Spoilers for Harley Quinn #1 ahead!

Harley Quinn’s name has become synonymous with the Suicide Squad, and in the first issue of her new ongoing series, readers learn her criminal record has been cleared thanks to her time with the Squad! The issue is part of DC’s Infinite Frontier publishing initiative, which charts a bold new direction for the heroes of the DC Universe - Harley Quinn among them.

When the Suicide Squad reassembled at the dawn of DC’s New 52 era, Harley Quinn was front and center, appearing in a new and edgier look than anything seen before. After a psychotic break related to the Joker’s imprisonment, Harley was forced by Amanda Waller to join the Suicide Squad. She would serve with them through the Rebirth era and her tenure would last until the end when she teamed up with the Revolutionaries to bring an end to Suicide Squad once and for all. In Harley Quinn #1, by writer Stephanie Phillips, artist Riley Rossmo and colorist Ivan Plascencia, readers see just how much Harley has benefitted from her time on DC's deadliest superteam.

Related: Harley Quinn's New Suicide Squad Costume Revealed by DC

Harley Quinn is trying to turn over a new lease, feeling responsible for her role in the Joker War, as well as her lingering feelings over enabling the Joker. As she tells a skeptical Batman, she mentions that her criminal records have now been expunged thanks to her time with Suicide Squad - and it is the perfect time to change her ways. But Harley being Harley, her methods are extreme and certainly not approved of by Batman. She does not register his disapproval, and when trouble arises that needs his attention, he takes off, unaware that Harley is following him, eager to prove herself.

When Harley Quinn joined the Suicide Squad, it led to an explosion in her popularity; the character was already a fan-favorite thanks to Batman: The Animated Series and frequent team-ups with Poison Ivy, but her tenure with Task Force X caused her stock to skyrocket, and within a few years she was headlining her own-top selling title. Harley Quinn’s popularity soared so high she was included in 2016’s Suicide Squad film, which in turn led to 2020’s Birds of Prey movie, which featured Harley in a prominent role; she will return for Suicide Squad’s sequel. Harley is grateful to the Suicide Squad for clearing her criminal record and allowing her to turn over a new leaf—and it was her time with the team that helped her become an even bigger pop culture icon.

Part of Infinite Frontier’s goals has been setting new status quos for many of DC’s most iconic characters, and Harley Quinn is no different. Her time with Suicide Squad was extremely beneficial for her in many ways, and because of that, she is now free to chart a new, brighter direction. Harley Quinn #1 is on sale now.

Next: Harley Quinn Diagnoses The Suicide Squad's Disorders