Harley Quinn Arkham City Drawing

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League offers four characters on its playable roster: Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, King Shark, and Harley Quinn, but Harley's journeys began long before Suicide Squad within the Batman Arkham series. As a significant character in the Batman mythos and the Batman Arkham franchise, Harley Quinn's backstory will likely see references throughout Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Harley has become one of Batman's most dangerous and frequent enemies throughout the games, wreaking chaos throughout Gotham City.

Harley Quinn is a unique character in the Batman mythos, originating from Batman: The Animated Series. DC created her to give the Joker a female goon to talk to, but her popularity caused the character to grow and evolve over the years. Harley's appearances in theBatman Arkham and Suicide Squad games contribute to that growing popularity. Until recently, DC frequently portrayed Harley Quinn as the Joker's dedicated girlfriend. Thankfully, this cycle has ended in most continuities, resulting in Harley Quinn claiming her independence from Joker and pursuing her own identity (and romances).

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is the latest addition to the franchise following the ending of Batman: Arkham Knight. Though the events of Arkham Knight make it unlikely for Bruce Wayne's Batman to appear in action, Gotham City's Rogues and Heroes still maintain a profound presence in trailers and gameplay. Harley Quinn is one of Batman Arkham's more obvious continuations from the series' roots, expanding on the base lore of the in-game universe.

Harley Quinn Had A Rough Beginning In The Batman Arkham Series

Like many other continuities, Batman Arkham andSuicide Squad 's Harley Quinn was raised by her criminal father, who instilled corrupted morals within her from an early age, and she was named Harleen Quinzel. While she didn't immediately turn to a life of crime, she became quite interested in the criminal mind. Harleen's determination and academic intelligence carried her through school and earned her a place in Gotham City University's psychiatric medical program. It was here that Harleen honed her gymnastic skills, leading to the acrobatics in combat during her criminal career as Harley Quinn. To become a fully-fledged psychiatrist, Harleen needed to train under a practicing professional. Her preexisting interest in the criminal mind led to her psychiatric residency at Arkham Asylum, where she trained under Dr. Hugo Strange and began her journey toward becoming Harley Quinn.

Harley Quinn Was Harleen Quinzel In Batman: Arkham Origins

During the events of Batman: Arkham Origins , Harleen Quinzel acted as an unknowing pawn in Hugo Strange's game. With her psychiatric residency almost complete, she remained under the strict watch and orders of Strange. Harleen contacted Alberto Falcone, son of Carmine Falcone and member of the Falcone Crime Family, that he had missed his previous two appointments and needed to return to the Asylum, lest his father be notified. Harleen was also responsible for performing the psychiatric evaluation on Julian Day, aka Calendar Man, who was deemed insane and ineligible for execution. However, Warden Joseph forced her to redo the assessment under pressure from Commissioner Loeb. Harleen fulfilled his request on the condition that she evaluates all incoming new patients to Arkham Asylum. This fateful request led directly to her meeting with Joker and cemented her fate as Harley Quinn.

During the takeover of Arkham, Harleen was held hostage alongside a group of other Arkham Asylum employees. Though Batman eventually rescued her, she was rather flippant and at ease concerning her life-threatening experience. Harleen informed Batman of Joker's location in Batman: Arkham Origins but warned that the Clown was expecting him. Following Joker's defeat, Harleen became Joker's assigned psychiatrist during his stay at Arkham Asylum. Her constant proximity to him resulted in his swift manipulation and subsequent recruitment of Harleen Quinzel to his cause. The former psychiatrist adopted the moniker Harley Quinn and became Joker's devoted sidekick and partner in crime. Harley smuggled bombs into Joker's cell to free him and began her violent criminal career.

Harley Quinn Began Tormented Gotham Before Batman: Arkham Asylum

Between Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Asylum, Harley Quinn assisted Joker in many of his criminal schemes. Harley's obsession with the Joker prevented her from fully comprehending the abuse and one-sidedness of their "relationship," often leading her to take the fall for their schemes when Batman and Robin arrived. Though these abandonments subjected Harley to lengthy stays at Arkham Asylum, Joker always came to retrieve her from her imprisonment when he needed her. Before the events of Arkham Asylum, Harley snuck into the prison to subdue Bane and prevent him from interfering with their plans to create a Bane army with their Joker goons. She then took over the security room to await Joker's signal.

