I think that, despite being a relatively recent DC addition, Harley Quinn is a character that 100 different fans can feel 100 different ways about (especially based on the story/media that defines her in their eyes). Personally, having grown up with the animated series, I’ve never really felt as much of a connection to modern Harley, because I was always rooting for her to break the jokers control and get her life as Harleen Quinnzel back. Episodes like Harlequinade and Harley’s Holiday made me think she was never too far gone, and always capable of coming back, given distance from the Joker and time to recover. I’ve never been a big fan of attempts to reclaim her as a girlboss she-villain/vigilante, because it still feels like she is playing out the role assigned to her by her abuser.
To me, Harley being Just Like That and trying to live as this twisted version of herself/make up for what she's done is more interesting than writing her off as sane again and handwaving it away with a simple "oh she's a therapist again", because years of trauma and a broken moral compass doesn't change like that. Whether we like it or not, Joker changed her permanently, and all that's left is for her to live with it.
well here's the thing about trauma, though: it changes you. even if you break free from an abuser and by all metrics 'recover' from it, you aren't the same person you were before. you can't be. harleen quinzel the cocky, glory-seeking psychiatrist is gone. even if she tried to reclaim that life, that wouldn't be who she is any more, both for better and for worse. and denying her lived experience, denying that harley quinn happened, wouldn't be healthy for her either. the path they give her - finding more positive uses for who she's become, finding people through that who care and support her be it ivy or batgirl or the dark knight himself - that's what recovery actually looks like. because the past can only ever be the past. as for playing the role assigned to her by her abuser, all joker ever wanted was someone to push around, use and abuse, a tool that only did what he wanted. everything harley becomes as an independent person is in opposition to joker, a laugh at his expense - the kind of laugh he hates. living your best life in spite of your abuser, or even TO spite your abuser - the best revenge. choke on vigilante clown justice, joker
Agreed I'm in the same boat, but I have to admit I love the idea of Harley evolving into a superhero. Unlike a lot of Batman's rogues, Harley never really lost her capacity for empathy. It was easy to see Harley as the abuse victim she was, so the idea of her freedom coincides with her becoming strong. It's easy to care for Harley. Even when she's being a murdering monster with The Joker, you know that Harley is better than this. The Joker is more than likely a lost cause, but Harley we as readers can see can actually be saved.
As much as I like girl boss Harley, I wouldn't mind if she went a more normal route. Mostly because she didnt have a reason to turn evil, she only did it because of Joker.
It always surprises me how much better the Injustice comic is to the games. It feels like Nether Realm really simplified everyone, which is a massive shame, because Injustice is how a lot of people met these characters.
clear minded , yeah you can claimed insanit all you wnat but in the end she still help kill a baby and people in gotham has been imprison for less crime yet here she is , not even a fucking day in jail after the incident
For all the idiots cheering for Harley out there :- Do not forget how she WILLINGLY AND HAPPILY aided the Joker in killing millions of people. Don't forget how she CUT OPEN Superman's pregnant wife Lois in order to insert the trigger of the Nuclear bomb inside her body next to her heart. Harley Quinn deserved a fate worse than Death. Injustice 1 and 2 suck story wise.
I like her turn, she at first makes a cult of joker but by injustice 2, is genuinely part of the bat family by the end, also I am convinced putting green arrow with Harley and Canary was a great idea, Harley learns good from (IMO) the Kindest and Nicest hero, the flash comes close but he’s not exactly all there in this timeline. I love her redemption in this timeline!
@@mkessler5388 ok yeah but she’s also help save millions of people she might’ve caused millions of deaths but the fact that she understands she’s in the wrong and works to better herself and save countless people is the main message of her story
@@andry-mac3855 Harley Quinn's message isnt that genocidal killers feel bad so they dont get punished. Harley's message is that giving people a second chance in life should always be a option. While giving a genocidal maniac a second chance sounds stupid it can allow said genocidal maniac to change and help people, but this is only the case when the person accepts their past decisions. Your hitler analogy doesn't work in this sense because he never accepted what he was doing was incorrect and instead of actually admitting his wrong doings and giving himself a chance he took the cowards way out.
@@yizao9289 it is a good message don't get me wrong, but they could have done that by using another character that WASN'T a genocidal maniac, wouldn't it be better to say that there are some things were you can make up for and some were you're already too over the line to get redeemed even if you feel bad about it, especially if there is batman in the comic given the fact that his character is supposed to be very straight with his sense of justice and him being fine with Harley is completely out of character. Again, they could have done that by simply not making Harley helping Joker nuke a whole city full of innocent people, couldn't they make that at the very least when she hears about this plan she starts to draw the line and refuses and Joker beats her up for it, that way i could at least kinda feel bad about it.
"You are not welcome in this house" Such a nice scene. It seemed like everyone had forgiven Harley by that point. But not the Kents. She killed their daughter-in-law and grandchild, and drove their son to madness. They sure as hell did not forgive and forget something like that.
