Harlequin (comics)
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- For The Joker's sidekick, see Harley Quinn
The Harlequin is the name of four clown-themed DC Comics characters.
The original Harlequin was a foe of the Golden Age Green Lantern, and later became his wife. The second Harlequin originally debuted as the Joker's Daughter, and was a member of the Teen Titans. The third Harlequin was a member of the Injustice Unlimited super-villain team, and battled Infinity, Inc.. The fourth Harlequin has only appeared on a few occassions, and is an enemy of Alan Scott.
Molly Mayne
The original Harlequin was a woman named Molly Mayne who appeared in stories alongside the Golden Age Green Lantern Alan Scott.
Mayne developed a crush on Scott and, donning a colorful costume (which included horn-rimmed glasses, a birthday hat, and a mandolin), started a life of crime to attract his attention. Her crimes tended to be harmless and mostly for show, although the two clashed on several occasions in the late 1940s.
She briefly joined the Injustice Society until she turned on them by aiding the Justice Society of America. She had a deep running altruistic streak which occasionally led her to join forces with her enemy/would-be love interest. Despite being attracted to Harlequin, Scott never entered into a relationship with her and she eventually gave up in despair. She made a deal with the government in which she went on intelligence missions in return for amnesty for her past crimes and then quietly retired. On one occasion, she assisted Green Lantern, Superman and Lois Lane in capturing another foe of her love, the Sportsmaster.
Years later, after the death of his first wife Rose/Thorn, Alan Scott realized that he had loved Molly all this time and they were married. As the years passed a problem developed for the two; the Starheart (which gave Scott his powers) had reversed his aging processes, so he was physically a young man while Molly had since aged into an old woman. In despair over the rift this had caused between them Molly sold her soul to the demon Neron in return for youth. Her body became that of a young woman (who had the power to create nightmares) but her soul remained in the underworld. Scott fought his way through Hell to obtain it and with the help of the young Green Lantern Kyle Rayner returned it to the Harlequin's body, re-aging her but making her whole once again. Some time thereafter, Scott himself was returned to his true physical age, as well.
Mayne and Scott remain happily married to this day.
Powers
Her primary tool was her glasses which projected realistic three-dimensional holograms, later explained as a gift from the Manhunters as one of their agents.Duela Dent
Pre-Crisis
In Pre-Crisis history, Duela Dent first appeared as Joker's Daughter in the Batman Family series of comic books. She then gained the attention of Robin as she later claimed to be the daughter of Catwoman, Scarecrow, Riddler, and Penguin. She found out Robin's identity and he revealed her identity as that of Duela Dent, Two-Face's daughter.
Duela claimed she wanted to join the Teen Titans to make up for her father's crimes. Not everyone was for this idea. In Teen Titans #48 she changed her identity to Harlequin. As Harlequin, Duela utilized gimmicks such as smoke-cloud inducing powder puffs and bullet-firing lipstick.
After the Teen Titans comic books were canceled, she popped up in the Batman comic books. During two issues, she called herself Card Queen while infiltrating a criminal organization called MAZE.
Her last Pre-Crisis appearance was in Tales Of The Teen Titans #50, as a guest at Donna Troy's wedding. It is retconned that she is too old to ever have been the daughter of Two-Face here. Before the identity of her actual father can be found out, she leaves.
Post-Crisis
Delusional and schizophrenic, the mysterious Harlequin has been in and out mental institutions for several years. An acrobat who possesses numerous "clown-motif" gadgets, she has been called Duela Dent, but her true identity remains unknown.Her first significant Post-Crisis appearance was in the Team Titans comic book, as a patient in a mental hospital. The writers of the title planned originally to reveal that Harlequin was a time traveling member of the Team Titans who had gone insane from the shock of time travel and her separation from her fellow Team Titan cell members.
Due to the cancellation of the series, plans for her to return to the team in a storyline where she steals a reality-altering device and warp New York City back to a replica of the late 1970s version of itself were aborted. However, the final issue of Team Titans jokingly solicited the story as occurring in Team Titans #25, as a final joke towards its cancellation.
Harlequin next aided the Titans during the Technis Imperative, when Cyborg's automated system sought out all Titans allies, past and present. Although she was still in a mental institution at the time, Duela was rescued by Cyborg and helped battle the Justice League for Cyborg's soul. Following this she made a brief appearance in a bar in Titans Secret Files #1, insisting to anyone who would listen that the Titans would soon be contacting her about membership. She also claimed she was the daughter of Doomsday.
