Harley Quinn ranks among the most iconic characters in popular culture, having evolved from a supporting character in Batman: The Animated Series to the star of her own movies and comic books. Her icon status started early and often in DC Comics, with the character featuring in some notable individual comic book panels.
Harley's history in the last 30 years of Batman lore has produced some great moments on the page, often in connection with two of her most significant others: the Joker and Poison Ivy. All of these pangels capture Harley's unique energy and enthusiasm.
Batgirl Realizes Harley And Poison Ivy Are Friends
A pair of panels from Batgirl Adventures #1 collectively make for one of Harley Quinn's most iconic moments. This comic spinoff of the animated series in the 1990s has Batgirl inadvertently stumble on the nature of Harley and Poison Ivy's relationship in one of the first instances of the comics acknowledging it. Harley has a dreamy look on her face as she recounts the special shot Ivy gave her so they could "play," leading to Batgirl's asking if the two are friends. It's a great snapshot of one of the greatest friendships in DC Comics and now, officially, romances.
Harley Quinn Debuts In DC Comics
Batgirl and Harley Quinn share another iconic moment in Harley's first appearance in comic books. She enters the medium in Batman Adventures #12 and establishes herself as an unpredictable adversary by taking a baseball bat to Batgirl. The image of Harley swinging a big stick (and later a mallet in most iterations) has become synonymous with the character in virtually every medium she appears in. This panel and sequence establish Harley as an energetic, dangerous and slightly kooky character from the very start.
Harley Enters The Hush Storyline
Harley Quinn later entered the canon of DC Comics proper, and "Hush," one of the best Batman comic book arcs from the 2000s, is an early showcase for Harley. In a full-page panel from Batman #613, Harley Quinn makes her dynamic entry into the story holding one of her signature weapons: an oversized revolver. The panel is both classic Harley Quinn, who is still in her original outfit at this point, and also a newer, more dynamic comic book version of her rendered by legendart artist Jim Lee.
Harley Leaps Into Batman: White Knight
Batman: White Knight Book Two features one of the most iconic modern comic book panels of Harley Quinn. The nearly full-page panel by artist Sean Murphy has Harley leaping into the fray from above in her costume from this alternate reality. As she does, loose paper curls into her iconic diamond shapes around her.
The diamond icons of Harley's harlequin costume have remained a key part of her identity throughout all her iterations in the comics, TV and movies. This panel does an amazing job of manifesting them in a practical way that is fresh and unique.
Harley Quinn Dresses As Power Girl
One of the strangest friendships in DC Comics involves Harley Quinn and Power Girl. Harley's idolatry of some DC characters, like Wonder Woman and Power Girl, sometimes catches them off guard. It reaches its extreme in this panel from Harley Quinn #11, in which Harley dresses up in a version of Power Girl's famous costume. In classic Harley fashion, she asks if the costume is too much (though nothing is ever too much for Harley). The costume is a pitch-perfect recreation of the Power Girl costume except for Harley's iconic colors.
Harley Quinn And Poison Ivy Share Their First Kiss
DC Bombshells #42 features not only one of the most iconic Harley Quinn panels of all time but one of the most significant in comics history. This issue features the first romantic kiss between Harley and Ivy in a DC comic, which at the time was a significant step forward not just for the characters, who had been linked romantically in subtextual ways for years, but also LGBTQ+ representation in comics on a larger scale. The panel is very romantic, with the two sharing a tender kiss after another wild adventure.
Harley Holds A Gun To The Joker's Head
Harley Quinn #25 includes an iconic panel that shows how far the power balance has shifted in the relationship between the Joker and Harley Quinn. Harley points a gun at the Joker's head after a heated encounter between the two,. The Joker is laughing, but it's no laughing matter. Both characters rank among the greatest Batman villains of all time, but their relationship has shifted dramatically in the comics and other media since the beginning. Harley has largely left the Joker behind and pushes back on his violent treatment.
Harley Tries And Fails To Seduce The Joker
Mad Love is one of the most iconic Batman-related comic books of all time and features an iconic panel that captures Harley Quinn's early character in full. Harley desperately tries to get the attention of the Joker in a red nightie (which has since become iconic itself, represented in action figures), but the Joker ignores her.
This panel and sequence represent the imbalance in their relationship and the first step in Harley's long journey to independence from Mr. J that has now become her reality in all media featuring her.
Harley Quinn Meets The Joker
Mad Love features another iconic Harley Quinn panel, with a flashback to her first meeting with the Joker in her Harley persona. It's a mostly full-page panel by Harley Quinn co-creator Bruce Timm that presents her in an iconic pose after she rescues the Joker. She's holding her signature oversized revolver while wearing her classic costume. This image has since become synonymous with the character, and the Jim Lee panel from the "Hush" storyline even echoes it in a more realistic fashion.
Harley Cartwheels In Bed With Poison Ivy
Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour continues the story of the HBO Max animated series. The first issue features one of the most iconic Harley panels ever by artist Max Sarin, who showcases Harley cartwheeling into bed with Poison Ivy. The panel is one of the most exuberant and liberated depictions of their romance in any medium. It's a fantastic snapshot of their romance as well as where comic books are today, and how far Harley has helped advance comics over the last 30 years.