I assume the Joker's version of Silent Hill is a lovely resort town where all the staff of things like attractions, hotels, and restaurants are Batman.
@@dannyfenlon2476 Well when you think about it, this would probably be Joker's version of Silent Hill. He thinks he's won only to find his legacy slowly fading away before being locked up in an asylum forever, forgotten by everyone who ever knew him.
Ah good old Harley, the exposure she’s gotten over decades and her origin from Batman TAS makes her one of the most memorable comic book villianesses ever. Most recent version of her I’ve seen is in the current DC Super Hero Girls where she’s friends with Barbara Gordon in civilian life and of course her enemy in super life. A neat touch is having her civilian look be based on her N52 design, while in costume it’s classic Harley. Even more amusing is that Harley in that show is voiced by Tara Strong, so when we have Barbara and Harley on screen together it’s Tara Strong talking to herself.
The thing about the Joker is that he's only funny when the stakes are cartoonish and played for laughs. When his crimes veer too close to reality, he stops being funny and becomes a typical serial killer and terrorist. A monster with nothing funny inside. And that's where a lot of Batman writers fail with the Joker, and why we have gotten to the point of wishing that Batman should just break the Joker's neck.
Evan Pan-Bao I mean I’m not at the place of wanting to have the Jokers neck broken but I believe that Bats could break his neck in such a way that he’d survive and I’d love to see wheelchair bound Joker, just to see what he’d be like in that situation.
Unrelated but hey Evan Pan-Bao, I‘ve seen you on Suede’s Pokemon Journey videos! You hang out on Linkara’s videos here too. On the subject of Harley Quinn though, I really like Margot Robbie’s portrayal (since I’m actually still rooting for the DCEU to continue its recent success) buuuut not enough to be annoyed with the fact that she’s completely overshadowing the other Birds of Prey In a TEAM FILM is annoying
I 100% agree that her Jester outfit is the best look she's had. And I love it when other pieces of media use it as her main outfit while the modern design is her Civilian clothing. However, one thing came to mind: Her Jester outfit is basically the symbol of her being with Joker. So there's an uncomfortable layer to the idea of her keeping it despite trying to distance herself away from Joker. Although there's also the argument of claiming it as her own. You know, insults becoming "Our" word.
Harley used to be an abused lover who tragically just couldn’t leave the one who put her through so much pain. Now she’s DCs Deadpool. (Even though they had a much better candidate in Lobo)
@@TheAniSi I feel like they should have been a little more creative with her character than what they came up with. Like maybe they could have made her return to being a therapist who this time she travels the world doing the reverse of what the Joker did to her and seduces her patients into doing violent and deranged acts, creating new villains for the DC heroes too fight.
georgemiser Well you see the issue is more HOW she developed. Back when she originally came out she was a well written tragic villain, you felt sad for her but at the same time she was still pretty cruel in her crimes and is helping a psychopath, just look at what Harley and the Joker did to Robin and you’ll see what I mean. Now however they have taken what was a good character and turned her into a discount Deadpool. And the way they handle her it’s like they want you to primarily sympathize with her despite the fact she committed numerous crimes some of which includes murder of the innocent. Look at Heroes in Crisis where we’re supposed to feel bad for he when she’s grieving for Poison Ivy... while she’s currently trying to kill Booster Gold, a hero, and that is simply played for laughs despite the fact she HAS committed murder before. And there’s cases like Injustice 2 where she is supposed to be a HERO despite her numerous sins, even in that game the problem is apparent due to the fact she helped the Joker blow up a city and that entire situation was the reason Superman turned into a dictator and everything went to shit. So a once well written tragic villain is now an “anti-hero” that is made primarily sympathetic despite their sins, which some writers will outright ignore. So she’s basically what DC sometimes do with Deathstroke, ironic considering in Heroes in Crisis she has a moment that’s similar to Deathstroke’s appearance in Identity Crisis where she trounces the trinity in a way that realistically wouldn’t happen if they remembered their powers. So in essence the problem is that her character like any nuance she had.
Are we going to pretend that Deadpool's backstory isn't as horrific? If not more so seeing as the literal incarnation of death is in love with him because of his numerous flirtations. Or the various traumas. That's to say that, even Deadpool kind of shouldn't be Deadpool. lol
Joker's speech to Harley about her reawakening long-forgotten feelings in him is a nice touch, especially if you've read The Killing Joke. Moments like this that humanize the Joker and make him - dare I say it - somewhat sympathetic, are rare, but very effective and special.
It's kinda funny that the first introduction to comics of a character who's foundation is an abusive relationship of one-sided love has the Joker seemingly make it two sided.
A villain is far more effective as a character if they are given some humanity like this. Too often the Joker is such a cardboard psycho that all he's good for is being a punching bag for Batman.
Agreed. I like when they show that the Joker, on some level, does have feelings for Harley. It adds depth to his character and gives a reason for Harley to keep going back to him.
Oddest thing to me about Harley Quinn is why she even exists. She was created as a fill-in role because they originally planned for the Joker to leap from a cake in one scene... except that he was already in the scene anyway so they decided "fuck it, why not create an OC one-off?" Harley Quinn was a complete blank slate and spoke maybe once or twice in that episode if at all before intending to shuffle her off like the many interchangeable henchmen in the series. Her relationship with the Joker wasn't even a thing until "Harlequinade" a lot later. For reasons I don't really understand, viewers really liked this shell of a character and they brought her back in future episodes and fleshed her out. Maybe it was the design they liked? I dunno and it will never cease to confuse me. Odder enough, I can think of maybe three actresses who have played her in mainstream media. Sorkin, Tara Strong and Margo Robbie. Probably has the least amount of different actresses for such a widely used character.
@lorddrayvon I mostly think why people claim Harley Quinn is so lovable and beloved is due to her charming and hilarious personality, an iconic design (and one that’s pure fanservice), and her tragic history with her beloved “Mr J”. I know not all people are gonna agree with me, but I still think that she made a great impression on the DCAU as a whole. It got so good that she made it into the DCU in her later years, with mixed results.
