Harley Quinn is an iconic character who’s had a roller coaster of a ride ever given that she created her DC Universe debut in 1992, and has gone on to prove herself as an critical component of DC’s sprawling multiverse in the decades given that. Yet for as well-known as the character became, Harley’s very first comic look is far diverse from most, specially contemplating she didn’t originate on the web page, producing her a special addition to DC lore that other characters can not examine to.

Featured in an escalating quantity of comic books, video games, films, and a lot more, Harley has carved herself a spot in DC fandom that will not quickly go away, with her continued adventures in the comic space proving that point handily. Successfully bucking the Joker’s insidious influence, turning more than a new leaf as a former-criminal-turned-pseudo-crime-fighter, and settling down with Poison Ivy in an apartment of their personal, Harley has come a extended way from her original comic look, but what specifically occurred the very first time she graced the panel of a comic, and how has she evolved given that?

Related

Harley Quinn Has Finally Earned Her Place in the Bat-Family, And Proves It In Her New Robin Team Up

Harley Quinn’s hero status has been questionable inside the DC Universe, but by cementing her spot in the Bat-Family, her hero status is undeniable.

Harley Quinn’s First Comic Appearance: ‘The Batman Adventures #12’ (1993)

Harley’s First Canon Comic Appearance: Batman: Harley Quinn #1 (1999)

Created in 1992 by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for the Batman: The Animated Series episode titled “Joker’s Favor,” Harley Quinn was supposed to be a 1-and-carried out “walk-on role” but speedily became a fan-favourite, at some point producing her non-canon comic debut in 1993’s The Batman Adventures #12, by Kelley Puckett and Mike Parobeck. An concern that also acted as the debut for Batman: The Animated Series’ version of Batgirl ahead of her appropriate introduction in the show, the unexpected reputation of Harley opened the door for this very first extremely short comic look, with the character not becoming an official member of DC’s comic universe till seven years later.

Given a slightly tweaked canon origin set against the backdrop of an earthquake-ravaged Gotham City circa 1999’s No Man’s Land by Harley’s original creator, Paul Dini, as nicely as artist Yvel Guichet, Batman: Harley Quinn #1 kept the psychiatrist-turned-henchwoman angle Harley had received in 1994’s award-winning non-canon Harley Quinn: Mad Love 1-shot, and added a layer of danger and darkness to the proceedings that match inside the confines of Batman’s then-present line of books.

Effectively bringing Harley into DC’s key continuity appropriate, significantly of her smart-cracking but violent tendencies from Batman: The Animated Series carried more than into this story and effectively reintroduced Harley and Joker’s twisted romance, 1 that defined the character for years afterward.

Harley’s First Comic Was Set in Batman’s Animated Series Continuity

Harley’s First Canon Story Was Set During Batman: No Man’s Land

A Batman: The Animated Series-set tale titled “Batgirl: Day One,” Harley’s very first non-canon comic look saw her group up with Poison Ivy to kidnap a specifically wealthy lady attending a higher-finish costume celebration, a spot exactly where Barbara Gordon, aka Batgirl, also occurred to be. Although the actual story content material and time offered to Harley on-panel in The Batman Animated Adventures #12 was understandably light, fans did get to briefly see Harley (equipped with a baseball bat, no much less) take on Batgirl, and then, in a twist, get captured by Catwoman, producing her debut comic concern a exciting if not globe-shattering look.

Conversely, in her canon comic debut, Harley received an oversized 1-shot that fleshed out her origin story, and showed exactly where she got her iconic jester uniform from, how she reintroduced herself to Joker as his henchwoman, and even found and renovated a replacement hide-out for her “puddin’.” Joker would then betray Harley, who would betray Batman, completely illustrating the dysfunctional dynamic of the trio. What’s a lot more, Harley meets her eventual key squeeze, Poison Ivy, in the opening pages of this concern, officially kick-beginning a partnership that is nevertheless going powerful to this day.

Harley’s Biggest Difference? She’s Finally Become Her Own Woman

Harley No Longer Associates With the Joker or His Twisted Mission Against Batman

Now a canonical component of DC’s comic offerings, Harley’s very first comic look saw her just starting her journey as a character, with Harley’s obsession with the Joker resulting in a years-extended toxic partnership and a villainous streak that Harley was fortunately capable to rise above. A terrible scenario created infinitely superior as soon as she kicked Joker to the curb, this was a huge transform for the character, specially given that Harley had premiered as Joker’s lackey, major her to ditch her jester costume, discover who she is as a individual with her companion, Poison Ivy, lean into her a lot more heroic nature, and most importantly, create faith and self-assurance in herself, all factors that weren’t initially feasible.

As for Harley’s very first canon look, Dini applying No Man’s Land’s destroyed Gotham as the setting for Harleen Quinzel’s transition into villainy is a thing that may perhaps have worked at the time, but in hindsight, dates Harley’s origin by tying it to a particular occasion, specially 1 that slips in an out of DC’s key continuity based on what the company’s present stance on which stories “matter” is. However, Harley’s related backstory and characterization, as created in each of her “first” comic appearances, are a lot more prevalent now than ever, with fans at the moment following a Harley Quinn who’s bucked the insidious influence of the Joker to turn out to be her personal hero — and consequently, a hero to several other folks.

Harley Has Become a Cross-Medium Star in the Years Since Her Debut

Margo Robbie Famously Plays the Live-Action Version of Harley

Coming a extended way from her humble tv beginnings, Harley has gone on to not only turn out to be a staple DC Comics character on the web page but a star in just about every other medium she crosses into as nicely. Currently closing in on concern #50 of her ongoing solo series, Harley often appears to have some comic on retailer shelves, with a continual drip of spin-off miniseries like Harley Quinn Black + White + Red, video games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, reside-action films like Birds of Prey, and even an HBO animated series that brings Harley’s journey complete-circle to the medium that began it all, by no means leaving fans wanting for a lot more Harley content material for extended.

With her reputation escalating the a lot more fans about the globe learn her wacky but heartfelt adventures in the comic space and beyond, it is protected to say Harleen Quinzel is not going anyplace anytime quickly, producing Harley 1 of DC Comics’ most changed but also most created and layered characters of all time. Harley Quinn’s very first comic appearances had been memorable ones, and fortunately for fans, most of her stories in the time given that have followed suit, correctly turning a 1-off tv goon into a living, breathing anti-hero who could possibly even admit to getting a complete-blown hero 1 day.