DC Confirms Harley Quinn's Hero Era Is Over - Now She's Something Better

Summary Harley Quinn finds fulfillment helping villains find healthier ways to be bad.

Her new role reveals a passion for educating and guiding others, a positive turn in her journey.

Harley's shift from hero to antihero allows her to make a difference in a unique and impactful way.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Harley Quinn #38!It's a new chapter in Harley Quinn's life, and while she may be leaving heroism behind, she's finally found the perfect role for her. Harley might have started out as a villainous sidekick, but recent years have seen her explore a more noble side of the law.

Throughout her long journey of self-discovery, Harley Quinn has struggled to find where she belongs on the hero/villain spectrum and she's rarely found satisfaction. But a new development in her life has presented her with what may wind up being Harley Quinn's ultimate calling.

Harley Quinn's Growth from Super Villain to Super Hero

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Harley Quinn infamously got her start as a costumed criminal after she was convinced to abandon her life as a psychiatrist and join up with the Joker. For years, Harley Quinn faithfully served by her ‘puddin’s’ side, taking untold amounts of physical and mental abuse. Thankfully, with the help of allies, including the support of her future love interest Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn was able to break away from the Joker and dove headfirst into the life of a criminal on her own.

For years, Harley tried acting as a solo villain and even created a few gangs like the Quinntets or the Gang of Harleys (though the latter was more neutral than outright criminal). Quinn also found herself a part of several other morally gray teams like the Secret Six, the Suicide Squad, and the Gotham City Sirens. While not outright heroic, Harley Quinn began using her skills to take out much worse people in the world rather than using them to commit crimes or hurt others.

After a few years of flirting with the role of ‘antihero’, Harley Quinn began working in a more heroic capacity. While she was never given official membership, Harley often worked with the Bat-Family. Harley even allied with them during “Joker War” to take down the Harlequin of Hate for good. Harley’s growth as a hero was cemented when she was recruited to join Superman Jon Kent’s Justice League during Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, though this incarnation barely got past the recruitment stage. Still, Harley Quinn’s days as a common super-villain were far behind her.

Harley Quinn is Back as a Villain For a Good Reason

In Harley Quinn #38 by Tini Howard, Natacha Bustos, Nick Filardi, and Steve Wands, it’s Harley’s birthday and Poison Ivy throws her a surprise party. At the soiree, Harley catches up with two of her old friends, Bonny and Carmen, the Body Doubles, who talk up the idea of doing something ‘bad’ together like the old days. After the party, Harley and Poison Ivy take down a chocolate factory which leads to Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy discussing the former’s current trajectory.

Ivy encourages Harley to get back into her research studying super-villain psychology, which inspires Harley to do a test run. Harley offers up information she stole from the chocolate factory to the Body Doubles and asks if she can observe them in their element. To sweeten the pot, Harley offers up her services on the job. The Body Doubles express doubt over the idea but Harley Quinn believes she can find fulfillment in making sure other villains are going about their work in a healthy way.

Harley Quinn assists the Body Doubles as they rob a yacht belonging to an executive at the chocolate factory. Aside from one gunshot wound, the trio walks away successfully. Harley is happy that she’s found an avenue of work that finally feels right and makes plans to help more up-and-coming villains. At the same time, Harley Quinn is approached by Mister Freeze who’s heard that Harley is teaching lessons in villainy and recruits her to assist him with a new job he has planned.

Harley Quinn is Doing Bad the Right Way

Harley Quinn has been through a lot in recent years, including her recent multiversal escapade. She’s been insistent that she doesn’t want to be someone who gets caught up in huge things, especially when other heroes are involved (she even proclaimed that being on the Justice League was her worst nightmare). But Harley is self-aware enough to know that she doesn’t have the heart to be an outright villain. Harley Quinn might thrive on chaos and excel in kicking ass, but she’s not malevolent.

Harley Quinn's apprehensions of being a hero were explored in Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn #1-2 (2023)!

At her core, Harley is someone who’s drawn to villainy and the psychology behind it. And with her recent stint as a teacher, Harley’s also found that she has a true passion for educating and helping others. It was only a matter of time before she figured out how she could combine these two interests of hers and come up with a new pursuit that would bring her a satisfaction she hadn’t felt in years. It might not be the life of a hero, but it’s something Harley Quinn seems excited about.

Is it a downgrade for Harley Quinn to abandon trying to be a hero? Some may feel that way. But the truth is, she’s always been at her best serving in an antihero capacity. Harley doesn’t like the rules and norms that come with being a superhero, she wants to do things her way and pursue goals that bring her satisfaction, which just isn’t defeating villains. However, Harley Quinn’s new path of studying and helping villains improve could be the most positive undertaking she’s ever had.

Harley Quinn is Helping Villains Become Their Best Selves

Harley Quinn has been a super-villain and knows the pitfalls that people can fall into when they don’t take things like mental health or personal safety into consideration. Now that Harley is throwing her weight into helping villains, she can help them find meaning in what they do. Rather than have villains causing random chaos, Harley Quinn can help redirect their energy towards more positive ways (like how she had the Body Doubles rob an executive who was profiting off of a problematic chocolate factory).

Deep down, Harley Quinn knows she’s not cut out for straightforward heroism. But in a roundabout way, her new path might wind up having a better impact on the world. By working with villains, Harley is making sure they are doing things right and not losing sight of what’s important. Ultimately, Harley is using her past experience as a villain to help her clients experience the same kind of development she found. Who knows if it will work out? But for now, it’s making Harley Quinn happier than she’s been in a while.

Harley Quinn #38 is available now from DC Comics.