I’m no stickler for the first always being the best but in the case of Harley Quinn’s design, yeah, the classic really is the best. I blame the Arkham games. And the horndogs.
Agreed. Practical as well as showing off everything and nothing at the same time. Sexy is about what you don't see as much as you do. And Harley ain't gonna give anyone a free show.
I like how her most important relationships and dynamics with the Joker and Poison Ivy are pretty much established at the very beginning of her character. Though I ship her with Ivy. By the way Linkara great review. I'm a huge fan.
I don't know the story explains the relationship in very broad strokes. We don't see any conversations between her and the Joker as she falls for him. They just meet in one panel and the next they're making out.
Don't forget. A physicist who doesn't even live in Gotham was allowed to commit his EX-wife for committing a crime in Opal City that she'd never actually been officially arrested for. Clearly, you can drop off anyone at Arkham, no questions asked.
The most interesting incarnation of Harley was in Season 2 of the Telltale Batman Game where she's the dominant one in the relationship and John Doe (who eventually becomes the Joker) has this whole "I hope Harley Senpai notices me" thing with her. Shame that Telltale was run by scumbags but still.
Legoking 616 Margot Robbie, on Neighbours from 2008 to 2011. Her character Donna was my favourite for most of that time, though that's partly because almost everyone else was getting awful storylines for a while. But also because she was possibly the best teen actor they'd had since Guy Pearce.
Personally, I prefer the Joker/Harley relationship in TAS where it was more akin to a sitcom couple (which made sense). Yeah, Joker's in charge, but Harley had her moments of sniping back, even willing to shoot him thinking the gun she was holding was real--something the Joker seemed proud of! Even in this book, Joker admits he started caring for her. There's something about the exaggerations done for comedy's sake that I think come into play here. It's when things got extremely physically abusive (being thrown out a window) that I felt they were going too far. Never really got invested in the Harley/Ivy deal.
Joker/Harley in the animation had a, well can't say better but almost equal relationship. Joker was dominated most of time but when Harley got tired of his shit she stood up to him. Like that episode when Joker got rich but didn't bother to get Harley out prison, so she broke out of jail and beat him in the back of the police car. Technically Harley is abusive too but its treated as comedic. Like those TV couples that fight all the time but kiss and make up by the end so audience don't notice how abusive it is. In comics however Joker is just to much for Harley, he's way more dark and dangerous for a light character like Harley so I see why they separated.
I'd say the best/least dysfunctional Harley/Joker relationship is from The Batman. Those two get along pretty well, are willing to abandon each other, and have some legitimately cute moments.
@@austinrutledge7531they also got along well in the Lego Batman Movie (though in that film Joker is all but confirmed to be gay for Batman and thus Harley is only his BFF)
I like this introduction of Harley Quinn in the comics and her own first serie is short but good. It's her original and best costume. One thing that bother me, the writers tend to forget the origins of her mild super strength and super agility even before the new 52's nonsense.
It’s funny, The purpose of Secret Origins Mouth is to look back at the heroes from either the Golden, Sliver, or the Bronze’s Age of superheroes or in the case of last year the dark ages, And now here we are, A villain’s origin of the most popular henchwoman.
He kinda removed that limit during the last 2 year with Deadpool and Namor . Nowadays he mostly just looks at whatever charterers that happens to stare in movies at the time.
@@jimhjortsberg2990 or the characters he just wants to showcase. i mean, martian manhunter isnt getting a movie for the time being (sadly), and even less namor
@@ianr.navahuber2195 He'd have to leave Supergirl for that to happen, like how Deathstroke proper is pretty much gone, and Harley Quinn only got an easter egg early on because Suicide Squad 2016 was coming out (and Deathstroke had a tease at the end of BAtman v. Superman iirc)
@@ToHoldNothing Why would you say that? Until Justice League flopped, they were planning an Ezra Miller Flash movie with the CW series still on the air.
@@carlrood4457 Flash was potentially big enough they could ignore it, but you can bring up Batman and Superman's general lack of presence in CW shows as well (beyond Batman being mentioned and Superman showing up occasionally), which tells me there's specific embargoes in place. But I've also heard that Flash move is still in development, which suggests either Barry Allen in CW Flash may disappear eventually or there's a different arrangement versus things like Deathstroke's supposed planned appearances in future DCEU entries or the Suicide Squad in terms of particular membership (including poor Deadshot who might as well be dead in Arrowverse)
Like I still like Harley ,but crimney she rivals her ex in terms of over-saturation. Poison Ivy only gets acknowledged at all because she’s her girlfriend
I love -- Starfire? Kind of hard to tell when you can only see the eyes and ears -- just sitting on your lap staring at the camera during one of the segments. Your kitties are absolutely adorable. :p And yes, this looks like a solid introduction for good old Harley -- though the comic goes maybe a touch TOO exaggerated with the expressions sometimes. Look at those chompers in the panel where she's rhapsodizing about getting drugged! And the ending, where she goes off with Joker. . .ooof. Expected, but still depressing. I agree, the comic should have at least ended on Ivy going "oh for f-'s sake, Harley."
Harley Quinn TAS at least gave Harley a good reason for why she ditched the jester outfit: it was something she wore for the Joker and once she'd broken up with him she was trying to forge her own identity for herself. I also liked that they established there that she'd always been a rotten, messed up person instead of being an innocent and naive youth who'd been tricked and corrupted by the Joker: that trope is way too common.
Interestingly, that seems to have been more the intention with the original Harley Quinn too. Notice that in both this comic (see 5:25 of this review) and the original Animated Series continuity, it's said that she wanted to work with the Joker and other Arkham patients not out of a genuine desire to help them, but to exploit them and write a tell-all book. The Mad Love comic flat-out says that "Even from the beginning, Harley Quinn was no angel", and frames her as having been a pretty shallow, self-serving person. (They also imply she cheated her way through grad school by sleeping with professors, which is a take I dislike for multiple reasons, but at the time seems to have been intended to further paint her negatively.)
@@Luanna801 Yeah, I hated all the times that writers have tried to have Harley get her doctorate via sleeping with the professors. It's just so shallow and sexist a move.
