Harley Quinn Just Got The Perfect New Nemesis

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Harley Quinn #1

In the debut issue of DC Comics’ brand new Harley Quinn series, the antihero is trying to make amends for her villainous past, attempting to get into the good graces of Batman. While she definitely has an uphill battle ahead of her, Harley seems to have found her purpose and calling. However, forces are already being set up to work against her, as Harley herself just got the perfect new nemesis for her new series going forward: Dr. Hugo Strange.

In Harley Quinn #1 from writer Stephanie Phillips with art by Riley Rossmo, Harley begins the issue with an apology cake for Killer Croc, hoping to mend some bridges for when she tried to sell him to an exotic animal farm. Naturally, her plan doesn’t go over so well, and Harley is already feeling the struggle of trying to go legit. While it helps that Harley’s time with the Suicide Squad is over and many of her past charges have been cleared as a result, she still has a long way to go before she’ll be seen as the hero she’s trying to be. Likewise, Batman has offered Harley a chance to prove herself in Gotham, though she’s definitely under close supervision while she attempts to set things right (even after she learns she’s not getting any sort of compensation or bat-check like she originally thought).

By the end of the issue, Harley seems to have found her calling after she and Batman stopped a group of Gothamites from attacking a man who had worked under Joker during his latest attack on the city. In truth, this man was simply manipulated by Joker (just as Harley herself once was). Now, Harley is determined to help any clowns in Gotham she can find, hoping to help and redeem them. While this new mission is one that Batman seemingly tolerates (at least for now), it looks as though Harley won’t be the only one looking for clowns. Newcomer Simon Saint (who’s brought his own sinister agendas to Gotham) wants the clowns dealt with as well, though with much darker methods than Harley’s. As a result, he’s just released none other than Dr. Hugo Strange, who will no doubt put himself directly at odds with Harley’s new mission.

Hugo Strange is a classic villain from Batman’s rogue’s gallery, and the evil psychiatrist is the perfect foe for Harley, as she herself was once a psychiatrist working in Arkham before she was manipulated by the Joker. At the end of the issue, Strange’s cell is covered by pictures of clowns and masks, and it seems likely that he’s been dwelling on the Joker and his followers for a long time. Despite the fact that both Hugo and Harley are doctors of the mind (albeit unconventional ones whose respective licenses to practice are definitely expired), both of them will no doubt be trying to treat Gotham’s clowns in very different ways.

While Harley will likely try to free the clowns from Joker’s lasting influence, Hugo Strange’s methods will presumedly be much darker and brutal. Simon Saint wants the “clown problem” to be exterminated, and there’s a reason he’s hired Strange to get those desired results. In any case, he’s hoping Harley Quinn is prepared to face Dr. Hugo Strange in future issue of her new series from DC Comics.

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Kevin Erdmann
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Kevin Erdmann is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers. With a major in Cinema Studies and a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin is pretty sure he’s writing for the right site. While Kevin is a huge Marvel fan, he also loves Batman because he’s Batman and is a firm believer that Han shot first. Disney also shares a big part of his fan patronage. Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.

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