Warning! Spoilers for Batman: Curse of the White Knight below.
When it comes to Batman and Harley Quinn’s relationship, the two aren’t always on the best of terms. Harley’s consistently been a thorn in the Caped Crusader’s side as her past with the Joker has unquestionably given him pause about ever trusting her. However, the two might be heading towards a romantic relationship in an upcoming series.
Harley Quinn’s primarily paired with the Joker in the comics, however, her relationship with Poison Ivy has taken center stage over that one - and for good reason. While the Joker helped shape Harley Quinn into the villain/anti-hero she is today, her relationship with him was unhealthy and abusive. Her relationship with Ivy is much healthier. As the Harley Quinn animated series shows, Harley’s at her best when she finally realizes she’s more than the Joker’s personal punching bag - a concept that drives the plot in the upcoming Birds of Prey film.
Batman: White Knight writer Sean Murphy shared a sketch of Bruce Wayne and Harley Quinn where the two characters are looking into each other’s eyes with their hands parallel from one another with only a window separating them. Murphy then asked the question “So, Bruce and Harley in the Murphyverse–just close friends… or something more?”
That’s a good question. Murphy’s White Knight series hasn’t been afraid to shake the status quo. The first series pits a reformed Joker against a Batman who’s increasingly perceived as a villain. His sequel series, Batman: Curse of the White Knight, flipped the DC canon on its head with Batman’s oldest ally getting killed by Azrael and a shocking major change made to Bruce Wayne’s history. However, it’s in the sequel series’ final issue where Harley actually kills the Joker before embracing Batman with a hug.
Murphy could be testing the waters about potentially doing a Bruce Wayne and Harley Quinn romance. While it might seem odd in a comic that takes place in current DC continuity, Murphy’s White Knight series has been a remix of Batman lore. So, if you find the potential relationship preposterous or unbelievable, just know that it wouldn’t take place in DC’s main Batman canon. It’s part of the Murphyverse. Do Harley and Batman belong together? It’s a hard question to answer. But, both have long been tortured by the Joker and will have to set a new path in his absence. It’s not outside the realm of possibility the two would get close. Whether that would lead to Batman and Harley Quinn getting romantic is an entirely different story - and one that Murphy might end up telling.
Next: Doctor Psycho: The Harley Quinn Show’s Telepathic Terror Explained