I relate to Harley. I wanted to be Batgirl but I grew up to be a bi psychology-obsessed goofball with a slight Brooklyn accent that is trapped in a horribly abusive relationship and wears basically only red and black. And I hated her character for years! I think it's because I didn't want to be like her. She was seen as annoying and doomed to be in an awful relationship and her own destruction. But now I see her as a symbol of hope or at least a lesson for troubled and unloved kids. It's nice seeing her win for once and putting her kind heart to work. Comics can be so important.
I still think BTAS Harley is the best. It’s something so twisted and hard to watch that she gets beat up and abused from joker but then she blames herself for everything and makes excuses for. As a Harley fan I just want to see that. We need to see that! It shows so much of her character. Sure I enjoy when Harley kicks ass and everything but it almost doesn’t matter when she has not starting point to begin from. Injustice is like her growth from getting out of her abusive relationship. Which is why it feels so empowering that she can do all of that
I know she's controversial, but I do love that Injustice does work to have her right her wrongs. Plus it works AMAZINGLY because Superman and Wonder Woman insist that people can't change, which is why they don't think they have.
I unfortunately have the exact opposite opinion of injustice Harley. I feel like there were no consequences for her role in the death of MILLIONS of people, not even prison time. The scene that solidified my opinion was when batman criticised superman for recruiting villains that were also murderers, when had a mass murderer like Harley as one of his closest allies. Also she was creeping on Billy Batson/Shazam
Also hits home the fact that redemption aint always 100% forgiveness, and can't be the sole reason to do things (and definitely not something you can expect). Whether you get it or not is just a bonus. Gotta do better for better's sake.
Harley Quinn is weird, and feels like she has two separate but related versions that need to stop trying to co-habitate the same character: The Harley who dug her own grave, and the Harley fighting to escape it. Modern Harley Quinn is largely about her being an empowered former abuse victim, about rising above the toxic influence of her *staggeringly* aweful ex, and as far as modern super hero characters trying to portray and give heroism to disenfranchised people goes, that's some pretty A+ material actually, and it being compelling is why this video exists. I like that Harley on her own merits, it's a good character, but I also think it's at odds with her backstory as a psychiatric proffessional who got into this mess *by her own choice* as someone who already had *every sensible reason* to realize she should never have been involved with the Joker. Harley's original backstory kinda doesn't *work* for Harley as an Abuse Victim who fights to escape it. Harley from BtAS is still a *victim of abuse* of course, but she's not an attempt to portray abused women, the abuse is apart of her story, not the focus. The focus, imo, is much more on the woman who had the underlying issues to get *trapped* in that relationship in the first place. A less real, and less sympathetic depiction of an abusive relationship, to be sure, but also one that you can more easily believe when the fucking Joker is involved- Nobody right of mind would have ever entered a relationship with him in the first place. Both of these characters are good, to me. They're fun characters to have in a superhero setting, but they don't mesh well as the *same character* imo. I think Harley Quinn needs a new backstory, one where she *compromised* into villainy, rather than *leaping* if you want her to be heroically rising above the toxic influences that *lead her* to compromise until she didn't think she had any morals left to give, and didn't think she had any way out, until she got her chance, and made it real.
Yeah especially when you compare Harley before entering into a relationship with Joker, and Harley after beaking up with Joker, they're two completely different people. Unless you count her latest comic run where she forces Batman to let the Joker die, that was awesome and her character was super serious and intelligent there.
"Harley Quinn is weird, and feels like she has two separate but related versions that need to stop trying to co-habitate the same character: The Harley who dug her own grave, and the Harley fighting to escape it." Wut? This makes no sense. How is having made bad mistakes in the past incompatible with....fighting to fix your mistakes and get out of the situation you jumped into?
Seems like a cynical view of things. People can change. The guilt/horror of being an accomplice to the murder of millions is no small burden I think. I'd call it the biggest reality check she could get. It's not like the change was easy or happened overnight.
It sounds more like your preference. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it feels like you want Harley to have more agency into her path to villainy. She starts as a doctor in a super psych ward and ends up falling for a prisoner who is a known manipulator. That classes with her liberation story and turn to antihero/hero since for you her turn to evil makes no sense in context. Am I understanding your point?
Alot of the comments who say she doesn't deserve sympathy or had no repercussions for being a part of jokers plot, but people seem to not understand how impossibly difficult it can be to defy an abuser in a position of power and how Joker is and always has been a master manipulator, not only that but it isn't stated either how much Harley actually knew about jokers plot, I mean joker often historically has lied to her about the severity of his plans and even tried to kill her a few times so it's likely she had no idea how monstrous jokers plan actually was
You know the funny thing? Almost everything said in this video can apply to the mainline canon Harley as well. Injustice really is a smaller version of that character. From the beginnings as the victim and assistant of a monsterous Joker, to her sudden freedom and questioning of herself, to the help she recieved through meeting new people, to the eventual conclusion of heroics. Its all there, just a little more messy.
I love how you always manage to make these funny jokes that roast the inconsistences' but overall make a good video that always has the viewer tearing up by the end. Keep it up.
