DC’s Injustice is Secretly Harley Quinn’s Fantasy – Theory Explained

Is DC’s Injustice universe all in Harley Quinn‘s head? The idea that an entire story line can be explained as one character’s fantasy is over-applied to modern media properties, but in the case of Injustice, the theory that Harley is the one telling the story adds a fascinating new dimension to this tale of superheroes at war.

The Injustice universe began with the fighting video game Injustice: Gods Among Us and its sequel Injustice 2, but is popular among comic fans for the surprisingly well-written tie-in series of the same names (as well as the prequel Injustice: Year Zero) from Tom Taylor, Brian Buccelato, and a host of artists. The comics and video games follow the central premise that Superman, after witnessing Lois’ death at the hands of the Joker (alongside the destruction of Metropolis), snaps and becomes a totalitarian leader. This causes the various DC characters to either side with his authoritarian regime or take arms against it, with Harley Quinn squarely in the latter camp. She even appears in the second game as a member-in-training of the Justice League.

All of this feeds into the theory that the entire Injustice universe is simply a fantasy of Harley’s creation. While Joker’s decision to swap his attention to Superman is never quite justified, it makes sense that Harley would want to downplay the Clown Prince of Crime’s obsession with Batman while also believing he’ll one day truly tip the world off its axis. Her role as a freedom fighter in Superman’s dystopia also validates Harley’s own self-image as a free-thinker fighting fascist superheroes, especially once she’s instrumental in acquiring pills that even the playing field by giving normal humans metahuman strength and durability. The story also gives Harley some happy moments that border on wish fulfillment, such as partnering with Green Arrow and Black Canary, getting married to Poison Ivy, forming her own gang, and reconnecting with her long-lost daughter. Even Harley’s friend Killer Croc gets an unexpected happy moment with his marriage to Orca.

Despite all these points, there are some major cracks in the theory as well. While Harley is a prominent character in the games and comics, she’s far from the only player in the sprawling epic, and much of the plot requires knowledge Harley simply wouldn’t have, such as Batman’s true identity. Injustice also hands Harley her own share of tragedy, such as when her beloved gang – aka the Harley Horde – are massacred on Amanda Waller’s orders.

While the Injustice comics are generally beloved for their freedom to depict a DC Universe where anything can happen, the Harley theory is compelling in how it papers over some cracks in the early story. Veteran Superman writer Grant Morrison recently expressed disdain for the idea that Superman would react to Lois Lane’s death by turning evil – a detail which doesn’t jibe with previous stories such as Kingdom Come, where Joker kills the entire staff of the Daily Planet, prompting Superman to enter a self-imposed exile rather than founding a murderous regime. Likewise, the 5-U-91-R drug that evens the playing field between different heroes is a necessary conceit, but one that feels too convenient even when explained in the comics.

Ultimately, the Injustice comics do an amazing job of contextualizing the games with compelling character arcs and some genuinely unforgettable moments. It’s fun to explore the idea that Harley Quinn may be casting herself as the true hero against the superhumans who used to haul her off to jail, but whatever fans’ conclusions, DC’s Injustice universe remains a comics gem that doesn’t get enough credit.

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