Gotham City isn't exactly known for stable relationships. You've got a guy dressed as a bat fighting a clown in a purple suit every Tuesday, and yet, nothing is quite as fascinating—or as messy—as the dynamic between Harley Quinn and Batgirl.
It’s a partnership that doesn’t make sense on paper. One is a disciplined, tech-genius vigilante who breathes order. The other is a reformed (sorta) chaotic psychiatrist who once tried to drop a hyena on the first girl’s head. But honestly, if you look at the history of Harley Quinn and Batgirl, you’ll see they’ve moved far beyond the standard hero-versus-villain trope. They've become a weirdly relatable look at how two women from totally different worlds find common ground in a city that’s constantly trying to kill them.
The 1993 Meeting That Started It All
Most people think Harley’s first big showdown with the Bat-family was against the big guy himself. Nope.
If you want to get technical, Harley Quinn and Batgirl go all the way back to the early '90s. While Harley first appeared in Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, her actual comic book debut happened in The Batman Adventures #12 (September 1993). In that issue, Harley teams up with Poison Ivy to kidnap Batgirl.
It wasn't some grand ideological battle. It was basically a hazing ritual. Harley was trying to prove herself to the Joker, and Barbara Gordon was the "target" that stood in her way. Even back then, the writers gave them this snappy, back-and-forth dialogue. They weren't just fighting; they were bickering. It set a tone that has lasted for over thirty years: Batgirl thinks Harley is a tragic headache, and Harley thinks Batgirl is a massive "narc" who really needs to learn how to relax.
Why the "Frenemy" Label Is Actually Accurate
In modern DC continuity, especially in the Harley Quinn animated series on Max, the relationship has taken a sharp turn toward actual friendship. It’s hilarious because it’s so forced.
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The Max Series Dynamic
In the show, Barbara Gordon is often depicted as a college student or a young adult trying to find her footing. When she crosses paths with Harley, it’s not always a fight to the death.
- Harley often acts as the "bad influence" older sister.
- Batgirl provides the moral compass that Harley desperately (and loudly) ignores.
- They eventually end up in the same "Bat Family" circle after Harley decides she’s done with the Joker’s nonsense.
There’s this specific moment in the later seasons where Harley literally joins the Bat Family. Seeing her try to follow Batman’s "no killing" rule while Batgirl watches her like a hawk is pure comedy. It highlights the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) of the writers who understand that these characters work best when they are getting on each other's nerves for the greater good.
The Injustice Twist: A Much Darker Bond
If you want the "dark" version of Harley Quinn and Batgirl, you have to look at the Injustice: Gods Among Us universe. This is a timeline where Superman goes rogue and everything falls apart.
In this world, Harley and Barbara Gordon (as Oracle) actually form a deep, functional bond. They are both survivors of the Joker's madness—Barbara was paralyzed by him, and Harley was psychologically shattered by him.
They share a unique trauma.
There’s a scene in the Injustice comics where Harley visits Barbara, and instead of a fight, they have a conversation. It’s one of the few times we see Harley drop the "act" and show genuine remorse for her past. It’s heavy. It’s the kind of character development that moves the needle from "clown girl" to "complex anti-hero."
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Common Misconceptions About the Duo
People get a lot of stuff wrong about these two.
- "They hate each other." Actually, they rarely do anymore. In the DC Super Hero Girls universe, they’re literally "Best Frenemies Forever" (GBFFs). They go to school together.
- "Harley is just a Batgirl villain." She’s more like a chaotic neutral agent. In many modern runs, she’s closer to an ally than a rogue.
- "They have never teamed up in a serious way." Go read the Birds of Prey runs or the recent Batgirls comics. They’ve shared the field plenty of times, often with Poison Ivy acting as the mediator.
The "Batgirls" Era and the Future
Recently, DC has leaned into the idea of a "team" of Batgirls (Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain, and Stephanie Brown). Harley fits into this world as a sort of unofficial aunt. She’s the one who shows up when things get too "by-the-book" and reminds them that sometimes you just have to hit a problem with a giant hammer.
It’s a smart move for DC. By linking Harley Quinn and Batgirl, they bridge the gap between the grim, gritty Batman world and the colorful, absurdist Harley world.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific rivalry-turned-alliance, here’s how to do it:
- Read the Source Material: Start with The Batman Adventures #12 if you can find a reprint. It's the "Genesis" moment for their interaction.
- Watch the Evolution: Check out the Harley Quinn series (Season 3 and 4 specifically) to see the Bat-Family Harley in action.
- Track the Keys: For collectors, any "Batgirl vs. Harley" cover is generally a solid investment because both characters have massive, dedicated fanbases that rarely overlap in terms of style but love the visual contrast.
- Look for the Parallels: Notice how both characters deal with the shadow of the men in their lives (Batman for Babs, Joker for Harley). Their stories are both about reclaiming their own identities.
The relationship between Harley Quinn and Batgirl isn't going anywhere. As Harley continues her journey toward being a "hero," her bond with the Bat-family—and specifically the woman who has seen her at her absolute worst—will only get more interesting. It’s a messy, loud, and occasionally violent friendship, which, to be honest, is the only kind of friendship that survives in Gotham.
To truly understand their dynamic, compare their first encounter in The Batman Adventures with their teamwork in the Injustice series. You'll see two completely different ways a "hero" and a "villain" can grow together over thirty years of storytelling.