Warning: Contains Spoilers for Catwoman #43
A Harley Quinn and Catwoman romance could be on the horizon in the DC Universe. Harley Quinn is one of the most recognizable LGBTQ+ characters in not just DC Comics, but also comics in general. Her relationship with Poison Ivy became one of the most well-renowned comic relationships. It was so beloved in fact that when the two broke up, fans of the couple cried out when Harley and Ivy officially broke up. It's one of the most infamous moments in modern comics now because it ended not just an important moment for Harley's independence but also one of the most positive LGBTQ+ relationships out there.
As for Catwoman, she's also been on a journey of her own. Best known for being the on-again-off-again girlfriend with Batman, she was revealed in 2015 to be bisexual. The revelation was made in Catwoman #39 when Selina is shown kissing Eiko Hasigawa, another antihero who goes by Catwoman. Ever since, she's flirted along the lines of who she would date, including in her recent theatrical outing with Matt Reeves' The Batman, which insinuated Catwoman was bisexual. Now that Harley is single once again though, DC has begun teasing that maybe there's something between the two that could blossom in the future.
Catwoman #43 by Tini Howard and Bengal follows Catwoman on a night out with Harley Quinn. They take part in some roller derby as the two rekindle their friendship. Later at night though, the girls return home where Selina offers to let Harley sleep in bed with her. It's an intimate moment between the two antiheroes. Selina even comments on how good it feels to share a bed with someone again, especially since they're both in pretty similar spots emotionally given how she mentions "she needs the comfort as bad as I do these days." What really hints at a possible romantic outing between the two though is how attentive Catwoman is to Harley's softness and scent as she nestles against her, stating that Harley "smells like cotton candy and girl sweat." There's clearly some interest there between the two.
So does this mean that Catwoman and Harley Quinn will ever date? It's unlikely. Catwoman herself even shows that she has reservations about starting a fling with Quinn. She states that "both our hearts are elsewhere. And there's a kind of bad that even we don't want to be." She knows that her heart belongs to Batman, and as curious as she is to see where a romance with Harley would go, she just can't go forward with betraying Bruce's trust like that. Plus, the way she explains her reasoning hints that maybe Harley still has feelings for Ivy, and she doesn't want to ruin what could be a beautiful reunion down the line.
While a CatQuinn romance doesn't look like it'll appear in any issues in the near future, it would certainly be interesting if the two ever get together. Seeing as they're both antiheroes seeking a path to redemption, they already share certain interests that could make things click for them. Plus, it would be harder to break the two apart as the main reason Ivy and Harley broke up was because Ivy wasn't ready to walk down the hero path like Harley was. Selina and Harley, on the other hand, are taking similar journeys; so, they already know how the other feels. A romance between Harley Quinn and Catwoman may have only been teased, but given the current friendship between the two, it's not necessarily unthinkable to think of them as a possible couple in the future.
Catwoman #43 is available now at your local comic book store!