DC Comics character Harley Quinn has seen a rise in popularity in recent years, especially after the DCEU movie Suicide Squad. First introduced as a one-time character for the Emmy Award-winning Batman: The Animated Series, she quickly became so popular that her character became a major presence in the DC universe. Created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, she has been featured in various animated series and movies, standalone comics, has an Harley Quinn-focused movie (with Margot Robbie reprising the role), and will soon have her own animated series. She also plays a major role in the storylines of other heroes and villains in the comics. In Injustice, she works with Batman to bring down the corrupt Superman.
Despite her frequent appearances in various DC properties, there are still a number of things that fans understandably get wrong about her, largely due to the popularity of Harley Quinn and the Joker as an item. Most of the mistakes include thinking that, without the Joker, there's not really much for Harley to do on her own, or that her life revolves around the Clown Prince of Crime. Because she started out as a sidekick, a number of people assume that that's her primary role. However, this isn't the case. She's a complex character, and there are a number of things about Harley Quinn that might come across as a bit of a surprise.
With that said, here are the 20 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About Harley Quinn.
SHE'S “JUST A PSYCHO”
Like Joker, Harley has a rep for being psychotic. She has definitely earned it, but it would be a mistake to think that she is just a psycho.
Aside from being a psychiatrist, Harley has shown that she can help others when she's not being influenced by Joker.
She also happens to be a skilled fighter, which we'll get into later. The point is that Harley Quinn isn't “just” anything. She might switch back and forth from villain to good guy to somewhere in between. Sometimes these differences occur on different Earths within the DC Comics, but either way, she can definitely keep the Joker and other comic villains or “good guys” on their toes.
HER ONLY LOVE INTEREST HAS BEEN THE JOKER
There are those who think that Harley Quinn's only love interest has been the Joker. However, this isn't true. Throughout the comics, Harley has had multiple love interests. She's been linked with several of the superheroes and villains within the comics, including Batman.
At the 2018 Baltimore Comic Con, Zachary Levi was asked by an audience member if there's going to be a love interest for his character in the movie Shazam! While he was unable to answer the question because it would give away too much information, it is interesting that Harley Quinn has a thing for him in Injustice. With the Birds of Prey and additional DCEU movies coming out soon, it will be interesting to see if there's any crossover between the two.
SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN A VILLAIN
There's no doubt that Harley Quinn is (typically) a villain, but prior to that, she was a psychiatrist. Also, in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, an elderly Harley Quinn is shown to have turned away from a life of crime altogether. In Suicide Squad, she even imagines living a normal life with Joker (because the Enchantress shows her what she really wants).
While Harley Quinn has embraced her life as a villain/sometimes hero/sometimes antihero, there was a point in her life where she was a regular woman, going to school and living a normal life.
Also, as shown in Suicide Squad, there's a part of her that wishes that she could have a regular life outside of the chaos of superheroes and super villains.
SHE'S A DITZ
While Harley Quinn was initially introduced as a one-off character, her popularity was instant, and as such, she soon required a bigger backstory. While many people only know Harley as a ditzy character, she is actually anything but.
As part of her origin story, it was revealed that Harely, as Dr. Harleen s Quinzel, was the psychiatrist who treated Joker during one of his stints in Arkham Asylum. It was there that she fell in love with the Joker and was corrupted by his insanity. While she might flip back and forth, she's ultimately an intelligent character capable of getting into people's heads thanks to her training as a psychologist. For instance, in Legends of the Dark Knight #49 “Dr. Quinns Diagnosis”, she is able to figure out Batman easily.
SHE THINKS HER RELATIONSHIP WITH JOKER IS OKAY
The relationship between Harley Quinn and the Joker is often painted lovingly, despite their penchant for crime and mayhem. They might do all manner of insane things to everyone else, but when it comes to each other, nothing can come between them. They are seen as a regular Bonnie and Clyde. However, this isn't actually always the case.
Joker tried to claim her life when he realized that he loved her, and he's done all manner of cruel things to her - and these things haven't gone unnoticed by Harley.
She doesn't like the Joker's abuse. She's tried to exact vengeance on Joker herself for the way he's treated her and acknowledges that she was with “the worst guy in the world.”
SHE DOESN'T LIKE BATMAN
Some people think that Harley Quinn hates Batman, since the Joker obviously despises the Dark Knight. However, she doesn't. In Batman: The Animated Series, she even kissed him multiple times. Also, in Harley Quinn's Valentine's Day Special #1, it becomes canon that she actually dated Bruce Wayne, though she didn't know that he was actually Batman. Later, she also kisses Batman, not knowing that he and Bruce Wayne are one in the same.
She has said numerous times in her assessment of Batman that he is a true gentleman who knows how to treat a woman. However, it's clear that she thinks Batman is a good guy and likes it, regardless of her interest in the Joker.
THE COLOR OF HER SKIN IS MAKEUP
Talk about going way too extreme in the name of love. In the comics, Harley is pushed into a vat of acid by the maniacal Joker.
In the Suicide Squad movie, Harley Quinn jumps into the sane vat of acid of her own free will, with the Joker willingly tumbling in after.
It's kind of like a messed-up version of Jack and Jill, only reversed and with a container of toxic chemicals instead of a hill. Because of this incident, her skin-color becomes acid-bleached, which means that her white skin has nothing to do with makeup. While it would be more convenient and logical for her light appearance to be due to makeup, it isn't. this also highlights the fact that she is not an ordinary villain.
SHE ONLY HANGS OUT WITH THE JOKER
While Harley was originally introduced as something of a tie-on for Joker, she later developed as a character in her own right and therefore has a number of friends in the comics and animated TV series. Most notable is Poison Ivy, whom she dated and later went on to marry. However, there are others as well, and with Birds of Prey movie coming up, audiences are likely to see more of Harley's friends.
Aside from Harley, it's possible that BoP will introduce us to Huntress, Bat Girl, Black Canary, Catwoman, Katana, and others. The Harley Quinn animated series, which will feature Alan Tudyk voicing the Joker and Kaley Cuoco as Harley Quinn, will likely also feature more of Harley's friendships.
SHE'S JUST A SIDEKICK
While Suicide Squad did change a number of things from the comics and animated TV series, it did show viewers that Harley Quinn can be front-and-center and act as a bad guy all on her own. While a good sidekick is essential, it's important to note that most good sidekicks can also do just fine on their own.
While Harley Quinn was in a group, she still called her own shots, made decisions against the group, and sometimes did her own thing.
Also, in the comics, she becomes a leader on her own with her own gang. This all goes to show you that Harley Quinn is a dynamic personality in her own right, whether she is being a villain or not. She doesn't always need the Joker to be the one calling the shots.
SHE NEVER WILLINGLY WORKS FOR THE GOOD GUYS
There are a number of fans who argue that Harley Quinn is a villain and should stay that way. However, throughout the comics, she has switched back and forth, and sometimes even becomes an antihero of sorts. She even teamed up with the Amazons at one point in order to help them defeat Granny Goodness, and she's also worked with Batman against a corrupted Superman.
With her own team, she sometimes does good deeds as well as not-so-good deeds. However, whatever the case, she's not always just a villain. While fans might disagree over which version of Harley Quinn they like better, there is no doubt that he is a versatile character and will always be interesting.