13. Harley’s Origin Story Came After Her TV Debut
As mentioned, when Harley was written into “Joker’s Favor” on The Animated Series, she wasn’t supposed to be on the hit cartoon ever again. What did Harley need with a backstory? It’s a wonder that she even had a name. At the height of the popularity of the animated Batman show, Paul Dini took the reigns and wrote Harley an origin story. Since Dini had worked on The Animated Series, he was able to mimic the art style with 100 percent accuracy. It’s no wonder then that the comic, named The Batman Adventures: Mad Love, won 1994’s “Best Single Story” Eisner Award.
Many fans know Harley’s origins like the backs of their own hands. Once a promising psychiatrist, Ms. Harleen Quinzel threw her career aspirations away when she landed a job treating the Joker at Arkham Asylum. She quickly fell in love with the madman, who manipulates her affections to get her to do his bidding. It’s a sad story for sure, but luckily, in more recent comics, Harley has had a successful, almost happy life away from Mistah J.
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12. That Wasn’t Her First Comic
DC Comics released a series of comics produced by Elseworlds, a company that existed solely to go outside of canon and come up with as many interesting re-brandings for your favorite DC characters as possible. In 1997 and 1998, Elseworlds artists Daniel Brereton and Howard V. Chaykin publishedThrillkiller, which takes place in 1961 in a Gotham City overrun by crime. Bruce Wayne doesn’t have his riches, but he is a detective who works with Jim Gordon. He’s also still somehow Batman. Robin and Batgirl are the vigilante heroes. The Joker is a woman named Bianca Steeplechase and Harley is just Harley, although her name is Hayley Fitzpatrick in this book. She’s also a student and not a psychiatrist.
Yes, it is an insanely interesting alternate DC universe. The good news is that the comics are being re-printed, so you can read them today. A same-sex relationship between the woman Joker and Harley was hugely radical back in the late 1990s. It’s also refreshing to see that in this alternate universe that Joker treats Harley with respect and love and isn’t abusive and overeager to put her in harm’s way.
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