Dark Knight Fans Need to See Harley Quinn's Unofficial Nolan Makeover
The Joker’s righthand woman Harley Quinn had her own Dark Knight makeover in comics. In a DC Comics Black Label graphic novel, Batman’s rogues gallery are grounded in reality, with costumes that resemble director Christopher Nolan’s take on the villains of Gotham City.
The Dark Knight Trilogy popularized superheroes and villains with real world costumes and personalities. With the Nolan films’ distinct style, as represented best through the depictions of Joker and Bane, fans are left wondering what Batman’s other villains would look like if they were adapted by the trilogy. Although some of them already have semi-realistic costumes, like the Riddler who traditionally wears a green suit, and the Penguin who literally just wears a suit, some rogues could be toned down. While the graphic novel Joker includes Riddler, Two-Face, Killer Croc, and the Penguin, Harley Quinn’s photorealistic costume looks the most authentic with the potential for a live action adaptation. Joker was written by Brian Azzarello and features art by Lee Bermejo. At the time, it was frequently compared with The Dark Knight, as Bermejo’s redesigned Joker resembles Heath Ledger’s take, incorporating facial scars and a more modern haircut.
However, Harley Quinn’s depiction joins the Clown Prince with a revised look that feels like it came out of The Dark Knight, similar to Heath Ledger's Joker. In the graphic novel, Harley works at a nightclub as a dancer, and reveals her costume as if it’s a part of her performance. The darker introduction to her character goes beyond what either a mainstream comic or a Nolan film would do, taking advantage of being set outside of canon. Harley’s new look incorporates her original Batman: The Animated Series costume, but with a photorealistic style that makes it intentionally look like a Halloween costume. The sleek suit also resembles the iteration briefly seen in the DC Extended Universe’s Suicide Squad.
Although some fans had created art and imagined costume designs for Harley if she entered the Nolanverse, Lee Bermejo’s simple toned-down version walks the line between fantasy and reality, respecting its source material. At the time of Joker’s publication in 2008, the animated series’ look for Harley was still the main version, contrasting today’s maskless Harley with blue and pink-dyed hair. Instead of drastically reimagining the suit, the DC Extended Universe and current comics didn’t have to compromise Harley’s initial appearance for a grounded style.
It’s easy to envision Azzarello and Bermejo’s twisted Harley Quinn alongside Heath Ledger’s Joker. While their larger than life personalities remain intact, they prove they are more than their traditionally cartoony costumes. By grounding Batman’s rogues gallery in a version of Gotham City that feels relatable, they showcased the villains’ most essential qualities, which go deeper than their external aesthetics. Considering her comic book evolution, ironically Harley Quinn's realistic suit feels like a throwback to another era.