Harley Quinn has used her rather large mallet to break numerous barriers, both literally and figuratively. Though created to fulfill a singular purpose, her appeal has inspired far more adventures. She began as a sidekick to complement the Joker, but has become an independent, fully developed solo act. She suffered habitual abuse from the Joker and has taken serious strides to distance herself from the toxic relationship. Though she was originally portrayed as a villain, since The New 52 she has been depicted as an antiheroine. She has been funny and energetic, at times nurturing, and often murderous.

Harley is a popular comic character, but was originally made for animation. Created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, she was introduced in Batman: The Animated Series in September 1992, voiced by Arleen Sorkin. Harley was developed as Joker’s sidekick and love interest, wearing a jester costume that bore thematic similarities to Joker. She joined comics in The Batman Adventures #12 (September 1993), crashing a costume party with her future best friends, Poison Ivy and Catwoman.

When Harley Quinn was introduced in comics, the issue carried a cover price of $1.25. The following year in 1994, Robert M. Overstreet valued a Near Mint copy at $2 in The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #24. Six years later it was up to $12 in 2000’s Guide #30, then it took a significant dip to $3.50 for the Guide #40 in 2010.

Once Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti started a new Harley Quinn series in 2014, and rumors of a live-action movie appearance began, Harley’s comic debut took a big jump to $400 in 2015’s the Guide #45. That momentum has continued over the next ten years with the book growing to $485 in the Guide’s milestone 50th edition in 2020. When The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #55 came out in 2026, a Near Mint copy was valued at $650.