James Gunn’s Harley Quinn, The Suicide Squad was King Shark's live action debut. But even with this in mind, these two characters contrast wildly against each other.
Sylvester Stallone voices King Shark in The Suicide Squad while Harley’s Quinn’s iteration is voiced with humor and warmth by Ron Funches. Both interpretations of these characters have their merits, but each one seems to stand out in one area more than the other.
The Suicide Squad: Gets To Use His Given Name
When shown in the new film, King Shark is a monstrous killing machine with little room for a moral com. But that is not all he is. The character is not just a shark beast, but a creature with personhood.
Even in Harley Quinn where he is portrayed with a soft nature, they rarely use his given name. Ratcatcher II is the first to regularly call King Shark by his given name, Nanaue. Ratcatcher II connects with Nanaue with this simple act, respecting that he is not just a huge shark with a large appetite, but a person as well.
Harley Quinn: Subverts Expectations
Upon his first introduction to Harley’s crew, King Shark does not adhere to his stereotype. He is brought in to help Harley obtain a nemesis online. Although only brought in to help Harley's online presence, by the end of the episode, King Shark is in the crew.
Although large and imposing, King Shark prefers to be in the background of their schemes. He is soft-spoken at times and is there to offer quips. And most ironic of all, King Shark brings humanity to the team when most of them act without morals.
The Suicide Squad: The Strongest Member Of The Team
Bloodsport and Peacemaker are always at odds with each other. They are both mercenaries vying for leadership of the Suicide Squad. But when it comes to brute strength, no one can compare to King Shark. Nanaue is dangerous - to the point where the squad has to make sure he doesn’t eat his team . But without him, the team would not have been able to beat Starro.
Most of the team is filled with human weakness. Not all of the characters make it to the end. However, King Shark is never a cause for concern as bullets bounce off of his body and he can fall from great heights without any damage. King Shark’s endurance is an asset, especially when facing off a hive-minded kaiju. He is the only one that was able to cause Starro pain and assisted in weakening him.
Harley Quinn: Intelligent
Playing against type, King Shark was not brought on to fight with Harley’s team but to help her with her crew. This is a clear departure from King Shark’s early portrayals, as well as his depiction in The Suicide Squad. Nanaue can barely form coherent sentences in the James Gunn film and requires certain dispensations.
King Shark in Harley Quinn is easily one of the best characters and an asset. He is immediately able to solve her online profile and decides to her team for the fun of it. He is the voice of reason when the rest of the team begins to act irrationally. In a team full of villains, he is the one with the most heart.
The Suicide Squad: Used Equally With The Rest Of The Team
Many ensemble movies have difficulties treating the team equally. Superhero franchises have a history of sidelining characters but The Suicide Squad does not struggle with this. Each team member has their part to play and does it well.
Although it is not always easy communicating with Nanaue, the team finds something that works well for them. He is instrumental in taking down Starro with his brute strength and when it seems that he may have fallen to his death, the team is relieved to find that is not the case.
Harley Quinn: Sense Of Humor
One of the biggest differences between King Shark’s portrayals in Harley Quinn and The Suicide Squad is the character’s humor. Harley Quinn is first and foremost a comedy. King Shark’s humor is a large part of the group dynamic and he becomes one of the funniest characters on the crew.
This is in a large part because his humor is contrasted with people’s perceptions of him. King Shark's is animation and design seem antithetical to his character. Harley and her team are surprised to hear King Shark says he’s not good with blood. It isn’t because he becomes woozy, it’s because he becomes a killing machine. King Shark always leaves the characters guessing.
The Suicide Squad: True To His Shark Nature
Kept at Belle Reve with the rest of the Suicide Squad, Nanaue is largely a land dweller. He is kept in a land prison and walks on two feet. However, this should not take away from his other half. Nanaue's origins are not fully explored in The Suicide Squad, but it would have been a disservice to not see him implement his shark sensibilities.
Harley Quinn has two seasons' worth of content and King Shark cannot always be at the forefront. He is rarely shown in his water habitat since he follows Harley’s lead. The Suicide Squad’s Nanuae is not only able to help the team at key moments but shows his prowess in the water. The climax of The Suicide Squad shows King Shark’s ability to survive a tsunami cascading through a building and how apt he is in the water.
Harley Quinn: Loyal
For better or for worse, King Shark would die for his friends. Most of Harley’s crew struggles with darkness. Harley is always at odds with herself while Dr. Psycho is constantly on the verge of betraying the team. The true friend of the team is King Shark as he always s Harley - even when it doesn’t benefit him.
Many times he is left behind and one particularly traumatic event led him to be thrown in Blackgate Prison. Even though he is taken for granted, King Shark loves the makeshift family that Harley created and would never betray them.
The Suicide Squad: A Human Story About Loneliness
One of the most devastating aspects of The Suicide Squad is watching Nanaue grapple with loneliness. He has the most human story of the film which makes it even more poignant that he’s a shark. King Shark doesn’t understand what it is to have friends until Ratcatcher II teaches him. He is sent on a journey of understanding what it is to be human, which proves to be difficult because of how different he is.
Many times he cannot the team because he doesn’t blend in with the human population. Nanaue yearns for human connection and wants to help his friends. In the showdown with Starro, he is abandoned by the rest of the team for a short while. He comes back in full force to help take down Starro. Ratcatcher II is relieved to find that he didn’t perish in the end. It is one of the most emotional moments of the film to see them embrace once they are reunited.
Harley Quinn: Backstory Is Explored
King Shark is largely shrouded in mystery in both The Suicide Squad and Harley Quinn. Rumored to be the son of a god, King Shark’s backstory is explored in Harley Quinn. Though not a definitive version, Harley Quinn takes pleasure in King Shark’s family drama.
Not only is King Shark the son of other humanoid sharks, but he is a prince. He must adhere to shark royalty practices including marrying out of obligation. King Shark’s cavalier attitude towards the arranged marriage brings depth to the character and is a joy to watch.
