Warning: Spoilers for Harley Quinn (2021) #48 ahead!

Poison Ivy have proven time and time again that they have one of the strongest relationships in Gotham, and this latest display of their trust in each other puts everything on the line. In a surprising move, Harley and Ivy show no problem adding another partner to the bedroom, so long as their hearts remain true to each other.

Harley Quinn #48 – written by Elliott Kalan, with art by Mindy Lee – finds Harley taking a break from her destructive attempts to de-gentrify her old neighborhood of Throatcutter Hill to reconnect with Ivy. Unburdening herself to Ivy, Harley reveals her crush on Althea Klang, the architect behind Throatcutter Hill's gentrification, expecting the worst – but Ivy bears the news with surprising grace.

"Do what you need to do. Fight her, sleep with her...just don't fall in love with her, okay?" Ivy says, confirming she's okay with her and Harley not being exclusive, so long as they always return to each other.

DC Takes A Bold Step With Ivy & Harlet's Relationship, Confirming They Are Committed But Open

Harley Quinn #48 – Written By Elliott Kalan; Art By Mindy Lee; Color By Triona Farrell; Lettering By Lucas Gattoni

Introduced in Harley Quinn #44, hypercapitalist Althea Klang is everything Poison Ivy isn't: a ruthless businesswoman, single-minded in her desire to redevelop land into the trendy, upper-middle-class neighborhoods that drive her profits. Regardless, Harley is immediately smitten when she sees Althea, likening her to "the most beautiful knife ever sharpened" and itting she has a thing for "strong women powered by nearly fathomless fury." Harley and Althea's attempts to thwart each other's increasingly ludicrous plans have simmered with sexual tension for the subsequent issues, with Harley worrying about how this will affect her relationship with Ivy.

This isn't the first time a new face has tested Harley and Ivy's commitment to one another. In Poison Ivy #10 – written by G. Willow Wilson, with art by Marcio Takara – Ivy and her sidekick, Janet-from-HR, sleep together as part of a mushroom-induced orgy at a wellness retreat. Janet's exploration with the couple continues in Poison Ivy #14, when Janet shares an adrenaline-fueled kiss with Harley after confronting Batman for the first time. Although Janet fears repercussions when the truth comes out in Poison Ivy #24, Ivy reiterates that "stuff happens" and that she and Harley "always come back to each other."

Harley And Ivy's Hearts Belong Only To Each Other, Making Them An All-Time Great Comic Romance

They Place Great Trust In Each Other

This is a major development for Harley and Ivy as a couple. While Ivy and Harley's discussion with Janet first seemed like an attempt for everyone to forgive each other and move on, Ivy now permitting Harley to sleep with Althea Klang confirms that this is Ivy and Harley's official stance and marks them as being in an open relationship. Harley and Ivy are confident enough in their love for each other to trust that the other will always return, even if that means accepting that both of them may sleep with other partners from time to time.

This is definitely a new phase for Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy's relationship, but it's one they're both willing to embrace together.

Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy's relationship has a history of pioneering new ground with DC: not only are they one of DC's earliest LGBTQ+ relationships, they are now an openly polyamorous couple as well. Furthermore, Harley seems poised to take full advantage of this opportunity to settle her "situationship" with Althea, with the teaser for Harley Quinn #49 announcing she will "go under covers to stop Althea. Yes, that's innuendo!" This is definitely a new phase for Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy's relationship, but it's one they're both willing to embrace together.

Harley Quinn #48 is available now from DC.