Harley is the perfect multiverse character – her identity is constantly in flux, shaped by her choices, lovers, traumas, and the world around her. She can be a tragic figure, a chaotic clown, or a badass survivor… sometimes all in one panel.
Let’s take a moment to explore some various Harleys:
The Original: Animated Series Harley
- Universe: Batman: The Animated Series (1992)
- Look: Red and black jester suit
- Vibe: Goofy, tragic, endlessly loyal
- Why She Matters: The Harley who started it all. A sidekick who stole the spotlight and never gave it back.
Dr. Harleen Quinzel – Birds of Prey (2002 TV Series)
- Universe: Birds of Prey (Earth-203 in Arrowverse terms)
- Look: Stylish psychiatrist by day, criminal mastermind by night
- Vibe: Cold, calculating, more Lex Luthor than lovable lunatic
- Portrayed by: Mia Sara (yes, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off!)
- Why She Stands Out: Unlike most versions, this Harley is not comic relief—she’s the main villain, operating under her civilian name and pulling strings behind the scenes in New Gotham.
- Legacy Note: One of the earliest live-action Harley Quinns—before Margot, before Kaley, before chaos was cool.
Gotham City Sirens Harley
- Universe: Earth-0, Post-Crisis DC
- Look: Sleek, streetwear-meets-supervillain
- Vibe: Empowered, flirty, ride-or-die for Ivy and Selina
Arkhamverse Harley Quinn – Batman: Arkham Games (2009–2015)
- Universe: Batman: Arkham Asylum, City, Knight, Origins
- Look: From nurse cosplay to punk-rock dominatrix—complete with smeared makeup and baseball bats
- Vibe: Raw, obsessive, and more dangerous than she looks
- Voice: Arleen Sorkin (briefly) → Tara Strong
- Why She’s Iconic: This Harley feels like a living evolution of BTAS. She starts out as Joker’s pawn but transforms into her own threat—rage-fueled, manipulative, and heartbroken
- Narrative Arc:
- Arkham Asylum: Classic jester loyalist
- Arkham City: Deep grief and chaos after Joker’s death
- Harley Quinn’s Revenge (DLC): Vengeful and unhinged
- Arkham Knight: Leader of her own gang, beginning to chart her own path
- Legacy Note: One of the most influential Harleys on the modern aesthetic—especially in how she inspired elements of the DCEU and New 52 redesigns
- Fan Take: She may still be Joker-obsessed, but this Harley hurts, and it shows. Raw emotional storytelling under the chaos.
New 52 / Suicide Squad Harley
- Universe: DC’s New 52 Reboot
- Look: Dyed pigtails, corsets, mallets and mayhem
- Vibe: Punk rock mayhem with a touch of Deadpool
- Note: Controversial but iconic. This Harley rebranded her look for a new generation.
Ecco – Gotham (TV Series, 2018–2019)
- Universe: Gotham (Prequel/Earth-38-like timeline)
- Look: Pale makeup, striking outfits, chilling smile
- Vibe: Loyal, psychotic, stylishly unhinged
- Portrayed by: Francesca Root-Dodson
- Twist: Never officially called “Harley Quinn” due to licensing restrictions, but clearly inspired by her—serves as Jeremiah Valeska’s devoted sidekick (a Joker stand-in).
- Why She Counts: Ecco embodies Harley’s chaotic energy, fashion sense, and fatal loyalty—just filtered through Gotham’s darker tone.
- Fandom Take: Basically “proto-Harley,” and a cult favorite among fans for her unique twist on the role.
The Surgeon of Chaos: Gods and Monsters Harley
- Universe: Justice League: Gods and Monsters (2015)
- Look: Patchwork corset in blood-red and black, asymmetrical pigtails, pale corpse-paint skin, and a rictus grin that’s more nightmare fuel than cute. Think slasher nurse meets punk cabaret—chaos couture with a surgical edge.
- Vibe: Macabre, methodical, and clinically unhinged
- Why She Matters: This Harley doesn’t need a Joker—she’s a villain in her own right. As a twisted scientist with a flair for vivisection and performance art, she’s one of the most horror-forward Harleys in the multiverse. Creepy, captivating, and completely off the ethical rails.
Margot Robbie’s Harley (DCEU)
- Universe: Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey, The Suicide Squad
- Look: Cinematic chaos in glam outfits
- Vibe: Heartbreak survivor, queen of reinvention
- Why We Love Her: Margot’s Harley broke free of the Joker, formed her own gang, and became a feminist antihero icon.
HBO Max Animated Harley
- Universe: Harley Quinn (HBO Max)
- Look: Cartoon chic with combat boots
- Vibe: Meta, queer, gloriously unfiltered
- Bestie Goals: Her ride-or-die relationship with Ivy goes from “maybe” to full-blown OTP.
