Hey puddin'! Harley Quinn has been a part of the Batman mythos since 1992, making her debut as an unnamed henchwoman of the Joker in an episode of Batman: The Animated Series. Since then, her jump from cartoons to comics to the big screen has secured her place as a fan favorite among the Caped Crusader's Rogues Gallery. You might know Harley as the partner in crime and main squeeze of the Joker. You might know her as an independent supervillain in her own right, and BFF of fellow Batman adversary, Poison Ivy. You might recognize her in her red and black jester costume brandishing a comedically big mallet, or as Margot Robbie with candy-colored hair and hot pants, swinging a bat around. Through the character's many reinventions, she's remained the same grinning psychopath that we know and love.

Harley Quinn wasn't always this way, though. As revealed in Bruce Timm and Paul Dini's 1994 graphic novel, The Batman Adventures: Mad Love, Harley was once a psychiatrist called Dr. Harleen Quinzel, who -- after interviewing the incarcerated Joker at Arkham Asylum -- fell for his manipulative charms and aided his escape. Abandoning her former sane identity, Harley devoted herself to doing anything and everything to please him, a commitment that the Joker usually reciprocated with torment rather than affection. After a few heart-to-hearts with Poison Ivy, Harley started to fantasize about a life free from her toxic relationship, and eventually broke free from the Clown Prince of Crime's grasp to embark on her own criminal capers.

25 SHE HAS A REAL LIFE INSPIRATION

Joker and Harley Quinn dancing together by Alex Ross

It's hard to believe that a character as cartoonish as Harley Quinn could have a real world basis, but she does. (Well, real-ish.) BTAS writer and co-creator, Paul Dini had a specific voice and look in mind when developing her, that of soap opera actress, Arleen Sorkin.

"I was home sick and had the TV on, and there she was on Days Of Our Lives playing a jester in a fantasy sequence," he told The Hollywood Reporter. Dini tailored Harley for Sorkin, who, of course, ended up providing the animated character with her distinctive Harley-isms.

24 SHE MET (AND SNUBBED) STEPHEN AMELL

Harley Quinn Stephen Amell

In Harley Quinn Invades Comic-Con International: San Diego, Harley brushed up against the fourth wall to crash SDCC 2014. The Comic-Con special had the Cupid of Crime also brushing shoulders with DC staffers like Jim Lee, Katie Kubert, Geoff Johns and Dan DiDio.

After mistaking a Batman cosplayer for the real deal (and flashing his Harley Quinn underwear to everyone) Harley found herself in front of Arrow star, Stephen Amell. Amell gears up to sign an autograph for Harley... only to have her push past him to fangirl over Bruce Timm instead.

23 SHE HAS TWO PET HYENAS

Harley Quinn Bud and Lou

Bud and Lou were once the shared pets of Harley and her clown-faced beau in BTAS, because what else would two happy-go-lucky murderers keep as animal companions? Their slobbering faces have since popped up in other cartoons, video games and comics.

Though they were initially Harley's "gift" to her beloved, she seems to have sole custody of the pair after going solo; using them as both her treasured pets and useful sidekicks when she needs the remains of a slain enemy taken care of.

22 SHE CONFIDES IN A TAXIDERMY BEAVER

Harley Quinn Bernie the Beaver

As well as a pair of living hyenas, Harley Quinn counts a not-so-living beaver named Bernie among her animal pals. Bernie first showed up in Harley Quinn, Vol. 2 #0, and was later revealed to have previously belonged to Bernie Bash -- an ex-love interest of hers.

When Bernie was incarcerated in a juvenile detention center, the dismayed Harley swiped the beaver as a keepsake. After surviving explosions and gun fights, Bernie's looking a little worse for wear these days, but Harley still considers him a close confidante.

21 COURTNEY LOVE AND MADONNA NEARLY PLAYED HER

After almost making her live-action debut in a scrapped Birds Of Prey TV series in the early '00s, as well as having a cameo appearance in Arrow, Harley Quinn was finally fully realized in flesh and blood by actress, Margot Robbie in 2016's Suicide Squad.

But we could have had a big screen version much sooner if Joel Schumacher's Batman Unchained had gotten off the ground. The planned film would have introduced Harley as the daughter of Jack Nicholson's Joker, with musicians, Courtney Love and Madonna considering slipping on the jester suit.

