While the DC Universe has no shortage of top-tier romances, this Valentine’s Day we’re zeroing in on one of the most enduring: Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, the unlikely besties who have proven time and time again that sometimes love really is that special connection between a brilliant-but-damaged-psychiatrist-turned-clown-themed-gymnast and a half-human-half-plant eco-terrorist.
It’s a tale as old as time, really.
From their earliest days together in Batman: The Animated Series, across multiple continuities in the comics, to the new smash-hit Harley Quinn TV show, Harley and Ivy have demonstrated that they belong together, even when they’re doing some, uh, less-than-legal things in the name of whatever crazy scheme they’ve cooked up that week.
While things may get messy between them (and, let’s be honest, the GCPD from time to time) they really are bonafide couple goals, something that their new HBO Max special, Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special, seems poised to remind us. So, in the name of cupid’s big day and Harley’s new animated hour celebrating it, let’s take a look at five of their most romantic moments from across their weird and wonderful history.
Toxic Immunity
Harley and Ivy originally met back on Harley’s home turf, Batman: The Animated Series. And not only that, this little moment took place in the episode that first introduced them! In “Harley and Ivy,” Ivy gave Harley an injection that would allow her to become immune to major toxins (like the kind Ivy’s skin produces, for example). This also conveniently rendered Harley immune to Joker Venom as well, and became something that future comics and stories about Harley would continue to play with. Some of them even used Ivy’s special medicine as an explanation for Harley’s almost superhuman endurance, speed and strength.
Let’s Get Married
Superhero weddings can either be lavish or disastrous affairs—and frequently they find ways to be both. But over in the Injustice universe, Harley and Ivy managed to take a quick step away from the chaos and pull off a beautiful ceremony, complete with an Elvis impersonator acting as the officiator. Of course these two would get hitched in Las Vegas, and of course it would somehow still be incredibly romantic. Ivy even used a flower she conjured to hold the ring. If that doesn’t make your heart melt a little bit, we don’t know what will.
Time For Some Therapy
Both Harley and Ivy have been through a lot in their lives, and not all of it has been good. In fact, many would argue that the vast majority of it has been, well, pretty rough to put it lightly. You don’t get to run around Gotham City picking fights with Batman and come out unscathed every time—and we’re not even going to touch on where the Joker fits into any of this. So, it only makes sense that they’re both carrying some baggage around that they need to get off their respective chests. Thankfully, they had a chance to do just that during the Heroes in Crisis event, which featured a beautiful moment of our two leading ladies speaking candidly about the importance of therapy and the potential for it to help them. It may not be the most classically romantic thing to do, but it’s certainly an important step to take!
Honeymoon Road Trip!
Harley and Ivy have some incredible moments with one another in the Harley Quinn animated series—and the series’ spin-off comics have only added to fun! The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour is the pseudo-honeymoon road trip of a lifetime, following a storyline in the show where Ivy very nearly got married to Kite Man (phew, talk about dodging a bullet on that one). It features the exact level of raunchy slapstick comedy you’ve probably come to expect from the TV show, along with some extra-sweet, extra-romantic moments that you’ll just have to read to enjoy fully. They may not be legally married in the show continuity, so this may not technically be a real honeymoon—but hey, when has the law stood in the way of either of them?
The Eye of the Beholder
Both Harley and Ivy are total bombshells, anyone would admit that, but part of their job involves some significant aesthetic risks. Afterall, it’s pretty much impossible to stay runway ready all the time when you’re running around trying to avoid being caught by someone like Batman or the GCPD. Still, be that as it may, on HBO Max’s Harley Quinn, we got a firsthand look at just how little something like that factors into their perception of each other. In Season 3’s “Batman Begins Forever,” Ivy confirms outright that Harley is the most beautiful thing in the world to her—even when she’s knocked out and drooling. That’s what we call true love.
Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special is now streaming on HBO Max.
Mason Downey writes about comics, movies, TV and the history of superheroes for DC.com. Look for more of his writing on IGN, GameSpot and Polygon, and follow him on Twitter at @rustypolished.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Mason Downey and do not necessarily reflect those of DC Entertainment or Warner Bros.
Source: DC Comics
