DC has so many amazing characters, some of the most popular in the comic book genre, and one of the most surprisingly popular has always been Harley Quinn. Harley started out as an unnamed goon for the Joker, but her popularity eventually earned her a spot in comics and propelled her into mega-stardom, which has unfortunately become a major detriment to her character.

This inconsistency means that, no matter how popular Harley Quinn gets, she may never have a stable fanbase or a consistent place within the DC Universe.

Harley Quinn is an anomaly in comic books because she isn't originally a comic book character. While it's hard to be in the comic space now without seeing her everywhere, that wasn't always the case. Harley Quinn first appeared as an unnamed henchwoman for the Joker in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor," created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm.

At the time, she was just an unnamed female henchman dressed in a jester's outfit. She instantly stood out as the only woman in the Joker's gang and the only one with any real personality. While most of the Joker's henchmen were just nameless grunts, Harley was different.

Harley Quinn Was One Of DC's Best New Characters

Batman: Harley Quinn by Paul Dini, Yvel Guichet, Aaron Sowd, Richard Horie, Tanya Horie, and Willie Schubert.

Harley Quinn's first appearance in the main continuity of comics was in Batman: Harley Quinn by Paul Dini and Yvel Guichet. This story took place during the events of No Man's Land and provided a quick recap of who Harley Quinn was and her relationship with the Joker. The plot revolves around the Joker growing tired of Harley as she tries to tag along with his gang. He attempts to murder her by firing her off in a rocket, but she manages to survive and returns, seeking revenge by trying to kill the Joker. The story culminates with the Joker apologizing, and Harley instantly forgiving him.

This pattern of Harley breaking off from the Joker, realizing he’s abusive, only to return to him, would plague her character for years. A notable example of this was in Gotham City Sirens, written by Paul Dini and illustrated by Guillem March, where Harley attempts to break into Arkham Asylum to kill the Joker, only to change her mind and decide to help him escape instead. Eventually, DC realized Harley had more potential beyond her relationship with the Joker and permanently separated the two. However, this decision may not have been the best choice for her character’s development.

DC Struggles to Define Harley Quinn's True Identity

Is Harley Quinn an Abuse Survivor, a Supervillain, or a Deadpool-Like Character?

Harley Quinn continued to hang around the Joker and serve as his minion for several years until DC finally decided to give her her own comic in Harley Quinn by Karl Kesel and Terry Dodson. This comic explored how Harley managed to function independently, away from the Joker. It was an interesting read, as it showcased Harley doing outrageous things like attempting to form her own gang and even being sent to hell after dying in an accident. Later issues took on a darker tone, more in line with a Catwoman comic. Overall, it was a serious and respectful exploration of the character.

DC recognized they had a mega-popular character on their hands, but they had no clear direction for her. In her early years in comics, Harley Quinn was simply the Joker's sidekick, his on-again, off-again lover, and eventually, a crime boss in her own right. In The New 52, Harley was completely separated from the Joker and became much darker. It seemed DC wanted to test how far they could push the character, with her becoming far more violent, such as forcing Deadshot to wear the Joker's severed face while Harley used him as a surrogate to vent her frustrations.

Not only does DC have no idea what to actually do with her character, but she's everywhere.

Harley Quinn even killed a ton of children on Christmas, using the act as a way to sever ties with her Harley persona and solidify herself as a villain. And it certainly worked. This is where the real problem with Harley Quinn lies. She committed horrific acts—killing children, aiding the Joker’s escape, and slaughtering dozens of people. This wasn’t an isolated incident either. She helped kill Clownhunter’s parents alongside the Joker. Yet despite all this, DC attempted to reframe her as an icon for abused women and as a character resembling Deadpool.

At some point, DC made a dramatic shift in how they wanted Harley Quinn to be portrayed. Instead of continuing with the brutal, unhinged character she was in The New 52, they flipped the script. Harley went from being a cold-blooded killer to someone who referred to her butt as a "fun factory." She dove into increasingly absurd adventures, even getting a catapult on top of her apartment—dubbed the "scatapult"—to fling her pet's waste at her neighbors. It’s hard to ignore how far removed this is from the character who once brought chaos and destruction.

DC Turned Harley Quinn's Mental Illness Into a Ridiculous Stereotype

Harley Is Far More than Just Her Mental Instability

There's no denying that Harley Quinn has always had a touch of madness to her. She was undeniably crazy, but it felt grounded, with a sense of realism. Over time, however, this evolved into an exaggerated version of her insanity, featuring over-the-top elements like Bernie the Beaver, a taxidermied beaver that Harley believes speaks to her. This shift contrasts sharply with her original portrayal, where she was delusional but never to such an extreme extent.

Another issue with Harley Quinn is the sheer volume of her appearances. DC seems to have no clear direction for her character, and as a result, she’s everywhere. Whether it’s in an Elseworlds story or a major event, Harley Quinn is there. She’s been everything from a member of the Justice League to fighting Wonder Woman on Themyscira with the Birds of Prey, to even being part of the Bat-Family despite her violent past. Harley Quinn is nearly omnipresent across various DC titles, yet the portrayal of her can vary wildly from one story to the next.

DC Knows No Boundaries When It Comes to Harley Quinn

Harley's Character Is Truly Beginning to Suffer From DC's Portrayals of Her

Sometimes, Harley Quinn is a bit silly, but overall a dependable character who can work alongside Batman and even go undercover for him. Other times, she is portrayed as a complete serial killer with no qualms about murdering people, including children. And then there are times when she is completely divorced from reality, utterly unaware of what's going on, making her nearly impossible to communicate with because of her insanity. These are all different interpretations of Harley Quinn that DC has tried within the same continuity.

Harley Quinn started as a minion to one of DC's most popular villains and quickly gained popularity herself. When DC recognized how beloved she was, they brought her into comics. But beyond her first comic series, DC never seemed to know what to do with her. This inconsistency means that, no matter how popular Harley Quinn gets, she may never have a stable fanbase or a consistent place within the DC Universe.

Batman: Harley Quinn is on sale now from DC Comics!