Harley could've easily avenge jokers death against superman but chose not to and decided to be a hero on batmans insurgency because she knew that fighting for a man who never loved her is not worth it and another good thing about her is that she went to the good justice league world to stop herself from blowing up metropolis after superman and his regime are defeated and that alone not only made me forgive harley but also makes her one of my favorite versions of injustice
Did you forget about how creepy she was with Shazam? Like she went to his school to pick him up and hit on him. Why does everyone ignore this. I think he was like 14 or under
it hard to keep the narrative of the comics and the game align but from a certain point of view the games have also their moments. look at the analysis extra credit does on injustice 2
i feel like they pound out some *very rough* aspects for where the games start, NRS probably writes those with assistance, and then the actual comics have all the time in the world post-release to tell the story which is why they don't match up all that well (and the games generally start in a pretty basic place for storytelling to people who've already seen that story and are now reading what came before)
God I hated this Harley. How anyone can think a character should be allowed to aid in the killing millions of people, not to mention the direct murder of people like Jimmy, and be allowed to be treated as anything other than a stain on society is beyond me. No amount of blood, sweat, or tears can ever make up for what she did and she deserves to be locked up right next to Injustice Superman. I'd honestly say Injustice Superman is a morally better person than Injustice Harley, because his atrocities were at least done with the intention of helping and protecting others even if it was so thoroughly twisted, and not for any sort of sick enjoyment or to please some psychopath. God I hated how much Harley got away with in Injustice
It's incredible how everyone in universe seems to overlook her involvement all the catastrophe that's left the world to ruin. Especially the regime, like superman roasted a peaceful protest organizing under the joker, but pretty much casually saves the woman that helped in the destruction of nearly everything he holds dear from darkseid. The only one who seem to act on it are ma and pa kent and Appearently the story frames it to makes you feel bad for harley.
Have you done an essay on the Long Halloween? It heavily inspired the Dark Knight. Really well done (as always). Definitely some of the highest quality video essays I've found.
When I worked at Barnes & Noble, I always used to sell the long Halloween to customers who never read comic books before, as "The Dark Knight with more super villains". It worked every single time.
I mean, she's essentially helping saving the world from something she helped create, so I cannot say I feel much sympathy for her. Plus, she has the audacity to preach to Superman about how he should learn something from Jon Kent as if she didn't have a hand in murdering millions of people. Also, Green Arrow and Black Canary instantly befriending a mass-murderer doesn't sit right with me. And finally, I understand that Batman and crew were protecting her from Superman's wrath, but she should have been jailed the moment Good Superman defeated Injustice Superman. As it stands, it feels like she just nuked a city and got away scot-free.
The entire time of this video made me cry Man she Deserves a Better life And ya she is crazy in may ways But she is amazing in injustice Like more then any other hero or villain was
So sick of people that criticize Harley’s redemption without catching up on any of the material that highlights it. Thank you for giving me something to point them to
DC gonna DC I guess. We can't have nice things, character growth, permanent meaningful change in characters' lives. *sigh* I liked Harley in DCAU. I hated her in the comics. Then Injustice, great! And then the more recent animation just makes her a parody of who she could've been, even who she was.
Doesn’t look like there was much communication between the game crew and the comic crew here, but that seems to be a pretty common issue with multimedia projects like this.
I wonder what would have happened if say someone like Conner Kent or something was in metropolis and heard the bomb got there and disarmed it so even if Superman killed Lois, metropolis wouldn’t explode.
I love injustice harley sm. seeing her journey in the series is always interesting to me no matter how many times i read it...or...if im being honest- watching comicstorian read it. also your harley voice caught me so fucking off guard omg XD
Why are people defending her she played a part in killing thousands. She also was there and helped kill Superman’s wife and child. Then he is the bad guy right after. I can understand when he becomes a dictator because that is horrible. The issue is he kills the Joker and everyone can only focus on how horrible he is. The Joker and HARLEY killed his wife, child, friends, colleagues; they blew up his home. She is a bad person and should be punished just like him, she needs to be in prison.
People defend her because she is just another one of the joker victims he abused her physically mentally and emotionally there's context of why Harley acted the way she did The joker is the root of Harley problems once he was gone she calmed down and realized how bad she truly was later on she gets redemption and prevents another injustice happening in the prime universe
@@parkerboy795 I said context as of means of stating why she did what did Harley has long since provided she's capable of change is on her redemption she actively stopped one universe from becoming an injustice
@@rabbitseason7537 at that one moment she realized he wouldn't be a good father Harley is an abuse victim there are moments where she can see he's not a good fit but joker always mantel abuses's Harley to the point she developed Stockholm syndrome
To be fair, Harley from Comics and from Injustice Games are different from each other. In fact the two worlds don't even connected to each other at all. For example, Jaime doesn't know Kara before the prison break out while the comics shows they do before that. Or how Damian escapes much earlier and has a sister while in game they don't. Their all disconnected.
In a move surprising no one, the comics are good at making the side characters unique and cool, and the games tell a good story but give the side characters the short end of the stick.
