Sunday, March 27, 2022

Character Analysis: Harley Quinn(Updated)

 

Note: this primarily combines Harley’s post-crises, N52/Rebirth and Batman TAS incarnations. TAS in particular is being included since it’s where she first appeared and much of her lore and character was established there.

Background

Harley's background has been kept fairly consistent over all her media appearances. As a young girl she gains an interest in criminal psychology and becomes a psychiatrist at Arkham asylum. Her interest in criminals is typically  due to an abusive family past, a prior crush on a boy who turned into a murderer or simply wanting to create a tell-all book on Arkham's inmates. Then at Arkham she meets the Joker and becomes enamored with him. Causing her to break him out of captivity and become his villainous sidekick. Starting with the N52, it’s also explained that the Joker threw her into the same vat of chemicals he was exposed to, which bleached her skin similar to his.


Anyway, in most continuities, Harley eventually falls out of favor with the Joker and strikes out on her own. Typically starting off as more of a standalone villain, before gradually becoming an anti-hero. In recent times she even worked directly with the Bat Family as one of their allies, albeit typically under strained circumstances due to her looser moral code. In the original continuity her character was created for(Batman TAS) she eventually fully reforms and has children. With her grandkids Ironically joining the Joker gang seen in Batman Beyond.

Armor

Kevlar vest

A protective kevlar vest.

Weapons

Melee weapons

Knives

Various knives Harley can use for close range cutting attacks.


Hammers/Mallets

Harley’s de facto weapon is a massive hammer. These weapons are generally composed of either metal, stone or wood. 


Baseball bats

Harley’s secondary weapon. A giant bat used for melee strikes. Harley uses ones made of wood, and metal. Sometimes they have spiky protrusions.


Punching gloves

A large punching glove typically attached to a spring. It can be used as a mid-range weapon. Some variations of the weapon can also launch the glove as a projectile.


Electric buzzer

A taser inserted on a buzzer on Harley’s hand. Can be used to shock people with a handshake.


Zillion volt yo yo

A yo-yo that holds an electric charge. It can be used to tie up and shock opponents.


Duel Swords

Twi twin blades Harley can use to cut enemies up.


Explosives


Grenades

Standard military grenades. They explode after a few seconds.


Explosive cigars

Explosive cigars. They go off a few seconds after being lit.


Landmine pies

Landmines disguised as pies. 


Jack in the box bombs

Bombs shaped like jack in the boxes. They play music for a few seconds before going off.


Marble bombs

Bombs shaped like marbles.


Dynamite

Traditional dynamite stacks. They go off after a few seconds of being lit.


Cupcake bombs

Explosive cupcakes. They go off after a few seconds or on impact.


Bombs

Traditional black-powder bombs. Go off a few seconds after being thrown.


Grenade gum

A gum-like explosive plaster. It goes off if exposed to a spark.

https://readcomiconline.to/Comic/Harley-Quinn-2000/Issue-12?id=14833#11


Biological weapons


Joker toxin

Harley has access to Joker's deadly Joker toxin. Said toxin can cause eruptive laughter in those exposed to it, debilitating them and in some cases killing them. Harley has the toxin in its gas form and also has a low dose version attached to a prick on her hand.


Syringes

Syringes that can contain chemical agents like tranquilizers, paralyzers and truth serums.


Ivy mind control concoction

A chemical concoction that Ivy gave Harley. It can be combined with another agent to create a mind-control serum. It works via skin contact or inhalation.


Sleeping gas

Sleeping gas bombs that can knock out opponents. They can even work on Wonder woman.


Poison breath

A gas Harley can breath out that can knock out opponents. It’s likely a biological agent.


Ranged weapons


Pistols/revolvers/misc handguns

Harley often uses various handguns like pistols and revolvers. 


Popgun

An iconic range weapon of Harley. It can shoot giant corks as projectiles, as well as explosives, binding confetti, and Joker toxin. 

Cork rounds

Confetti rounds

Explosive  rounds


Bullet rounds


Joker toxin rounds


Ray guns/Laser guns

A futuristic ray gun that can fire massive lasers.


Shotguns

Various shotgun weapons.


Automatic weapons

Various machine guns that Harley can use from a distance. 


Sniper rifles

A rifle weapon Harley can use to fire from a distance.


Flamethrowers

Various flamethrower weapons that can cut down forests and set opponents on fire.


Rpg-7/Rocket launchers

Missile/rocket launchers used for long-range explosive attacks..


Gatling guns

Gatling gun weapons Harley can use at a distance


Misc weapons

Acid flowers

A flower with an acid projector. The acid can easily melt through most solid objects.


Containment spring

A spring that can expand and bind foes.


Binding silly string

Silly string that can bind opponents in place..


Stunning camera

A camera that blinds an opponent and leaves them in a stunned daze.



Equipment

Smoke bombs

Smoke bombs for quick escapes.


Pogo sticks

Pogo sticks that Harley can ride on for mobility. Some of them have thrusters packed installed for limited flight.


Grapple ropes/Hooks

A rope that can be used to grapple onto ledges or swing from buildings. She also has a version that functions similarly to Batman's long-distance grapple cable devices.


Jetpacks

Jetpacks used for high-speed flight.


Spring feet

Can have attachable springs on her feat to improve jumping and mobility


Abilities

Poison Ivy enhancements

Harley was given a chemical concoction from poison Ivy that gave her moderate superhuman abilities, immunity to toxins and a minor healing factor.

Healing factor

https://readcomiconline.to/Comic/Harley-Quinn-2000/Issue-9?id=14875#17

Toxin immunity

Enhanced stats


Psychoanalysis

Despite her manic attitude, many media depictions do show that Harley is a legitimately intelligent person and does have knowledge on psychiatric concepts.


Misc

https://readcomiconline.to/Comic/Harley-Quinn-2016/Issue-47?id=137783#5

https://imgur.com/a/1EWO5ah


Feats

Strength


Speed/agility


Endurance


Scaling

Batman

After her enhancements, Harley was shown to be at least on par with Bruce physically( though was still a worse fighter)

Batman can


misc

Some other DC street leveler feats include


Experience

Defeating a giant robot https://readcomiconline.li/Comic/Harley-Quinn-2016/Issue-4?id=89398&readType=0#19 
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1 comment:

  1. OswaldApril 3, 2022 at 3:40 PM

    You forgot the feat where she deflects lasers with a hammer

    ReplyDelete

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