Batman: Harley Quinn finally made the beloved anti-heroine part of the comics. Harley Quinn made her debut in an episode of Batman: The Animated Series titled "Joker's Favor." Writer Paul Dini created the character, who was inspired by a dream sequence from soap opera Days Of Our Lives. In this scene, actress Arleen Sorkin was dressed up as a jester and when Dini needed to create a new henchwoman for the Joker, he recalled this bizarre sequence. Sorkin would eventually voice the character, who was only supposed to appear in one episode.
Harley Quinn proved so popular she became a recurring character, with the episode "Harley And Ivy" centering on her friendship with Poison Ivy after she breaks up with Joker. Later episodes of Batman: The Animated Series would flesh out Harley's backstory, revealing she was a former psychiatrist who fell in love with the Joker while treating him in Arkham Asylum. She was supposed to make her movie debut in Joel Schumacher's Batman Unchained, where she would have been the daughter of Jack Nicholson's Joker. Following the reception of Batman & Robin, this movie was canned. She finally appeared in 2016's Suicide Squad, played by Margot Robbie, who will reprise the role for the upcoming Birds Of Prey.
Harley Quinn has also appeared in numerous animated movies and video games, such as Injustice 2. Harley has evolved from a cult villain to a popular character in her own right, but despite making her first appearance in 1992, it wasn't until the Batman: Harley Quinn comic arrived in 1999 that she officially became part of the comic continuity.
The Batman: Harley Quinn comic was written by Paul Dini, and the story follows Harley after the Joker tries to kill her, because he can't stand feeling genuine emotions for another person. The comic then explores Harley's backstory, including helping the Joker escape Arkham, how she discovered her famous jester costume, and how her relationship with the Clown Prince of Crime developed. Following Joker's attempt to kill Harley, Poison Ivy gives her a potion that boosts her strength and makes her immune to poisons.
The Batman: Harley Quinn comic finds her seeking revenge on the Joker, but after helping Batman find the villain's hideout, Harley finds she can't kill him after all. They escape together after leaving a bomb that nearly kills the Caped Crusader. Batman: Harley Quinn was part of the epic "No Man's Land" storyline, where Gotham is sealed off and the city's villains are allowed to run rampant. This concept would later inspire video game Batman: Arkham City and the final season of TV series Gotham.
Batman: Harley Quinn also acknowledged Harley's fandom, which would only grow following her official introduction to the comics. She will also receive her own mature animated series with Harley Quinn, where she will be voiced by Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory).