Title Character
Batman (Bruce Wayne)
Allies
The Bat-Family (Batgirl | Batwoman | Jason Todd | Robin) | Extended Bat-Family & Other Supporting Cast (Azrael | Huntress)
Villains
Bane | Catwoman (Selina Kyle) | Clayface | Harley Quinn (Harleen Quinzel) | The Joker | Lady Shiva | League of Assassins (Ra's Al Ghul | Talia Al Ghul) | Mr. Freeze | The Penguin | Poison Ivy | The Riddler | The Scarecrow | Two Face | A-F | G-L | M-R | S-Z
Spin-Offs
Batman Incorporated | Dark Nights: Metal (The Batman Who Laughs) | I Am Batman | Nightwing (Dick Grayson) | The Outsiders | Red Hood and the Outlaws | Robin (1993) (Tim Drake) | Robin (2021) (Damian Wayne)
This is the Characters page for the comic book Harley Quinn. For characters from the animated series, see here.
Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn
Alter ego: Harleen Quinzel
Species: Metahuman
First appearance: Batman: The Animated Series - "Joker's Favor" (September 11, 1992) (Cartoons); Batman: Harley Quinn (October, 1999) (Comics)
Dr. Harleen Quinzel was once one of Arkham Asylum's brightest young talents. Fresh-out-of-college, and against the warnings of her peers, she became obsessed with the Joker and possibly convinced that she could cure the Joker of his madness. As Joker's doctor, she tried — like so many others before her — to restore the psychotic killer to sanity. Instead, not only did she fail, he corrupted her to the point that not only did she herself go insane, she actually fell in love with him.
After spending some time alongside the Joker as an Outlaw Couple, Harley eventually broke free of "Mr. J", becoming a villain in her own right, before switching to a more anti-heroic path as a member of the Suicide Squad.
Though it was Batman: The Animated Series that introduced her (originally as just the Joker's henchgirl), Harley became popular enough to be included in the comics as well, and it was a comic (later adapted into a TV episode) that first told her origin. Perhaps even crazier than the Joker himself, you can count on Harley to be right alongside her "puddin'", mindlessly loyal to him, but cleverly lethal.
Not even Harley can stand the Joker's endless tirades of abuse and madcap lifestyle, however, and when she's in her downtime, she often finds consolation in Poison Ivy, whom she has a deep friendship with.
Has had four solo series, the tropes for which can be found here.
Thanks to the character's popularity, she has appeared in various adaptations. In addition to Batman: The Animated Series, she has also been featured in The Batman, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and was the Big Bad of the short-lived Birds of Prey (2002). She was also one of the main characters in the Batman: Assault on Arkham film. She's a major character in the Batman: Arkham Series, and is playable in Batman: Arkham Knight. She appears in the DC Extended Universe films Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey and The Suicide Squadnote , played by Australian actress Margot Robbie, and she's set to appear in the sequel to 2019's Joker, Joker: Folie à Deux, played by no less than Lady Gaga. She's also one of the students in DC Super Hero Girls; in that continuity, she's undergone Adaptational Heroism and is portrayed as a lovably mischievous prankster. Perhaps the ultimate example of her breakout success, she's the star of her very own animated series on DC Universe. Stjepan Šejić created a well-regarded "character study" for her as fanart, highlighting parts of her origin story. He insisted they would never lead to anything more - until they did, with his 3 to 6 volume origin story Harleen published under DC's Black Label starting in 2019.
Not to be confused with the Agatha Christie character.
Visit her self-demonstrating page here.
For tropes about her books, see here.
Allies
Poison Ivy/Pamela Isley
Bud and Lou
Harley's two hyenas. Originally, they were the Joker's pets, but he appears to have abandoned them.
- All Animals Are Dogs: They definitely act like dogs in the comics, even though hyenas are more closely related to cats.
- Heinous Hyena: Played with: they are Harley's hyenas and she goes back and forth from villain to anti-hero, so they alternatively do bad and good things.
- Named After Somebody Famous: Joker named them after the comedy team Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.
Nick Quinzel
Harley's father. In the pre-New 52, he was a con man and in the post-New 52, he was some sort of criminal, having spent several years on Rikers Island, before dedicating himself to his family. However, he was never a good influence on Harley and they became estranged until she began rebuilding her life in Coney Island.
- Disappeared Dad: Nick had a long stretch in Rikers Island while his wife, Sharon, raised their three sons.
- Family Man: Despite all his bad tendencies, Nick loves his family and will do anything for them.
- Freudian Excuse: It's implied that Harley's criminal tendencies come from him and also her bad taste in men.
- Happily Married: To Sharon, Harley's mother.
- Parents as People: It's clear that he's a complicated person, but he dearly loves his wife and children.
Sharon Quinzel
Harley's mother. She was a medical researcher who ended up quitting her job to marry Nick Quinzel and have Harleen. She then had three more sons, although Nick would be in and out of prison and Harley would go off to become a supervillain. Having been estranged from her daughter for years, she and Harley eventually made up and grew closer. However, she was then diagnosed with cancer and, even though Harley tried her hardest to save her, passed away.
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: In Harley Quinn vol 3 #50, the Fourth Wall breaks entirely when DC continuity is shattered and Sharon turns into flower petals and floats away. To save her mother, Harley tracks down the writer of unofficial Harley Quinn comics, Meredith Clatterbuck, in order to save DC continuity and her mother. Eventually, DC continuity and Sharon are restored as Meredith Clatterbuck is made a writer for in-continuity Harley Quinn comics. Even after Sharon's death, Harley can still see her mother in Meredith's comics.
