Summary

• Harley Quinn's first comic costume in canon was a Joker tribute, with a purple suit and green details that she quickly discarded as "derivative."
• Despite starting with a Joker-like costume, Harley Quinn ultimately settled on her red and black jester outfit as her iconic look.
• Batman: Harley Quinn #1 might have been the first time the Gotham Siren dressed as Joker but it wasn't the last. She later adopted the look for a dark reason.

Joker's. Fortunately for fans, this short-lived Joker tribute lasted only a single before returning Harley to her signature look established in animation.

Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo’s Batman: Damned #2 (2018) also saw Harley adopt a distinctive Joker-like appearance, but for a much darker reason.

Harley Quinn has a complex history in the DC Universe, beginning with her debut in 1992 in Batman: The Animated Series in the episode Joker's Favor, created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm. Her non-canon comic debut followed in 1993's The Batman Adventures #12, by Kelley Puckett and Mike Parobeck.

However, it wasn't until six years later, in Paul Dini and Yvel Guichet's Batman: Harley Quinn #1 (1999), that she officially ed DC comic canon. This milestone not only established Harley's official origin but also introduced her first canonical costume.

Harley Quinn’s First Costume in Comics Paid Tribute to the Joker’s Design

Batman: Harley Quinn #1 establishes Harley's origin story as an orderly at Arkham Asylum who falls in love with the Joker and assists in his escape. This leads to Harley's own incarceration, but she manages to escape amidst the chaos and damage caused by an earthquake that hits Gotham. Her first priority is finding a new outfit, which leads her to try on several costumes. Her initial choice is a blatant imitation of the Joker's iconic purple and green three-piece suit. This marks her very first canonical costume.

Harley's Joker ensemble featured her in an oversized purple suit paired with a yellow handkerchief, a green dress shirt, and a matching tie. She completed the look with Joker's signature footwear, spectator shoes, along with a frizzy green wig and white gloves. However, this costume was short-lived, lasting only a single . Harley herself deemed it "derivative" before promptly discarding it. She went on to try two more costumes before settling on her iconic red and black jester costume, which remains her signature look to this day.

Harley Quinn Also Dressed Up as Joker in Batman: Damned, But For a Much Darker Reason

Batman: Harley Quinn #1 wasn’t the last time that the Gotham City Siren dressed up as her ex-boyfriend. Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo’s Batman: Damned #2 (2018) also saw Harley adopt a distinctive Joker-like appearance, but for a much darker reason than simply experimenting with style. In Batman: Damned, Harley takes on Joker's persona after Batman is believed to have killed him. This transformation includes Joker-esque face makeup, dyed green hair, and donning the clown's iconic purple overcoat. This look and storyline marked one of Harley Quinn’s darkest moments.

Batman: Harley Quinn #1 is available now from DC Comics!