Harley Quinn

{{Infobox comics character | character_name = Harley Quinn | image = Classic and modern Harley Quinn.png | caption = The classic and modern iterations of Harley Quinn. Art by Terry Dodson. | real_name = Harleen Frances Quinzel | publisher = DC Comics | first_series = Batman: The Animated Series"Joker's Favor" (September 11, 1992)' | first_comic = The Batman Adventures #12 (September 1993, non-canon)Batman: Harley Quinn #1 (October 1999, canon) | creators = Paul Dini (writer)Bruce Timm (artist) | species = Human | homeworld = Brooklyn / Gotham City | alliances = Suicide SquadGotham City SirensQuinntetsGang of HarleysSecret SixJustice League of AnarchyBatman family | aliases = Dr. Harleen Quinzel Holly ChanceDr. Jessica Seaborn | partners = Joker Poison IvyBud and LouBatman | powers = * Genius-level intellect Enhanced strength, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes Toxic immunity Expert athlete, acrobat, and marksman Underwater breathing Access to gag weapons | cat = super | subcat = DC Comics | hero = y | villain = y }} Harley Quinn (Harleen Quinzel) is a character appearing in American comic books produced by DC Comics. She was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for Batman: The Animated Series as a henchwoman for the supervillain Joker, debuting in its 8th episode, "Joker's Favor", on September 11, 1992. While intended to appear in one episode, Quinn became a recurring character within the DC Animated Universe (DCAU) as the Joker's sidekick and love interest, and was adapted into DC Comics' canon seven years later, beginning with the one-shot Batman: Harley Quinn #1 (October 1999). Quinn's origin story features her as a former psychologist at Gotham City's Arkham Asylum who was manipulated by and fell in love with the Joker, her patient, eventually becoming his accomplice and lover. The character's alias is a play on the stock character Harlequin from the 16th-century Italian theater . Following her introduction to the comics in 1999, Harley Quinn was depicted as the sidekick and lover of the Joker as well as the criminal associate and best friend of fellow supervillain Poison Ivy. Later stories depicted Quinn as a supervillain who has left her abusive and codependent relationship with the Joker behind, beginning with the publication of her ongoing series, Harley Quinn, in which her independence was established by Karl Kesel in 2000.