Since breaking up with and moving away from Joker, Harley Quinn has been on an incredible path in DC Comics. However, an altered origin for the fan-favorite villainess shows that she was capable of being interesting without needing Joker as her "creator." Harley is a handful on her own and new stories should continue to capitalize on that.
Harleen Quinzel's usual origin has her as a criminal psychologist who falls in love with the Joker and becomes his righthand girl as a villainess. Recent comics have allowed Harley to grow independent from him, taking her out of the abusive relationship she's been in for years. However, a different origin starts Harley's journey at a new spot in her life: her teen years. While this version also has some issues, it does give Harley more independence to grow on her own, without her abuser being as directly influential.
Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass is a 2019 YA graphic novel from DC Ink that puts the titular heroine in a new adventure within Gotham. It has the creative team of Mariko Tamaki, Steve Pugh, and Carlos M. Mangual. Harley is introduced to Ivy at Gotham High, and while she does meet a version of the Joker, this isn't the usual Joker and he becomes a foe for her, instead of an ally. Yet this graphic novel reveals that she already had a penchant for getting into explosive trouble.
Harley's youth is presented in flashbacks, showing how harassment towards her mother from the young heroine's peers gave her a bit of a mean streak. She is arrested numerous times and in each instance she gets in trouble, it is because she's using destructive means to support and help the people she loves. Her support is worth applauding, but some of her methods show a bit of instability already present within her. It is not caused by anyone; it is simply part of who Harley is. This graphic novel focuses predominantly on Harley making friends, getting into community support efforts, and finding a way to fit in when she's forced to start a new life in Gotham without her family. It excels at presenting Harley as a wild child of her own design, though it doesn't emphasize the brilliance she has when it comes to psychology and analysis. Nonetheless, she is capable of being a force for both good and bad all on her own.
Recent comics have put Harley on the path to being a heroine, partnered with Batman and his team of heroes. Romantically, she has been paired with Poison Ivy, though they have split due to a difference in present ideals and a need to grow independently. Harley's present stories have solely revolved around her desire to no longer be a villain, choosing a life for herself. This graphic novel also explores that kind of story, but without the Joker being the main catalyst for her life changing to begin with. While her comic history will always be tied to him, Harley Quinn has already proven - and continues to prove - that she's a perfectly interesting DC character on her own.