20 SHE PLAYED JOKER DRESS-UP WITH DEADSHOT

DEADSHOT SUICIDE SQUAD

Don't be fooled by Harley's innocent escapades at the DC booth at Comic-Con -- she still has a dangerous side. Deadshot learnt this in the grossest way possible during "The Hunt For Harley Quinn" storyline across Suicide Squad, Vol. 4 #6-7.

Driven deeper into madness, Harley learns that -- after the apparently deceased Joker was flayed alive -- Gotham PD is in possession of his face. Deadshot is sent after her, and Harley soon captures him and forces the assassin to wear it, sparking some freaky roleplaying.

19 SHE'S A GENIUS

Harley Quinn Suicide Squad

Because of the accent and the goofy demeanor, it's easy to underestimate Harley's intelligence, but -- make no mistake -- she's one smart cookie. She was (and technically still is) a doctor of psychiatry, after all. In fact, Harley's more than just "smart."

Her IQ was described as being at a "genius" level in the "Larger Than Life" storyline in Harley Quinn, Vol. 1 #5, where she was able to deftly outsmart two bounty hunters and an ex-FBI profiler in order to rob a warehouse full of objects from famous heists.

18 SHE'S A WONDER WOMAN FANGIRL

Lynda-wonder woman

Though Harley only had eyes for her puddin' for years, her sexuality has also long been considered fluid, and her affections have spread to everyone from Batman to Poison Ivy to Deadshot to the warrior princess of Themyscira.

The cover of the first issue of Harley's Little Black Book featured the pair swapping costumes, and after Harley comes to Diana's aid against Johnny Sorrow in Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #4, she gleefully hugs the Amazonian. Harley even has a creepy adorable shrine to her favorite Justice Leaguer.

17 SHE SAVAGELY BROKE UP WITH THE JOKER

harley-quinn-joker-header

The Harley-naissance reached its peak in 2016 when the single supervillain's cackling past came back to haunt her in Harley Quinn, Vol. 3 #25. The issue begins with Harley preparing to get the current object of her affection, Mason Macabre, out of Arkham Asylum.

After she assures a worried Poison Ivy that the Joker's presence at Arkham won't distract her from her mission, she doubles down by paying her ex a visit. Their confrontation is emotionally and physically charged, resulting in Harley biting her way through a forced kiss to make her feelings painfully clear.

16 SHE'S GOT SUPERPOWERS

Like most of Batman's classic villains -- and the Bat himself -- Harley was once devoid of any meta-human abilities, relying on her wits, weaponry and irritation factor to thwart her enemies. But all of that changed in the New 52 continuity.

Thanks to a strange serum from Poison Ivy, Harley became immune to toxins -- including Ivy's own poisonous manipulations as well as Joker Venom. She also acquired enhanced strength, speed and the ability to heal faster. That means those gymnastics moves pack an extra wallop now.

15 HER SKIN IS BLEACHED WHITE

Previous incarnations of Harley Quinn have had much of her clownish appearance as the product of makeup and hair dye. As Dr. Harleen Quinzel, she was a normal, blonde woman. Since 2011, Harley's jester suit has morphed into a two-piece, revealing her entire body to be white.

In a rewritten origin story that appeared in Suicide Squad, Vol. 4, #7, we discover that the Joker pushed her into a chemical vat at the Ace Chemical Processing Plant in an effort to give her a similar new beginning as himself. Harleen Quinzel was washed away and Harley Quinn emerged.

14 SHE HAS SOME BIZARRE WEAPONS

Suicide Squad showed Harley armed with a graffitied baseball bat, while her most well-known weapon in cartoons, comics and video games is her oversized mallet, sometimes adorned with "Your Face Here" across the hammer part.

Harley has way more unusual items in her arsenal, though, all with her Harlequin-esque brand of violent comedy. She's been known to use a pop-gun, a glove gun, a pogo stick and even a rubber chicken to win a fight. You can't be a great supervillain without sticking to a theme, after all.

13 SHE WAS NEARLY A PROFESSIONAL GYMNAST

Harley Quinn

You can tell from watching Harley in combat that she's quick on her feet. There are even small hints of her physical grace and strength in Suicide Squad when she's shown hanging in her cell. But did you know that she was almost a gymnastics pro?