@@Macrochenia I completely agree. Whether they paint her as a genuinely good, idealistic person or a shallow opportunist (or a mix of the two), I'd rather she be portrayed as having had the actual smarts to get there. It also flat-out makes no sense she could've slept with EVERY professor necessary to get a PhD.
I wonder if Linkara has been reading the ongoing Harleen series by Stjepan Sejic, and if so I wonder what he thinks about. Personally, I think it gives a fantastic update to Harley Quinn's origin story that's equal parts intelligent, modern, introspective, nuanced, and beautifully drawn.
2:54 Aquaman: Harley!! Is it time for my cameo yet?! Note: Yes, I didn't do it last time on the Martain Manhunter, because I actually forgot what Aquaman just said.
I can’t remember if it was this comic or another issue of her series, but early on they had a really interesting way to show Harley’s insanity. From he point of view the world was the animated series (she shoots a woman in the head and sees her lying on the ground with birds flying around her head) then it cuts to the more detailed style of the comic and shows that nope that woman was just dead. It was a great way to show that she’s delusional and ignoring the darker aspects of being with the joker for the sake of her happiness.
That’s the second year that Linkara is doing a Secret Origins Month on a comic from the 90’s, And it’s the late 90’s, And also the first time he’s reviewing a character’s origin that originally created on Television.
Thank you for addressing Paul Dini AND Bruce Timm. They are both creators, and Timm developed some excellent storytelling for Harley's episodes... E.g. Mad Love, one of the best.
I agree on Batman's cape being a ridiculous length in this comic. It definitely bothered me more than it should at 9:29 that there was no way Batman could actually fully stand up while standing on his cape that way!
Thanks to the Harley Quinn animated series. I can only now ship Ivy with Kiteman and nobody else. That was actually my favorite part of that series and I love that they subverted expectations. I mean you just figure in her first solo series that has Ivy as a major character. That the creative team would go with the tried and true pairing of Ivy and Harley. Yet they instead went in the complete opposite direction by having her fall for one of the biggest losers in the DCU. I mean I love Kiteman I haven't ever viewed him as a loser ever since the origin story they did for him in The War of Jokes and Riddles. But still was shocking that they decided to have him actually be a legit couple with Ivy. Would have been so easy and much safer to just pair her with Harley.
I like how in the ruins of the city all the villains, and Batman, all continue to bother with elaborate costumes, even putting their henchmen in them, except for one person. Alfred sensibly dropped his formal wear for the "J Crew Alfred" look.
The "seduction" of Dr. Harley may have been left out here but I like the addition of her spending a while in Arkham as I thought that her turn to supper evil crazy was rushed in the animated series. She just decided one day to be evil and crazy. While in real life it has been shown that sane people put in asylums go crazy, and if she was getting the wrong treatment that would be even worse. On the romance that some have given her with Ivy. I'm against it. There is an old trope about lesbians being the result of abusive men, right up there with if the right man came along she could be fixed. And Harley never showed any signs of being interested in women before she left the Joker. It's one of those representational traps for creators, something that seems positive until you see how it feeds a negative.
6:44 Honestly, I always thought the jester outfit looked better without the hat. Personally, I think her best character designs are in Arkham City, Arkham Knight, Injustice 1, her animated series, and Rebirth. I do agree her Suicide Squad outfit was terrible.
Great episode for a great character, but the thing that made me laugh the most? How when Linkara is doing the Batman confetti bomb bit and the half a kitty head we see just stares onto the camera for the whole act.
There is always a kitty in my lap when I'm home watching you so seeing a kitty on your lap made me chuckle. Yeah I also see the Joker as asexual, I just don't see him with any thoughts of stuff like that. All he wants is to make the world a mess, laughing in the corner while it dies. No no you have at least 2 people in a war of dr pepper, granted my war on mountain dew is more important but I got your back against that doctor.
6:43 - Amen, brother. Personally, I don't understand the whole Harley-Ivy thing. Harley's too gah-gah for the Joker for me to think that anyone else could possibly make her happy, Ivy's a misanthrope who wants to kill all of humanity... I can see how she might take pity on Harley, but is that really enough to make her see Harley as anything more than another meat-sack that's callously killing the Earth? Granted, the earliest Bruce Timm pinups of the two of them being all snuggly were nice to look at, but... really?
I think the dynamic between the two in the Harley Quinn animated serie is cool, both helping each other to cure of their defaults, Harley is socializing Ivy, and Ivy is supporting Harley in her fight to get rid of Joker's influence.
I dont mind the idea of Harley getting a new costume. (Especially as a sign of character development and being done with the joker) now if anyone could get the whole: good design down we'd be golden
Still admittedly it can sometimes hard to tell different the genuine complaints and the #NotMyHarley crowd….which by that I mean those who prefer her pre-redemption arc as a docile abusive victim
They're more friends with benefits. Ivy doesn't want to commit because she focus on her mission so Harley dates other people. Harley even get engaged to some guy in her own comics but then the guy get murder. 🤷
@@shmee123ful she was turned into a kind of plant thing in Batman vs The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, but that's it's own continuity. I don't now anything about her being killed
12.34 pretty much canon ? I haven't read Harley's series for a while, but the last time i did they were pretty much into an open relationship together. They are one of the best examples of non heteronormative representation on DC, and i can't stress enough how much do i love those two as a couple
I really appreciate that when you do your Secret Origins videos that you use the story from when they first appeared in the connected universe. Especially with DC considering how important it is to the stories they tell. Always amazing content👌
Glad to see you have the same opinion on Harley's costume. I miss the days where she actually looked like, you know, a harlequin. Everything that came after this were mostly a hot-topic version of a "slutty clown" Halloween costume...
@@jonbrewer297 then again, the DC multiverse operates on basically "52 are the cores" (although after Metal there should be 53 but apparently people forgot that new ape earth), but on other mediums, everything is fair game (remember how the multiverse was done in Crisis on 2 earths movie). So, if there is no earth 3/good, darkseid, then you have to do it (although technically speaking, the "earth 3" darkseid, AKA, a more heroic/morality inverted darkseid; is the darkseid from the gods and monsters universe. after all, in that film/universe, the new gods betrayed the peace act. one that darkseid was apparently willing to withold.)
