Harley Quinn (real name Harleen Quinzel) is a member of the Task Force X[3] and a hyperactive and fun-loving clown-themed criminal who used her gymnastics expertise to pull off crimes and battle the Batman. She was the Joker's on-and-off girlfriend, and the frequent lover and partner in crime of Poison Ivy.
History
Origin
Harleen Quinzel entered Gotham State on a gymnastics scholarship, but was never bent on studying. She only wanted to be a pop psychologist, and used her good looks to get on the honor roll. Eventually graduating first of her class, she became an intern at Arkham Asylum. And though Dr. Leland warned her, she fell head over heels for the Joker through his manipulations of her in their therapy sessions, setting him free and joining him as his lover and partner in crime, the hyperactive and enthusiastic "Harley Quinn".[5]
First Years in Crime
Working with the Joker, Harley aided him in some of his most grandiose schemes, including the attempted murder of Commissioner Gordon and the entire Gotham City Police Department[6], his attempt to trademark fish with his own face[7], the murder attempt on Joker's nemesis, the Batman, and Catwoman[8], and the murder attempt on Sidney Debris for killing Batman.[9] All this plans were eventually foiled by Batman, causing Harley to grow an intense hatred for him.
Some time later, Harley grew tired of Joker's constant abuse and she met Poison Ivy, who declared her nuts for still following that clown. Ivy and Harley teamed up and conducted a number of successful capers, creating a strong bond.[10]
Due to her mentally unbalanced condition, Harley became a patient in Arkham Asylum, the same place she was once employed at as a psychiatrist. On one occasion, Harley was part of a plan to abduct Batman into Arkham to stand trial and kill him, but he managed to break free and stopped them.[11] After this, Batman made a deal with Harley that would earn her an early release from Arkham if she helped capture the Joker. The plan almost succeeded until she couldn't resist anymore and embraced the Joker, showing unconditional love.[12] Some time later, Harley was released from Arkham with a sanity certificate. However, she had a relapse due to a misunderstanding and had to be taken back to Arkham by Batman.[13]
Later Life
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After several years together, Joker and Harley kidnapped Robin, seeking to make him "Joker Junior". After a fight with Batgirl, she fell into Arkham Canyon, seemingly lost. The Joker was killed in the confrontation with Batman. Thanks to the treatments she received from Poison Ivy during their initial team-up, she survived the fall, and managed to disappear. With Joker gone, Harley was able to fully recover from her insanity.
At some point, Harley joined the Task Force X and the Council of Quinn.[3][4]
Harley eventually married and got two grandchildren - Delia and Deidre Dennis - with whom she was less than pleased for joining the Jokerz.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Cheating Death[14]
- Cosmic Awareness: Harley has, shown a few times to be fully aware of being a fictional character, she was even directly talking to the viewer.
- Toxic Immunity: During their first adventure together, Poison Ivy gave Harley a serum that made her immune to the toxins that surrounded their base.
Abilities
- Driving
- Gymnastics: Harley was a natural gymnast.
- Lock Picking[3]
- Martial Arts
- Psychiatry
- Seduction
- Singing: Harley is a surprisingly talented singer.
- Thievery
- Weaponry
Other Characteristics
- Mental Disorder (Formerly): Joker managed to single handedly break Quinzel's sanity, leading her to take on the persona of Harley Quinn.
Paraphernalia
Weapons
- Harley's Mallet[16]
- Pogo-stick
- Pop-gun
- Glove-gun
- Rubber chicken
Notes
- Harley Quinn was voiced by the late Arleen Sorkin. In the animated movie Batman and Harley Quinn, she was voiced by Melissa Rauch. In Justice League vs. the Fatal Five, she was voiced by Tara Strong.
Trivia
- Sorkin starred in a soap opera which included a dream sequence where she wore a jester costume. Paul Dini used this scene as an inspiration for the character, writing her specifically so Sorkin could voice the character.
- Paul Dini was originally going to call her "Columbine" before deciding Harley Quinn sounded better.
- Her real name, "Harleen Frances" is in fact the first and middle name of Arleen Sorkin with an 'H'.[17]
- In Harley Quinn's first appearance, in the Batman: Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor", her sole purpose was to walk into a police banquet with a giant cake. She did not have her trademark costume on for most of the episode, dressing instead as a police officer in a mini skirt.
- In the Batman episode "Harlequinade", it's is revealed that she is not a natural blonde.
Recommended Reading
- Batman: "Joker's Favor"
- Batman: "Harlequinade"
- Batman: "Harley and Ivy"
- Batman: "Harley's Holiday"
- New Batman Adventures: "Mad Love"
- Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
- Batman and Harley Quinn
- Batman: Harley and Ivy (Volume 1)
Related
- 136 Appearances of Harleen Quinzel (DCAU)
- 47 Images featuring Harleen Quinzel (DCAU)
- 19 Quotations by or about Harleen Quinzel (DCAU)
- Character Gallery: Harleen Quinzel (DCAU)
External Links
- Harley Quinn at the DC Animated Universe Wiki
- Harley Quinn's Haven — the most comprehensive Harley Quinn website on the net
Footnotes
- ↑ Batman: Vengeance
- ↑ Batman and Harley Quinn (Movie)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Batman: The Adventures Continue Season Three #5
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Multiversity: Harley Screws Up the DCU #6
- ↑ The Batman Adventures: Mad Love
- ↑ Batman: "Joker's Favor"
- ↑ Batman: "The Laughing Fish"
- ↑ Batman: "Almost Got 'Im"
- ↑ Batman: "The Man Who Killed Batman"
- ↑ Batman: "Harley and Ivy"
- ↑ Batman: "Trial"
- ↑ Batman: "Harlequinade"
- ↑ Batman: "Harley's Holiday"
- ↑ Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (Movie)
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Batman and Harley Quinn (Movie)
- ↑ New Batman Adventures (TV Series) Episode: Holiday Knights
- ↑ http://www.harley-quinn.com
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