Harley Quinn
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Harley Quinn is a fictional character, a supervillain in Batman: The Animated Series and its spin-offs, and subsequently in various Batman-related comic books. As suggested by the name, she is clad in the manner of a traditional harlequin jester.
The character was created by Paul Dini, and is voiced in the animated cartoons by Arleen Sorkin.
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History on "Batman: The Animated Series"
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Harley Quinn first appeared in Batman: The Animated Series, where the character was so popular that a version of her was added to the Batman comic books as well. The comic-book version of Quinn, like the comic-book version of The Joker, is more dangerously psychotic and less humourously kooky than the animated-series version.
Because Quinn's friendship with Ivy was one of the few villianous team-ups in the animated series seemingly rooted in genuine friendship, half-serious speculation and jokes exist among some fans as to potential lesbian undertones of their relationship.
Her eventual fate is shown in the movie Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. She disappeared, and was presumed dead, after falling into a deep crevasse during Batman's final showdown with the Joker; however, a scene toward the end of the film reveals that she survived, settled down somewhere and started a family, with her granddaughters both called "Dee Dee" having joined the Jokerz Gang.
Comic history
While researching the lunatics at Arkham Asylum, a young psychiatric intern named Harleen Quinzel met The Joker. She fell instantly in love with him. After helping him escape from the asylum more than once Harleen was suspected by the authorities, who revoked her license and placed her in her own cell. During an earthquake in Gotham City, she fled and became Harley Quinn, the sidekick to the Clown Prince of Crime himself, The Joker.
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Quinn's relationship with the Joker could only be described as "abusive": he yells at her, hits her and abandons her whenever she becomes inconvenient or annoying, but she always comes back for more, convinced that he truly loves her and that his violence is "just a joke." The Joker, an expert manipulator, always knows just when to turn on the charm when he once again needs her.</p>
One time, the Joker grew tired of Quinn, and he sent her off on a rocket. She crash landed in a park in Gotham and was found by Poison Ivy. Ivy took her back to her lair in a toxic waste dump and nursed her back to health. This included injecting Harley with a serum that Ivy had developed which has given Harley an immunity to all toxins and poisons as well as boosting her immune system, giving her almost superhuman agility and strength. Quinn and Ivy teamed up and conducted a number of successful capers. When Quinn and The Joker made up soon afterwards Ivy dissolved the partnership in disgust. Ivy remains, however, her usual first point of call when she and The Joker are going through a rough patch. Ivy adopted the role of older sister and teller of harsh truths to Quinn about her helpless infatuation with The Joker. When Ivy demanded during one episode that Quinn stand up for herself, Quinn said "I'm nobody's doormat—am I?" Ivy replied, "If you had a middle name, it would be 'Welcome'."
She frequently refers to the Joker as "puddin" and "Mr. J."
Harley Quinn in other media
She also had her own monthly DC Comics comic book series entitled Harley Quinn (now defunct at 38 issues), but still appears in the Batman comic books under other titles.
A modified version of the character, played by Mia Sara, also appeared in the television series Birds of Prey. The TV character retained some of the insanity of the original version, along with her devotion to The Joker, but spent most of her screen time pretending to be a psychiatrist. She was only seen wearing a variation of her costume in the final minutes of the last episode of the series.
Trivia
Comic book fanatic and film-maker Kevin Smith named his daughter Harley Quinn.fr:Harley Quinn