DC Just Made The DCU Ignoring Harley Quinn Way Worse

Harley Quinn has been going through a difficult time recently. While she’s never had an easy life, especially considering her past with the Joker, she’s spent the last few years trying to discover who she truly is. She’s not quite a villain, and not exactly a hero either, and has been searching for her place in the DC Universe. Most recently, she fought with the heroes to save the world from Darkseid in DC K.O.

Harley didn’t win the Omega Tournament, but she did get a surprise when she returned to Earth. Superman gave all the competitors a boost of Alpha Energy to send them home. However, things quickly changed for Harley when she discovered Poison Ivy had become the Mayor of Gotham City, causing them to split up. Now, Harley’s taken to fighting crime as a vigilante, patrolling Gotham in a homemade Batsuit. To her surprise, she finds out there’s someone else running around pretending to be Harley Quinn!

How a Breakup Led to Gotham Getting Two Harleys

Issue #51 of Harley Quinn, created by Elliott Kalan, Carlos Olivares, Marissa Louise, and Lucas Gattoni, continues the story immediately after the last issue. We see Batquinn – a violent and unpredictable version of Harley – sharing a meal with Harleen, a version of Harley who seems normal and existed before she met the Joker. While Batquinn is distracted eating lasagna, she doesn’t tell their landlady, Mrs. Grimaldi, about a deal that’s been made. Harleen explains that everything began a few weeks earlier, shortly after Harley and Poison Ivy ended their relationship. Harley was deeply upset by the breakup, and to make things worse, she’s also struggling with Quinntelect, which represents her own strict conscience.

Quinntelect keeps blaming Harley for Ivy ending their relationship. However, the more Quinntelect criticizes Harley, the more powerful Harley becomes, manifesting as Alpha Energy. Finally pushed too far, Harley essentially separates from her own mind, which unleashes the Alpha Energy and causes her to split into two distinct beings. Quinntelect transforms into a seemingly normal, slightly pink-tinted Harleen, while Harley’s body, now acting on pure instinct, improvises a Batman costume and adopts the identity of ‘Batquinn’.

Grimaldi believes the story, but wonders if Harley’s playful personality has been lost now that her violent and rational sides are separate beings. Batquinn, tired of the discussion, departs to begin her patrol. Harley observes that the more time passes with them apart, the more Batquinn’s mental state deteriorates. Grimaldi asks how Harley intends to reunite the two sides of herself, but Harley doesn’t want to become Harley Quinn again. Batquinn feels similarly, preferring her current role as a serious and dedicated crime fighter.

Harley Quinn is Losing It as Batquinn

I’ve always known Harley Quinn was trouble, but there was something different when she seemed…focused. She’s never been a traditional hero like Superman or Wonder Woman, but deep down, I always sensed a good heart. Now, though? It’s heartbreaking. She’s completely lost it, running around Gotham in a pathetic, falling-apart Batsuit, and just…attacking people. She thinks she’s doing what Batman would do, which is the really sad part, but she’s just causing pain – to others, yes, but especially to herself. It’s a mess, honestly.

Harley often helps heroes, but she’s never truly been one of them, so the Justice League doesn’t usually pay much attention to what she’s up to. Right now, though, she desperately needs help. Someone needs to keep her from losing control as Batquinn and also help her reconnect with the part of herself known as Quinntelect. Unfortunately, aside from a couple of people in the Bat-Family, it doesn’t look like anyone is going to step up and help, which is a real problem because she needs support now more than ever.

I believe Harley and Batquinn will eventually reconcile, but her recovery would be much quicker and more stable with support from someone who cares. She’s already caused a lot of damage, and if she doesn’t get help soon, she could end up in serious danger or even hurt someone, considering how aggressively Batquinn fights. Hopefully, someone realizes Harley needs assistance and steps in, because without it, she poses a significant threat to everyone in Gotham.

2026-04-26 18:40

How a Breakup Led to Gotham Getting Two Harleys

Harley Quinn is Losing It as Batquinn

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