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| “ | Well look who's too late to save the day. How's it going Bat-brain? It's been a while. | „ |
| ~ Harley Quinn to Batman. |
| “ | It would be a shame to get blood all over my nice new outfit. | „ |
| ~ Harley Quinn |
Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel, better known as Harley Quinn, is a major character in the Batman: Arkham franchise. She is the Joker's former henchwoman and girlfriend.
Despite being a villain in most of the series, she turns into an on-and off anti-hero by defeating Brainiac, an alien psychopath who planned to take over Earth.
She is voiced by Tara Strong, who also voiced the character in other media, including her Injustice counterpart, and her DC Super Hero Girls counterpart as well.
Biography[]
Meeting Joker[]
Harleen, an intern at Blackgate Penitentiary completing her Psychiatry residency, becomes intrigued by the Joker after he describes a life-changing encounter with someone, leading her to believe he is referring to her. During a riot at Blackgate, she is held hostage but shows no gratitude or shock when Batman saves her. When Batman asks if she is okay, she responds dismissively and reveals Joker’s location. In the end, she is seen escorting Joker back to his cell with guards.
Arkham Shadow[]
Despite meeting the Joker, Dr. Harleen Quinzel had not yet been corrupted by him, as she remained an earnest if often short-sighted psychiatrist in the employ of Blackgate Penitentiary. She had a hostile rivalry with colleague Dr. Jonathan Crane, as her more compassionate approach was to his disagreement due to believing they are to be scientists treating patients as subjects to "fix," rather than people to help.
Dr. Quinzel realised that several inmates had gone missing after sessions with Dr. Crane, thus she suspected he was keeping them trapped in secret locations for his experiments. When she confronted him, however, he pulled rank and had her fired because the former warden Joseph was gone and current warden Bolton was in intensive care, therefore neither could protect her anymore. This caused her to suffer an intense disillusionment with mental healthcare, but remained committed to expose Crane and rescue their patients.
Quinzel was kept in custody of private security firm, TYGER, that was responsible for prison guard duty; while they pressured her to empty her desk, she remained defiant and wouldn't leave until confronting Crane again. Batman incapacitated her escorts, although instead of leaving, she insisted on accompanying him in the confrontation of Crane, who she suspected was the mysterious Rat King, a figure inspiring an uprising in criminal and underprivileged classes to overthrow the corruption prevalent in Gotham institutions.
On the way, Quinzel criticised Batman for his violent methods of suppressing the second Blackgate riot the year prior. She also admitted that loved her patients, but was resentful that most don't respect her nor appreciate she was trying to help them; Batman attempted to reassure her that she did good work. She noted that if she could just save one, she would feel all her efforts were worthwhile. She also sardonically noted that perhaps she'd be respected if she wore a mask like Batman, but he advised against it.
When they reached the window of an operating room, they saw Crane wearing his gas mask as he was testing his prototype fear toxin on the restrained Arnold Wesker; this convinced Quinzel that Crane was the Rat King. However, after Batman overpowered the toxin and defeated Crane, he realised that he wasn't the Rat King. Despite Crane's own unethical and illegal experiments, he had enough influence to complete Quinzel's termination.
Employment at Arkham Asylum and Becoming Harley Quinn[]
Dr. Quinzel was able to obtain work as a psychiatrist in the reopened Arkham Asylum. She would primarily treat the Joker, whose stories of an abusive and tragic childhood, and framing of Batman's foiling his schemes as persecution, gradually made her empathise with him. While he would sneak flowers to her, she didn't report his escapes as she was becoming infatuated with the Clown Prince.
Quinzel would surreptitiously help the Joker escape the Asylum, before a final escape in which she would don the persona of Harley Quinn, becoming his partner in crime, although unwittingly just a pawn. She would occasionally present herself as her old Dr. Quinzel self to manipulate people to aid the Joker's plots; notably, she deceived an industrialist with a terminally ill daughter into financially backing "Jack White" and Dr. Penelope Young, as they offered a cure for his daughter. However, the treatments were all placebos, thus the young girl died; Harley and Joker convinced the bereaved father to commit suicide, although instead of the peaceful death they said the provided drug offered, it was Joker Venom that caused him to die in agony and uncontrollable laughter.
The Joker would one day kidnap a class of kindergartners, with the promise of returning them in "one piece." True to his word but in his usual depraved style, he returned them in "one piece" but after he had butchered and sewn the body parts back together randomly, forcing the parents to identify their dead children from the mass. This case enraged Robin/Jason Todd who pursued the Joker with the goal of killing him, however, the Joker planned on it, trapping the second boy wonder. In an abandoned wing under Arkham, the Joker would torture Jason, which was occasionally aided by Harley, who used her medical knowledge to ensure the prisoner wouldn't die or crack completely, thus allowing the Joker to prolong the torment for a year before just leaving him for dead.
Assault On Arkham[]
After becoming infatuated with the Joker and joining him in criminal activities as Harley Quinn, Harleen Quinzel eventually breaks up with him and goes solo. She is later forced to join the Suicide Squad to find a bomb hidden by the Joker. Prior the mission, either due to a whim or scheme, she seduced and had sex with Deadshot. During a confrontation at Arkham Asylum, Harley tries to shoot the Joker but fails until she damages his cell. Joker escapes and encounters the Suicide Squad, mistakenly attacking one of their members.
