When it comes to doing justice to the DC Universe characters, few are harder to capture the right tone than Harley Quinn. She's been on a complicated journey in the past several decades and while some comics have done her well, others have been a bit of a misfire.

To be fair, this isn't strictly a Harley problem, as zany characters are often hard to nail down (just take to who Harley Quinn is.

Harley Quinn's Origin Has to Be Tied to the Joker

Her Time with the Joker Set Her Down Her Path

Some origins are just so intrinsically tied to their characters, they simply can't be retconned or changed. Superman was rocketed to Earth from a dying Krypton, Batman witnessed his family being gunned down in Crime Alley, and Harley Quinn gave up her life as a psychologist because she fell head over heels in love with the Joker. It’s an uncomfortable part of her history as it’s a choice that led to years of abuse and suffering at the Clown Prince of Crime’s hand, but it’s what brought Harley Quinn into the grander DC Universe in the first place.

Her relationship with the Joker doesn’t need to loom over Harley like a shadow...

Another key point of this origin story that’s important is that giving up her life needs to be Harley’s choice. It’s easy to say that Joker seduced Harley and convinced her to abandon everything for him. But that removes agency for Harley Quinn, and it robs her of a necessary character flaw. The best stories don’t have perfect characters, they have characters that make real, human choices, even ones that do them harm. Having Harley Quinn choose to be with the Joker is an important part of her growth and makes it better when she ultimately chooses to leave him.

Of course, not all stories need to go into the nitty-gritty of her time with the Joker. Her past is well documented and she’s been apart for him for well over a decade. She’s free to grow and explore and discover things about herself. Her relationship with the Joker doesn’t need to loom over Harley like a shadow, but it’s something that should remain a part of her. Plus, all the self-improvements she’s been doing is so much more meaningful, knowing how far she’s come since her days as the Joker’s sidekick.

Harley Quinn Doesn't Need to Be a Hero or a Villain

Just Let Harley Be Harley and Don't Worry About Labels

For many creators, one of the biggest problems a post-Joker Harley Quinn faces is finding out where she belongs. Should she stick it out and try to be a villain on her own? Or does she go out and see if she’s got what it takes to be a hero? There have been comics that explored both sides to varying degrees of success. But the truth is, Harley Quinn is a hard character to put in either box, and it’s better for her to avoid labels altogether.

Heroes and villains always have goals that they’re working for. Batman protects Gotham City while the Joker does whatever he can to tickle his demented funny bone. But what about Harley Quinn? What is it that she wants? Does she want to be a crusader for justice to atone for her years of crime? Or would she prefer to go out on her own as a villain and show bad guys how it's done? Harley Quinn’s been on both sides of the coin for years, but she's best when she's not tied down to one side.

It’s for the best that creators stop trying to box her in as a villain, hero, antihero...

Harley doesn’t need to be like any heroes or villains. She’s at her best when she’s just chasing whatever thought she’s obsessed with at the time. Whether that’s assembling a crew to clean up her side of town or acting as a consultant for villains, Harley Quinn’s flightiness is part of her charm. It’s for the best that creators stop trying to box her in as a villain, hero, antihero, or anything like that and just let Harley Quinn get up to whatever silly adventure she wants to, labels be damned.

Harley Quinn Doesn't Need to Be Tied to the Bat-Family

She's Honestly Better Being a DC Nomad

It's also really important for Harley to not be tied directly to the Bat-Family just because she's also a prominent Gotham figure. To be fair, she's had a number of run-ins with them and it’s understandable that a creator could want to pair her with them to show how far she’s come. But the truth is, the Bat-Family has more than enough people in it, and Harley Quinn’s impulsive desires are just not suitable for a well-oiled machine like Batman’s iconic team.

Some of the best Harley Quinn stories don’t even have her in Gotham. Karl Kesel and Terry Dodson’s Harley Quinn had her going all over the map, sending her to Metropolis and even Hell itself. But it works because Harley’s screwball nature creates a natural conflict with whatever serious situation she’s thrown into. While some fans don’t like the idea of Harley Quinn on the Suicide Squad, it does create an opportunity to send her to the far reaches of the DCU and makes for hilarious interactions.

To be fair, there are some stories that go a bit too far, like ones that have sent Harley to Apokolips and even across the multiverse. Like anything else, one just needs to apply a light touch. Having Harley cause chaos on Themyscira or Dinosaur Island? Funny. Having her going on adventures more suited for the Justice League? A little too much. One can get a lot of mileage out of taking Harley Quinn and putting her in unexpected places, but it’s all about finding the right spot for her brand of trouble.

Yes, Harley had her own multiverse tale in Multiversity: Harley Screws Up the DCU (2023)!

Good Harley Quinn Stories Take Work, But They're Possible

Finding What Works About Harley is the Key

Harley Quinn isn't everyone's cup of tea, but like any character, good stories come down to understanding what works about her. Her growing from the Joker's punching bag to a free agent of chaos has been entertaining and taking the best elements, like her impulsiveness and her versatile nature, is crucial to fashioning a good Harley story. It's difficult, but by keeping these things in mind, anyone can create a great Harley Quinn story.