The HBO Max animated seriesHarley Quinncontinues the character ’s dumfounding running play in liveliness , where she began thirty twelvemonth ago in the legendaryBatman : The Animated Series , While Harley originated and continues to engross other media beyond the comics , her chronicle in strip spiel as big a role in the icon she ’s become .

DC Comics fan know Harley ’s phylogenesis from aBatmanvillain to a complicated antihero owes a huge debt to the comics . The last three decades took the original character and break away with her , transforming her in unexpected way and echoing the developments in TV shows and picture that continue into the present .

The Batman Adventures

Harley Quinn first appear in " Joker ’s Favor , " easily amongthe most definitiveBatman : The Animated Seriesepisodes , on September 11th , 1992 . DC Comics fan know she made her first appearance on the page inThe Batman Adventures#12 in 1993 . This spinoff comical depicted narrative set in theB : TASuniverse .

The issue teamed her up with Poison Ivy , foreshadowing their family relationship for decades to come , against Batgirl . This Harley marked a major new beginning in Batman comic , but in many ways , it was just the first of many start .

Mad Love

Harley routinely appeared inThe Batman Adventuresduring its run , but her next major amusing playscript milestone hail in 1994.Mad Love , written by Paul Dini and draw by Bruce Timm , her conscientious objector - God Almighty , told her origination for the first time . Her core backstory , including her being a psychiatrist who falls under the Joker ’s spell , emerges here .

This Eisner Award - winning one - injection counts amongthe best Harley Quinn comic books everand also the most influential . Though her role evolves in late comics and other media , her marrow origin stay on faithful to what was established here .

Thrillkiller

Harley remain stray to the animated spinoffs in comic books untilThrillkiller , a 1997 Elseworlds story . She appear in non - B : TAScontinuity for the first fourth dimension , supporting a distaff turkey . Hayley Fitzpatrick serve as the Joker ’s chief ally in a report set in the other 1960s in a dramatically different reality from most Batman funnies .

Though Harley does n’t play a major role in the story , written by Howard Chaykin and instance by Dan Brereton , it stay significant in her risible record history as it opened the room access to her unite the DC Universe right .

No Man’s Land

Harley Quinn officially enters mainstream DC Comics continuity in 1999 , with another landmark one - shot . Batman : Harley Quinn , write again by Dini , introduces her duringNo Man ’s Land , amongthe best Batman comic book storylines ever . In the storyline , a powerful earthquake devastates Gotham .

The one - blastoff alters Harley ’s backstory a minuscule , with the Joker much more antipathetical toward her in the beginning . In fact , he try on to kill her , but this take to her enhance strength and endurance , something that later iteration adopted .

The Quintets

Harley mostly worked with the Joker in her early dangerous undertaking , but when she got her own on-going serial in 2000 , she branched out on her own . She formed The Quintets , her own mob of punk , to assist her with her crimes . This radical all dressed up in similar jester costumes like hers .

The gang ’s general want of success in robbery and heist , not to cite the outpouring - ins with Batman , eventually lead the gang to turn on Harley . Though she forms others groups in other media , she has n’t operate back to this concept .

Gotham City Sirens

funny book buff make out Harley Quinn shares a closelipped connection to Poison Ivy going back to her early exalt appearances . That bail continue and change inGotham City Sirens , a series from the early 2000s that team the twosome up with Catwoman , anotherpowerful Batman villainwho sometimes drifts into being an antihero .

This series saw the trio take on heroes and villains alike , include The Riddler and The Joker . Most significantly , this series allowed Dini to go forward to extend on her origins , and her phratry life in New York City begin to egress here .

The Suicide Squad

Casual buff jazz Harley share unassailable ties to the Suicide Squad flick , but she plays a adult part in their adventures in the strip as well . She helped revitalize the team in 2011 , bring together a fresh roster that included Deadshot and King Shark , now spectacular figures link with her in other media as well .

comical book fans know the Suicide Squad’smembership fluctuates often , and Harley go the team not long after . She does stay associated with them in late versions , though .

Visual Reboot

Harley ’s tenure with the Suicide Squad also generated arguably the comic ’s prominent share to her iconography . The New 52 earned run average in 2011 rebooted her visually , jettison her definitive harlequin costume for a more telltale look . This smell has since become her default in most medium , though with some alterations depending on the loop .

Her haircloth also changed , and she now wore it in ponytails that were colour pink and blue . This also became a fixture both in bouncy - action and animation . This change did n’t come without controversy , though , assome matte up the costume modification sexualize the iconic character too much .

Continued Evolution

Harley carry on to evolve in the 2010s , especially with the on-going serial publication from Creator Amanda Palmer and Jimmy Palmiotti . Their take on the character brought back many visual motifs from the harlequin smell while also get on the newer way into a more roller bowler concept .

The campaign also well lightened Harley ’s character , steering her away from the gritty take inThe Suicide Squadand placing her in a more humorous vein that distinctly inspired the young HBO Max animate series .

Tangled Vines

The Palmer and Palmiotti run also importantly add to the on-going Romance language between Harley and Poison Ivy , with what had been mostly subtextual hints becoming more and more obvious . DC Comics fan sleep with that the comics contributed as much to this relationship as other media .

The idea that a love story live or could be between Harley and Ivy go back nearly to the origin , with the first hints in comics arrive in the alive spin - offs . Harley first allude to a relationship inBatgirl Adventures#1 from 1997 , in which she incriminate her and Ivy are a brace .

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Harley Quinn imagery

Collage of Willow and Clash of the Titans

mcu hulk with radiation symbol

Split image of Mad Love comic book cover and Harley and Ivy from Harley Quinn animated series.

Harley Quinn fights Batgirl in Batman Adventures comics.

Harley Quinn and Joker appear in the Mad Love comic book.

Female Joker, Harley Quinn, Two Face squaring off against Batman Batgirl and Robin from Thrillkiller comic

Harley Quinn and Joker embrace in DC Comics.

Harley Quinn poses with The Quintets in DC Comics.

Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman, part of the Gotham City Sirens in Dc Comics.

Harley Quinn attacks Deathstroke in the Suicide Squad comics.

Harley Quinn from the cover of Suicide Squad 2011 comics.

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Batgirl asks if Harley Quinn and Ivy are friends in Batgirl comics.