He then faces off against Batman and the Squad, setting off explosives but failing to kill them. Despite his anger towards Harley and the Squad, he ultimately forgives Harley and chooses to spare her. Joker activates the bomb hidden in Harley’s hammer and releases Arkham’s inmates before escaping with Harley on a helicopter. In a final showdown, Joker battles Deadshot, while Batman fought Harley, but the Joker ultimately disappeared after a helicopter crash. Batman manages to save the day by disarming the bomb and neutralizing the threat.
After being imprisoned at Arkham once more, the Joker reunites with Harley, and they resume their partnership. When Dr. Penelope Young denies the Joker’s request for help with his Titan project, they escape Arkham to pursue their own agenda. Harley holds a grudge against the psychiatrist for going against the Joker, whom she affectionately calls “puddin’.”
Arkham Asylum[]
Ten years after the Christmas Eve events, the Joker plans to take over Arkham Asylum to complete the Titan project using Dr. Young’s notes. Harley Quinn likely gets herself arrested to join him, while he takes the Mayor hostage and escapes. Harley finds Bane under the Medical Facility and sedates him to keep him quiet. She then sneaks into the Penitentiary’s control room and helps the Joker escape, allowing his gang to take over the island. Harley takes Warden Sharp hostage and declares herself as the new warden, working for the Joker. When Batman confronts her, she refuses to surrender and causes chaos, including blowing up the elevator cord and attacking guards with Blackgate prisoners. She eventually faces Batman and Gordon, but is defeated and captured after failing the Joker. Harley is left in her cell by Batman and recaptured by the GCPD at the end of the takeover.
In the following six months, it is revealed that the Joker’s injuries and Titan side effects are slowly killing him, giving him only six more months to live and leaving him wheelchair-bound. Harley becomes his devoted caregiver, determined to help him recover. After the destruction of Arkham Asylum during the Joker’s takeover, it is shut down and replaced by Arkham City, a new prison where all the criminals from both Arkham Asylum and Blackgate Prison are transferred, including the Joker. However, during the transfer, his guards seek revenge for their fallen colleagues by planning to torture him in a medical lab.
Arkham City[]
Harley overhears their plot, escapes confinement, eliminates the guards, and rescues the Joker, taking him to safety on an escape boat. Joker and Harley flee to Arkham City after a confrontation with Batman, where Joker aims to become the “Mayor” and sets up his operations in Sionis Industries. Joker begins transforming the factory into his signature style, including a deadly roller-coaster death trap to test inmates’ reflexes. While Clayface joins the gang, Harley takes charge of the Joker Gang, but faces skepticism from the members who doubt her leadership without the Joker’s influence.
On the night of Protocol 10, Harley Quinn launches an attack on the Church and Medical Center to kidnap Dr. Stacy Baker to help the ailing Joker. When Batman arrives, Harley teases him about ruining her outfit with blood but refrains from ordering her goons to shoot him. She directs her armed guards to capture Batman and keep their hideout secure. In a tense encounter at Sionis Mill, Harley threatens the young doctor who failed to assist Joker and demands the thugs capture Mr. Freeze, believed to have a cure. As Batman rushes to save Dr. Baker from danger, Harley intervenes, prolonging the suffering at Joker’s request. She taunts Batman from a safe vantage point, confident in their security. After Batman defeats Mister Hammer and thugs to reach Joker, Harley tries to protect him, only to be knocked out by a gas attack.
When Batman awakens, Harley attempts to unmask him but is stopped by Joker, who enjoys the mystery. Harley later steals the Titan cure but is tricked by Talia, losing it in the process. During a confrontation at Sionis Steel Mill, Batman finds Harley tied up and gagged, denying knowledge of the cure’s whereabouts. She is later seen mourning Joker’s apparent death, hinting at a deeper connection between them. In a poignant moment, Harley’s old outfit from Arkham Asylum and a positive pregnancy test are discovered in Joker’s hideout, suggesting a significant revelation about her relationship with Joker. At the end credits, Harley sings a lullaby, hinting at a potential pregnancy and her determination to avenge Joker.
Harley Quinn's Revenge[]
After the Joker’s death, Harley Quinn’s demeanor becomes even more unhinged and aggressive, commanding fear and respect from the Joker’s former henchmen who previously underestimated her. She mourns incessantly, adopting a darker appearance and displaying erratic behavior, including random acts of violence towards the henchmen. Instead of her previous dismissive attitude towards their advances, she becomes enraged and murderous, declaring herself a “widow” not to be trifled with. In the Steel Mill’s Manager’s office, a crib with the Scarface puppet dressed as a baby Joker is found, surrounded by multiple negative pregnancy tests and a single positive test. The revelation that she was not pregnant with Joker’s child is suggested to have pushed Harley over the edge, fueling her viciousness. Weeks later, Harley escapes confinement and forms a plan to avenge the Joker by reassembling his gang and kidnapping police officers to lure Batman into a trap. Batman is captured and imprisoned in a Joker statue within Harley’s shrine to him.
