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Harley Quinn Reading Order

Harley Quinn is a rarity in the Comic Book World because she was created on TV by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm in Batman: The Animated Series, in 1992. She became a recurring character on the show and, because of her popularity, she made the transition to paper, joining the Batman comic book canon seven years later.

Here was her story at the beginning, as told in the Mad Love comics: When she was only seven years old, Harleen Quinzel witnessed her father being beaten up by thugs, and then arrested by the police. That night she ran away to the safest place she could think of: Coney Island amusement park. But there, pursued into the Funhouse by the men who brutalized her father, she beheld unimaginable horrors. Years later, Harleen has put her past behind her and used her intelligence and ambition to escape her childhood of poverty with a career in psychiatry. Assigned to her first position at Arkham Hospital, she will discover, deep in the asylum, something dangerous and alluring, something quite unlike anything else she has ever known before: The Joker.

She became Harley Quinn and, after having been injected with a special formula by Poison Ivy, she got new abilities, such as immunity to toxins and enhanced strength and agility. She left Joker behind and became a solo criminal. It was not a hit at first, but Harley came back a few years after the end of her first solo series to team up with Catwoman and Poison Ivy (forming the Gotham City Sirens).

Harley was a criminal, then an anti-heroine. Her backstory was refined, as her relationship with Poison Ivy. She became quite popular on paper (especially during the 2010s), and later on the big screen too.

Harley Quinn Comics Reading Order:

Harley Quinn in Batman The Animated Series

It’s not reading but watching. Harley Quinn was created in Batman: The Animated Series and, even if these appearances are not canon in the DC regular comic book universe, you may be interested in her first adventures. You can find the series in one box set and in HD.

  • Joker’s Favor (Season 1, Episode 7)
  • The Laughing Fish (Season 1, Episode 46)
  • Harley and Ivy (Season 1, Episode 47)
  • The Man Who Killed Batman (Season 1, Episode 49)
  • Almost Got ‘Im  (Season 1, Episode 35)
  • Trial (Season 2, Episode 4)
  • Harlequinade (Season 2, Episode 5)
  • Harley’s Holiday (Season 2, Episode 11)
  • Lock-Up (Season 2, Episode 14)

The Batman Adventures

The Batman Adventures is a comic book series set in the continuity (and style) of Batman: The Animated Series, as opposed to the regular DC Universe. 

Harley Quinn during the Post-Crisis era

Harley Quinn was introduced into the main DC universe with the 1999 one-shot graphic novel Batman: Harley Quinn, written by Dini and illustrated by Yvel Guichet, right in the middle of the “No Man’s Land” storyline.

  • Batman: Harley Quinn
    Collects Batman: Harley Quinn #1, Batman: Gotham Knights #14, #30, Detective Comics #831, #837, Joker’s Asylum II: Harley Quinn #1, Batman: Black And White #1, #3, Legends Of The Dark Knight 100-Page Super Spectacular #1, and Detective Comics #23.2.

Once introduced in Batman: Harley Quinn, Harley continues to appear during “No Man’s Land“, mostly in:

  • Batman: No Man’s Land Vol. 4
    Collects Batman Chronicles #18, Batman #572-574, Detective Comics #739-741, Batman: Legends Of The Dark Knight #125-126, Robin #73, Batman: Shadow Of The Bat #93-94, Azrael: Agent Of The Bat #59-61, Catwoman #75-77, Nightwing #38-39, Batman: No Man’s Land #0.

After that, Harley Quinn made some guest appearances

Harley Quinn: The First Solo series (2000-2002)

Harley Quinn got her first ongoing series written by Karl Kesel with art by Terry Dobson. It was about Harley Quinn leaving the Joker and becoming a solo criminal, alongside a supporting cast of henchmen named the Quinntets. It didn’t last long.

In an attempt to save the series, writer A.J. Lieberman and artists Mike Huddleston and Troy Nixey took over at pushed Harley in a darker direction.

In Deluxe Edition

Once the ongoing series was canceled, Harley Quinn became an occasional guest star in other titles.

Harley Quinn & the Gotham City Sirens (2009-2011)

Written by Paul Dini with art by Guillem March, Gotham City Sirens is a team-up book with Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy. The story takes place shortly after the events of Battle for the Cowl storylines, as Catwoman gets her revenge by stealing all of Hush’s money and giving it to Gotham City’s female criminals, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, as well as Holly Robinson. Bruce Wayne is thought to be dead and is replaced by Dick Grayson.

Previously collected in:

Harley Quinn during the New 52 Era

Suicide Squad New 52 (2011-2014)

Written by Adam Glass with art by Federico Dallocchio and Ransom Getty, this new Suicide Squad was launched as part of The New 52 reboot of the DC Comics universe. Harley Quinn (with a new look) became a key member of the team of criminals controlled by Amanda Waller.

Harley Quinn & the New Suicide Squad (2014–2016)

Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner with art by Chad Hardin and John Timms, Harley Quinn’s second ongoing series saw Harley Quinn leave Gotham City to start her own life on Conney Island.

Harley Quinn New 52 Omnibus

  • Harley Quinn by Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collects Harley Quinn vol. 2 #0–16, Annual #1, Harley Quinn: Futures End #1, Harley Quinn Invades Comic-Con International San Diego, Harley Quinn Holiday Special #1, Harley Quinn Valentine’s Special #1, Harley Quinn and Power Girl #1–6 and material from Secret Origin #4.
  • Harley Quinn by Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti Omnibus Vol. 2
    Collects Harley Quinn vol. 2 #17–30, Harley Quinn Road Trip Special #1, Harley Quinn: Be Careful What You Wish For Special Edition, Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #1–6 and Harley’s Little Black Book #1–6.