- Even Bad Women Love Their Mamas: Harley may have been estranged from her for a while, but she still clearly loves her very much. When it's revealed that Sharon is dying, Harley goes to the ends of the earth to find a cure for cancer in order to save her, but can't.
- Extremely Protective Child: Harley ends up going to STAR Labs and even Lex Luthor to get a cure for her mom's cancer, but it's all for nothing.
- Talking to the Dead: After Sharon's death, Harley still has conversations with her in her mind.
Barry Quinzel
The oldest of Harley's three younger brothers. He's a heavy metal musician and thorn in Harley's side. He also has two children, Little Nicky and Jenny, although he is estranged from his ex-wife and only recently regained visitation rights.
Frankie Quinzel
The second youngest of Harley's three younger brothers. He's a Science Fair winning genius who also has poor social skills.
Ezzie Quinzel
The youngest of Harley's three younger brothers.
The Quinntets
Members: Lewis LeBeau, Buster, Kenny Two-Bear, Nix Two-Bear, Lester Wilde, Brad, Margo Wachsler, Matches Malone, Bob
The Quinntets were a criminal gang led by Harley Quinn.John Bishop
John Bishop was a detective in the Gotham City Police Department.The Tailor
Alias: Jake
The Tailor makes and repairs suits, equipment and vehicles for both villains and heroes in Gotham City.- Only One Name: His full name was never mentioned.
Doc
Amanda
Big Tony
Alias: Anthony Delfini
One of Harley's tenants and a member of the Coney Island Freakfest and Burlesque. He is friends is friends with Mason Macabre and his mother Madame Macabre. He is also dating Queenie.
- Comic-Book Fantasy Casting: Seems to have been patterned after Glenn Danzig: short (although exaggerated in that Tony is an actual little person), buff, long-haired, and Hell-Bent for Leather.
- Huge Girl, Tiny Guy: He's very short and is dating the incredibly tall Queenie.
- Ironic Nickname: He's a short person nicknamed 'Big' Tony.
The Brooklyn Bruisers
Members: Bowling 'Bell, Skye Scrapper, Summer Daze, Tanya Tank
Harley Quinn's roller derby team.Goat Boy
A member of the Coney Island Freakfest and Burlesque.- Fauns and Satyrs: He looks like a humanoid goat, essentially making him a satyr or faun.
Queenie
A member of the Coney Island Freakfest and Burlesque, she is dating Harley's friend Big Tony and designed Harley's new costume.
- Huge Girl, Tiny Guy: She's much taller than the average person, and is dating the very short Big Tony.
Madame Macabre
Alias: Lana Macabre
Manager of the House of Wax and Murder wax museum found in the Coney Island apartment building Harley Quinn inherits.Sy Borgman
A former secret government agent, now a nursing home patient who enlists Harley Quinn's help when she starts working at the facility he lives in.Bernie the Beaver
Bernie is a taxydermied beaver who serves as a kind of sidekick to Harley Quinn. Half of him is burnt and charred, supposedly due to an incident with the Joker. He talks, but Harley Quinn is the only one able to hear him.Dr. Hertz
Gang of Harleys
Members: Bolly Quinn, Carli Quinn, Coach, Hanuquinn, Harlem Harley, Harley Queens, Harvey Quinn, the Quintuplets
- Custom Uniform of Sexy: Bolly Quinn, Harlem Harley, Hanuquinn and Harvey Quinn all wear outfits that expose their midsections.
- Five-Token Band: Carlita Alvarez/Carli Quinn is Latina, Shona Choudhury/Bolly Quinn is Indian-American, Hannah Borgman/Hanuquinn is Jewish, Antonia Moore/Harlem Harley is African-American, Erica Zhang/Harley Queens is Asian-American and Harvey McPhearson/Harvey Quinn is gay.
- The One Guy: Harvey Quinn.
Captain Horatio Strong
- Affectionate Parody: Of Popeye.
- The Bus Came Back: Back in Pre-Crisis days, he was a recurring character in Superman's adventures.
Mike the Rooster
A rooster given to Harley Quinn by Ms. Diaz as a reward for dealing with the people who had been stealing her garbage cans.
Red Tool
Alias: Wayne Wilkins
Wayne Wilkins, aka Red Tool, is obsessed with Harley Quinn. He even kidnapped her but they became good friends.- Alliterative Name: Wade Wilkins. Ws, just like the character he's based on.
- Captain Ersatz: Pretty obviously of Marvel's Deadpool.
Nathan
Harley Quinn's pet dachshund. He is a member of the Super-Pets in his secret identity as the Savage Sausage.Coach
Alias: Holly Hamden
Holly Hamden is a blind woman who acts as the overseer of the Gang of Harleys and assistant to Harley herself.- Alliterative Name: Holly Hamden.
Petite Tina
Tina of Apokolips was once groomed to be a Female Fury, but failed, and was befriended by Harley Quinn.- Face of a Thug: Despite her intimidating appearance and strength, Tina is surprisingly shy and even agoraphobic.
- Gentle Giant: She might be huge and intimidating, but she's pretty friendly and something of a Cowardly Lion.
- Horned Humanoid: She has a pair of large horns in her head.
- Ironic Name: She's named Petite Tina, yet she's much bigger than the average inhabitant of Apokolips.