Harley Quinn has become a staple of the DC Universe. She has humble beginnings as a crony of the Joker but the character quickly endeared herself to fans. Quinn has her television series and line of graphic novels and is a main character in three major motion pictures. While appearing as an NPC, there are only three game series where she plays a major role and players can control the Harlequin of Crime fighting both the forces of good and evil: The Arkham, Injustice, and Suicide Squad series.
Harley Quinn in the Arkham Series
The first time (chronologically) Harley is seen in Arkham Origins. While under the tutelage of Dr. Hugo Strange, Quinn performed her psychiatric residency at Blackgate Prison. During this time at Blackgate, she met The Joker. During their initial session, The Joker described meeting Batman for the first time and how this changed The Joker’s outlook. Harleen, thinking the criminal was talking about her, grew smitten with the criminal.
After her time at Blackgate, Quinn became a fully licensed psychiatrist working at Arkham Asylum. She volunteered to treat the Joker and eventually helped him escape, taking the name Harley Quinn.
Arkham Knight
Her next appearance is in the Arkham Knight DLC A Matter of Family. She and the Joker manipulate a grieving oil baron to build an amusement park and eventually commit suicide. The two kidnap Commissioner Gordon and his colleagues, threatening to kill them all if Batman shows up. Robin and Batgirl arrive to save the day. Harley fights Batgirl but is easily defeated.
Arkham Asylum
In Arkham Asylum, Harley plays the role of Joker’s Head Nurse and is placed in charge of getting everyone ready for “Joker’s Party.” Batman does not fight Quinn until late in Asylum. Having been thwarted in every attempt to take out Batman, Joker takes Quinn off the “Party List.” In anger, Quinn takes a swing at Batman but Batman flips her over and locks her in one of the cells.
Arkham City
Arkham City sees a more wicked side of Quinn. Her Puddin’ is dying thanks to the events of Asylum. Her mental health is in much more of a decline. To quote the character Dr. Stacy Baker, “If you ask me, that Harley Quinn woman is clearly insane. She only seems to be holding on to what’s left of her sanity thanks to the Joker, but who knows how long he’ll last.”
After Batman rescues Baker from the Joker’s goons, Quinn strikes The Caped Crusader with a baseball bat three times, knocking him out. Later, Batman is forced to fight Mr. Freeze. During this battle, Quinn steals the cure to the Titan disease made by Freeze so that Joker and no one else may be cured. The last time we see her in City is as she mourns the loss of her dear Joker.
Eagle-eyed players may spot an interesting fact about Quinn and Joker’s relationship. Pregnancy tests litter the floor of their office in the Steel Mill. In the end credits, Harley sings Hush Little Baby. This information led gamers to think Harley was pregnant until Harley Quinn’s Revenge (DLC for Arkham City). Instead, the office was filled with negative tests strewn about the floor. Not only did Harley lose the love of her life, she lost her child as well.
When we see Quinn in Harley Quinn’s Revenge, she is dressed as a mourning widow. Her mean streak is more apparent as she shoots random thugs saying they should have never tried hitting on a “widow.” She kidnaps cops and Batman, and only Robin is able to rescue The Dark Knight.
Arkham Knight featured a special Harley Quinn DLC which allowed players to control Quinn for the first time. Batman may be about stealth but Quinn is only capable of “loud takedowns.” As she said, “Quiet is not in my vocabulary.” Psychosis mode, akin to Batman’s Detective mode, features conversations between Harleen and Harley. Harleen tries to convince Harley the Joker was never good for her.
In the Arkham Knight base game, Quinn is contacted by Henry Adams, an elderly man infected with Joker’s blood. The infection was turning him into The Clown Prince of Crime. The two concoct a plan to trap the Bat. This plan ultimately fails when Adams realizes Batman is infected. Adams proceeds to take his own life, leaving Harley locked in a cell to mourn the loss of The Joker once again before eventually being turned over to Amanda Waller.
Harley Quinn in the Injustice Series
Harley Quinn plays a different role in the Injustice series. The Joker uses Scarecrow’s fear toxin mixed with Kryptonite to trick Superman into killing Lois Lane, their unborn child, and the people of Metropolis with a nuclear warhead. The Man of Steel murders The Clown Prince of Crime and forms the Regime to control order in the world. This dictatorship does not sit well with Batman and a host of heroes.
Where does Harley fit into the picture? The Injustice series of graphic novels sheds some light. While Joker is dying at the hands of Superman, Harley is being transported to Arkham Asylum. Hearing her beloved has been killed, she murders two cops and flees to Joker’s hideout. After being captured by Green Arrow, she is returned to Arkham where she instigates a prison riot and escapes.
She forms the “Joker Clan,” a group of criminals who worship the Joker as a maniacal deity. The group lives to be a general nuisance toward Superman’s Regime. This is where Injustice the video game picks up. She may be a hero at first but by the end of Injustice 2, Harley becomes a member of the Justice League. She’s willing to stand up to anyone, even Black Adam, ruler of Kandaq.
She’s not considered the strongest character in the game but players feel she is one of the most rewarding to play as. Harley fights with everything one would expect. She’s willing to blow characters up with cupcake bombs, slam opponents with a comically oversized sledgehammer, and even bring her hyenas, Bud and Lou, into the fray.
Injustice 2 Mobile, while not connected to the series, allows players to play as five different versions of Harley. Besides the base costume, players can unlock Heartbreaker Harley Quinn which is based on her Animated Series costume. Suicide Squad Harley Quinn is a mirror image of Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Quinn in the Suicide Squad movies. Batman Ninja Harley Quinn and Unhinged Harley Quinn are available as well.
Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
While technically part of the Arkham series, Kill the Justice League deserves its section. Brainiac has invaded Metropolis and taken brainwashed members of the Justice League. Amanda Waller sends Task Force X to, well, kill the Justice League. Harley Quinn is the more nimble of the four Task Force X members and best fights at mid to close range. Her melee attacks focus on the use of baseball bats or mallets. For the first time, Quinn is a main character in a game.
Harley travels across the map using a grappling hook and Batdrone. The drone makes sure she always has something to grapple with. She can also attach the grapple to buildings to get to where she needs. One problem people have found with this iteration of Harley Quinn is her reactions or lack thereof to the Elseworld Joker. She mentions him twice in-game but never really talks to him or vice versa. It feels like Rocksteady dropped the ball there.
While Harley Quinn is featured in three game series as a side or main character, she does not have her own title. One can only hope Warner Bros. looks at the popularity of the character and helps create a game worthy of the chaotic clown.
For More Great Content
Total Apex is an all-encompassing content producer. We provide heavily detailed articles every day on entertainment, gaming, sports, and so much more! Check out all our great sports content Total Apex Sports. Check us out on X @TotalApexEandG and our other sites: Total Apex Entertainment, Total Apex Gaming, Total Apex Sports Bets, and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
