Summary
Harley Quinnmade her official debut on TV in her classic red and black costume, but her first canon appearance in comics saw her sporting a costume that was a complete rip-off of theJoker’s. Fortunately for fans, this short-lived Joker tribute lasted only a single panel before returning Harley to her signature look established in animation.
Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo’s Batman: Damned #2 (2018) also saw Harley adopt a distinctive Joker-like appearance, but for a much darker reason.
Harley Quinn has a complex history in the DC Universe, beginning with her debut in 1992 inBatman: The Animated Seriesin the episodeJoker’s Favor, created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm. Her non-canon comic debut followed in 1993’sThe Batman Adventures#12, by Kelley Puckett and Mike Parobeck.
However, it wasn’t until six years later, inPaul Dini and Yvel Guichet’sBatman: Harley Quinn#1 (1999), that she officially joined DC comic canon. This milestone not only established Harley’s official origin but also introduced her first canonical costume.
Harley Quinn’s First Costume in Comics Paid Tribute to the Joker’s Design
Batman: Harley Quinn#1 establishes Harley’s origin storyas an orderly at Arkham Asylum who falls in love with the Joker and assists in his escape. This leads to Harley’s own incarceration, but she manages to escape amidst the chaos and damage caused by an earthquake that hits Gotham. Her first priority is finding a new outfit, which leads her to try on several costumes.Her initial choice is a blatant imitation of the Joker’s iconic purple and green three-piece suit.This marks her very first canonical costume.
Harley’s Joker ensemble featured her in an oversized purple suit paired with a yellow handkerchief, a green dress shirt, and a matching tie. She completed the look with Joker’s signature footwear, spectator shoes, along with a frizzy green wig and white gloves. However, this costume was short-lived, lasting only a single panel. Harley herself deemed it"derivative" before promptly discarding it.She went on to try two more costumes before settling on her iconic red and black jester costume, which remains her signature look to this day.
Harley Quinn’s Unbelievable Connection with Lobo Makes a Weirdly Heartwarming Return in DC Lore
Harley Quinn has at least two strange connections to Lobo. Which isn’t a lot of strange connections, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
Harley Quinn Also Dressed Up as Joker inBatman: Damned, But For a Much Darker Reason
Batman: Harley Quinn#1 wasn’t the last time that the Gotham City Siren dressed up as her ex-boyfriend.Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo’sBatman: Damned#2(2018) also saw Harley adopt a distinctive Joker-like appearance, but for a much darker reason than simply experimenting with style. InBatman: Damned, Harley takes on Joker’s persona after Batman is believed to have killed him. This transformation includes Joker-esque face makeup, dyed green hair, and donning the clown’s iconic purple overcoat. This look and storyline marked one ofHarley Quinn’sdarkest moments.
Harley Quinn’s Complete Costume History in DC Comics
Beginning with just a harlequin jumpsuit, Harley Quinn has progressed into a fashion-forward character in DC Comics, with many iconic costumes.
The Joker
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman’s order and justice.