This reminds me a bit of Arkham Harley. Spoiler warning for Arkham City and Arkham Knight: Joker dies at the end in Arkham City. The DLC takes place after the main story. Harley has taken over what's left of Joker's gang, and decides to take revenge on Batman for what she perceives as his murder. This version of Harley isn't a version that needs Joker to be alive to remain Harley. She doesn't start turning things around without the Joker in her life. Rather, she takes his place entirely as a crime lord, and eventually in Knight does everything in her power to try to fill the void in her life that Joker's death left behind. If anything, Joker being gone only made her go even more crazy.
In the mainstream, Harley was kinda going this way when she tried to stop Jokers daughter and Punchline going down the road she did. She never amounted to Injustice Harley. She knew Batman would never kill The Joker, so she put Batman into a situation where she or Joker would die and he had to choose which one to save... Joker was pretty broken hearted when Batman choose Harley. But it went to show that Harley had more facets to her than Joker's doll... Then they went full Deadpool with her and frankly she jumped the shark. Personally, I'd be happy with them killing mainstream Harley and replacing her with Injustice Harley.
My personal favourite version of Harley is the one in White Knight I just prefer a Harley than is more Harleen and has gone along way to get past the jokers influence
Hey, we do not know each other but I would like to tell u that despite all the bad that you have done in your life, GOD still loves you and wants you to be with him (GOD), all yoi must do is to trust in Jesus like how he would trust in parachute when jumping out of a plane and you must be willing to turn from your wrong doings and do what is good❤❤ 0:07 🎉 0:08
This part of the story is lovely but i still think its bullshit they killed Tim drake, the moment they brought him back from the phantom zone. TO THIS DAY, I'LL NEVER FORGIVE THAT
Im reading injustice right now, and harley is my favorite, she is much needed comic relief after Ollie and Dick died, should i read the annuals?I always skip them, im almost done year 5 now
I think that, despite being a relatively recent DC addition, Harley Quinn is a character that 100 different fans can feel 100 different ways about (especially based on the story/media that defines her in their eyes). Personally, having grown up with the animated series, I’ve never really felt as much of a connection to modern Harley, because I was always rooting for her to break the jokers control and get her life as Harleen Quinnzel back. Episodes like Harlequinade and Harley’s Holiday made me think she was never too far gone, and always capable of coming back, given distance from the Joker and time to recover. I’ve never been a big fan of attempts to reclaim her as a girlboss she-villain/vigilante, because it still feels like she is playing out the role assigned to her by her abuser.
To me, Harley being Just Like That and trying to live as this twisted version of herself/make up for what she's done is more interesting than writing her off as sane again and handwaving it away with a simple "oh she's a therapist again", because years of trauma and a broken moral compass doesn't change like that.
Whether we like it or not, Joker changed her permanently, and all that's left is for her to live with it.
well here's the thing about trauma, though: it changes you. even if you break free from an abuser and by all metrics 'recover' from it, you aren't the same person you were before. you can't be. harleen quinzel the cocky, glory-seeking psychiatrist is gone. even if she tried to reclaim that life, that wouldn't be who she is any more, both for better and for worse. and denying her lived experience, denying that harley quinn happened, wouldn't be healthy for her either. the path they give her - finding more positive uses for who she's become, finding people through that who care and support her be it ivy or batgirl or the dark knight himself - that's what recovery actually looks like. because the past can only ever be the past.
as for playing the role assigned to her by her abuser, all joker ever wanted was someone to push around, use and abuse, a tool that only did what he wanted. everything harley becomes as an independent person is in opposition to joker, a laugh at his expense - the kind of laugh he hates. living your best life in spite of your abuser, or even TO spite your abuser - the best revenge. choke on vigilante clown justice, joker
She's not even that recent anymore! Over 30 years! Over a third of DC Comics' existence.
Agreed I'm in the same boat, but I have to admit I love the idea of Harley evolving into a superhero. Unlike a lot of Batman's rogues, Harley never really lost her capacity for empathy. It was easy to see Harley as the abuse victim she was, so the idea of her freedom coincides with her becoming strong. It's easy to care for Harley. Even when she's being a murdering monster with The Joker, you know that Harley is better than this. The Joker is more than likely a lost cause, but Harley we as readers can see can actually be saved.
As much as I like girl boss Harley, I wouldn't mind if she went a more normal route. Mostly because she didnt have a reason to turn evil, she only did it because of Joker.
This version Harley is definitely one of the best versions
she allowed them to call themselves "harley horde" not "the harlequins"
she still has a long way to go
She deserves what she got and more she let the metropolis die but superman is the the villain
If the joker never stepped in, she could have cured all of Gotham's villians
Nah fuck her. Anyone that takes part in nuking a major metropolitan city and killing millions of people has no right having a happy ending.
You have no idea how existentially horrifying it is to learn that your thumbnails alternate between red & blue.
OH MY GOD YOU'RE RIGHT
Holy shit.
HOLY SHIT-
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE-
They’re video essays about patterns
It always surprises me how much better the Injustice comic is to the games.
It feels like Nether Realm really simplified everyone, which is a massive shame, because Injustice is how a lot of people met these characters.
