Harley Quinn’s Flashpoint Identity Reveals the Dark Truth of Her Origin

In the alternate Flashpoint timeline, the DC Universe is practically unrecognizable, as characters such as Harley Quinn have bizarre counterparts. However, the Flashpoint version of Harley reveals a dark truth concerning her origin story.

After Barry Allen went back in time to save his mom from Eobard Thawne AKA Reverse Flash, he rewrote history and created a new timeline. The ripple effect of his actions made a radically different DC Universe, with Thomas Wayne as Batman instead of his son Bruce. When his son was murdered in his place, Thomas’ wife went insane and became the Flashpoint timeline’s Joker. However, the alternate Batman still encountered a version of Harley Quinn in the form of Yo-Yo, who he is seen chasing in Flashpoint, written by Geoff Johns with art by Andy Kubert. It could be easy to overlook in the original version, but in the animated adaptation, she even has Harley’s signature accent.

Although Martha Wayne has distinct reasons from the original Joker for her existence, Yo-Yo seems to share some commonalities with Harley. In the past, Joker has broken Harley down mentally to convince her to be at his side. As he destroyed her idea of reality, he manufactured both a sidekick and romantic partner. In this vastly different timeline, Harley’s counterpart Yo-Yo still works for the Joker and adopts his nihilistic mentality as she follows in Martha’s footsteps. This seems to hint that Harley’s transformation into a villain wasn’t just based on a series of events, as it was destined to happen.

Regardless of major timeline differences, Harley was meant to be the clown-like villain that fans have known her to be. Thomas Wayne might survive and lose Bruce, becoming the Dark Knight himself, but Harley is just as much a constant as the existence of a Batman. Flashpoint reordered many events, with Cyborg leading a resistance of heroes in place of the Justice League, but the only people left unchanged were Barry Allen and Eobard Thawne.

For Harley to adopt a new name and costume, but to remain loyal to another version of the Joker, speaks to her predisposed condition looking for someone to follow. Although some versions of her origin make it appear that she was insane, other versions allude to an inner darkness that was always present. The Joker of the mainstream DC Universe might pride himself on turning Harley to do his will, but Flashpoint proves she just needed a flame to light the fuse.

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