Back in her pre-Harley days, Harleen got into Gotham State University on a gymnastics scholarship. She initially majored in Veterinary and Biological Sciences -- explaining her love of animals -- before switching to Psychiatry, a decision that would prove to be fateful.

12 SHE FELL FOR THE JOKER BEFORE THEY MET

Mad Love Joker Harley Quinn

Paul Dini and Bruce Timm's "Mad Love" origin implies that the Joker and Harley's first meeting was at Arkham Asylum when she started conducting interviews with him, but later stories revealed she fell under his influence before this.

In order to prove her theory about what motivates people to commit crimes, Harleen allowed a doctor at Gotham University to test a "Think Drink" on herself and her then-boyfriend -- who became insane, Harley discovered his drink was laced with Joker Venom, sparking her interest in the villain's way of thinking.

11 SHE BECAME A FEMALE FURY

Harley Quinn and her hammer

Harley Quinn is used to rolling with the baddest of bad guys, but in 2018's Harley Quinn #45 she receives an offer from the very top. Granny Goodness wants her for Apokolips' Female Furies, a legendary band of women warriors under Darkseid's command.

Looking for some fun R&R, Harley agrees. After being put through her paces against some Parademons that she easily bests, Harley earns herself Fury membership and an upgraded magical hammer, which just happens to also be a disguised Mother Box.

10 SHE HAD A SCRATCH-'N'-SNIFF ANNUAL

Harley Quinn Annual #1

Following a run of lenticular covers, the scratch-'n'-sniff gimmick enjoyed a brief revival at DC Comics for the Harley Quinn Annual #1 in 2014. According to creative team, Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner, the "scenticular" idea was meant to be fun while serving a purpose.

"The basic story is Poison Ivy has been thrown in Arkham Asylum, and Harley gets word that she's in there and decides that she's going to break her out. So the smells kind of work within the story." Those smells included suntan lotion, pizza, leather and grass.

9 SHE LANDED A COP WITH DOUGHNUT SMELLS

Harley Quinn Love Stinks

In the appropriately titled, "Love Stinks!" story in Harley Quinn, Vol. 2 #3, Harley is feeling depressed about her newly-single life. Then she realizes a plant that Poison Ivy sent her for her new apartment in Coney Island has grown berries, and decides to try one.

Harley cheers up even more when she gets a job offer from a nursing home, but when she heads off to work, she notices everyone is falling madly in love with her, including a female police officer who tells Harley that she "smells like the best doughnuts ever," and plants a kiss on her.

8 SHE LIVES ABOVE A CREEPY WAX MUSEUM

Harley Loves Joker variant cover hed

As if Harley Quinn would live anywhere even remotely normal. After spells at Arkham Asylum, Belle Reve and various circus-themed bases with the Joker, Harley is left an apartment in Coney Island in the will of a deceased Arkham inmate.

The building includes Madame Macabre's House of Wax and Murder, a museum filled with waxworks of famous killers like Jeffrey Dahmer and even the Joker (who Harley can't resist paying a few visits to see...) and is right next door to a club called Coney Island Freakfest and Burlesque.

7 SHE AND POISON IVY WERE IN A BAND

Harley and Ivy's partnership runs deep. As well as their shared criminal careers, they've also dabbled in the music industry, too. In 1999's Elseworlds 80-Page Giant, DC characters were reimagined as pop and rock stars, all working under producer, Lex Luthor.

Harley and Ivy found success as a folk duo at Lex Records, just as the label came under the scrutiny of journalist, Bonnie Firestein, hoping to dig up a scandal about the company. Though the story is completely non-canonical, it's still fun to remember Harley's alternate life.

6 SHE WAS AN HONORARY AMAZONIAN

Harley Quinn Countdown

As well as fangirling pretty hard over Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn enjoyed a brief stint living amongst Diana's Amazonian brethren during the events of 2007's Countdown. In "The Funeral" story, Holly Robinson, Selina Kyle's old friend, was shown around a women's refuge by Athena.

One of the women at the shelter was Harley, who seemed to have turned over a new leaf living alongside the Amazons who took her in. The ex-supervillain was trained in their warrior ways and was content for a while... until inevitably suffering a relapse back to her insane ways.