Who Is Harley Quinn? Origin, Powers and Key Facts

Harley Quinn is a DC Comics comic book character, the alter ego of Harleen Frances Quinzel, with over 2,955 comic issue appearances. Harleen Quinzel was a psychiatric resident at Arkham Asylum, where she met the incarcerated Joker. Falling in love with her patient, she conspired to break him out of prison and eventually became his lover and loyal sidekick, Harley Quinn. She eventually left him to be her own woman, and has been enemy and ally of Batman, and various other heroes.

Who is Harley Quinn?

Origin Main DC-Earth Harley's origin was, for years, identical in the comics to the one seen in the Batman animated series. But, in the comic series Harley Quinn, a quite different one was established. Born Harleen Quinzel, Harley's mother is a somewhat harsh, but forgiving lady, who constantly calls Harley evil and compares her to other heroes. Harley's younger brother is a dead beat with children from at least two different women and still lives in his mothers house. Harley apparently sent him several large sums of money to get his life on track, but he squandered it. Harley's father is a criminal con-man, known for swindling women out of their money with his charm. Harley states that the main reason she became a psychiatrist was so she could understand why her father did what he did to their family. Harley went to study psychology, but found doing so dull.

Key facts

Harley Quinn is of human origin and first appeared in "Batgirl: Day One". The character is published by DC Comics. With 2,955 recorded issue appearances, Harley Quinn ranks among the most featured characters in comics.