| This page is similar in name or subject to other pages.
See also Harley Quinn for a complete list of references to clarify differences between these closely named or closely related articles. |
 | |
| Harleen Quinzel | |
| Aliases: | Harleen Quinzel |
| Continuity: | Harley Quinn |
| Notability: | Main character |
| Type: | Criminal Super-villain |
| Gender: | Female |
| Race: | Human |
| Location: | New NEW Gotham |
| Associations: | Legion of Doom |
| Status: | Alive |
| First: | "Til Death Do Us Part" |
| Voice actor: | Kaley Cuoco |
Harleen Quinzel is a fictional super-villain (not really), costumed criminal (most definitely), anti-hero (could be argued), and the titular protagonist of the Harley Quinn animated series, which originally aired on the DC Universe streaming service, but was later simulcast on HBO Max. She was voiced by actress Kaley Cuoco in the series.
Biography[]
Harleen Quinzel grew up in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. She was the daughter of Nick Quinzel and Sharon Quinzel, and had a brother named Barry Quinzel. Harleen grew up in a pretty crappy family dynamic, owing largely to her father's career as a compulsive gambler and petty criminal. When she came of age, she left New York and relocated to Gotham City. Most would think she traded down on this one, as Gotham is just a cesspool of cesses and pools. She went to college and earned a degree in psychiatry. After numerous conversations with career-minded district attorney Harvey Dent, and the inept aloofness of Gotham City police commissioner Jim Gordon, Harleen finally landed a job at Arkham Asylum. She interviewed Arkham's star pupil - the Clown Prince of Crime hisself, the Joker. Unfortunately for Harleen, the Joker proved to be just crazy enough that it made her insane as well. Joker and Harleen escaped from Arkham, and soon after, the Joker pitched her into the same vat of boiling goo that made him the man he is today. Harleen emerged with a light pallor, a heavy dose of "crazy", and a small measure of enhanced physical attributes. She became the Joker's paramour and took on the name Harley Quinn. The rest, as they say, is history. No seriously. Go to the history section to learn more. What? You were just going to stop reading here?
History[]
Well... now that we gotcha here, lets get on with the in depth history of Miss Harley Quinn, shall we? Anyone? Anyone?
Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Enhanced strength: Though it is not often demonstrated, Harley did receive a small measure of superhuman strength after her day trip to the acid spa. She is strong enough that she pick up a son of a bitch and use him like a baseball bat to knock down another son of a bitch.
- Superhuman durability: Harley is a bit heartier than the average human. She routinely gets punched, kicked, beaten and thrown, and always manages to stand back up none the worse for wear.
- Superhuman stamina: Harley is either too stubborn, too stupid, or too crazy to stay down for long. It takes a lot to wear her out, but even then, she musters up the gusto to keep going.
Skills[]
- Acrobatics: Harley seems to have a natural proficiency for acrobatics. In her line of work, she is often seen leaping, jumping, flipping and twisting through the air - usually while trying to avoid being shot by the Joker.
- Driving: Harley has developed strong enough driving skills that she can outrace or outmanuever an entire squad of GCPD police cars. [1]
- Psychiatry: Harleen Quinzel is a college graduate and has a degree in psychiatry. Fat lotta good it did her though, eh? She's clearly not very good, as she ended up going cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs five minutes after meeting the Joker.
- Unarmed combat: Harley's lifestyle necessitates the ability to take care of herself. While she never received any official self-defense training, she can throw a haymaker just as well as anybody else.
Weaknesses[]
- Mental instability: As difficult as it may be to believe, Harley is not nearly as crazy as some people may think. In fact, she's come quite a long way. She still seems to hold no distinction between criminal activity and legal actions, but she is definitely less murdery than her ex. Harley is emotionally unstable, impetuous, narcissistic, and guided solely towards a desire to achieve her own goals, regardless of the cost to others. In modern parlance, we refer to such individuals as "Millennials".
Equipment[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- The character of Harleen Quinzel was created by writer Paul Dini and artist Yvel Guichet based upon concepts originally developed by Dini and director Boyd Kirkland.
- Judging by her accent from the animated series, it is possible that Harley was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Given her mental instability however, it is also entirely possible that her accent is completely forced. She is, after all, a total nutter. The Harley Quinn animated series estalbishes that she is from the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn.
- Notable film director, comic book author, actor and comic store owner Kevin Smith named his daughter Harley Quinn Smith after his affection for the character. Kevin and his wife, actress Jennifer Schwalbach, gave birth to Harley on June 26th, 1999.
- An older Harleen Quinzel was the main antagonist on the 2002-2003 live-action superhero series Birds of Prey, where she was played by actress Mia Sara. In the final episode of the series, "Devil's Eyes", Harleen donned an outfit similar in design to that which she wore in the cartoon series. In the original unaired pilot episode, Harleen was played by actress Sherilyn Fenn.
- Another animated version of Harley popped up in The Batman animated series in 2007. Voiced by actress Hynden Walch, she debuted in the eighth episode of season four, "Two of a Kind". She is presented as a TV pop psychiatrist whom the Joker sets his sights on to become his new partner in crime. Harley also appeared in the eighth episode of season five, "The Metal Face of Comedy".
- In 2010, Harley Quinn appeared on the "Emperor Joker!" episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
- In 2019, Harley received her very own Harley Quinn animated television series on the DC Universe streaming service. In the series, she was voiced by former Charmed and Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco.
- Two of the actresses from the CBS sitcom series Big Bang Theory have provided the voice for Harley Quinn. Melissa Rauch was the voice behind Harley in the 2017 animated movie Batman and Harley Quinn, and Kaley Cuoco voiced her in the Harley Quinn animated series.