Before Harley became the crazy clown, who is hopelessly in love with the Joker, she was known as Harleen Quinzel. Harleen was a young and hopeful psychiatrist who landed herself an internship at the notorious Arkham Asylum. She was thrilled due to the extreme personalities of her soon-to-be patients. She wanted an exciting job and the loved that she had the challenge of bringing the worst of the mentally insane back to sanity. Not only that, but the high profile villains were also a plus. After meeting the inmates, she became intrigued by Gotham’s famous killer clown.
Harleen soon had an appointment with the Joker and fells hopelessly in love with him. Seeing this attraction, the Joker won her over by getting her to emphasize for him. He tells her of his abusive father who loved clowns. Trying to get his alcoholic father to be happy, the Joker tried to mimic the clowns that his father loved so much. Unfortunately, that only resulted in beatings and trips to the hospital. The Joker then pins his insanity on the Batman, and claims that every time he tries to make Gotham City laugh, Batman beats him just like his abusive father.
The Joker’s plan of empathy worked, and Harleen soon believed that the Joker was an innocent child trying to make people happy. She also believed that it was the Batman that kept ruining his dreams. She finds a clown outfit, breaks out the Joker and becomes Harley Quinn.
Harley doesn’t have any superhuman abilities, but what she lacks in super powers she makes up for in skill. Her looks can be very deceiving and she often uses them to trick people into believing she is a sane, normal woman. She also has agility, multiple tricks and gadgets, and is very unpredictable, making her a worthy villain.
Harley Quinn is devoted to making the Joker proud, keeping him happy and helping him as he spreads chaos throughout Gotham City.
Harley Quinn on the Big Screen
As we all know from previous comic book movies, origin stories may differ as they translate from a comic book to the big screen. After watching the two SUICIDE SQUAD trailers, it looks like Harley won’t be an exception. Keep in mind that this is all speculation.
Judging from the picture above, it looks as if Harley, or possible Harleen, is still going to be a psychiatrist of some sort at what is most likely Arkham Asylum. Rather than becoming obsessed with the Joker, it looks as if the Joker is going to make her obsessed with him.
This could possibly be similar to the Tim Drake / Robin storyline in 'Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.' In this 2000 animated movie directed by Curt Geda, the Joker kidnaps Tim Drake. After three weeks of continuous torture, forced serums and shock therapy, thus becoming Little JJ, or Joker Jr.
The Joker was able to make Tim completely psychotic and (almost) erased all of his morals. Tim eventually gained a slight idea of right and wrong, but was ultimately still psychotic. It took years of therapy to restore Tim to his former self.
From the trailer, it looks as if Joker is taking over or escaping from Arkham Asylum, and unfortunately Harley has gotten in the way. As a result Harley may have the same fate as Tim Drake.
However, Joker’s torture may not be enough to turn Harley completely loyal. From the trailer it is obvious Harley may need a little chemical persuasion. This is hypothetically the same chemical material that caused the Joker to go insane.
All in all, the result is the same. Now matter how the origin story plays out, we will finally get to see Harley Quinn on the big screen as the love-sick psychopath that we all know and love.
Written by James Philbrick, Character Profile Writer
Related Posts:
Toy Fair 2016: Photos of Mattel's SUICIDE SQUAD Movie Figures RevealToy Fair 2016: Close Up Photos of Funko's POP Figures for SUICIDE SQUAD
Video Breakdown of the Second SUICIDE SQUAD Trailer by DC All Access