Harley Quinn celebrates 25 years with ‘Batman Day’
She’s gone from the Joker’s girlfriend to the star of a top-selling comic in her own right.
DC Comics will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Harley Quinn with Saturday’s “Batman Day” focusing this year on the sometime supervillain who more recently has become an antihero more likely to mete out justice than face its wrath.
Quinn originally was developed for “Batman: The Animated Series,” first appearing in the 1992 episode “Joker’s Favor,” created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm. The next year, she appeared in the comics based on the cartoons, in “The Batman Adventures” #12.
She made her way to the mainstream continuity comics in 1999, and her title is currently one of DC’s best-selling.
In her origin story “Mad Love,” it’s revealed that Quinn, a psychiatrist, is assigned to the Joker to treat him, but she eventually falls in love with him, becoming his accomplice. Her eventual break from the Joker and conversion into more of an antihero is charted in part in the “Death of the Family” crossover featuring the Batman titles, and in Harley Quinn’s solo series.
The annual “Batman Day” event, now in its fourth year, was first introduced to honor Batman’s 75th anniversary. This year, in honor of Harley Quinn’s 25th anniversary, “Batman Day” also will feature comics starring Harley Quinn.
According to DC Comics, Harley Quinn has inspired comics, graphic novels and dozens of toys and collectibles based on her iconic looks from over two decades. Featured in the film “Suicide Squad” and the “Batman: Arkham” series of video games, DC reports Ms. Quinn was even the most popular Halloween costume of 2016.
Several comic shops and other locations will give away select comics while supplies last on Saturday. They include:
•”Batman Day 2017 Special Edition” #1, by Tom King and David Finch
•”Harley Quinn Batman Day 2017 Special Edition” #1, written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
•”DC Super Hero Girls Batman Day 2017 Special Edition” #1, with a Harley-focused chapter of the all-ages comic stories starring DC heroes as high schoolers