Harley Quinn’s Arkham Asylum Costume Is Now DC Comics Canon

The Harley Quinn from Batman: Arkham Asylum has stepped into the main DC Comics universe.

Written by Stephanie Phillips with art by Matteo Lolli, David Baldeón and Pasquale Qualano, a preview of Harley Quinn #26 picks up right after the prior issue with Harley Quinns from across the Multiverse being pulled to Earth-0. These Harleys are causing destruction across Gotham City, such as a Harley in her classic Batman: The Animated Series outfit attacking a security guard. Batwoman tries to apprehend this Harley, but she is whacked over the head by another, one dressed like Arkham Asylum's version of the clown princess.

Harley Quinn References the Batman: Arkham Games and More

Arkham Asylum launched the Batman: Arkham video game franchise in 2009, followed by Batman: Arkham City (2011), Batman: Arkham Origins (2013), Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) and Batman: Arkham VR (2016). The first installment moved away from Harley's classic red-and-black suit for a more revealing and sexualized ensemble, but this outfit did not continue on past Arkham Asylum. Each Arkham game gave Harley Quinn a redesigned costume, except for the prequel Arkham Origins, where she is still Harleen Quinzel and has not yet transformed into the Joker's accomplice.

However, fans may recognize more than one Harley that appears alongside her Arkham Asylum counterpart in the preview, including another from a fan-favorite video game. Also present is the Harley Quinn from the Injustice games and tie-in comics, which were recently established to take place on Earth-49 by the one-shot Dark Crisis: Big Bang #1. The live-action DC Universe's Harley is seen to the left of Injustice's, sporting one of the outfits that actor Margot Robbie wears in Birds of Prey (2020).

Harley Quinn’s Main Problem Is the Harley Who Laughs

The reason why multiple Harley Quinns are now wreaking havoc on the same Gotham City is because DC's main Harley damaged the Harley Who Laughs' Multiversal transportation bracelet. The latter villain had been using the device to travel the Multiverse and kill every other Harley Quinn in existence, but Prime Harley and Old Lady Harley teamed up to end this murder quest. Prime Harley smashed the device with a baseball bat, and seen at the end of the preview, now she, her friend Kevin and Old Lady Harley have more clown princesses to worry about than just the Harley Who Laughs.

Along with Phillips, Lolli, Baldeón and Qualano, Harley Quinn #26 is colored by Rain Beredo and lettered by AndWorld Design. Main cover art for the issue is by Jonboy Meyers, with variant covers by Lee Bermejo, Jenny Frison, Taurin Clarke and Leirix. The issue goes on sale Jan. 24 from DC Comics.

Source: DC Comics