Duela's next appearance would be in the Titans Secret Files #2, in a backup story in which Gar's obnoxious cousin Matt decided to hold a membership drive for the new version of Teen Titans West, "Titans L.A." Harlequin crashed the official meeting-turned-party with a small group of villains, including Beast Boy's enemies Fear and Loathing, simply because she hadn't been invited. Flamebird and Terra defeated her and returned her to The Helping House Mental Institution in Industry, California. No explanation was given as to where she found the dangerous villains that aided her party-crashing.
In the same comic, a feature on former Titans stated that all her claims as to who her father was had been disproved, except one. No further information was given.
Next, in the "Titans Tomorrow" storyline, Duela destroyed Arkham Asylum and tried to reconcile with her father, who ignored her. In a fit of rage she killed Batgirl, Alfred Pennyworth, and Bette Kane. She was also responsible for doing something to members of the GCPD, specifically Crispus Allen. She again called herself Joker's Daughter, and traded chattering teeth and riddles for more deadly accesories. She was shot to death by Batman II, Tim Drake of the future. Before she was killed she hinted that she knew more about him when he was younger.
In a short story contained in the Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files #2, Duela is inexplicably socializing with several villains on their secret satellite headquarters. In this short back-up tale, Duela makes a handful of wild claims as to her parentage, all of which are dismissed by the non-plussed villains. The only new wrinkle added to her tale in this story was a claim that she had been resucitated by the lazarus pit and, most interestingly, that her mother may actually be the villainous parent she has always claimed.
Duela returned to action alongside almost every former Titans member against Dr. Light in Teen Titans (vol. 3) and again in Infinite Crisis #4 and Teen Titans #32 against Superboy-Prime.
Villainous genes
Over the years, Duela has claimed, whether seriously or in jest, to be the offspring of the following DC Universe villains:In Titans Secret Files #2, it is stated that her father has been identified, however nothing was ever revealed. However, she has recently hinted that her villainous parent is actually her mother, and not her father. The mystery of Duela Dent's true identity continues today.
Marcie Cooper
As a youth Marcie Cooper was recruited by the Grandmaster to join the Manhunters. Her grandfather, Dan Richards (aka, Manhunter I), also encouraged her to join the group as he had years ago. The Manhunters gave her a job working at KGLX radio in Gotham City, alongside Molly Maynne Scott, who was a former agent called Harlequin. Marcie began dating Northwind, and later Obsidian, both of Infinity, Inc., and infiltrated the superteam from within.
When the Manhunters began to strike at Earth, Marcie stole Molly's illusion-casting spectacles, taking the identity of Harlequin. She failed to recruit Obsidian to the Manhunters, but she did kill her grandfather after he betrayed the Manhunters.
Single-minded in her attempt to destroy Infinity, Inc., she joined Injustice Unlimited and masterminded the assassination of Skyman.
Posing as Jade, she used Solomon Grundy as her pawn in killing Skyman. When he realized he had been manipulated he savagely beat her. Harlequin has not been heard from since (though Roy Thomas has stated she was not killed).
Cooper did make a cameo appearance in Alan Scott's dream sequence in Underworld Unleashed: Abyss - Hell's Sentinel #1, and also appeared alongside numerous other villains (including Harlequin IV) gathered together in Hell by Neron in Underworld Unleashed #1.
Some readers have speculated that she may be the mysterious Harlequin IV who appeared in Green Lantern Corps Quarterly and Underworld Unleashed. However, since both women appeared in the group of villains in Underworld Unleashed #1, it is doubtful they are the same person.
Powers
Harlequin wears special glasses that allows her to hypnotize people and to create realistic illusions in the minds of the people around her. She can even project illusions over television. She also wields a mandolin with an extending handle that can be used as a weapon.
A psychopathic killer, she is not afraid to do whatever it takes to destroy her opponents.
Harlequin IV
A mysterious new Harlequin debuted in issues #5-6 of Green Lantern Corps. Quarterly, and battled Alan Scott.
As a little girl, she discovered she had illusion-casting powers. She learned all about the first Green Lantern, and how the first Harlequin became his lover. She knew it was her destiny to become the next Harlequin and to be with Green Lantern.
She created illusions of Icicle and Solomon Grundy for Alan Scott to battle, and then revealed herself to him. During that encounter, Scott mysteriously regained his younth. Though at first he thought this an illusion, he later learned that the original consciousness of the Starheart had been reawakened, and M'La had been tortured and slain.
