Warning! Spoilers ahead for Harley Quinn #5
In the latest issue of DC Comics' Harley Quinn, it's confirmed that Harley is the perfect balance between the morals of Batman and the Joker. While Dr. Hugo Strange finally managed to get Harley into his custody, one of his biggest insults revolved around this concept, and yet it's actually her best quality. Seemingly trapped in his new asylum, Harley and Hugo match wits and degrees in a battle of psycho-analysis between the two mental health "professionals" (although neither of them should really be officially practicing for a variety of reasons).
In previous issues of Harley Quinn from writer Stephanie Phillips and artist Riley Rossmo, Harley took it upon herself in the aftermath of the Joker War to try and help any surviving clowns that had found themselves in the same position she herself was in. She, too, had been used and manipulated by the Joker and ostracized by Gotham as a result, with the clowns now being seen as criminals and thugs rather than people who just made a mistake. However, Dr. Hugo Strange was somehow given a second chance by the City of Gotham, and Mayor Nakano tasked him with rounding up and "treating" the city's clowns.
Now, Harley Quinn #5 sees Harley having been "captured" by Strange's orderlies, and she has a battle of wits with Strange, antagonizing him by psychoanalyzing his Batman obsession in order to get him into a position where she can enact the next part of her plan to rescue her friends. However, she certainly pushed the right buttons at one point, getting a definite rise out of the not-so-good doctor. Hugo was so angry that he offered what he thought was a cruel insult to Harley's character. In truth, he was right on the money, confirming the balance of morality that makes Harley Quinn so entertaining.
Strange goes on to say that Harley is just "a middle-of-the-road idiot in a tacky jester outfit," but that balance Harley has between Batman and Joker is perfect. It's what makes her such an interesting character and who she is in DC Comics. If Harley was overly good and had a just as serious desire for justice in Gotham as Batman, she wouldn't be Harley. The same holds true on the other side of the coin if she were to be as chaotic and dark as her ex-boyfriend Joker. Instead, Harley exists at that sweet spot where she's good enough to do what's right and help others, as has been seen in this new series, but that doesn't mean she's going to do things by the book. Harley is crazed and chaotic enough to cause all kinds of property damage and mayhem with wild schemes, albeit still in the service of something worthwhile and good like helping these disenfranchised clowns who need help getting back on track. She's the definition of an antihero.
In any case, Haley Quinn certainly has her own brand, style, and flair for how she goes about life in Gotham, and to say that she's the perfect balance between Batman and the Joker is a pretty apt description for her general characterization in the DC Universe. While it doesn't seem as though Hugo Strange's war with Harley is over by any means, Harley definitely secured a win in this issue by rescuing several of her friends and fellow clowns with the help of Solomon Grundy, much to Strange's ongoing annoyance as Harley Quinn continues with future issues.