Harley Quinn (disambiguation)

Harley Quinn is a flamboyant supervillain/anti-hero and an adversary of Batman usually recognized as the Joker's girlfriend and sidekick, although she has had her own strong solo career. Born as Harleen Quinzel, she had been working as a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum where she was assigned to the Joker and fell in love with him. This led to her adopting her own costumed persona, adapting the word harlequin, to assist him escape and cause further mayhem. Their relationship is passionate and continuously off-on, with Harley's best friend Poison Ivy constantly encouraging her to break up with him for good.

However, Harley's love for the Joker eventually brings her back to his side with the Joker himself demonstrating a keen need for her despite himself. When not with the Joker, she has been working mostly on her own in Gotham City, sometimes teaming up with her other friends. Her special abilities include an enhanced physiology due to chemical experimentation, giving her increased strength, agility and durability. She has been a member of the Secret Society of Super-Villains, Secret Six, Gotham City Sirens, Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey, Sinestro Corps, Green Lantern Corps, Female Furies, Justice League, and Batman Family.

Harley Quinn was originally created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm as a character in the DCAU. Her first appearance was in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor" (1992). Several years later, her first appearance in regular continuity took place in the graphic novel Batman: Harley Quinn (1999).