The DC K.O. event brought about a number of changes among the heroes and villains of the DC Universe. Some of these changes resulted in increased power or a feeling there was something they should do to avert a coming crisis. For Harley Quinn, however, the change was utterly random… even for the Clown Queen of Chaos.
The confusion began in Harley Quinn #60, by Elliott Kalan and Carlos Olivares. Harley began calling herself “Bat-Quinn” and patrolling Gotham City in a new costume with a Batman cowl. This also coincided with her break-up with Poison Ivy, who was recently elected Mayor of Gotham City.
(Image Source: DC / Carlos Olivares)
It was unclear if Bat-Quinn was trying to be a more serious superhero because of whatever vision she had after the DC K.O. event. (Harley being Harley, her idea of “serious” plays out like a parody of Dark Knight Returns.) It was also suggested she might be trying to prove to Poison Ivy that she could be more mature. However, things came to a head when the issue ended with Bat-Quinn coming face to face with another Harley Quinn.
The two Harley Quinns explained
Harley Quinn #61 explains the two Harleys and how they came about because of the DC K.O. event. Like all the participants in the final battle, Harley was infused with the Alpha Energy of Creation. However, it did not manifest immediately like with some of the heroes and villains in attendance. This occurred after Harley crashed Ivy’s inauguration dressed like Jackie Kennedy, intending to become the First Lady of Gotham City. Apparently, this did not go well and Ivy dumped Harley on the spot.
(Image Source: DC / Carlos Olivares)
As Harley returned home, she got into an argument with Quinntellect; a personality born of the logical half of Harley’s brain that is too often ignored. Literally unwilling to listen to reason, Harley wished that she could “rip my own head open and throw you out!” The Alpha Energy acted on this wish and created a body for Quinntellect resembling Dr. Harleen Quinzel before she became Harley Quinn.
Fortunately for Gotham City, they still only have one Harley Quinn to worry about. Quinntellect is too busy enjoying her new corporal form and being free of Harley’s madness to think of fighting crime. A more worrying question is raised by Harley’s landlady, who notes that both Bat-Quinn and Quinntellect lack any kind of sense of humor. This leads her to speculate that there may be a third Harley made up of her funny side running around somewhere.
Harley Quinn #61 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
