Harley Quinn is a chaotic queen through and through, and that means she’s always finding new ways to keep readers on their toes. As such, she’s always up for joining a new team (albeit sometimes unwillingly) or establishing a new team-up. Also known as Harleen Quinzel, Harley’s origin began with the Joker, but since then, she has branched out on her own. She’s become a character in her own right, complete with allies, enemies, and a few ongoing series. She’s also become one of DC Comics’ favorite antiheroes, and that’s an impressive feat. While she is fully capable of standing on her own, Harley clearly will never shy away from a good team-up, especially if it lets her get back to her chaotic roots.
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Over the years, Harley has collaborated with the Suicide Squad, the Birds of Prey, Gotham City Sirens, and other notable groups. Regardless of who she’s working with, we know that Harley is going to bring some fun surprises to the table, or at least one or two complications. This is Harley Quinn we’re talking about. Naturally, there are many team-ups that Harley would like to claim occurred, with superheroes that would likely quickly contest those claims. For example, Harley may have been trying to protect Wonder Woman in Harley’s Little Black Book #1, but the hero arguably did not need (or want) that kind of help. At least it came from a good place, right?
Before we get started, we do have one dishonorable mention: Harley Quinn & Joker. Yes, we know, it’s the team-up that made Harley Quinn a known entity in DC Comics. However, most readers can agree that their relationship was far from healthy. It was one-sided and caused Harley no end of trauma, and since the Joker never saw them as equals, it’s hard to consider their relationship a proper team-up.
8) The Gang of Harleys
Harley Quinn may not seem like the world’s best role model, but she has inspired many heroes and antiheroes in her own way. She’s also formed her own team, dubbed the Gang of Harleys. This team first appeared in Harley Quinn #16, but would make their way into Harley Quinn and The Gang of Harleys. Their story begins when Harley needs a slight break from her normal life, so she moves to Brooklyn and enlists a bunch of locals to help her clean up the city. In other words, Harley invented this team when she was trying to reinvent herself, furthering her transition from villain to antihero.
The list of applicants for the Gang of Harleys starts off at a whopping eighty people, which she cuts down to about a half dozen different characters: Harlem Harley, Carli Quinn, Harvey Quinn, Hanuquinn, Harley Queens, Bolly Quinn, etc. The Gang of Harleys haven’t been seen much lately, but it’s safe to assume they’re living their best lives, having been taught by the best antihero around.
7) Zatanna
Readers looking for a chaotic Harley adventure only need to check out Harley’s Little Black Book. The series throws Harley across the DC Universe, even having her become a Green Lantern for a moment. However, we’re not here to talk about that bonkers issue. Instead, let’s discuss Harley’s Little Black Book #3, which puts Harley Quinn and Zatanna on the same side.
Harley’s been trying to make a new home for herself outside of Gotham and the reputation she’s earned there. Unfortunately, the destruction of a local mansion unleashed a horde of ghosts, because apparently that’s a thing, and they’ve decided the best place to move into is Harley’s humble abode. No, thank you. Harley doesn’t hesitate to run to the nearest mystical powerhouse, Zatanna, for help. Thankfully, Zatanna actually listened to Harley’s pleas, stepping up to help her talk a bunch of ghosts into packing up and shipping off. It’s even more chaotic and absurd than it sounds, but in the Harley way.
6) Batwoman
Batwoman is one of many members belonging to the Bat-Family, so it may feel a little odd to know that she’s also teamed up with Harley Quinn. Their team-up took place in Harley Quinn #15 (2022). The story begins when Harley has been falsely accused of murder. Since she didn’t commit the crime in question, Harley knew right away that she was being framed for something horrible. The problem was that she didn’t know who actually committed the murder.
Enter Batwoman, the only person Harley could trust to solve such a case, not to mention give her five minutes to make her case. The last detail is important because Batwoman doesn’t believe Harley’s guilty, so the antihero found a solid ally in the hero. The whole team-up is odd and endearing, with Batwoman respecting Harley while simultaneously being confused by the woman’s stream of consciousness. Their team-up also brings in a surprising third ally, Jaylin Shaw of the local police. Getting him on the team is exactly what they needed to clear Harley’s name. The drive to clear Harley’s name may sound odd, given her reputation, but Harley has been working hard to forge her own path in life, especially at this point, so she wasn’t going to let this one slide.
5) Lex Luthor
Harley Quinn has appeared in many DC series and events, including those outside of the Prime Universe. That brings us to a team-up that occurred in Gotham City Garage. In this universe, Harley lends her psychological expertise to Lex Luthor, of all people! She helps calibrate his mind-control device, with the goal of creating something that actually worked, instead of, you know, driving the target mad.
Don’t worry, Harley doesn’t stay on Lex Luthor’s side for very long. All it takes is for Harley to see how Lex Luthor is using the device (removing free thought and emotions from targets) to make her break away and begin her own rebellion.
4) Power Girl
Power Girl found herself stuck to the side of Harley Quinn during an unforgettable limited series (Harley Quinn and Power Girl). To set the scene, their team-up begins after Harley has freed herself of the Joker’s influence. Meanwhile, Power Girl has recently lost her memories, creating a bit of a problem for the hero.
Naturally, Harley takes advantage of the situation, convincing Power Girl that they’re a dynamic crime-fighting duo. They do what any team would do, and take to space to tackle a heroic mission. While the foundation of this team-up is morally grey at best, the series highlighted Harley’s continuing quest to be a better person. In Harley’s mind, that often presents as a need to become a superhero or something similar. Go big or go home.
3) The Riddler
Given that Harley Quinn spent years living on the side of villains, it’s probably no surprise to learn that she’s had more than her fair share of bad guy team-ups. Enter Battle for the Cowl: The Underground. It’s a fairly important DC event, so even casual readers likely saw the far-reaching effects of it. One such moment forced Harley and The Riddler together.
It all began with the Penguin, who tasked The Riddler with tracking down Black Mask. To be fair, this was a smart move, as there’s probably nobody better equipped to track down another villain. However, The Riddler makes a slightly surprising move in asking Harley Quinn to assist. Their journey is full of several surprises, including accidentally coming across a hero masquerading as Batman (no, it isn’t Hush, this time).
2) Catwoman
Believe it or not, but Harley Quinn and Catwoman have worked together on several occasions, and we’re not just talking about larger DC events. The two can be seen working together in Gotham City Sirens and Gotham Girls, but that’s not the end of their team-ups. Notably, the two worked together in Detective Comics #850, and it all began with a plan for revenge.
Sounds like the perfect reason for these two characters to get together, right? Catwoman wanted to get revenge on Hush, given everything he did to her (such as removing her heart from her body, long story). She went to Harley and asked the chaotic queen to help her steal Hush’s fortune. More accurately, they were going to steal his alter ego’s fortune, Thomas Elliot. Obviously, Harley wasn’t the only person Selina contracted for the plan, but she played an integral role in the process.
1) Poison Ivy
These days, when people think of Harley’s best team-ups, they’re probably thinking of Poison Ivy. These two have been together for years, first as allies, then friends, and have since become lovers and partners. They’ve been through it all, and they have created a shockingly intense and healthy relationship in the process.
Their relationship has appeared in many forms, starting in Batman: The Animated Series. From there, it moved to the comic book world, appearing in their solo series, group events, you name it. More recently, Harley Quinn got her own TV series, and her relationship with Ivy became a central point to the story. Even Poison Ivy’s most recent solo series has made plenty of room for Harley, as their stories are intertwined.
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