Harley Quinn Tried To Please Joker During Batman: Arkham Asylum

Despite the Joker's frequent disrespect of her, Harley Quin played a vital role in his takeover of the island during Batman: Arkham Asylum. Following Joker's capture, Harley Quinn had already taken control of the security control room. When Batman delivered Joker to Arkham, Harley sprung the trap and allowed Joker to escape deeper into the Asylum. With complete control over Arkham's security, Harley Quinn began releasing all of Joker's thugs and cronies throughout the island. To try and prevent any significant uprising from the Asylum's workers, Harley also took Warden Quincy Sharp hostage and proclaimed Joker as the new Warden of the island. Having secured Joker's leadership, Harley began traveling with various Joker gang members to secure the island and subdue the police.

Harley Quinn continued carrying out the Joker's will in Batman: Arkham Asylum, executing their own goons, kidnapping Commissioner Gordon, and freeing powerful villains like Poison Ivy and Scarecrow. Though these villains are beaten by Batman inArkham Asylum, Harley is still able to hold Gordon hostage and make her way down to the Experimentation Facility. Titan, a more potent form of Bane's Venom, was being used to turn Joker's gang and other prisoners into Bane-like monsters. Bane himself was subjected to this treatment, giving Harley a chance to escape. Harley continued her rampage throughout Arkham Asylum but continuously failed to defeat Batman. This led to Joker removing her from the so-called party list, leaving her locked out of Batman: Arkham Asylum's final chamber to face Batman alone. Batman promptly defeated her and locked her in a cell, leaving the surviving Arkham staff to retrieve her at the game's conclusion.

Harley Quinn Saved Joker Before Batman: Arkham City

Harley Quinn remained imprisoned after the events of theBatman: Arkham Asylum game for approximately six months, during which the Joker steadily began to succumb to his fatal illness. Despite the rumors, Harley vehemently believed she was being manipulated and lied to until a pair of guards confirmed his condition. While the Asylum's guards plotted to end Joker's life before the sickness could, Harley snapped and subdued a guard. After obtaining a guard's uniform, Harley saved Joker before being murdered and initiated an escape into the newly completed Arkham City. Her depression concerning Joker's fate revealed itself through her increasingly militant nature. Harley built a base for herself and Joker, setting the pair up as one of the dominant powers in Batman: Arkham City.

Harley Quinn Searches For A Cure In Batman: Arkham City

Joker's deteriorating health is at the forefront of Batman: Arkham City, where the Crown Prince of Crime is liable to succumb to his Titan Sickness. Harley Quinn's actions throughout Batman: Arkham City center around desperately seeking out a cure. Batman first encounters her in the Church and Medical Center, where Joker's gang took the medical staff hostage. Despite being easily defeated, Batman releases her once Joker's gang threatens the hostages. Harley Quinn appears again at the Steel Mill Loading Dock, where she tosses a doctor who failed to cure Joker to be executed by the gang. She then turns her efforts towards Mr. Freeze, who claims to have created a cure for Titan Sickness.

A good portion of Harley Quinn's story occurs off-screen in theBatman: Arkham City game, especially in the latter half. While Batman is fighting Mr. Freeze, Harley manages to steal the cure and flee. Shortly after, Talia Al Ghul intercepts Harley and takes the cure for herself. She can be found tied to a pole and gagged, where she willingly gives information up to Batman. It's unknown how Harley broke free, but she eventually rejoins Joker at the Monarch Theater alongside the rest of the Joker gang. After Batman exited the Theater with Joker's body, she was visibly distraught and suffered an emotional breakdown.

Harley Quinn's Takes Revenge In Batman: Return To Arkham City

Harley Quinn received her own DLC withBatman: Return To Arkham City Harley's Revenge. Players control Robin to save Batman from Harley, who's convinced Batman was responsible for the Joker's death, Harley captured Batman and imprisoned him inside Joker's statue. Following Joker's death, Harley Quinn's mental state significantly worsened. Harley became far more dangerous due to her mental state, and her trauma runs so deep that she attempted to blow up Batman, Robin, and herself with bombs planted all over the Mill. Though her attempt to rejoin Joker in death is thwarted, she continues her attempts to try and claim vengeance for Joker's death throughout the series' following games.

