Harley Quinn, formally known as Dr Harleen Frances Quinzel, one of the DC Universe’s most popular characters is the fourth pillar behind Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, according to DC co-publisher and chief creative officer Jim Lee. Not bad for a character who arrived 50 years into the Batman lore and was purely intended as a light-hearted respite to the purple-suited Joker’s evil antics.
These days, you can’t go to a convention or fancy dress party without bumping into a Margot Robbie-Esque Harley sporting a baseball bat and colored pigtails (apparently 2016’s most popular costume in the UK and US thanks to Suicide Squad) and get ready for girl power group Halloween costumes as Gotham’s queen is set to return with her girl gang of rogues in Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) in February. With a new Harley Quinn animated series having debuted last November, it’s about time we took a look at the history of this insanely (sorry) popular character.
Harley has first introduced in 1992 in the TV show Batman: The Animated Series as a sidekick to the Joker, as voiced by Mark Hamill. In the episode Joker’s Favor, Harley appears in her classic red and black jester getup with diamond patches and painted white face, underscored by Gotham City’s black paper ‘dark deco’ art style. We immediately get a sense of Harley’s devotion to the Clown Prince of Crime as she acts as his cheerleader, whistling, applauding, and rallying up his henchmen to cheer him on.
This story is from the February 2020 edition of Starburst Magazine.
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This story is from the February 2020 edition of Starburst Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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