Black Label’s Harleen
- Universe: DC Black Label (Alternate Timeline)
- Look: Modern, realistic, hauntingly human
- Vibe: Thoughtful, slow-burn descent into obsession
- Why It Hits: A psychological thriller in comic form. Less cartoon chaos, more chilling character study.
DCeased Harley
- Universe: DCeased (Post-Apocalyptic Alt Timeline)
- Look: Biker armor, blood-streaked, fearless
- Vibe: Survivor mode: activated
- Why She Rules: Even in the zombie apocalypse, Harley cracks jokes and crushes skulls. What’s not to love?
White Knight Harley Quinn
- Universe: Batman: White Knight (Sean Murphy’s Murphyverse / Black Label)
- Look: Clean-cut, blonde bob, bomber jacket—or sleek vigilante gear
- Vibe: Sharp, grounded, mother of twins, morally driven
- Plot Twist: There are two Harleys in this world. She’s the real Harleen Quinzel, while another imposter (“Neo-Joker”) had taken her place during Joker’s most chaotic years.
- Role: After Joker becomes sane (Jack Napier), White Knight Harley becomes his partner in reform—and later, a crime-fighting mother, a widow, and a major Gotham player in her own right.
- Why She’s Iconic: Mature, complex, and emotionally intelligent. She evolves past Joker and even Bruce—possibly the most healed and responsible Harley ever portrayed.
- Fan Reaction: Widely loved for showing Harley’s true potential as a fully fleshed-out character, not just a sidekick or punchline.
Post-Arkham Harley – Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2024)
- Universe: Arkhamverse, post-Arkham Knight
- Look: Tactical vest, skull face paint, and a black-pink braid—less cosplay, more mercenary
- Vibe: Strategic, sarcastic, and fully in charge
- Voice: Tara Strong
- Big Shift: This Harley’s Joker is gone, and so is the codependency. She’s running Task Force X missions in Metropolis, leading a team of maniacs (Deadshot, Boomerang, King Shark), and cracking jokes while killing superheroes
- What Makes Her Different:
- Smarter and more grounded—her PhD is finally showing
- Has her own motivations beyond revenge or romance
- Hints of grief, but with growth—this is Harley on her own terms
- Why It’s Important: This is the endgame version of Arkham Harley. She’s made peace with her past, evolved beyond Joker’s shadow, and now commands chaos instead of just surviving it
Lady Gaga’s Harley – Joker: Folie à Deux
- Universe: Elseworlds (Joker’s Timeline)
- Look: Cabaret meets asylum chic
- Vibe: Intense, tragic, musical noir
- Wild Card: Gaga’s Harley is still a mystery, but she’s likely to be the most emotionally raw and theatrical yet.
Caped Crusader Harley – Batman: Caped Crusader (2025)
- Universe: Batman: Caped Crusader (Amazon Prime, Noir Earth)
- Look: Cold and clinical—1950s-inspired fashion with a dark academic twist. No jester suit in sight.
- Vibe: Calculated. Intense. Less manic pixie, more ice queen psychologist with a sharp tongue and sharper mind.
- Portrayed by: Jamie Chung
- This Harley Hits Different: In this sleek noir reboot, Dr. Harleen Quinzel is a government-affiliated psychiatrist who straddles the line between institutional authority and ethical compromise. She’s more bureaucratic threat than chaotic sweetheart.
- Why It Matters: This Harley isn’t Joker-obsessed or comic relief—she’s a foil to Batman in her own right. Her manipulation, intellect, and chilling control hint at a slower burn toward villainy—if she even goes full Harley at all.
- Thematic Shift: Rather than trauma or romance driving her transformation, this version explores how power and control can corrupt even the most educated minds. Think femme fatale meets Ivy League.
- Fan Take: A fresh, cerebral take that challenges what we think “Harley” has to be. No pigtails. No giggles. Just pure tension.
Suicide Squad ISEKAI
- Universe: Suicide Squad ISEKAI (2024, Warner Bros. Japan × WIT Studio)
- Look: Anime Harley with a punk-pop twist—oversized mallet, pink/blue hair, short skirt, and knee-highs
- Vibe: Hyperactive, unpredictable, kawaii chaos
- Voice: Anna Nagase (JP) / Laura Post (EN)
- Setting: Gotham’s worst criminals get transported to a high-fantasy world with dragons, swords, and rebellion
- Why She’s Wild: Harley’s anime incarnation fully leans into isekai tropes—think high-speed action, exaggerated expressions, and total genre madness
- Fan Reaction: Instant meme queen. Fans love seeing Harley in this unapologetically over-the-top setting—she’s basically the magical girl of Gotham now
You thought we were done? Nope. Harley’s in a dragon-slaying anime now. Multiverse status: Maxed out.
Which Harley is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
The Quinn-tessential Guide to Harley Quinn 