-
Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.
-
We have made minor adjustments to how the search bar works on ResetEra. You can read about the changes here.
How did Harley Quinn become so popular?
- Thread starter PhoenixAKG
- Start date
I enjoy the character because she is fun.
Though to be fair I don't read very much DC comics. The only full series of DC comics that I have read is the Injustice series and she was easily one of my favorite characters in that. The scene where she tries to give Black Canary a muzzle for her baby had me crying.
Though to be fair I don't read very much DC comics. The only full series of DC comics that I have read is the Injustice series and she was easily one of my favorite characters in that. The scene where she tries to give Black Canary a muzzle for her baby had me crying.
User Banned (2 Weeks): Sexism, exclusionary rhetoric
I don't know why she is popular. Hmm, I just can't figure it out.
This is gonna take some serious masturbation, I MEAN THOUGHT, THOUGHT.
DC has been pushing her hard since the new 52 Suicide Squad run in 2011.
Before that she was popular because she was goofy and slightly sympathetic villain character, which has continued since she's gone the anti-hero route.
Personally, not a fan of modern Harley though.
Before that she was popular because she was goofy and slightly sympathetic villain character, which has continued since she's gone the anti-hero route.
Personally, not a fan of modern Harley though.
Sexy, funny (she has built in opportunity for comedy), instantly iconic based on elements that are familiar (the harlequin look, the over the top accent) but combined in a unique way. Also, because of her origins as a Joker henchman, she'll automatically always have elements of a "redemption" theme in her story to varying degrees - even when redemption isn't the main crux of her story, it's always an undercurrent, and nearly anyone can identify with that.
She has appeal to a wide swath of people. I kinda prefer the slightly-naive-but-sincere firecracker antihero Harley Quinn over the modern molotov lollipop version, but either way I think all of the above applies.
She has appeal to a wide swath of people. I kinda prefer the slightly-naive-but-sincere firecracker antihero Harley Quinn over the modern molotov lollipop version, but either way I think all of the above applies.
Some people think that's impossible. Just like women somehow couldn't like the violence and cursing in BoP.
Hot Topic
the original title was also very off-putting
I maintain the film would have done much better with a PG-13 cut. The R-rating severely undercut what was clearly the target demographic: teen girls
the original title was also very off-putting
Makes sense to me
Yeah, it's not complicated.
They also turned her into an anti-hero, which is the golden ticket for character popularity. Punisher, Venom, Deathstroke, it always works. Add in the outfit and the breasts and it was inevitable.
Hm, what came out in 2016 that could have influenced this?
It's horny people and a very appealing character design. Wasn't it the most popular halloween costume that year?
If you think Suicide Squad is the reason Harley is popular you're out of your mind.
I'm sure it's true for some... but it's not the only reason why the character is popular nowadays. A lot of women and queer people began liking the character with the Birds of Prey movie and the Harley Quinn animated series. This is exactly what happened with me.
I don't know why she is popular. Hmm, I just can't figure it out.
This is gonna take some serious masturbation, I MEAN THOUGHT, THOUGHT.
Ugh, can we not?
Harley was popular but Suicide Squad made her a mainstream icon.
I think it started as a horny nerds + manic pixie chaos girl kind of thing, and that's still a part of it.
However she has been fleshed out a lot in recent years and depending who's writing her has become somewhat of a feminist icon. I'm only on season 2 of the Harley Quinn animated show but it's great, and the Margot Robbie portrayal definitely rocketed her into the mainstream.
However she has been fleshed out a lot in recent years and depending who's writing her has become somewhat of a feminist icon. I'm only on season 2 of the Harley Quinn animated show but it's great, and the Margot Robbie portrayal definitely rocketed her into the mainstream.
The creators of Batman TAS tapped into some kind of shared consciousness horny. I read Mad Love for the first time last year and it was disappointing at how the horniness of Bruce Timm and Paul Dini got in the way of the story telling (though it is well illustrated). Instead of being a successful and astute psychology major, in Mad Love Harleen Quinzel sleeps her way to the top of her class. And then half the comic she's wearing this night gown and trying to seduce the Joker.
I do think later iterations of her character are compelling. For instance, the Arkham videogame series (despite the doubling down of horny on the costuming).
