Summary

• Poison Ivy almost left Harley for dead, showing a hostile start to their romance.
• Their first meeting in Batman: Harley Quinn #1 hints at Ivy's apathetic nature.
• Harley's alternate origin in Harleen #2 alludes to their dark but iconic romance.

The first words Harley and Ivy are still officially together following an infamous break-up that was changed during Ivy's 2022 solo series. However, while their love for one another has become one of the sweetest romances in superhero comics, it didn't always start this way.

In Batman: Harley Quinn #1 by Paul Dini, Yvel Guichet and Aaron Sowd, Harley Quinn is buried in rubble after being left behind by the Joker. Poison Ivy attempts to flee the scene of the explosion that caused it, but she turns, intrigued, to Harley as she struggles to stand on her feet.

Ivy ultimately decides to help her and loads Harley into her chariot to take her home. However, she initially shows restraint at the idea, as Poison Ivy says in reference to her future beloved Harley Quinn: "No leaves off my bush if she lives or dies."

Batman: Harley Quinn #1 also happens to be Harley's very first appearance in DC's main continuity after her fan-favorite debut and time on Batman: The Animated Series. Harley Quinn was created by Dini and Bruce Timm for the show.

Poison Ivy Could Have Left Harley for Dead without Remorse

Batman: Harley Quinn #1 by Paul Dini, Yvel Guichet, Aaron Sowd, Richard Horie, Tanya Horie, and Willie Schubert

This shocking line from Ivy and Harley's first meeting hints that their future romance almost didn't happen. This issue shows Ivy during her apathetic years, when she saw humans as a plague that needed to be eradicated for the Earth to continue living. While this attitude has recently been altered as Poison Ivy sacrificed herself to protect humanity, this line fits perfectly with where her character was at the time. Before Harley, she was uncaring of others and only looked after the Green and her own needs. Rescuing Harley, in this case, fits her more blasé attitude as she states "a girl has to take her fun where she finds it."

If Poison Ivy had better things to do, she would have easily left Harley for dead.

Interestingly, Ivy's choice to rescue Harley comes more from boredom than genuine care for her. When Harley collapses in front of her, Ivy looks at her intrigued rather than concerned. Her choice to rescue Harley is more like the evening's entertainment, because Ivy feels bored with how the evening is going. If Poison Ivy had better things to do, she would have easily left Harley for dead. However, on this particular night, Ivy is clearly looking for excitement and finds it through helping her future girlfriend.

Harley Quinn's Alternate Origins Allude to Her First Meeting with Poison Ivy

s from Harleen #2 by Stjepan Šejić and Gabriela Downie

Harley and Ivy's first comic-book encounter transcends its telling, as it's echoed time and time again through the years and numerous reboots. For example, in Harleen #2 by Stjepan Šejić, part of a DC Black Label retelling of Harley's origin, Quinn meets Ivy for the first time while working for Arkham Asylum as a psychologist. During their interview, Ivy smiles as she tells Harley she can see her blush and mentions "usually, I have to kiss a person to elect such a response." Her curiosity mimics Dini's take on Ivy as someone who's looking for excitement and finds intrigue in anything that benefits her.

This scene from Harleen is a terrific callback to Ivy's first encounter with Harley, as it shows that their first time meeting each other plays a central role in how their romance begins. In the beginning, both are stone-cold villains bent on spreading chaos throughout Gotham. However, through each other, they find a softer side. Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn's romance may have had dark beginnings, but it thematically works as the two learn from each other and bring the best out of one another for a well-loved romance between two iconic characters.

Batman: Harley Quinn #1 is available now from DC Comics.