Sam Humphries Reveals His Plans for Harley Quinn on Apokolips

Harley Quinn has traveled all over the DC Universe, from the mean streets of Gotham City to outer space as a member of Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad, and most recently in the weekly Justice League: No Justice miniseries. However, one locale she hasn't visited is Jack Kirby's Fourth World... until now.

Beginning with this week's Harley Quinn #45, in stores on July 4, incoming writer Sam Humphries will team with John Timms to enroll Harley in the Female Furies of Apokolips. CBR spoke with Humphries to find out why Granny Goodness comes calling for the Clown Princess of Crime, some challenges he faced while writing the character, and plans to incorporate Harley into the larger DC Universe.

CBR: Sam, how did you land the gig as the new writer of Harley Quinn? Was it something DC asked you to pitch for, or did you go to the company with ideas for where to take Harley in her solo series?

Sam Humphries: Dan DiDio and I had lunch and, on the walk, over he kept saying things like, "You probably already know what we're going to talk about." Well, dear reader, I had no clue. I was shocked. He offered me the gig, and I thought about it for all of five seconds.

Art from Harley Quinn #45 by John Timms and Gabe Eltaeb

Fans have become accustomed to seeing Harley Quinn in wild adventures in her solo series, along with her time as a member of Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad. But taking Harley to Apokolips might be one of the more "outside the box" ideas in recent memory. How did you come to the decision to send Harley Quinn to Apokolips?

I wanted to kick off the run with a big statement. We're bringing Harley closer to the core of the DCU. There are few things more core and foundational than Apokolips. Plus I knew Harley would eventually hit the wrong person with a hammer there, and then we'd have a story.

Granny Goodness comes into the picture when she offers Harley a spot in the Female Furies. What is it about the Furies that appeals to Harley, and can you offer some clues as to the type of powers she's promised?

Harley is promised she can be Queen Wild Card on Planet Bad Ass. A vacation of mayhem and destruction on a Hell World with zero consequences. This is Harley's dream come true!

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Obviously, Harley is no stranger to exploring the larger DC Universe, especially after taking part in the weekly Justice League: No Justice series. You've said that part of your goal is to bring Harley closer to the core of the DCU, with Apokolips being a prime example. What do you see as advantages to this strategy, and have you talked with your fellow creators on how you plan to handle guest-stars during your run?

Harley is like Bugs Bunny. She can jump into any location, hang with any guest star, battle any villain, and still be herself. Because we get to see the rest of the DCU through her eyes, we get to see it in a new light. We recently had a DC summit and...many, many conversations were had. Many calculating, diabolical calculations. Mwa ha ha ha!

It may still be early in the writing process, but what is one thing you've found eye-opening about writing Harley Quinn? Did you find her an easy character to tackle? Or did it take time to find her voice?

For a quote-unquote "comedy" character, it was surprising how quickly I found and connected with her emotional core. Harley has a complex emotional life, and it is going to be at the center of all our stories.

So far in your DC career, you’ve gone to outer space with the Green Lanterns and street-level with Nightwing. Now, Harley Quinn allows you to flex your comedic chops. What are some of the challenges that come from tackling these larger-than-life franchises?

I dunno -- when I think about them, I mostly think about the opportunities, not the challenges. These characters come with a wealth of stories and insights by legendary creators. All the tools you need are there, you just have to find them. Not only have they shown you what works, but they've also made a bunch of mistakes along the way. The job is to learn from those mistakes and make new ones.

Should we expect to see your name pop up on any other DC titles in the foreseeable future, or are you and Harley Quinn joined at the proverbial hip?

Yes to both questions.

Finally, what's one thing fans should keep an eye out for during Harley's time in Apokolips?

Darkseid.