Harley Quinn is getting a new ongoing series, written by Stephanie Phillips with art by Riley Rossmo. The quirky henchwoman turned anti-hero turned hero has been a fan favorite for years now, and from her comic series to her movie appearances to her very own cartoon, she’s certainly been in the limelight as of late. However, due to her always growing popularity, 2021 introduces a new series with some prospects DC haven’t yet explored with the character.
The new series will follow in the wake of DC’s linewide Future State event, due to take place over January and February. Future State will see various titles jump forward in time, offering snapshots of future time periods and where DC’s heroes and villains find themselves and their legacies. Harley’s own future will be charted in Future State: Harley Quinn, also written by Phillips, who will then go on to unveil the new series March 24, 2021.
Harley’s series will see her becoming a vigilante in Gotham City and adjusting to its new status quo. While the upbeat cover from Riley Rossmo shows Harley sailing over a diminutive Batman with a cloud of smiling ‘sorry’ balloons, things are likely to be difficult for the offbeat hero after the Joker War, which has seen Gotham largely lose faith in its protectors, spawning the killer “hero” Clownhunter and a new governmental push for anti-vigilante measures. Games Radar, who broke news of the series as well as Rossmo’s awesome cover (below), reports Phillips as stating:
I think we’re really seeing Harley brought back more into the Gotham fold lately as she makes her own path, trying to navigate the hero/villain dynamics of a city that has just been rocked by the events of ‘The Joker War. While Future State is taking place some years after this, I think it’s important to see Harley really forging a unique path that we haven’t seen for her yet, and I think we will continue to see more of that in 2021.
The news was revealed at Brazil’s CCXP Future State: Batman panel, where they shared the creative teams for the Harley series as well as Detective Comics and an ongoing Batman/Superman series. Regarding Harley’s new debut, Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti have been in the Harley Quinn comic limelight for years, so it’ll certainly be interesting to see a new perspective on such a unique character, especially with her arguably at the height of her fame thanks to Margot Robbie’s depiction of the character in movies like Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn.
The Harley Quinn ongoing series has been announced as the ninth returning series in the new year to feature the same writer as its Future State counterpart, suggesting an intention to engage with the short sojourn in DC’s future, even if the characters’ ultimate fates aren’t considered fully binding. Harley Quinn is rarely out of circulation in DC Comics, but fans can look forward to a series entirely dedicated to her adventures in a Gotham that’s rarely been more hostile.
