Warning: contains spoilers for Dark Crisis #1!

Dark Crisis just saw Jon Kent bring together a new Justice League, but not every hero invited is known for playing nice, leading to an overly harsh callout from Black Adam aimed at Harley Quinn. Both characters have complicated histories with heroism; their origins are as villains, and even now they're often known more as anti-heroes. However, Black Adam's jab at Harley Quinn is especially unjust given Harley's recent efforts in her solo series to embrace the life of a true hero.

Black Adam and Harley rarely appear together in the DC Universe. Most recently, Black Adam has been co-starring in Justice League, where he worked alongside some of the world's greatest heroes. While he was present for the death of the League in Justice League #75, he lived to tell the tale in Dark Crisis. Meanwhile, Harley Quinn has been starring in her own series, where she is earnestly working to redeem her past sins as the Joker's partner. She is stepping into the light and becoming a vigilante on par with the rest of the Bat-Family.

Related: Harley Quinn's TV Series Just Became Official DC Canon

In Dark Crisis #1 by Joshua Williamson, Daniel Sampere, Alejandro Sanchez, and Tom Napolitano, Jon Kent as the new Superman steps up to build a new Justice League in the wake of the original's death. Many heroes are reluctant to join a new League so soon, so Superman's team - including Harley Quinn - is notably eclectic; a fact Black Adam is quick to point out. He criticizes most of the recruits and says of Harley: "That one is unstable and will also stab you in the back." Harley reluctantly agrees with him, but is offended by the pointed comment.

Black Adam insults harley quinn in dark crisis

Though Harley agrees with Black Adam's comment, the summary just doesn't square with her modern stories. In her solo series, Harley Quinn has been a very stable presence in her friends' lives, including a man named Kevin and a crew of other former "clowns" who were also used by Joker. Harley Quinn recently supported Catwoman in her own adventures, and she has never failed to try and save her beloved Poison Ivy. Betrayal has never been in Harley's nature, and she has been especially focused lately on proving herself to Gotham's heroes. This insult from Black Adam is a regressive take on her character that's totally in character for the brusque antihero, but it's a shame that Harley is written to vouch for his assessment.

Dark Crisis is combining characters from all over the DC Universe for an epic story, but Harley Quinn and Black Adam clearly don't mix. Black Adam's insult to Harley - calling her "unstable" and back-stabbing despite her enormous efforts to be a real hero - is a callback to a previous iteration of her character, not who she's become. As Harley Quinn continues to appear in Dark Crisis, she will hopefully prove Black Adam wrong and support the new Justice League like the hero she has proved herself to be.

More: Harley Quinn is Officially DC's Next Cosmic Superhero

Check out Dark Crisis #1 available now from DC Comics!