@@jonbrewer297 I never bought into that anyway. It just smacks of pretension. And as much as I respect Jack Kirby, "Granny Goodness" is a terrible villain name.
I feel one variation that might be good for Harleys outfit is to swap out the cap for the dual tone hair she had in gods and monsters, not blonde with bubble gum pink and baby blue tips, but black and red. It’d be a good way keep most of her iconography while removing the uncomfortable looking headgear, plus she could always just return to her classic look by donning the cap again or revert to her new look if the cap gets blown off in a explosion or brawl.
Doctor Arkham being corrupt and spiteful is believable if you realize that Harley is living in a crazy bizaro version of New Jersey, I bet Arkham has friends in machine politics in the very bipartisan evil.
The opening kind of reminded me of Dominic Noble doing the Lost in Adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. There, he had to explain the book, itself, was an adaptation of a radio series and that the author would make his own changes between various versions.
Linkara: "Behold this stunning, beautiful depiction - of an abusive relationship."
Me: "Yup, that's about the size of it."
Cat:"I am in this scene now and nothing will change that. Just film around me, human!"
He was quick to accept his mew masters
Essholes
@@ZgermanGuy. And he, for one, welcomed his new feline overlords.
@@adamdavis1648 all hail Lord pussycat
I assume the Joker's version of Silent Hill is a lovely resort town where all the staff of things like attractions, hotels, and restaurants are Batman.
That sounds hilarious.
It would be filled with newspapers saying "JOKER DIES, GOTHAM DOESN'T CARE"
@@TheSkully343 so the ending of Arkham knight
@@dannyfenlon2476 Well when you think about it, this would probably be Joker's version of Silent Hill.
He thinks he's won only to find his legacy slowly fading away before being locked up in an asylum forever, forgotten by everyone who ever knew him.
More like a job as a booth operator. THAT is his hell !
Ah good old Harley, the exposure she’s gotten over decades and her origin from Batman TAS makes her one of the most memorable comic book villianesses ever.
Most recent version of her I’ve seen is in the current DC Super Hero Girls where she’s friends with Barbara Gordon in civilian life and of course her enemy in super life. A neat touch is having her civilian look be based on her N52 design, while in costume it’s classic Harley. Even more amusing is that Harley in that show is voiced by Tara Strong, so when we have Barbara and Harley on screen together it’s Tara Strong talking to herself.
That actually happened so often to her, i wouldnt be surprised if she is used to it by now.
Ivy is also voiced by Tera Strong
Currently there is a series of DC Black Label books by Stjepan Sejic called Harleen. Its really good. He just finished book 3
At this point Tara Strong voices like half the girls from your childhood.
kyuven And occasional boys (like Ben Tennyson and Timmy Turner).
Watching this in memory of Arleen Sorken, who has tragically passed away today 😢
RIP to the definitive Harley Quinn
I promise I won't forget about her.
9:59 Look, Bat-kara has his new sidekick with him, Bat-Cat!
You mean Nightpaw?
“You mean Meow-bin”
Catbara
JamesTheBrony/JTB The cat’s just sitting there like “what is weird hooman doing?”
Tom King intesifies
10:48
Or, to quote Alucard from Hellsing Ultimate Abridged: "There's NO ONE ALIVE who could comprehend my sexual preference!"
So in other words Ms. Quinn.....CHE-CHE-CHE-CHE-CHECK YOUR PRIVILEGE!!!!!!!!
You beat me to it. Well played.
“That’s right, it’s a blast from your past with that sass and loli ass!”
"I hate everyone equally, I'm pretty sure I used to be a girl during WWII..."
Glad to see I was far from being the only one who got a massive "Hellsing Abridged" vibe from that sentence ^_^
You got to love the cat staring into the camera at 10:00 as if she's thinking, "Out of all the humans to end up with, I ended up with *this* one." ;)
9:58
Bat-kara: "I am the night!"
Bat-cat: "I am the neko!"
I had a cat named Neko.
"Its basically already canon."
Excuse you, it is straight up canon.
Oh yes!
Harley Quinn S2 spoilers
Not that DC want you to know it.
To quote The Dom on abusive relationships in fiction: "Too real man, too real"
I misread that as "Dr. Doom" and was like "Whaaaa …?"
The thing about the Joker is that he's only funny when the stakes are cartoonish and played for laughs. When his crimes veer too close to reality, he stops being funny and becomes a typical serial killer and terrorist. A monster with nothing funny inside. And that's where a lot of Batman writers fail with the Joker, and why we have gotten to the point of wishing that Batman should just break the Joker's neck.
Evan Pan-Bao I mean I’m not at the place of wanting to have the Jokers neck broken but I believe that Bats could break his neck in such a way that he’d survive and I’d love to see wheelchair bound Joker, just to see what he’d be like in that situation.
Unrelated but hey Evan Pan-Bao, I‘ve seen you on Suede’s Pokemon Journey videos! You hang out on Linkara’s videos here too.
On the subject of Harley Quinn though, I really like Margot Robbie’s portrayal (since I’m actually still rooting for the DCEU to continue its recent success) buuuut not enough to be annoyed with the fact that she’s completely overshadowing the other Birds of Prey In a TEAM FILM is annoying
I 100% agree that her Jester outfit is the best look she's had. And I love it when other pieces of media use it as her main outfit while the modern design is her Civilian clothing.
However, one thing came to mind: Her Jester outfit is basically the symbol of her being with Joker. So there's an uncomfortable layer to the idea of her keeping it despite trying to distance herself away from Joker.
Although there's also the argument of claiming it as her own. You know, insults becoming "Our" word.
10:00
cat: this show belongs to me now. the human linkara is my slave.
The better part is there's another meowster running around Linkara's home
@@OMartinez91
cat: our numbers increase. soon, we will control all.
Linkara's Mark Hamill's Joker impression is pretty good.
It's pretty easy once you nail it, his verbal tic is almost unmistakable.
@Darth_ Madara literally anyone can do it but it's still next to impossible to master
His Batman impression is also really good.