The Full Harley Quinn New 52 Era

 

Harley Quinn during the Rebirth era

In 2016, with the “DC Rebirth” reboot of the DC Comics universe, Harley Quinn and Suicide Squad were both rebooted once more… but not really because the new Harley Quinn’s ongoing series is a direct continuation of the former, with the same creative team.

Harley Quinn Rebirth Omnibus

The Full Harley Quinn Rebirth Era

This is when the Dark Nights: Metal event took place (reading order here). That event is led by Barbatos, the dark god who plans to unleash darkness across every Earth. Stopping him will change the DC Universe forever. Optional for Harley, but the Suicide Squad did its part.

Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti left Harley Quinn with issue #34. Writer Frank Tieri and artist Inaki Miranda took over for 8 issues, then Christopher Sebela and illustrated by Mirka Andolfo took care of the next two issues before Sam Humphries and artist John Timms became the new regular creative team on the series.

Heroes in Crisis Icon Reading OrderTom King’s 2018-19 event Heroes in Crisis (reading order here) takes place at the Sanctuary, an ultra-secret hospital for superheroes and reformed supervillains who’ve been traumatized by crime-fighting and cosmic combat. But something goes inexplicably wrong when many patients wind up dead, with two well-known operators as the prime suspects: Harley Quinn and Booster Gold!

Batman Icon Reading OrderWhen James Tynion IV became the main writer of Batman (more on that here), Harley Quinn became a recurring character in the series.

Harley Quinn during the Infinite Frontier era

The event of Future State is set in the aftermath of the “Dark Nights: Death Metal” storyline, and takes place in a “possible future” of the DC Universe.

  • Future State: Dark Detective
    Collects Future State: Dark Detective #1-4, Future State: Catwoman #1-2, Future State: Harley Quinn #1-2, Future State: Robin Eternal #1-2, Future State: Batman/Superman #1-2.

The conclusion of the Future State leads into DC’s Infinite Frontier relaunch and a new Harley Quinn series. Harley Quinn is moved back to Gotham City, where she frequently interacts with and aids the Batman family,

James Tynion IV concluded his Batman run with a crossover event called Fear State in which Harley Quinn played a part. Gotham City is on the brink of martial law as Batman fights a two-front battle! The Scarecrow is unleashing a devasting attack on the city while the Magistrate has made their move to invade! To know more about it, follow the reading order.

During the Summer of 2023, DC stopped (almost) everything for its Knight Terrors crossover event. Harley’s series was also paused, but she had her Knight Terrors miniseries. To learn more about the event, check out our dedicated article.

  • Knight Terrors
    Collects Knight Terrors First Blood, Knight Terrors #1-4, Knight Terrors: Night’s End.
  • Knight Terrors: Knockturnal Creatures
    Collects Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn #1-2, Knight Terrors: Poison Ivy #1-2, Knight Terrors: Punchline #1-2, and Knight Terrors: Zatanna #1-2.

Out of Continuity Harley Quinn

Harley Quinn: DC Black Label

Harley Quinn stars in various series under DC Comics’ adult-oriented Black Label imprint.

In the Murphyverse

The Murphyverse is a collection of limited series by Sean Murphy set in the shared universe first established in the White Knight series.

Harley Quinn in The Bombshells

DC Comics Bombshells is a line of figurines released by DC Collectibles depicting DC Comics superheroines in a retro 1940s look based on designs by Ant Lucia –  influenced by World War II aesthetics and pin-up models. The brand became popular enough to lead DC Comics to publish an out-of-continuity series written by Marguerite Bennett based on the figurines. Here is the pitch: As Word War II rages across Europe, the Allied forces issue a call to arms for the greatest heroines the world has ever known: THE BOMBSHELLS! 

A second digital-first series launched in August 2017. It was called Bombshells: United.

Harley Quinn: The Animated Series

Spin-off comic series of the Harley Quinn Animated series launched in 2019.

Injustice: Ground Zero/ Injustice: The Video Game

Set in the Injustice video game universe (full reading guide here), Ground Zero tells the game’s story from Harley Queen’s point of view. Brian Buccellato and Christopher Sebela co-wrote the title.

Other Limited Stories

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12 thoughts on “Harley Quinn Reading Order”

    1. Carole
      Reply

      Hi Nani,

      Thanks for your comment! We have an article about the origins of Poison Ivy coming soon, but no reading order. I put it on the list of articles to do!

  4. Dave Solheim
    Reply

    Is the suicide squad vol 8 on the list twice intentionally? I just want to make sure there isn’t something missing where one of those entries is.

    1. Fabien
      Reply

      My bad! There was a bit of a mix-up it seems. More than one book needed to be moved, but I think I fixed it correctly. Thanks for noticing and leaving a comment, have a good read!

  8. Nuto
    Reply

    She also has a main role in Injustice Ground Zero by Buccelato and Sebela. It is Harley Quinn’s perspective of Injustice events (alternative reality). A good addition for Harley’s fans.

  10. Julius Maloney
    Reply

    Hi Thanks again for your always helpful reading list. The only tweak I’d make, other than perhaps time for an update is Harley doesn’t appear in the most recent Suicide Squad with Peacemaker as leader in the Robbie Thompson 2021 run, so this isn’t a necessary read for anyone following Harley exclusively.

    2. Carole
      Reply

      Hi Julius, The Harley Quinn reading order has recently been updated. Hope it helps! Don’t hesitate to write or leave a comment if we have made another mistake 😉

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