Warning! Spoilers for Harley Quinn #10
The recent comic book break-up of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy has caused some controversy among fans, sparking debate whether it was the right creative decision. The Gotham City supervillains broke up in Harley Quinn #10, written by Stephanie Phillips with art by Laura Braga and colors by Arif Prianto.
The fan favorite pairing of Harley and Ivy might have gone their separate ways, but they have kept the door open for a possible future. Ever since Harley was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for Batman: The Animated Series, the two Batman villains have had an on-and-off relationship. Following Harley’s famous break-up with the Joker, she has gone on a journey of independence, realizing her full potential as a supervillain. Her relationship with Ivy was symbolic of her growth, but it was also representative of readers who identify as LGBTQIA+.
Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy’s break-up has been criticized for being stereotypical of queer romances in popular culture ending poorly. The creative team has been met with backlash, as fans have debated that positive representation in same sex relationships throughout fiction have been few and far between. In contrast to straight relationships, like those of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, or Barry Allen and Iris West, there haven’t been many opportunities for characters to embody a long-lasting queer relationship. However, the iconic comic book couple of Harley and Ivy had previously filled that desire for many fans.
After having been estranged for an extended period, with Harley being unaware of Ivy’s whereabouts, the break-up comes at an arguably odd time. The issue which was set up to be a reunion subverted expectations in a way that has upset a lot of the readership, as exemplified on social media. On Twitter, writer Stephanie Phillips shared a thread about the recent break-up and responded to fans’ critiques, gaining support from Nightwing and Superman: Son of Kal-El writer Tom Taylor. Some readers have argued that with major heroes like Jon Kent AKA Superman and Tim Drake AKA Robin entering into queer relationships (as well as increased focus on less well-known characters like Jackson Hyde in Aquaman: The Becoming) that Harley and Ivy lack the representative responsibility they once had in the DC Universe.
There is still a chance that Harley and Ivy could reunite in their relationship. Media outside of comics has already recognized the story potential of the supervillain romance, especially signaling Harley’s separation from the Joker, as in Harley Quinn: The Animated Series on HBO Max. As the debate about Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy’s break-up continues online among readers, they are encouraged by Phillips and Taylor to remain civil and thoughtful in their dialogue.
