Warning: contains spoilers for Harley Quinn #8
In a new issue of Harley Quinn, fans get an intimate (borderline NSFW) look at Harley and Poison Ivy’s wild love life where they once roleplayed as Green Arrow and Speedy. It’s well-known in the comic world that Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy have already been on-and-off-again romantic partners. But, Harley Quinn #8 takes their passion to the next level and shows just how far they’ll go to keep that spark burning as brightly as Poison Ivy’s red tresses.
Throughout the years in the DC Comics’ world, it has taken a while for Harley and Ivy’s relationship to blossom into the beloved queer romance that fans know and love today. Harley Quinn’s obsessional form of love for The Joker prevented her from seeing just how toxic and abusive her relationship was with him—despite Poison Ivy’s numerous attempts at telling her so. As Harley found herself without The Joker and in the arms of her eco-terrorist girlfriend (who she sweetly refers to as Pammy), readers see Harley in a much healthier, more adventurous relationship.
In Harley Quinn #8, written by Stephanie Phillips and illustrated by Riley Rossmo, readers see Harley Quinn breaking the fourth wall and narrating a few flashbacks of defining life moments in a sequence of numbered panels, spanning across two pages. At first, in Harley’s typical scatterbrained fashion, she goes back a little too far as she shows off her baby years. She fawns over just how cute she used to be saying, “Can I just say I was a very cute baby! Look at those little ham legs!” The next panel depicts Harley looking pouty in her teenage years. By the third panel, fans see her and Poison Ivy engaging in a steamy makeout session, where she pauses and ogles the titillating memory. Next, Harley scurries to hide the fourth panel, which depicts her and Ivy in bed together roleplaying as Green Arrow and Speedy. Either out of embarrassment or a desire to keep her sex life private she declares to readers, “Nooope! You were not supposed to see that!” Well, Harley, fans saw it, and can’t unsee it.
In the role-play scene Harley dons Green Arrow’s costume and Poison Ivy takes on Speedy’s gear. Harley even wears a fake blonde beard to really get herself into Green Arrow’s character. Ivy is shown laying on her side, her gaze directed upward lovingly into Harley’s eyes. They look completely lost in the moment. With Ivy on her side in a more submissive position, it shows an element of role reversal. For example, in many instances readers see Ivy take on a more domineering role as she attempts to get Harley to see just how poorly The Joker treats her. But behind closed doors, Poison Ivy seems to have the opportunity to let loose and let Harley take the reins a bit. Moreover, they’re both comfortable enough in their sexuality to role-play as two male superheroes.
As Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn’s relationship continues to evolve, it’ll be interesting to see how their coupling continues to break gender and sexuality norms. Who knows who they’ll decide to roleplay next?
