DC's Harley Quinn was a show firmly rooted in outlandish, self-referential comedy - and yet its version of Batman was a surprisingly revered and faithful one. Developed by Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, and Dean Lorey, Harley Quinn is centered on the doctor once known as Harleen Quinzel in the wake of breaking up with The Joker. Eager to forge a notorious reputation out from beneath his shadow, each episode followed Harley on various capers as she tries to gain entry into the Legion of Doom. The full 13-episode run culminated in a thrilling, hilarious finale that equally set the stage for the already confirmed Harley Quinn season 2.

Harley's journey saw her form her own crew - comprised of Doctor Psycho, Clayface, and King Shark - as well as furthering an already-established friendship with Poison Ivy. The group's exploits often had them crossing paths with several recognizable - and a few not-so-well-known - figures from both sides of the heroic spectrum. As well as The Joker, their most notable clashes came courtesy of the Queen of Fables, Scarecrow, Damian Wayne's Robin, and, of course, Batman. While the majority of the characters in Harley Quinn were played primarily for comedic effect, that was never entirely the case with Batman. In fact, the approach to adapting the Caped Crusader was very much in keeping with the comics and better than even some big-screen adaptations.

Related: Harley Quinn Season 1 Finale Ending & Biggest Questions Explained

Batman first appeared in the Harley Quinn season 1 premiere. In customary fashion, he swooped onto the scene in order to thwart The Joker before rescuing Harley after the Clown Prince of Crime abandoned her. Batman would continue that noble trend throughout the season, ultimately even seeming to give his life in order to save Ivy and Harley from being crushed in Joker's collapsing tower. Prior to that, though he was mocked mercilessly by Harley Quinn, he never rose to it or was made as overtly quippy as the likes of Lego Batman was. Equally, though some of his established character traits - such as his emotional avoidance and refusal to deal with Damian's puberty questions - were utilized in a comedic context, Batman himself was never reduced to a joke. In actuality, each appearance of Batman usually came with a demonstration of his capability - be it as a fighter when he subdued multiple villains including a rampaging King Shark, or a shrewd tactician when he singlehandedly organized the defense of Gotham against Scarecrow's plot.

DC Universe Harley Quinn with Batman Rooftop

The move came in stark contrast to the rest of the Justice League. While most members had little more than cameos, Superman and Aquaman featured more prominently within Harley Quinn season 1. The former appeared in multiple episodes with his boy scout nature pushed to a pedantic degree. Aquaman, meanwhile, had a central role in the plot of Harley Quinn season 1, episode 8. Attempting to retrieve jewels that Harley's crew had stolen from him, he ultimately crashed a Legion of Doom event. Despite handling himself well against multiple foes, he was eventually bested physically and mentally by Harley Quinn. All the while, Aquaman was reduced to a parody and was made the butt of the joke in a way Batman never was across his various appearances.

In fact, throughout Harley Quinn season 1, Batman was largely employed as the straight man to the larger-than-life personalities around him. With even Harley Quinn's take on Commissioner Jim Gordon prone to hysterics, Batman was often the calm voice of reason. It was a smart move on the part of the writers to use such a trait as much in reaction to the more overtly comedic elements as the outlandish crimes of the show's villains. It's a fitting choice for a character widely considered to be the other side of The Joker's playing card. It also makes sense in terms of the world of the show. After all, if Batman were merely a joke, it wouldn't be believable that Gotham City never collapsed before. As such, the established effectiveness of Batman - and the fact Gotham will be without it for a while - paves the way for a wealth of chaotic potential in Harley Quinn season 2.

More: What To Expect From DC's Harley Quinn Season 2