@@KaiKrimson56 That depends on which Batman he's trying to imitate. To me, it sounds like a slightly less gravelly Christian Bale.
Harley used to be an abused lover who tragically just couldn’t leave the one who put her through so much pain.
Now she’s DCs Deadpool.
(Even though they had a much better candidate in Lobo)
Why do you people want her to come back to the Joker? She'd developed, OK? She's NEVER coming back to him!
georgemiser
It’s not so much that I hate she developed away from joker it’s what she’s developed into that’s the problem.
@@TheAniSi I feel like they should have been a little more creative with her character than what they came up with. Like maybe they could have made her return to being a therapist who this time she travels the world doing the reverse of what the Joker did to her and seduces her patients into doing violent and deranged acts, creating new villains for the DC heroes too fight.
georgemiser Well you see the issue is more HOW she developed. Back when she originally came out she was a well written tragic villain, you felt sad for her but at the same time she was still pretty cruel in her crimes and is helping a psychopath, just look at what Harley and the Joker did to Robin and you’ll see what I mean. Now however they have taken what was a good character and turned her into a discount Deadpool. And the way they handle her it’s like they want you to primarily sympathize with her despite the fact she committed numerous crimes some of which includes murder of the innocent. Look at Heroes in Crisis where we’re supposed to feel bad for he when she’s grieving for Poison Ivy... while she’s currently trying to kill Booster Gold, a hero, and that is simply played for laughs despite the fact she HAS committed murder before. And there’s cases like Injustice 2 where she is supposed to be a HERO despite her numerous sins, even in that game the problem is apparent due to the fact she helped the Joker blow up a city and that entire situation was the reason Superman turned into a dictator and everything went to shit. So a once well written tragic villain is now an “anti-hero” that is made primarily sympathetic despite their sins, which some writers will outright ignore. So she’s basically what DC sometimes do with Deathstroke, ironic considering in Heroes in Crisis she has a moment that’s similar to Deathstroke’s appearance in Identity Crisis where she trounces the trinity in a way that realistically wouldn’t happen if they remembered their powers. So in essence the problem is that her character like any nuance she had.
Are we going to pretend that Deadpool's backstory isn't as horrific? If not more so seeing as the literal incarnation of death is in love with him because of his numerous flirtations. Or the various traumas. That's to say that, even Deadpool kind of shouldn't be Deadpool. lol
LEGO Batman: "Of course the ending focused on me. I'M BATMAN!"
10:03
Did... Did that cat just wink at the camera?
Holy crap, she *did* wink! That's both adorable and hilarious!
Matt Harvey That cat can see us! She can see beyond the 4th Wall!
Joker's speech to Harley about her reawakening long-forgotten feelings in him is a nice touch, especially if you've read The Killing Joke. Moments like this that humanize the Joker and make him - dare I say it - somewhat sympathetic, are rare, but very effective and special.
It's kinda funny that the first introduction to comics of a character who's foundation is an abusive relationship of one-sided love has the Joker seemingly make it two sided.
A villain is far more effective as a character if they are given some humanity like this. Too often the Joker is such a cardboard psycho that all he's good for is being a punching bag for Batman.
Agreed. I like when they show that the Joker, on some level, does have feelings for Harley. It adds depth to his character and gives a reason for Harley to keep going back to him.
Oddest thing to me about Harley Quinn is why she even exists. She was created as a fill-in role because they originally planned for the Joker to leap from a cake in one scene... except that he was already in the scene anyway so they decided "fuck it, why not create an OC one-off?" Harley Quinn was a complete blank slate and spoke maybe once or twice in that episode if at all before intending to shuffle her off like the many interchangeable henchmen in the series. Her relationship with the Joker wasn't even a thing until "Harlequinade" a lot later. For reasons I don't really understand, viewers really liked this shell of a character and they brought her back in future episodes and fleshed her out. Maybe it was the design they liked? I dunno and it will never cease to confuse me. Odder enough, I can think of maybe three actresses who have played her in mainstream media. Sorkin, Tara Strong and Margo Robbie. Probably has the least amount of different actresses for such a widely used character.
@lorddrayvon I mostly think why people claim Harley Quinn is so lovable and beloved is due to her charming and hilarious personality, an iconic design (and one that’s pure fanservice), and her tragic history with her beloved “Mr J”. I know not all people are gonna agree with me, but I still think that she made a great impression on the DCAU as a whole. It got so good that she made it into the DCU in her later years, with mixed results.
9:58 - the cat staring at the camera from the very bottom of the frame fills me with dread.
And is just the cutest little puddin'.
I agree with Harley outfit. This one is the best.
I’m no stickler for the first always being the best but in the case of Harley Quinn’s design, yeah, the classic really is the best.
I blame the Arkham games. And the horndogs.
Modern designed are trying way to hard to be sexy.
Agreed. Practical as well as showing off everything and nothing at the same time. Sexy is about what you don't see as much as you do. And Harley ain't gonna give anyone a free show.
Arkham City wasn't a bad in-between. Arkham Knight was too much and Asylum was supposed to be dorky imo looking like a nurse
Thank you 😑
9:42 No, Batman's Kryptonite: COLOR AND HAPPINESS!!!
9:59 KITTY! (and she is looking into my soul!)
16:31 Gotta love that Batman's reaction to the letter is the average Crazy Steve panel in ASBAR.
-Teo
Very good Mark Hamill joker impersonation
I liked the guy who played him in batman vs teenage mutant ninja turtles though he is missing the squickyness
@@ZgermanGuy. That was Troy Baker.
@9:58 nod to Catwoman? LOL love the random kitty cameos in your videos from time to time!
Harley Quinn the saddest thing in the Batman animated series, harley is one of my favorite characters in fiction.
Good thing she hooked up with Nightwing and started a family in the end
Laughs in Mr Freeze
Laughs in Two Face
@@autumbreeze1129 wait when did that happend
Autum Breeze i choose not to ask any follow ups
I like how her most important relationships and dynamics with the Joker and Poison Ivy are pretty much established at the very beginning of her character. Though I ship her with Ivy.