To me, THIS is PEAK Harley.
She gets clear-minded and she becomes finally the hero she was destines to be.
and then mainstream iterations continued with independent Harley, giving us her worst incarnation in Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League.
I never thought I would like Harley as a member of the Batfamily but Injustice (specifically the Injustice 2 comics) really made me like it
clear minded , yeah you can claimed insanit all you wnat but in the end she still help kill a baby and people in gotham has been imprison for less crime yet here she is , not even a fucking day in jail after the incident
@@theoneglorylucky3071Shoot, let’s be honest to make matters worse, there are likely 100s of kids and babies she helped killed by nuking a city.
For all the idiots cheering for Harley out there :-
Do not forget how she WILLINGLY AND HAPPILY aided the Joker in killing millions of people. Don't forget how she CUT OPEN Superman's pregnant wife Lois in order to insert the trigger of the Nuclear bomb inside her body next to her heart.
Harley Quinn deserved a fate worse than Death. Injustice 1 and 2 suck story wise.
I like her turn, she at first makes a cult of joker but by injustice 2, is genuinely part of the bat family by the end, also I am convinced putting green arrow with Harley and Canary was a great idea, Harley learns good from (IMO) the Kindest and Nicest hero, the flash comes close but he’s not exactly all there in this timeline. I love her redemption in this timeline!
She doesn't deserve redemption and Batman willingly working with someone who aided in the death of millions makes him look like a hypocrite
@@mkessler5388 ok yeah but she’s also help save millions of people she might’ve caused millions of deaths but the fact that she understands she’s in the wrong and works to better herself and save countless people is the main message of her story
@@yizao9289 genocidal killer feels bad = no repercussions for what she did i guess. What a great message, if only Hitler was given that chance
@@andry-mac3855 Harley Quinn's message isnt that genocidal killers feel bad so they dont get punished. Harley's message is that giving people a second chance in life should always be a option. While giving a genocidal maniac a second chance sounds stupid it can allow said genocidal maniac to change and help people, but this is only the case when the person accepts their past decisions. Your hitler analogy doesn't work in this sense because he never accepted what he was doing was incorrect and instead of actually admitting his wrong doings and giving himself a chance he took the cowards way out.
@@yizao9289 it is a good message don't get me wrong, but they could have done that by using another character that WASN'T a genocidal maniac, wouldn't it be better to say that there are some things were you can make up for and some were you're already too over the line to get redeemed even if you feel bad about it, especially if there is batman in the comic given the fact that his character is supposed to be very straight with his sense of justice and him being fine with Harley is completely out of character. Again, they could have done that by simply not making Harley helping Joker nuke a whole city full of innocent people, couldn't they make that at the very least when she hears about this plan she starts to draw the line and refuses and Joker beats her up for it, that way i could at least kinda feel bad about it.
I don't forgive Harley for the destruction of Metropolis like so many others.
"You are not welcome in this house"
Such a nice scene. It seemed like everyone had forgiven Harley by that point. But not the Kents. She killed their daughter-in-law and grandchild, and drove their son to madness. They sure as hell did not forgive and forget something like that.
I relate to Harley. I wanted to be Batgirl but I grew up to be a bi psychology-obsessed goofball with a slight Brooklyn accent that is trapped in a horribly abusive relationship and wears basically only red and black. And I hated her character for years! I think it's because I didn't want to be like her. She was seen as annoying and doomed to be in an awful relationship and her own destruction. But now I see her as a symbol of hope or at least a lesson for troubled and unloved kids. It's nice seeing her win for once and putting her kind heart to work. Comics can be so important.
Did you break out of that abusive relationship like she did? Preferably with a baseball bat?
That's quite a lot of similarities
are you ok and safe now? i am so happy you have a character to resonate with❤️
Nobody cares about your sexualty lol
Damn that's so crazy
I still think BTAS Harley is the best. It’s something so twisted and hard to watch that she gets beat up and abused from joker but then she blames herself for everything and makes excuses for. As a Harley fan I just want to see that. We need to see that! It shows so much of her character. Sure I enjoy when Harley kicks ass and everything but it almost doesn’t matter when she has not starting point to begin from. Injustice is like her growth from getting out of her abusive relationship. Which is why it feels so empowering that she can do all of that
I know she's controversial, but I do love that Injustice does work to have her right her wrongs. Plus it works AMAZINGLY because Superman and Wonder Woman insist that people can't change, which is why they don't think they have.
I unfortunately have the exact opposite opinion of injustice Harley. I feel like there were no consequences for her role in the death of MILLIONS of people, not even prison time. The scene that solidified my opinion was when batman criticised superman for recruiting villains that were also murderers, when had a mass murderer like Harley as one of his closest allies. Also she was creeping on Billy Batson/Shazam
Best Harley Quinn voice
Ear piercingly amazing
I also generally don't care for main universe harley, however the Harley Quinn from the White Knight universe is beyond phenomenal
For as divided as people are about the injustice universe, I maintain that This is one of the best versions of Harley Quinn in her history
Ma and Pa Kent are the only people in that book that displayed the correct response to Quinn. Unyielding contempt.
