While Harley Quinn first appeared as a loyal hench of The Joker, she quickly grew in popularity. She began to evolve as a character in many different ways that have seen her become one of the biggest stars of the DC universe as she continues to be developed by superstar creators in the comics and beyond.
Harley's popularity only continues to rise as her character is explored in new ways in the comics, on TV, and on the big screen. These all highlight the various ways that Harley Quinn has changed since her first appearance in Batman: The Animated Series back in 1992.
10 Moved To Comics
Harley Quinn (voiced by Arleen Sorkin) debuted in the episode "Joker's Favor" before she became a recurring character on the series, which was followed by her first comic appearance in The Batman Adventures #12, which was based on the animated series.
Her first in-continuity appearance was in Batman: Harley Quinn. Harley wasn't the only character to make the jump from Batman: The Animated Series (Renee Montoya eventually joined her) but she's definitely the most successful.
9 Went Solo
It wasn't long before she began to branch out on her own away from the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series as their problematic relationship was developed and then (mostly) discarded by Harley as she went solo.
She followed the same path in the comics and starred in her own ongoing series where she began to develop her own cast of characters while featuring in other DC events on her own without past connections to characters.
8 Met Poison Ivy
Harley Quinn first met her BFF and love Poison Ivy in the Batman: TAS episode "Harley and Ivy," which saw the pair team up after Harley went solo from the Joker. Their friendship bloomed throughout further appearances together in the series.
They would then meet in the comics during Harley Quinn's debut, and their continued presence in each other's lives lifted both women up beyond their original roles as supervillains. Their relationship has continued to evolve into a romantic one that has been explored in other adaptations as well.
7 Joined Gotham City Sirens
It was alongside Poison Ivy that Harley joined her first unofficial team when the duo worked alongside Catwoman in the ongoing Gotham City Sirens as they protected each other and each tried to walk a new path.
The Sirens lived and worked well together initially, though they eventually went their own way and were soon semi-erased from continuity by the New 52 reboot. While the team was somewhat short-lived it was a fan-favorite series that almost received a big-screen adaptation.
6 Multiple Costumes
Harley Quinn's style has changed over the years to match her evolving character, though she spent quite a few years wearing her original jester/harlequin outfit that first appeared on Batman: The Animated Series.
Her costume has developed over the years after she left her original costume behind to feature a more casual look during her Suicide Squad days. That was soon replaced by the roller derby-inspired look that became one of her mainstays after it appeared in her New 52 ongoing series, and more recently she's adopted more of a tactical look that befits her Squad duties.
5 Joined The Suicide Squad
Harley Quinn's criminal past soon led to her involvement with Amanda Waller's modern incarnation of Task Force X, or as it's more commonly known among the various criminal members who sign on to earn reduced time, the Suicide Squad.
The team is obviously known for moving through a number of expendable members, but Harley has remained a constant member of the team since she first joined after the New 52 reboot. She even appeared with the team on the big screen when they made their live-action debut in 2016's Suicide Squad.
4 Became More Heroic
When she first made the jump from TV to the comics, Harley Quinn was actually more dangerous and unhinged, though over the years her edge has softened a bit and she has moved towards helping people in her community instead of robbing them.
This fits with the Harleen Quinzel seen before her transformation into Harley Quinn, as she was a respected psychiatrist who hoped to help even lost cases like the Joker. Harley definitely still has her outlet with the Suicide Squad to let her inner villain out, but she's accepted by other heroes as help, depending on her mood.
3 Worked Alongside The Justice League
The Justice League's roster is filled with DC's greatest heroes, so when Harley Quinn recently appeared with the team sitting in the Hall of Justice, it left fans talking about Harley's place with the League.
While she has never become an official member of the League, she has worked alongside the team in a number of events, including the recent Justice League: No Justice event that kicked off Scott Snyder's run on the series. While Harley is currently comfortable with the Suicide Squad and the Birds of Prey, League membership might also be in her future.
2 Got Her Own Adult Animated Series
Harley Quinn recently returned to her animated roots with the launch of her own adult animated series in 2018 that aired on the now comic-only DC Universe app before moving to HBO Max for the upcoming third season.
Kaley Cuoco voices the titular Harley, who splits from Joker and assembles her own villainous gang to make a name for herself in Gotham City alongside her BFF Poison Ivy. The series has also begun to explore the romantic relationship between the two characters in ways the comics never have, leading to new growth for the former Sirens.
1 Live-Action Movie Star
Margot Robbie brought Harley Quinn to the big screen for the first time in David Ayers' Suicide Squad where she stole the show and set herself up as the newest face of DC's Extended Universe, which struggled to find its cinematic footing initially.
Robbie would reprise the role of Harley Quinn in the team film Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn and is one of the few characters set to return in James Gunn's upcoming The Suicide Squad.