By the way Linkara great review. I'm a huge fan.
Well as the story shows up to that point she’s not in love with him, she’s *infatuated* with him.
I don't know the story explains the relationship in very broad strokes. We don't see any conversations between her and the Joker as she falls for him. They just meet in one panel and the next they're making out.
RIP Arleen Sorkin and Kevin Conroy
Don't forget. A physicist who doesn't even live in Gotham was allowed to commit his EX-wife for committing a crime in Opal City that she'd never actually been officially arrested for. Clearly, you can drop off anyone at Arkham, no questions asked.
I honestly think that Linkara's Joker impression is the best one in his arsenal.
The most interesting incarnation of Harley was in Season 2 of the Telltale Batman Game where she's the dominant one in the relationship and John Doe (who eventually becomes the Joker) has this whole "I hope Harley Senpai notices me" thing with her. Shame that Telltale was run by scumbags but still.
7:37 OMG I dont think I've heard your Joker voice in a long time if not ever. You do a amazing Mark Hamill Joker impression.
1:07 Kind of interesting to me that two of Harley's actors got their start on Soaps.
Who was the other one?
Legoking 616 Margot Robbie, on Neighbours from 2008 to 2011. Her character Donna was my favourite for most of that time, though that's partly because almost everyone else was getting awful storylines for a while. But also because she was possibly the best teen actor they'd had since Guy Pearce.
I see.
9:58 I swear that cat is staring into my very SOUL!
You should totally review “Harleen”
It’s such a good retelling of the story!
Personally, I prefer the Joker/Harley relationship in TAS where it was more akin to a sitcom couple (which made sense). Yeah, Joker's in charge, but Harley had her moments of sniping back, even willing to shoot him thinking the gun she was holding was real--something the Joker seemed proud of! Even in this book, Joker admits he started caring for her. There's something about the exaggerations done for comedy's sake that I think come into play here. It's when things got extremely physically abusive (being thrown out a window) that I felt they were going too far.
Never really got invested in the Harley/Ivy deal.
Joker/Harley in the animation had a, well can't say better but almost equal relationship. Joker was dominated most of time but when Harley got tired of his shit she stood up to him. Like that episode when Joker got rich but didn't bother to get Harley out prison, so she broke out of jail and beat him in the back of the police car. Technically Harley is abusive too but its treated as comedic. Like those TV couples that fight all the time but kiss and make up by the end so audience don't notice how abusive it is. In comics however Joker is just to much for Harley, he's way more dark and dangerous for a light character like Harley so I see why they separated.
I'd say the best/least dysfunctional Harley/Joker relationship is from The Batman.
Those two get along pretty well, are willing to abandon each other, and have some legitimately cute moments.
@@austinrutledge7531they also got along well in the Lego Batman Movie (though in that film Joker is all but confirmed to be gay for Batman and thus Harley is only his BFF)
I like this introduction of Harley Quinn in the comics and her own first serie is short but good. It's her original and best costume.
One thing that bother me, the writers tend to forget the origins of her mild super strength and super agility even before the new 52's nonsense.
It’s funny, The purpose of Secret Origins Mouth is to look back at the heroes from either the Golden, Sliver, or the Bronze’s Age of superheroes or in the case of last year the dark ages, And now here we are, A villain’s origin of the most popular henchwoman.
He kinda removed that limit during the last 2 year with Deadpool and Namor . Nowadays he mostly just looks at whatever charterers that happens to stare in movies at the time.
@@jimhjortsberg2990 or the characters he just wants to showcase. i mean, martian manhunter isnt getting a movie for the time being (sadly), and even less namor
@@ianr.navahuber2195 He'd have to leave Supergirl for that to happen, like how Deathstroke proper is pretty much gone, and Harley Quinn only got an easter egg early on because Suicide Squad 2016 was coming out (and Deathstroke had a tease at the end of BAtman v. Superman iirc)
@@ToHoldNothing Why would you say that? Until Justice League flopped, they were planning an Ezra Miller Flash movie with the CW series still on the air.
@@carlrood4457 Flash was potentially big enough they could ignore it, but you can bring up Batman and Superman's general lack of presence in CW shows as well (beyond Batman being mentioned and Superman showing up occasionally), which tells me there's specific embargoes in place.
But I've also heard that Flash move is still in development, which suggests either Barry Allen in CW Flash may disappear eventually or there's a different arrangement versus things like Deathstroke's supposed planned appearances in future DCEU entries or the Suicide Squad in terms of particular membership (including poor Deadshot who might as well be dead in Arrowverse)
"I GOT BAT-DIBS....!" You sir, are a genius.
Ah, the good old days before DC ran Harley into the ground through overexposure.
or before they decided to ditch the harlequin outfit for roller derby girl.
And before she went from an interesting and unique character to Deadpool with boobs.
@@benjatatafasa3105 And there already is a Deadpool with boobs, somewhere in Marvel's little-used Multiverse.
Like I still like Harley ,but crimney she rivals her ex in terms of over-saturation. Poison Ivy only gets acknowledged at all because she’s her girlfriend
I've seen the Days of Our Lives footage. All I can say is: 1970s Harley Quinn had 2019 Joker's origin story.
Can we all appreciate how good Linkara’s Joker impression is nowadays?
I love -- Starfire? Kind of hard to tell when you can only see the eyes and ears -- just sitting on your lap staring at the camera during one of the segments. Your kitties are absolutely adorable. :p And yes, this looks like a solid introduction for good old Harley -- though the comic goes maybe a touch TOO exaggerated with the expressions sometimes. Look at those chompers in the panel where she's rhapsodizing about getting drugged! And the ending, where she goes off with Joker. . .ooof. Expected, but still depressing. I agree, the comic should have at least ended on Ivy going "oh for f-'s sake, Harley."
Harley is one character I would like to just give a day off so she can relax. Yes, she could bring her SO with her.
Harley Quinn does look absolutely gorgeous and adorable in her classic outfit, for a villain.
Harley Quinn TAS at least gave Harley a good reason for why she ditched the jester outfit: it was something she wore for the Joker and once she'd broken up with him she was trying to forge her own identity for herself. I also liked that they established there that she'd always been a rotten, messed up person instead of being an innocent and naive youth who'd been tricked and corrupted by the Joker: that trope is way too common.