Harley Quinn's Story Pack Before Batman: Arkham Knight

BeforeBatman: Arkham Knight, Poison Ivy becomes Harley's newest target to recruit for Scarecrow's Alliance. With Penguin's help, Harley breaks into Bludhaven's Police Station, where Poison Ivy is held. The pair built a rapport earlier in the series and enjoyed a close friendship (possibly with romantic subtext). However, before Harley can release Ivy from her cell, Nightwing intervenes, and the two have a brief (albeit brutal) confrontation. Shortly after, Poison Ivy uses her plants to restrain Nightwing, and the Gotham Sirens leave the Bludhaven Police Station. Once the pair reach Scarecrow's Mansion, Harley Quinn joins his Alliance to destroy Batman for good, but Poison Ivy refuses and goes her own way.

Harley Quinn Joins Scarecrow In Batman: Arkham Knight

Nine months after the Joker's death in Batman: Arkham City, Harley Quinn still hasn't conquered her grief. Instead of moving on, Harley Quinn focuses on killing Batman to claim vengeance for Joker's demise. Harley Quinn has become more dangerous than ever and begins a successful supervillain career without Joker's control. Her unpredictability poses a significant danger to Batman and his allies, growing as she meets Henry Adams. An essential plot in Batman: Arkham Knight concerns Joker's blood infecting various individuals. Each victim displays similar traits to Joker, including mental instability and an aptitude for dark humor, before succumbing to his identity entirely.

Rather than accept Joker's death, Harley instead latches onto Henry Adams as a replacement for Joker. Her plan didn't last long though, as Batman captured Henry alongside other infected individuals to try and develop a cure. Henry contacted Harley during his imprisonment, informing her of the situation and leading her to try and "adopt" the potential Jokers. Batman and Robin tried to save these individuals, but they were murdered by Henry before the heroes could contain them. Henry then held Harley at gunpoint before killing himself, claiming Batman was the best heir to Joker's throne. Harley Quinn was arrested and contained shortly after. Following the events of Batman's Knightfall Protocol, Harley Quinn was returned to Arkham Asylum with the rest of the apprehended criminals. It's likely Harley remained here until Amanda Waller recruited her into the Suicide Squad.

Harley Quinn Begins To Heal In Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League

Amanda Waller is the primary handler for the members in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and is responsible for choosing candidates out of the universe's many villains. Harley Quinn is a frequent addition to the supervillain team, utilizing her intelligence, acrobatics, and general lack of concern for her well-being. Her carefree state and joyful disposition suggest that she has conquered her trauma over the Joker's abuse and eventual death. Though little has been revealed about the game's story, Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang face their deadliest opponents in Brainiac's puppet Justice League. Despite her criminal past, she appears horrified when Superman brutally murders a helicopter pilot, suggesting some of her sanity and empathy have returned.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League isBatman Arkhamverse's first full-length game with Harley Quinn as a protagonist. Though she appeared as a playable character in Injustice and Arkham Knight'sHarley Quinn Story Pack, fans can enjoy playing as this chaotic supervillain soon. Though Harley Quinn committed grievous crimes against Gotham City's inhabitants, she is also a victim of Joker's tyrannical legacy. With luck, the Suicide Squad game can allow Harley to continue growing past her traumas and reclaim some of her humanity. Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is scheduled for a 2022 release on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

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About The Author

Natalie Lindner (328 Articles Published)

Natalie Lindner is a Game Features Writer for Screen Rant, creating content on the past, present, and future of games in the industry. Prior to this, she worked out of a writing consultancy in Rhode Island from 2018 to 2021, where she helped college students improve their writing abilities. Natalie has contributed her video game writing to several smaller websites and projects since 2018 and is eager to continue that journey with Screen Rant. Working out of New Hampshire, Natalie spends the time she isn't writing about games outside; hiking or biking. On those rainy days, she can be found striving for action on the latest FPS or perusing the latest comic books.