Harley Quinn, created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, was once intended to serve as a one-and-done character for an episode of Batman: The Animated Series. However, due to the charm of her voice actress (and real life inspiration) Arleen Sorkin, audiences around the world quickly grew attached to the jester and her antics. Harley would make her first comic appearance in 1993 with The Batman Adventures #12, a series which tied into the beloved cartoon. It wasn’t until 1999 that the Cupid of Crime made her main continuity debut in Batman: Harley Quinn. Since then, Harley has starred in a surplus of comics, television shows, video games, movies, and more. There are also several different interpretations of the character within this collection of media.
Under the cut is an extensive list of recommended content that captures the true essence of Harley Quinn, as your official QUINN-tessential reading and watching guide! For easy navigation, the guide has been divided into six main categories: BTAS Verse, Pre-Flashpoint, Post-Flashpoint, Elseworlds, Television + Film, and Other Media.
Basic Content
Batman: The Animated Series
The New Batman Adventures
The Batman Adventures: Mad Love (1993)
Batman: Harley Quinn (1999)
Harley Quinn (2000) #1-25
Gotham City Sirens (2009)
Please note that this guide does not contain every appearance of Harley Quinn. Most notably in the Post-Flashpoint, Elseworlds, and Television + Film categories. What it does contain, however, is a carefully constructed collection of what is essential when it comes to learning about Harley as a character.
Moreover, this guide is also quite lengthy! For a shortened version, follow the options which are bolded.
BTAS VERSE
First Appearance
The Batman Adventures (1992) #12 [This is Harley’s first appearance in a comic!]
The Batman Adventures
The Batman Adventures (1992) #28
The Batman Adventures: Mad Love (1993)
The Batman Adventures Annual (1994) #1
The Batman Adventures Holiday Special (1994)
Batman and Robin Adventures
Batman & Robin Adventures (1995) #1
Batman & Robin Adventures (1995) #8
Batman & Robin Adventures (1995) #18
Batgirl Adventures
Batgirl Adventures (1997) #1
Batman: Gotham Adventures
Batman: Gotham Adventures (1998) #10
Batman: Gotham Adventures (1998) #14
Batman: Gotham Adventures (1998) #29
Batman: Gotham Adventures (1998) #30
Batman: Gotham Adventures (1998) #43
Batman: Gotham Adventures (1998) #53
Gotham Girls
Gotham Girls (2002) #1-5
Batman Adventures
Batman Adventures (2003) #1
Batman Adventures (2003) #3
Batman Adventures (2003) #16
Batman: Harley and Ivy
Batman: Harley & Ivy (2004) #1-3
Harley Quinn and Batman
Harley Quinn and Batman (2017) #1-5 [This serves as a prequel to the “Batman and Harley Quinn” movie but is better when taken out of context as a stand-alone story. Ignore the film.]
Batman: The Adventures Continue
Batman: The Adventures Continue (2020) #15-17
PRE-FLASHPOINT
First Appearance
Batman: Harley Quinn (1999) [This is Harley’s first main continuity appearance!]
The Code
Batman (1940) #570
Detective Comics (1937) #737
No Man’s Land
Shadow of the Bat #93
Batman (1940) #573
Azrael: Agent of the Bat #60
Detective Comics (1947) #740
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #126
Batman (1940) #574
Detective Comics (1937) #741
Harley Quinn vs. Mercy Graves
Action Comics (1938) #765
The Cat and the Harlequin
Catwoman (1993) #81-84
Catwoman (1993) #89
Gods of Gotham
Wonder Woman (1986) #164-167
Kryptonian Encounter
Supergirl (2005) #0
Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn (2000) #1-11
Harley Quinn: Our Worlds At War (2001) #1
Harley Quinn (2000) #12-25
Release from Arkham
Batman (1940) #663
Detective Comics (1937) # 831
Birds of Prey (1999) #105-108
Detective Comics (1937) # 837
Batman: Hush
Batman (1940) #613-614
Gotham City Sirens
Gotham City Sirens (2009) #1-21
Gotham City Sirens (2009) #23-24
One-Shots
Harley & Ivy: Love on the Lam (2001)
Joker’s Asylum II: Harley Quinn (2010)
Other Stories
Batman: Gotham Knights (2000) #14
Batman: Gotham Knights (2000) #30
Batman: Black and White (2013) #1
Batman: Black and White (2013) #3
POST-FLASHPOINT
Dr. Quinn’s Diagnosis
Legends of the Dark Knight (2012) #49-50
Convergence
Convergence: Harley Quinn (2015) #1-2
Harley Loves Joker
Harley Quinn (2016) #17-25 [Only read the backup story, which is the nine part introduction to “Harley Loves Joker”!]
When I researched Harley Quinn and the origins of a harlequin, it was always, like, to be, like, this mischievous little sidekick. And I thought it was important to keep that element, that she always wants to be a sidekick to someone. But she's being really mischievous about it, and that's what she finds so fun.
Suicide Squad Behind The Scenes: Creating Harley Quinn
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