Warning! Contains spoilers from Suicide Squad: Blaze #1!
She may be locked up and forced to do the bidding of the US government, but that doesn't mean Harley Quinn won't try to get what she wants in DC Comics. The new Black Label series Suicide Squad: Blaze shows Task Force X being recruited to monitor a new crop of metahumans with an expiration date. One unfortunate soul finds out the hard way that he should watch what he says when speaking to Harley.
Created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for Batman: The Animated Series, Harley has been a fan-favorite for decades. Though initially appearing as a sidekick to the Joker, her spunky attitude and fighting prowess allowed her to branch out and create a career of her own. While her standard version straddles the line between hero and antihero, other versions embrace a more chaotic, if not villainous, path.
A new series, Suicide Squad: Blaze #1 by Si Spurrier, Aaron Campbell, Jordie Bellaire, and Aditya Bidikar features Amanda Waller holding tryouts to create a new team of metahumans. One potential meta, Mike, catches the attention of Harley who asks if he's looking for her. He tells her no, eliciting a chilled response from Quinn, as well as a slap from Captain Boomerang who informs Mike to "always say 'yes'" to Harley. Peacemaker clarifies, telling everyone that "Harley's not great with rejection." The tryouts begin and amid the calamity, Mike has the misfortune of running into Quinn brandishing her classic mallet and sees just why telling Harley "No" is a grave mistake.
Sure, preparing to kill someone over a perceived slight is bit of an overreaction. However, because this is a non-canon story, exaggerated moments like these can explore a side of the complex character like Harley Quinn without interrupting her main universe counterpart's journey. Since abandoning the Joker's side for good, Harley has tried finding the right designation for her. She has too many ties to other complex villains like Poison Ivy and Catwoman to really go straight, but she lacks the true evil the drives rouges like the Joker. While Harley's path is one of self-examination and growth, her Black Label doppelganger can show off a more raw and violent side.
Suicide Squad: Blaze's version of Harley knows exactly who she is: a villain with an anti-authoritarian nature. Being in such a precarious situation as the Suicide Squad is rough for someone who doesn't like being told what to do, so the moment Harley has the chance to make someone pay for telling her "no," she no doubt takes it. A non-canon story like this helps expand on the deep-seated anger of someone like Harley without throwing her progress away. The reaction should be a lesson for any future team-ups involving Harley Quinn that the word "yes" is the only correct response to any question she may pose.