Robin enters the Steel Mill to rescue Batman and confronts Harley, defeating her henchmen and engaging in a battle with her. Despite her cunning tactics, Robin overpowers Harley, retrieves the access key, and leaves her hanging upside down. Harley reveals her suicidal bombing plan to kill Batman and Robin, but Batman thwarts the explosives while Robin frees the hostages. Harley activates a bomb in the Joker statue, prompting a showdown with Batman. She unleashes Mechanical Guardians to attack him, but Batman manages to disarm the bomb and apprehend Harley. In a final attempt to harm Batman, Harley tries to stab him but is stopped by Robin, leading to her arrest and return to custody.
Arkham Knight[]
Following Hugo Strange’s unlawful mass murder of prisoners during Protocol 10, the GCPD is compelled to release all inmates, including Harley Quinn, as their constitutional rights were violated. Over the next nine months, Harley solidifies her control over Joker’s Gang but adopts a fairer approach, earning genuine respect from her followers by refraining from arbitrary violence; despite the Joker essentially "creating" her, it appeared as though he had also limited her potential as to keep her a dependent servant to his whims, thus his death allowed her to become as formidable as Penguin and Two-Face. Despite her rise as a formidable gang leader, Harley’s unwavering love for the Joker and deep-seated animosity towards Batman persist, fueling her desire for revenge.
When Scarecrow extends an offer to form an alliance to eliminate Batman, dismantle his legacy, and divide Gotham among the gangs, Harley eagerly joins the plot. Prior to the game’s events, Harley carries out an attack on the Bludhaven police station at Scarecrow’s behest to free Harley. This operation results in the deaths of numerous officers and the escape of Poison Ivy. However, Harley’s lack of reaction to Ivy’s subsequent capture by the Arkham Knight’s Militia hints at a strained relationship between the two former allies.
Four patients had been injected with Joker's TITAN-infected blood, but had not received the cure due to the blood transfusions being either incorrectly logged or done illegally. The blood had mutated, turning each of the patients into aspects of the late Joker's personality: Christina Bell, his obsession with Batman; Johnny Charisma, his showmanship and egomania; Albert King, his violence and destruction; and Henry Adams, his intellect and malice. There was a fifth patient, who was Batman himself, since having such a high dosage of Joker-TITAN in his blood had prevented the cure from completely purging it from his system. All four patients were kept incarcerated in a defunct movie studio that Batman had turned into quasi-Batcave and hospital. Batman had believed Henry was immune, however, he was merely hiding his true corrupted nature.
Henry stealthily helped Harley Quinn and her gang infiltrate the studios, and she took possession of each patient, as she proclaimed they were all the Joker, thus belonged to her. Batman and Robin (Tim Drake) gradually take down the gang members and return the patients to their cells; Harley herself appeared to stop the last patient from being returned. Robin distracted her with banter and insults, thus Batman was able to quickly knock her unconscious. The last waking members of her gang engaged in combat to save her, but they were defeated by the Dynamic Duo.
Harley regained consciousness to find herself draped over Batman's shoulder, while Robin carried the last patient; she angrily yet futilely ranted and kicked at Batman. She appeared to relent upon entering the control room, but after Robin lowered the last patient, they found the first two recaptured had been executed. Batman realised that Henry was never immune, which the elderly man confirmed by mocking him for believing there is good in people, especially when it isn't there. Despite her distress, Harley went to Henry's side, though he irritably shook her hand from his shoulder.
Henry shot the third patient, which devastated Harley more and she asked why, which he darkly noted as "purifying the gene pool." Henry ordered Batman to enter one of the containment cells, but he refused until Henry aimed his gun at Harley's torso. The Joker manifestation within Batman demanded that he kill Henry, which shifted Batman's eyes to the unearthly green of the Joker; Henry himself understood that Batman was another Joker-infected patient, and believing that Batman would be a "spectacular" Joker, committed suicide as he deemed himself the inferior. Harley sobbed over losing the Joker another four times, thus didn't resist when she was locked in one of the vacant containment cells.
Harley was surprised to see Batman lock Robin in one of the cells out of fear that Scarecrow or his forces would kill him. Before leaving, Batman conversed briefly with Harley, and tried to convince her to relinquish her obsession with the Joker, but she refused, instead sadly blaming Batman for "killing" the Joker yet again, while also acting in denial that a fifth Joker was still in Batman.
When Batman was distracted elsewhere, Scarecrow broke into the movie studios and took Robin as a prisoner; despite the allegiance, Scarecrow left Harley locked up, although she didn't seem to mind when Batman arrived, as she was amused that Batman would suffer with Robin and Commissioner Gordon being beaten prisoners of the Master of Fear. It isn't clear if she knew of her friend Ivy's death, but she didn't seem to care about any of her allies anymore by that point.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League[]
In the five years since Scarecrow's defeat, Harley had undergone extreme changes in personality and outlook, somehow.
External Links[]
- Harley Quinn on the DC Wiki
- Harley Quinn on the Villains Wiki
- Harley Quinn on the Inconsistenlty Heinous Wiki.
