8 Things DC Want You To Forget About Harley Quinn

by Ewan Paterson

1. Her New 52 Origin

Harley Quinn New 52 Origin
DC Comics

Until 2011 - when the aforementioned New 52 relaunched DC continuity for the worse - Harley's origin was set in stone, for the most part. It followed on from her roots in BTAS, with the story of a psychologist falling for Gotham's most notorious criminal and becoming his righthand woman proving to be the origin of choice.

While the Joker's deception in manipulating Quinzel to break him out of Arkham continues to be the best Harley origin going, the New 52 opted to spice things up, conjuring a very literal transformation for Harley instead of the more believable and better known one produced years before.

In this newer origin - imitated in last year's Suicide Squad film - the Joker launches Harley into the same chemical bath that, ostensibly, changed him. It's a very on the nose change, and takes away the agency the doctor had in her original origin story, further eroding the significance of the very real and very harmful aspects of her relationship with the Joker.

Here, she's more Joker, less Harley. It doesn't work.

-

What do you think of Harley's most recent changes? Are you a fan? Let us know in the comments below!

Advertisement
Content Producer/Presenter
Content Producer/Presenter

Resident movie guy at WhatCulture who used to be Comics Editor. Thinks John Carpenter is the best. Likes Hellboy a lot. Can usually be found talking about Dad Movies on his Twitter at @EwanRuinsThings.