Harley Quinn has used her rather large mallet to break numerous barriers, both literally and figuratively. Though created to fulfill a singular purpose, her appeal has inspired far more adventures. Though she was originally portrayed as a villain, since The New 52 she has been depicted as an antiheroine.

Harley is a popular comic character, but was originally made for animation. Created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, she was introduced in Batman: The Animated Series in September 1992, voiced by Arleen Sorkin. Harley was developed as Joker’s sidekick and love interest, wearing a jester costume that bore thematic similarities to Joker. She joined comics in The Batman Adventures #12 (September 1993), crashing a costume party with her future best friends, Poison Ivy and Catwoman.

Harley’s origin was told in the 1994 graphic novel Mad Love, written by Dini and Timm. Before becoming Harley Quinn, she was Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatrist working at Arkham Asylum where she becomes fascinated by the Joker. As their sessions progress, she falls in love with him and becomes both his accomplice and on/off girlfriend. But, being that he’s the Joker, he frequently abused her, ranging from petty insults to outright trying to kill her.

The 1999 graphic novel, Batman: Harley Quinn, opens with Poison Ivy finding an injured Harley in a wrecked rocket. Harley recounts her time at Arkham with the Joker, and how they worked together after breaking out, until he decides to kill her via rocket because he doesn’t reciprocate her feelings. Wanting to protect her, Ivy gives Harley a drink that immunizes her to Ivy and makes her invulnerable to toxins. Harley decides to help Batman capture Joker, but when Joker apologizes, she forgives him, and they escape together.

Harley starred in her first titular series in 2001-2003. The 38-issue run showed her going solo, starting a gang, and leaving Gotham for Metropolis with Ivy. The series ends with Harley turning herself in at Arkham to seek help and redemption for past crimes.

She resurfaced in a pair of 2007 stories, first in Batman #663 alongside Joker until she realizes he plans to kill her, so she shoots him instead. Next, she was in Detective Comics #831, helping Batman stop the new Ventriloquist, which makes him see the good in her.

Harley, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman team up in Gotham City Sirens (June 2009-August 2011). She breaks into Arkham to kill Joker for his years of abuse, but instead she frees him and they violently takeover the facility. Batman and Catwoman defeat the pair, and Harley is incarcerated until Ivy breaks her out. The two confront Catwoman, but once again opponents turn to allies and Catwoman helps Harley and Ivy elude Batman.

Her second solo series began with Harley Quinn #0 (January 2014), kicking off the four-year run written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, who crafted comedic tales with Harley as a well-intentioned antiheroine. She becomes the landlady of a building in Coney Island, joins a roller derby team, and starts working as a psychiatrist again. At this point, she is no longer in love with Joker and it is revealed that she has an open romantic relationship with Poison Ivy. She partners with Power Girl for a few issues and has a romance with Mason, one of her tenants. Deciding to become a crimefighter, Harley forms the Gang of Harleys who take on a sea captain that gains powers by eating an alien sea-plant.

In 2016 Rebirth heralded a new Harley Quinn #1, humorously titled “Afterbirth.” In addition to her Gang of Harleys, she allied with Red Tool (a Deadpool parody) and others. This run includes the comedic story of New Yorkers behaving like zombies from eating bad hot dogs and the more horrific tale of New York’s corrupt mayor feeding the homeless to cannibals. Harley and her team (which includes Ivy, Power Girl, and Killer Croc) stop villains like Penguin and Mr. Freeze from taking over Coney Island. She gets transported to Apokolips, takes on Granny Goodness, and returns with Female Fury Petite Tina. Summer 2019 issues saw Harley undergoing trials to become the angel of retribution.

From her initial one-off appearance, Harley has become one of DC’s most popular characters. Her complicated run involves some unsavory moments and lots of violence, but she’s evolved into a likeable goofball who amuses with her sense of humor and unpredictable antics. She may be a jester, but she has a mean swing.

The full text of this article will appear in The Overstreet Price Guide to Batman, now available for preorder at gemstonepub.com.