True
amen
Also hits home the fact that redemption aint always 100% forgiveness, and can't be the sole reason to do things (and definitely not something you can expect). Whether you get it or not is just a bonus. Gotta do better for better's sake.
Harley Quinn is weird, and feels like she has two separate but related versions that need to stop trying to co-habitate the same character: The Harley who dug her own grave, and the Harley fighting to escape it.
Modern Harley Quinn is largely about her being an empowered former abuse victim, about rising above the toxic influence of her *staggeringly* aweful ex, and as far as modern super hero characters trying to portray and give heroism to disenfranchised people goes, that's some pretty A+ material actually, and it being compelling is why this video exists. I like that Harley on her own merits, it's a good character, but I also think it's at odds with her backstory as a psychiatric proffessional who got into this mess *by her own choice* as someone who already had *every sensible reason* to realize she should never have been involved with the Joker. Harley's original backstory kinda doesn't *work* for Harley as an Abuse Victim who fights to escape it.
Harley from BtAS is still a *victim of abuse* of course, but she's not an attempt to portray abused women, the abuse is apart of her story, not the focus. The focus, imo, is much more on the woman who had the underlying issues to get *trapped* in that relationship in the first place. A less real, and less sympathetic depiction of an abusive relationship, to be sure, but also one that you can more easily believe when the fucking Joker is involved- Nobody right of mind would have ever entered a relationship with him in the first place.
Both of these characters are good, to me. They're fun characters to have in a superhero setting, but they don't mesh well as the *same character* imo. I think Harley Quinn needs a new backstory, one where she *compromised* into villainy, rather than *leaping* if you want her to be heroically rising above the toxic influences that *lead her* to compromise until she didn't think she had any morals left to give, and didn't think she had any way out, until she got her chance, and made it real.
Stjepan sejic's Harleen is a pretty good one for giving more insight into her turning into Harley if your looking for a more modern orgin
Yeah especially when you compare Harley before entering into a relationship with Joker, and Harley after beaking up with Joker, they're two completely different people.
Unless you count her latest comic run where she forces Batman to let the Joker die, that was awesome and her character was super serious and intelligent there.
"Harley Quinn is weird, and feels like she has two separate but related versions that need to stop trying to co-habitate the same character: The Harley who dug her own grave, and the Harley fighting to escape it."
Wut? This makes no sense. How is having made bad mistakes in the past incompatible with....fighting to fix your mistakes and get out of the situation you jumped into?
Seems like a cynical view of things. People can change. The guilt/horror of being an accomplice to the murder of millions is no small burden I think. I'd call it the biggest reality check she could get. It's not like the change was easy or happened overnight.
It sounds more like your preference. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it feels like you want Harley to have more agency into her path to villainy. She starts as a doctor in a super psych ward and ends up falling for a prisoner who is a known manipulator. That classes with her liberation story and turn to antihero/hero since for you her turn to evil makes no sense in context. Am I understanding your point?
She still deserves no redemption
That line from Superman made me tear up...
Alot of the comments who say she doesn't deserve sympathy or had no repercussions for being a part of jokers plot, but people seem to not understand how impossibly difficult it can be to defy an abuser in a position of power and how Joker is and always has been a master manipulator, not only that but it isn't stated either how much Harley actually knew about jokers plot, I mean joker often historically has lied to her about the severity of his plans and even tried to kill her a few times so it's likely she had no idea how monstrous jokers plan actually was
that wouldnt absolve her of anything
You know the funny thing? Almost everything said in this video can apply to the mainline canon Harley as well. Injustice really is a smaller version of that character. From the beginnings as the victim and assistant of a monsterous Joker, to her sudden freedom and questioning of herself, to the help she recieved through meeting new people, to the eventual conclusion of heroics. Its all there, just a little more messy.
I was waiting for this video so bad, this Harley is my favorite, the one comic that made me love her.
I love how you always manage to make these funny jokes that roast the inconsistences' but overall make a good video that always has the viewer tearing up by the end. Keep it up.
Harley could've easily avenge jokers death against superman but chose not to and decided to be a hero on batmans insurgency because she knew that fighting for a man who never loved her is not worth it and another good thing about her is that she went to the good justice league world to stop herself from blowing up metropolis after superman and his regime are defeated and that alone not only made me forgive harley but also makes her one of my favorite versions of injustice
Definitely worth the little wait 👍
Thanks for introducing me to "Something Changing Your Mind". Such a bop.
This Harley Quinn is a villain to me, she literally helped Joker to put that bomb in the city and suffered no consequences for that.
really loving the injustice comics videos specially the flash one probably my favorite ending of any of your videos
These videos always manage to make me cry thank you for giving me that
yessss Harley is a big highlight for me in the Injustice series.
It's never too late to reach out beyond oneself toward forgiveness and kindness. love, is a reward in itself for other and for the one that give it
Not going to mention that Harley gives GA's hideout a proper name? Remember she calls it the Quiver.