Interestingly, that seems to have been more the intention with the original Harley Quinn too. Notice that in both this comic (see 5:25 of this review) and the original Animated Series continuity, it's said that she wanted to work with the Joker and other Arkham patients not out of a genuine desire to help them, but to exploit them and write a tell-all book. The Mad Love comic flat-out says that "Even from the beginning, Harley Quinn was no angel", and frames her as having been a pretty shallow, self-serving person.
(They also imply she cheated her way through grad school by sleeping with professors, which is a take I dislike for multiple reasons, but at the time seems to have been intended to further paint her negatively.)
@@Luanna801 Yeah, I hated all the times that writers have tried to have Harley get her doctorate via sleeping with the professors. It's just so shallow and sexist a move.
@@Macrochenia I completely agree. Whether they paint her as a genuinely good, idealistic person or a shallow opportunist (or a mix of the two), I'd rather she be portrayed as having had the actual smarts to get there. It also flat-out makes no sense she could've slept with EVERY professor necessary to get a PhD.
RIP Arleen Sorkin
I wonder if Linkara has been reading the ongoing Harleen series by Stjepan Sejic, and if so I wonder what he thinks about. Personally, I think it gives a fantastic update to Harley Quinn's origin story that's equal parts intelligent, modern, introspective, nuanced, and beautifully drawn.
I agree. I was starting to fall out of love with Harley thanks to her garbage depictions by DC lately, but Harleen is excellent.
2:54 Aquaman: Harley!! Is it time for my cameo yet?!
Note: Yes, I didn't do it last time on the Martain Manhunter, because I actually forgot what Aquaman just said.
Kuba the Changeling notice me sempai!
That cat death stare at the confetti reaction though.
I can’t remember if it was this comic or another issue of her series, but early on they had a really interesting way to show Harley’s insanity. From he point of view the world was the animated series (she shoots a woman in the head and sees her lying on the ground with birds flying around her head) then it cuts to the more detailed style of the comic and shows that nope that woman was just dead. It was a great way to show that she’s delusional and ignoring the darker aspects of being with the joker for the sake of her happiness.
That’s the second year that Linkara is doing a Secret Origins Month on a comic from the 90’s, And it’s the late 90’s, And also the first time he’s reviewing a character’s origin that originally created on Television.
He's gotta do X-23 some time.
@ULGROTHA Ugh? NYX was great! Not perfect, but great!
NYX: No Way Home was shit, though.
Thank you for addressing Paul Dini AND Bruce Timm. They are both creators, and Timm developed some excellent storytelling for Harley's episodes... E.g. Mad Love, one of the best.
Batman: I got Bat-Dibs, do you know why?
Harley: Wh-
Batman: Because I’m Batman!
Batman!Linkara: NOBODY WILL TAKE ME SERIOUSLY ANYMORE!
Cat in his lap: Well, he's not wrong.
I agree on Batman's cape being a ridiculous length in this comic.
It definitely bothered me more than it should at 9:29 that there was no way Batman could actually fully stand up while standing on his cape that way!
10:49 "Oh sweetie! I got the whoopie cushion!"
Still no idea what they needed that for...
Just check out Bruce Timm's sketches. It's for FLBRRRRTing on her snatch.
You know......it's kinda hilarious that the latest incarnation of the Joker played by Joaquin Phoenix would actually treat Harley rather decently.
Ah yes good ol Harley, from henchwoman to one of the most recognizable characters in DC.
10:00
I didn’t understand Batman I was too busy looking at the cat
Thanks to the Harley Quinn animated series. I can only now ship Ivy with Kiteman and nobody else. That was actually my favorite part of that series and I love that they subverted expectations. I mean you just figure in her first solo series that has Ivy as a major character. That the creative team would go with the tried and true pairing of Ivy and Harley. Yet they instead went in the complete opposite direction by having her fall for one of the biggest losers in the DCU. I mean I love Kiteman I haven't ever viewed him as a loser ever since the origin story they did for him in The War of Jokes and Riddles. But still was shocking that they decided to have him actually be a legit couple with Ivy. Would have been so easy and much safer to just pair her with Harley.
For some reason I just imagine Linkara wearing the Batman mask even when he’s recording the voice over stuff
I like how in the ruins of the city all the villains, and Batman, all continue to bother with elaborate costumes, even putting their henchmen in them, except for one person. Alfred sensibly dropped his formal wear for the "J Crew Alfred" look.
Well I can imagine Joker still going with it considering he's Joker after all, he takes pride in style over practicality.
I love Linkara's Batman
LIKE KIIIIIIIIIIIIINGS!!!
The moment I saw the thumbnail, I knew this would happen, aside from previous mentions of the Harley Quinn support.
6:43 - And I wholeheartedly concur with that position.
One of my favorite DC characters.
Probably my favorite.
10:00
The cat winking at the camera...
She's so cute.
The cover gives off serious Phantom of the Opera vibes.
The "seduction" of Dr. Harley may have been left out here but I like the addition of her spending a while in Arkham as I thought that her turn to supper evil crazy was rushed in the animated series. She just decided one day to be evil and crazy. While in real life it has been shown that sane people put in asylums go crazy, and if she was getting the wrong treatment that would be even worse.
On the romance that some have given her with Ivy. I'm against it. There is an old trope about lesbians being the result of abusive men, right up there with if the right man came along she could be fixed. And Harley never showed any signs of being interested in women before she left the Joker. It's one of those representational traps for creators, something that seems positive until you see how it feeds a negative.
That’s how Harley became an amazing gymnast? I still like my explanation, College Scholarship for gymnastics. Could be both.
I'm pretty sure it just enhanced her already good abilities.
She was doing flips before, she is just supernaturally good now.
Now I have an image in my mind of Linkara voicing the HISHE Batman, I can just picture him saying BECAUSE I’M BATMAN!!!!
"IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT YOU, BRUCE!"
So does this comic confirmed that the Joker really does love Harley but try to denies it because he thinks it'll make him weak?
