WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Injustice: Year Zero #8 by Tom Taylor, Cian Tormey, Rain Beredo, and Wes Abbott, on sale now.
Over the course of her career as both a villain and sometimes hero, Harley Quinn has worn a variety of costumes. From her classic original harlequin-inspired outfit to the more modern, contemporary one she wears now.
Each costume has had differing forms of symbolism for Harley, with most signifying just how much she has evolved past being the Joker's ex-girlfriend. But in Injustice: Year Zero #8, an alternate version of Harley, after having a moment of clarity, dons a new costume that perfectly represents the transitional phase of her life between now and Injustice 2.
After being injured by the Joker for his own sick amusement yet again, Harley abandons his hideout, opting to find her close friend (and occasional lover) Poison Ivy. Knowing that Ivy is in Arkham, Harley, wearing a purple trench coat to conceal her new outfit, makes quick work of Arkham's security, showing just how easy it is to break in and out of the asylum in the span of a few panels. After she breaks open Ivy's cage, Harley reveals that the reason for the trench coat wasn't just to hide her new look, but also to protect the flowers that Harley brought so Ivy could make their escape route. Once Ivy tore down the gates, both women strutted out of Arkham with Harley adorned in her new outfit.
Harley's new outfit appears to be a blend of features from both her original jester outfit and the leather jacket and combat gear that she will wear in the future. And while the design is beautiful, this may be one of the most symbolic outfits Harley Quinn has ever worn. Not just the subtle aspects that tie both past and future together, it is also representative of Harley's internal struggle at that very moment. At this stage of her life, Harley recognizes that she is in a very bad situation as she's in love with an abusive, narcissistic psychopath who does not truly love her in return. Yet she knows that, inevitably, she will return to the Joker and even gave a morbid prediction of what would happen to her in Injustice: Year Zero #8, predicting that eventually, Joker will go too far and the consequences will be costly. Not because Harley was complicit, but because she was merely in proximity to the Joker, his mere presence in her life ultimately being the cause of her demise.
This is represented well in her new costume. It has the appearance of her jester outfit, revealing that even though Harley has changed and grown during her time with the Joker, he still has a hold over emotionally. Her original outfit has come to represent the Joker's grip on Harley and any influence of it in a costume signifies that she is either falling back into a bad habit or she's losing touch with herself.
At the same time, the more modern flairs show that with each experience near the Joker, Harley is growing wiser. His control over her is not absolute and by now she knows the Joker well enough to be aware that being in a relationship with him is hazardous to her wellbeing, not just because they fight superheroes, but because the Joker is a raving lunatic who will most likely get them both killed before any hero crosses that line.
Sadly, considering the point in time this costume debuts, it is a fact that Harley will return to the Joker and be near him when he finally goes to far. But comfort can be taken in knowing that for this Harley, the next time she goes back to the Joker will be the very last time it happens.