OLD SPICE BODY WASH
I GOT IT TOO BRUV
How did you know?
Did you forget about how creepy she was with Shazam? Like she went to his school to pick him up and hit on him. Why does everyone ignore this. I think he was like 14 or under
it hard to keep the narrative of the comics and the game align but from a certain point of view the games have also their moments. look at the analysis extra credit does on injustice 2
i feel like they pound out some *very rough* aspects for where the games start, NRS probably writes those with assistance, and then the actual comics have all the time in the world post-release to tell the story which is why they don't match up all that well (and the games generally start in a pretty basic place for storytelling to people who've already seen that story and are now reading what came before)
Canonical when convenient
There is no question that the best part of this video was Lex blasting Joker in slomo.
emancipation from jerker
Brother, you're such a hopeful person 🙌
She and joker started this mess
i love your videos. thank you for making them :D
every time you post, i get a little bit happier
*injustice comic has a amazing story to work with*
Netherrealm: nah imma do my own thing.
*makes a worst version of it*
Harley is one of my favorite dc characters, this comic is so good with her Character
Christ bless you, this rocks man
God I hated this Harley. How anyone can think a character should be allowed to aid in the killing millions of people, not to mention the direct murder of people like Jimmy, and be allowed to be treated as anything other than a stain on society is beyond me. No amount of blood, sweat, or tears can ever make up for what she did and she deserves to be locked up right next to Injustice Superman.
I'd honestly say Injustice Superman is a morally better person than Injustice Harley, because his atrocities were at least done with the intention of helping and protecting others even if it was so thoroughly twisted, and not for any sort of sick enjoyment or to please some psychopath. God I hated how much Harley got away with in Injustice
It's incredible how everyone in universe seems to overlook her involvement all the catastrophe that's left the world to ruin. Especially the regime, like superman roasted a peaceful protest organizing under the joker, but pretty much casually saves the woman that helped in the destruction of nearly everything he holds dear from darkseid. The only one who seem to act on it are ma and pa kent and Appearently the story frames it to makes you feel bad for harley.
Some thing did indeed change his mind
Have you done an essay on the Long Halloween? It heavily inspired the Dark Knight.
Really well done (as always). Definitely some of the highest quality video essays I've found.
He did do an essay on the long Halloween animated movies actually. Like 2 years ago ish. It was his contribution to DC defined.
@@ericemanwu thanks man!
When I worked at Barnes & Noble, I always used to sell the long Halloween to customers who never read comic books before, as "The Dark Knight with more super villains".
It worked every single time.
Love your videos man!
This one offered me a new perspective on Harley.
for anyone who has been searching for days for the song at the credits (like me) the song is OTE - Where We Wanna Go
Dude I couldn't stop laughing at that "Larry" bit omg🤣🤣🤣
I mean, she's essentially helping saving the world from something she helped create, so I cannot say I feel much sympathy for her. Plus, she has the audacity to preach to Superman about how he should learn something from Jon Kent as if she didn't have a hand in murdering millions of people.
Also, Green Arrow and Black Canary instantly befriending a mass-murderer doesn't sit right with me.
And finally, I understand that Batman and crew were protecting her from Superman's wrath, but she should have been jailed the moment Good Superman defeated Injustice Superman. As it stands, it feels like she just nuked a city and got away scot-free.
This is gonna 10x hurt when we get the injustice green arrow video 😢
The entire time of this video made me cry
Man she Deserves a Better life
And ya she is crazy in may ways
But she is amazing in injustice
Like more then any other hero or villain was
Yeah, she is absolutely amazing! i mean she just helped joker kill supermans pregnant wife and 11 million people. No big deal🤷🏻♀️
Love the content from my fav youtuber :)
So sick of people that criticize Harley’s redemption without catching up on any of the material that highlights it. Thank you for giving me something to point them to
Can you do one for Injustice Wonder Woman and the shocking backstory.
Encouraging toxicity of Superman? Dang perfect match or just a recipe for disaster?
Hoping to see Implicit's review
Injustice Harley wants me so bad fr
DC gonna DC I guess. We can't have nice things, character growth, permanent meaningful change in characters' lives. *sigh*
I liked Harley in DCAU. I hated her in the comics. Then Injustice, great! And then the more recent animation just makes her a parody of who she could've been, even who she was.
Doesn’t look like there was much communication between the game crew and the comic crew here, but that seems to be a pretty common issue with multimedia projects like this.
i heart lesbian harley
bro had me tearing up
Injustice Harley ftw 🙌🏾
I wonder what would have happened if say someone like Conner Kent or something was in metropolis and heard the bomb got there and disarmed it so even if Superman killed Lois, metropolis wouldn’t explode.
" then shank by Diana " well shit... great vid btw
Thought this was the animated injustice movie Harley because she’s completely superfluous to the plot in that
if you like Harley Quinn after the injustice comics, you will love her in "Batman: White Knight"
Anyone else glad Harley left Joker for Ivy?
Amazing
0:49
Daaaayyyyymmmm
I came here to say this.
It would be incredible to hear your thoughts on Batman: White Knight.