Whatever joker is, he's a massive narcissist first. If he can get something out of you, he'll love you forever until it stops benefitting him.
6:44 Honestly, I always thought the jester outfit looked better without the hat. Personally, I think her best character designs are in Arkham City, Arkham Knight, Injustice 1, her animated series, and Rebirth. I do agree her Suicide Squad outfit was terrible.
Great episode for a great character, but the thing that made me laugh the most? How when Linkara is doing the Batman confetti bomb bit and the half a kitty head we see just stares onto the camera for the whole act.
There is always a kitty in my lap when I'm home watching you so seeing a kitty on your lap made me chuckle. Yeah I also see the Joker as asexual, I just don't see him with any thoughts of stuff like that. All he wants is to make the world a mess, laughing in the corner while it dies. No no you have at least 2 people in a war of dr pepper, granted my war on mountain dew is more important but I got your back against that doctor.
9:58 suprise Cat.
I love Harley Quinn. And I really love No Man's Land. Collecting all of those connected issues was a chore though.
wstine79 I Imagine, I got the paperback trades, and just that is colossal
I got the novelization. It was good but it cut out lots of stuff.
How many trade are there?
6:43 - Amen, brother.
Personally, I don't understand the whole Harley-Ivy thing. Harley's too gah-gah for the Joker for me to think that anyone else could possibly make her happy, Ivy's a misanthrope who wants to kill all of humanity... I can see how she might take pity on Harley, but is that really enough to make her see Harley as anything more than another meat-sack that's callously killing the Earth? Granted, the earliest Bruce Timm pinups of the two of them being all snuggly were nice to look at, but... really?
I think the dynamic between the two in the Harley Quinn animated serie is cool, both helping each other to cure of their defaults, Harley is socializing Ivy, and Ivy is supporting Harley in her fight to get rid of Joker's influence.
Man I need to read these comics, I love the idea of a bunch of people stuck in a Gotham where all hell has broken loose
Oh I didn't know that the Harley/Ivy connection started as early as her first comic appearance.
In my mind, the Joker is either asexual or is only attracted to Batman.
I mean, like all of his stories since Infinite Crisis imply that anyway.
I dont mind the idea of Harley getting a new costume. (Especially as a sign of character development and being done with the joker) now if anyone could get the whole: good design down we'd be golden
@Trevor Anthony they're not awful, just to me there a bit... Obnoxioussly fanservise in a lot of cases.
Still admittedly it can sometimes hard to tell different the genuine complaints and the #NotMyHarley crowd….which by that I mean those who prefer her pre-redemption arc as a docile abusive victim
Pretty much cannon? They are cannon period, DC said they where together officially.
They're more friends with benefits. Ivy doesn't want to commit because she focus on her mission so Harley dates other people. Harley even get engaged to some guy in her own comics but then the guy get murder. 🤷
Wasn't ivy killed and turned into a weird plant golem recently?
@@shmee123ful she was turned into a kind of plant thing in Batman vs The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, but that's it's own continuity. I don't now anything about her being killed
@@shmee123ful looked it up, she dies last year in a shooting. But she was brought back to life pretty quickly
@@oliviawilliams6204 Yes she died and was resurrected during the " Hero's in Crisis" event.
I do love linkaras hamill impression, it’s actually pretty solid overall
12.34 pretty much canon ? I haven't read Harley's series for a while, but the last time i did they were pretty much into an open relationship together. They are one of the best examples of non heteronormative representation on DC, and i can't stress enough how much do i love those two as a couple
I love them too. I hope they have a romantic interest in each other in the upcoming cartoon.
I never get tired of your Joker impression
"Joker likes to hang out in a lot of incel forums."
My sides.
Joker is probably into some insane kink shit like a Tibetan Snake Dive. (And I just made that up.)
I really appreciate that when you do your Secret Origins videos that you use the story from when they first appeared in the connected universe. Especially with DC considering how important it is to the stories they tell. Always amazing content👌
Glad to see you have the same opinion on Harley's costume. I miss the days where she actually looked like, you know, a harlequin. Everything that came after this were mostly a hot-topic version of a "slutty clown" Halloween costume...
Joker and Harley Quinn's relationship is still a better love story than twilight
Even Batman and joker's relationship is a better story than twilight
Come on Jason and the crowbar have better love story than Twilight.
@@jonbrewer297 how would people even know who granny goodness is?
@@jonbrewer297 then again, the DC multiverse operates on basically "52 are the cores" (although after Metal there should be 53 but apparently people forgot that new ape earth), but on other mediums, everything is fair game (remember how the multiverse was done in Crisis on 2 earths movie).
So, if there is no earth 3/good, darkseid, then you have to do it
(although technically speaking, the "earth 3" darkseid, AKA, a more heroic/morality inverted darkseid; is the darkseid from the gods and monsters universe. after all, in that film/universe, the new gods betrayed the peace act. one that darkseid was apparently willing to withold.)
@@jonbrewer297 I never bought into that anyway. It just smacks of pretension. And as much as I respect Jack Kirby, "Granny Goodness" is a terrible villain name.
Harley and Ivy’s relationship is better than Twilight
Wait a second. Harleen wears glasses but Harley does not. Why?
Maybe she switched to contacts?
Linkara’s gonna teach me all, a lesson me won’t learn
I feel one variation that might be good for Harleys outfit is to swap out the cap for the dual tone hair she had in gods and monsters, not blonde with bubble gum pink and baby blue tips, but black and red. It’d be a good way keep most of her iconography while removing the uncomfortable looking headgear, plus she could always just return to her classic look by donning the cap again or revert to her new look if the cap gets blown off in a explosion or brawl.
Doctor Arkham being corrupt and spiteful is believable if you realize that Harley is living in a crazy bizaro version of New Jersey, I bet Arkham has friends in machine politics in the very bipartisan evil.
The humor is on point on this video
The opening kind of reminded me of Dominic Noble doing the Lost in Adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. There, he had to explain the book, itself, was an adaptation of a radio series and that the author would make his own changes between various versions.
It’d be hilarious if harleys bat signal summoned mothman instead