WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Harley Quinn Fartacular: Silent Butt Deadly #1!

Harley Quinn’s most controversial comic yet has just dropped, and while there’s plenty to dissect, one comment about the Gotham Siren’s attire stands out. It reignites the ongoing debate about female comic book costumes—or more specifically, their lack of coverage. Could this in-narrative remark be a wake-up call for Harley Quinn, signaling that it’s time for a redesign?

The wait for Harley Quinn Fartacular: Silent Butt Deadly by Joanne Starer, Ted Brandt, Ro Stein, and Marissa Louise is finally over, and fans are already flocking to this issue, drawn in by its absurd premise. This controversial, fart-centric comic follows Harley as she embarks on a mission to prove to her girlfriend that she loves her "toots" and that there's no reason to be embarrassed about ing gas.

The zany adventure takes Harley to a fart-themed museum exhibit, where she encounters a Dutch-themed adversary cursed to excessive amounts of gas. During their encounter, the clog-wearing woman warns Harley about the curse and makes a blunt comment about Harley's outfit: "You look like a stripper."

“You Look Like a Stripper”: Even DC’s Own Characters Are Calling Harley Quinn Out

Comic Comes From Joanne Starer’s Harley Quinn Fartacular: Silent Butt Deadly #1 (2025) – Art by Ted Brandt & Ro Stein

In her attempt to prove to Ivy that she loves her toots, Harley tries to get her hands on love letters written by James Joyce to his wife, where he ires her flatulence. However, before she can steal the letters from the museum, a mysterious clog-wearing woman appears and warns Harley that the letters are cursed and will give her uncontrollable flatulence if she takes them—something the woman has experienced firsthand. Harley is skeptical of the woman's claim, prompting her to respond, “I would not lie. We Dutch are very honest… blunt, as you say. Which is why I must tell you, you look like a stripper, if stripper was a baby.”

Harley takes the critique as a compliment, cooing, “Aww, shucks! That’s exactly what I was going for!” This moment sees DC’s own characters acknowledging that Harley’s look is revealing and provocative. While the scene was undoubtedly meant to be humorous, it raises a valid point about Harley’s evolving costume, questioning whether DC has gone too far in making her outfits more revealing over the years. After all, this character started out in a costume that covered her from head to toe. This comment serves as a reminder of how far Harley has strayed from her original design in Batman: The Animated Series.

The Ongoing Debate Concerning the Portrayal of Females in Comics

Cover B Amanda Conner Variant for Harley Quinn Fartacular: Silent Butt Deadly #1 (2025)

The controversy surrounding how female characters are drawn and dressed in comics focuses on oversexualization, impracticality, and double standards. Characters like Harley Quinn are often depicted in revealing outfits, exaggerated body proportions, and suggestive poses that prioritize the male gaze over practicality, despite their involvement in action-packed scenes. Their costumes are often less functional than those of their male counterparts, featuring bikini-like armor and skin-tight bodysuits that are impractical for combat. Thus, the in-narrative comment about Harley looking like a “stripper” underscores these ongoing criticisms.

Does Harley Quinn Need a More Conservative Redesign? ABSOLUTELY NO

Harley Quinn’s Bizarre Fashion Sense Is a Core Part of Her Character

While the criticisms surrounding female characters in comics are valid, Harley Quinn and her revealing outfits should be exempt from this debate. It's true that her costumes are wildly impractical for the action she engages in, but that’s somewhat the point of her character. Harley is impractical, zany, and a hot mess. Her flamboyant, impractical costumes are a fitting and iconic representation of who she is, rather than an unnecessary sexualization. In essence, Harley’s outlandish costumes are a core part of her identity.

That being said, Harley boasts one of the most diverse and extensive costume histories in the entire DC Universe, especially considering she’s a relatively newer character compared to icons like Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman. Over her decades in TV and comics, she’s worn both revealing and conservative outfits, yet all of them are equally zany. This shows that her taste in clothes reflects her wild personality, and doesn't always equate to less material. In fact, her current costume is one of her more conservative looks. So, when the question arises about whether Harley Quinn needs a redesign due to her revealing costume, the answer is a resounding no.

Harley Quinn Fartacular: Silent Butt Deadly #1 is available now from DC Comics!