she started off as a sidekick character on Sunday
morning cartoon and look at her now!
Modern-day
Harley is a far cry from her old self, and that’s just one of many
reasons to love her. Here are some more!
1.
First Appearance
You
may have heard this one, but Harley Quinn first appeared in the
Batman the Animated Series (BtAS) in 1995. Before that, no-one’s ever
heard of this quirky character in the comics. I don’t know if it was
Arleen Sorkin’s tantalizing voice, Harley’s naughty nature, or her
tight suit that made the character so famous, but here we are. Today
she’s one of the most iconic and recognizable DC characters,
probably, on the same level as Batman and Superman.
2.
Origin Story
Her origin story has been written and rewritten, but the core aspects of it never change. Harleen Quinzel was a talented psychiatrist who fell in love with one of her patients. A very dangerous psychopathic killer – the Joker. It’s an incredibly twisted love story that ends in Harleen ditching her career just to be with her Puddin’. She wanted to fix the Joker but instead got trapped in an abusive relationship.
3.
Adorable Pets
The
Penguin has his birds, Catwoman has cats, Batman has bats, but what
about Harley? Her pets are just a ruthless and insane as their
mistress – naturally, they’re two adorable hyenas! Joker is their
daddy, but he didn’t know that hyenas live in a matriarchy, which is
why Bud and Lou love their mommy so much. BTW, their names are a
reference to an iconic comedian duo Abbot and Costello.
4.
Costumes
Ever
since Harley appeared on the screen wearing that red and black
harlequin suit, DC’s been trying to one-up her costume design. So
far, I’m going to have to give the win to Margot Robbie’s
incarnation, but the comic book versions aren’t that far behind. No
matter what she’s wearing (or not
wearing),
the readers will instantly recognize Harley.
5.
She’s Not a Sidekick Anymore
Long
gone are the days when Harley was just a silly sidekick with a dirty
mind. I mean, she’s a smart girl with a Ph.D. in psychology, of
course, she’d dump the Joker sooner or later. That’s precisely what
happened in her New 52 run. In the world full of abusive
relationships, even something as trivial as comic book bravery could
help someone break free.
6.
Moral Compass
Unlike the Joker, Harley isn’t a chaotic evil character and even has a softer, friendly side that we can see with Poison Ivy and Catwoman. The Joker’s all about creating chaos and trying to get Batman’s attention, but Harleen has some lines she’s not willing to cross. At some point, she even starts cooperating with Batman, making her more of an anti-hero rather than a pure villain. And these are the kinds of layers that we’re hoping to see in the upcoming Birds of Prey movie.
+ There are no comments
Add yours