Ayo that Harley Quinn voice bouts make me act up
Harleen is basically joker, but like 25% of it
That's why I like her as the character, and other things 😳
We ignore the video game thank you very much. Good game but going for something else. Love injustice Harley Arc. Great video
I've seen your Flash video and now this one. You have some stunning analysis. What are your thoughts on Injustice Hal Jordan and his self hatred?
why the fuck did this video give me goosebumps
I love injustice harley sm. seeing her journey in the series is always interesting to me no matter how many times i read it...or...if im being honest- watching comicstorian read it. also your harley voice caught me so fucking off guard omg XD
Why are people defending her she played a part in killing thousands. She also was there and helped kill Superman’s wife and child. Then he is the bad guy right after. I can understand when he becomes a dictator because that is horrible. The issue is he kills the Joker and everyone can only focus on how horrible he is. The Joker and HARLEY killed his wife, child, friends, colleagues; they blew up his home. She is a bad person and should be punished just like him, she needs to be in prison.
People defend her because she is just another one of the joker victims he abused her physically mentally and emotionally there's context of why Harley acted the way she did The joker is the root of Harley problems once he was gone she calmed down and realized how bad she truly was later on she gets redemption and prevents another injustice happening in the prime universe
@@waterpillar1977 Context isn't an excuse though. She's just as guilty as Joker is. And her redemption is arguably not as genuine as it should be.
@@parkerboy795 I said context as of means of stating why she did what did Harley has long since provided she's capable of change is on her redemption she actively stopped one universe from becoming an injustice
@@waterpillar1977 She was sane enough to hide her own child from Joker but was insane when she helped Joker kill all those people. That sounds right.
@@rabbitseason7537 at that one moment she realized he wouldn't be a good father Harley is an abuse victim there are moments where she can see he's not a good fit but joker always mantel abuses's Harley to the point she developed Stockholm syndrome
To be fair, Harley from Comics and from Injustice Games are different from each other. In fact the two worlds don't even connected to each other at all. For example, Jaime doesn't know Kara before the prison break out while the comics shows they do before that. Or how Damian escapes much earlier and has a sister while in game they don't. Their all disconnected.
Yes. Fucking fantastic intro.
In a move surprising no one, the comics are good at making the side characters unique and cool, and the games tell a good story but give the side characters the short end of the stick.
YOO new imp vid just dropped
NEW IMP VIDEO POG
This reminds me a bit of Arkham Harley. Spoiler warning for Arkham City and Arkham Knight:
Joker dies at the end in Arkham City. The DLC takes place after the main story. Harley has taken over what's left of Joker's gang, and decides to take revenge on Batman for what she perceives as his murder. This version of Harley isn't a version that needs Joker to be alive to remain Harley. She doesn't start turning things around without the Joker in her life. Rather, she takes his place entirely as a crime lord, and eventually in Knight does everything in her power to try to fill the void in her life that Joker's death left behind. If anything, Joker being gone only made her go even more crazy.
My favorite Harley Quinn
In the mainstream, Harley was kinda going this way when she tried to stop Jokers daughter and Punchline going down the road she did.
She never amounted to Injustice Harley. She knew Batman would never kill The Joker, so she put Batman into a situation where she or Joker would die and he had to choose which one to save... Joker was pretty broken hearted when Batman choose Harley. But it went to show that Harley had more facets to her than Joker's doll...
Then they went full Deadpool with her and frankly she jumped the shark. Personally, I'd be happy with them killing mainstream Harley and replacing her with Injustice Harley.
That ending was wild ngl
My personal favourite version of Harley is the one in White Knight I just prefer a Harley than is more Harleen and has gone along way to get past the jokers influence
You da best
Hey, we do not know each other but I would like to tell u that despite all the bad that you have done in your life, GOD still loves you and wants you to be with him (GOD), all yoi must do is to trust in Jesus like how he would trust in parachute when jumping out of a plane and you must be willing to turn from your wrong doings and do what is good❤❤ 0:07 🎉 0:08
Injustice Harley is better than modern Harley in the main continuity.
they're pretty much the same character, every beat of her arc here was taken from the Harley comics
Ehhhh, I prefer B:TAS Harley, if only because I don't think her story deserves anywhere this much triumph.
so the injustice 2 game story was done... BECAUSE YES????
Victory....oh..ok the game ...dang but for the comics VICTORY!
What’s the song at the end?
I would ask you to make a vid on injustice Joker but it would only take like 2 minutes
I wish Harley Quinn in the Injustice universe was dead. I hate her she got off far too easily.
I'm glad the Kent's hate her too.
Man Harleys character development
What?! I didn't even know you had a red blue system until you pointed it out...why??
This part of the story is lovely but i still think its bullshit they killed Tim drake, the moment they brought him back from the phantom zone. TO THIS DAY, I'LL NEVER FORGIVE THAT
Im reading injustice right now, and harley is my favorite, she is much needed comic relief after Ollie and Dick died, should i read the annuals?I always skip them, im almost done year 5 now
I really enjoy her portrayal in the white knight series too.