I do think later iterations of her character are compelling. For instance, the Arkham videogame series (despite the doubling down of horny on the costuming).
Paul Dini came back with two new shots at the character with Arkham Asylum and Gotham City Sirens in like 2010. And although comic books really aren't popular it got the character reintroduced into main DC and also the mainstream at the same time.
I was obsessed with the character as a teenager in the early/mid 00s, so I remember that prior to that, she had a really unsuccessful solo comic (that played with the idea of her being so detached from reality that she viewed the world as a cartoon, an interesting take) and like, barely any appearances in batman storylines like Hush. Even merch or statues were really hard to come by, I remember the local comic store knew me as the 'harley quinn kid' cause I always bought statues whenever they'd come out, which wasn't often.
I was obsessed with the character as a teenager in the early/mid 00s, so I remember that prior to that, she had a really unsuccessful solo comic (that played with the idea of her being so detached from reality that she viewed the world as a cartoon, an interesting take) and like, barely any appearances in batman storylines like Hush. Even merch or statues were really hard to come by, I remember the local comic store knew me as the 'harley quinn kid' cause I always bought statues whenever they'd come out, which wasn't often.
tragic backstory, potential for redemption, could interact with a lot of characters in fun ways. when written well she's a goddamn riot
Perfect mixture of being liked by young girls, having the nostalgia factor for 30/40-something dudes and being one half of both a very problematic as hell ship and a really popular WlW ship.
Harley has grown even more in the time period you are talking about but it needs to be acknowledged that Harley was immediately popular with the animated series and her popularity never stopped growing since then.
It's now less about why she became even more popular at this specific point in time and more about why does she have so much appeal as she gets introduced to more people through different forms of media.
First off she's fun. The way she interacts with other characters is entertaining.
Secondly she's hot. No matter the incarnation she looks good.
She's cool. She's the sort of counter culture character that has people admire her instead of being resistant to her.
It's now less about why she became even more popular at this specific point in time and more about why does she have so much appeal as she gets introduced to more people through different forms of media.
First off she's fun. The way she interacts with other characters is entertaining.
Secondly she's hot. No matter the incarnation she looks good.
She's cool. She's the sort of counter culture character that has people admire her instead of being resistant to her.
You would have to be delusional to think otherwise. Harley Quinn was at best a cool character comic book nerds knew about, now she is one of the most mainstream comic book characters in existence.
Her recent surge in popularity is solely due to Suicide Squad.
Women like bad boys, men want to be bad boys
The opposite is also true.
Men like bad girls, women want to be bad girls.
The opposite is also true.
Men like bad girls, women want to be bad girls.
A good way to see it, google trend for Harley Quinn
Decent uptick around the first trailer, huge one at the release of the movie. That's not to say that other product don't have an impact ( we can clearly see upticks around therelease of each season of the animated series ) but it's hard to deny that Suicide Squad is what made her popular/mainstream.
She is a badass/funny/cute/sexy female villain who will fuck shit up. Everyone likes her for those reasons, not just men.
Annoyingly random like a female joker? Yep the youngins love her. She's the Deadpool/Joker of conventions where they get to run around acting like an idiot and being an ass and "it's in character". Edgy bad ass anti hero? Sure.
What Harley Quinn cosplayer is going around "being an ass" at conventions? This sounds like some made up shit.
Everyone wants her as their abused girlfriend fantasy, who keeps returning to them and keeps loving them no matter how evil they are or the kind of abuse you give to her. Because girls always love the capable, smart BAD BOY.
i'm only half joking
Batman the animated series was great, Mark Hamill as the Joker was great, and she was great with Hamill's Joker.
Well, many responses in this thread definitely helped me understand why Birds of Prey wasn't popular with some demographics... This movie wasn't about Harley Quinn being hot so men could ogle at her so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It's such a fun movie. Like just fun. Also really like it and had a great time with it and Margot Robbie just nails everything Quinn. Born to play that role.
I think some people here are also just being lazy but yeah.
big titty goth gf
She has a story and stuff too i guess but i'm pretty sure like 85% of the general popularity stems from the eyeliner and bazongas.
She has a story and stuff too i guess but i'm pretty sure like 85% of the general popularity stems from the eyeliner and bazongas.
