This month marks a lot of anniversaries for character appearances and introductions from Batman: The Animated Series. The very first episode aired on September 5, 1992, and that was, as they say, just the beginning. Batman: The Animated Series (Batman TAS) cleverly took many beloved Batman characters and enhanced their stories, adding to the lore in ways we never could have anticipated. For example, the Joker made his Batman TAS debut on September 11, 1992, and his appearance brought with him a surprising introduction: Harley Quinn. Here’s where things get interesting, as DC Comics had a plan for Harley Quinn, one they quickly threw out the window.
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“Joker’s Favor” is a popular episode from Batman TAS, and it’s safe to say that this episode has been echoing through the DC Universe ever since. The episode may start in the usual way, but it quickly brings the Joker to the forefront, with a brand new sidekick. While Harley has been stealing the show and making a name for herself ever since, that was not the original plan. Because originally – unthinkably – Harley was supposed to make one quick cameo and disappear forever.
Think about that for a moment. Harley Quinn, the iconic and chaotic anti-hero of DC Comics, was only meant to hang around for a single episode. Looking over all the ways Harley has helped change the DC Universe, this is hard to imagine. Thank goodness this character stole the creator’s hearts, allowing her to make a bigger impression on the community.
Harley Quinn in Batman: The Animated Series
When Harley Quinn first appeared in Batman TAS, she was a sidekick or henchwoman, at best. Her appearance was more of a gag than anything else, playing on the Joker’s obvious themes. However, she immediately caught the attention of creators and fans, allowing her story to snowball. This version of Harley Quinn was blond, wearing the iconic red and black jester suit, and voiced by Arleen Sorkin. As for her name, most people know that it’s a play on Harlequin.
The next time Harley appeared in Batman TAS, it was in “The Laughing Fish,” and she had been upgraded from hench to love interest. Quite the jump! Of course, this came with complications, as Joker and Harley’s relationship was never a healthy one. Even in the early days, Batman TAS explored this concept, with Batman trying to help the chaotic Harley Quinn find her own path forward, in his own way.
How Harley Quinn’s Success Led Her Out To The Wider DC Universe
It wasn’t long before Harley Quinn began appearing in other bits of media, starting with other DC animated series like The New Batman Adventures, which picked up after the conclusion of Batman TAS. She also appeared in DC animated films, like Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, in which she plays a reformed version of herself, complete with grandchildren (that should raise a lot of questions).
Obviously, Harley Quinn’s popularity continued to increase, allowing her to make the major transition from animation to comic books. Just one year after her first appearance, she made her way into The Batman Adventures #12 (1993). Notably, this appearance isn’t considered canon, but it still happened! Her first canon appearance was in Batman: Harley Quinn #1 (1999).
Harley Quinn’s next big break occurred in The Batman Adventures: Mad Love (1994), as this one-shot issue finally gave fans the thing they’d been craving: Harley Quinn’s origin story. This issue explores Harley’s time before the Joker, revealing her psychologist background and full name, among other details. In other words, this is the moment where Harley Quinn really and truly became her own character.
Why Harley Quinn Became Such An Enduring Legend
Truthfully, Harley Quinn’s success is an example of DC Comics listening to the fans. People wanted to learn more about her, and the industry delivered on that request. After providing fans with her backstory, it was only a matter of time before Harley got her own solo series. From there, she’s made her way across the DC Universe, joining up with different teams (Gotham City Sirens, Birds of Prey, Suicide Squad), playing around with being a hero, settling on being an anti-hero, the works.
Harley Quinn’s story hit new heights, not to mention personal freedom, following her big final breakup with the Joker. It wasn’t a pretty thing to witness or experience, but it allowed Harley to explore different sides of herself. It also allowed her to embrace someone else, as fans had been begging for a canon relationship between her and Ivy for years. Yet another example of creators listening to their fans.
Harley Quinn is a cultural phenomenon. She was meant to only appear once in all of DC canon, and she stole our hearts in the process. She quickly became an internet darling, growing in popularity by the day. This allowed her to appear across all forms of the DC Universe, from animation to comics, solo series, films, and ironically back to animation. She’s had multiple live-action appearances, with different actresses bringing her story to life. Given her popularity, there’s no doubt that this trend will continue for years to come.
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image courtesy of 20th Century Studios