During her battles with Scott, she eventually attacked his wife, Molly Mayne-Scott (the first Harlequin). She created illusions of a decrepid version of Molly, while she flooded Scott's head with visions of them together (in space, as barbarians, as detectives and eventually as medieval warriors). Scott was able to break free when he unleashed his simmering rage against her, and showed her a world where he rules over Hell, and she is his captive slave. She stopped the battle, and fled away shouting that he ruined everything, and instantly disappeared into the air.
She returned and made an appearance in Alan's dream sequence in Underworld Unleashed: Abyss - Hell's Sentinal #1. She also appeared in Hell alongside the other villains called by Neron in Underworld Unleashed #1.
It is unknown whether Harlequin IV is the same Harlequin who had previously fought Infinity, Inc. (Marcie Cooper), a manifestation of the Starheart, a delusion experienced by Alan Scott, or an entirely different character. However, it is doubtful she is Marcie Cooper, since she and Cooper appeared together in Underworld Unleashed #1.
During Underworld Unleashed, a character named Fay Moffit became the new Spellbinder, and she bares a striking resemblence (both physically and in terms of powers) to Harlequin IV. Although very similar, they appear to be two separate characters.
Powers
She has illusion-casting powers similar to her predecessors. However, her illusions are much more intense and powerful than the illusions cast by Molly Mayne and Marcie Cooper. When casting her illusions, if the victim has any minor doubt or little qualm in their mind, they will feel the pain her illusion is inflicting on them.Other versions
Infinity Inc. - Gay Male Harlequin
In the original pitch for the Infinity, Inc. series, creators Roy Thomas and Jerry Ordway had planned on using a young gay male as a new Harlequin.
In an interview with Alter Ego, Ordway explains: "Northwind is shown--but at his side (see P. 33) is a new, young, male Harlequin, who Jerry's notes suggest might become "comics' first 'gay' character. Or we could just assume it." Not a bad idea, and maybe we should have played it that way; but we were already going to have two Green Lantern-derived heroes in Infinity, Inc."
Kingdom Come - Joker's Daughter II
In Kingdom Come, there is a new Joker's Daughter. Joker's Daughter II is unofficially called Harlequin III, according to Alex Ross (Marcie Cooper has apparently been overlooked in the KC timeline). The card set calls her "one of many to follow the Joker's chaotic style."
The Kingdom Come Revelations supplement adds the following:
"Along with Batman's apparent influence on others to follow his style, so has the Joker inspired a few to take after his chaotic clown style. The original Joker's Daughter (who actually turned out to be Two-Face's Daughter) was a former member of the Teen Titans and has no direct relation to this new "riot girl" version, nor is there a true familial relation to the Joker."
Joker's Daughter II is modeled on Jill Thompson, a writer/artist; Thompson is Chicago-based, as is Alex Ross. Austin Loomis adds that Thompson has occasionally drawn herself into stories that she was illustrating for Vertigo.
It is noted throughout this series Joker's Daughter II is always quite dour and serious, quite the change from her father, and another example of the generational-clash theme of Kingdom Come.
Following the death of Von Bach, Ex1Machina points out that Joker's Daughter II has undergone a drastic makeup change, with a tear now tattooed beneath her eye. This in turn might be a reference to the modern tradition of female gang members bearing a tattoo teardrop for each loved one who has died; it may be that Joker's Daughter II felt that way towards Von Bach.
She is one of the few characters to survive the final battle in #4. She later reappeared in The Kingdom: Offspring # 1.
Tangent Comics - Joker
A female version of the Joker appeared as part of DC's Tangent Comics line in her own one-shot (Tangent Comics: The Joker) in 1997. This Joker was much less like the villainous Joker, and more like Duela Dent (including using a number of super-heroic identities).
She also appeared as a member of the Secret Six. The Secret Six are a covert group of heroes who formed when the Flash, Atom, Joker, Spectre, Plastic Man and Manhunter joined forces to combat Dr. Aquadus, a living ocean.
She returned in 1998 in Tangent Comics: The Joker's Wild. The story focused on three mischievous but essentially good superheroines (Madame Xanadu, Mary Marvel, and Lori Lemaris all masquerading as the Joker) in the post-apocalyptic rebuilt city of New Atlantis.
Infinite Crisis revealed that the Tangent universe was actually Earth-97, part of the recreated Multiverse. The Joker might be the Duela Dent of Earth-97.
Origin
The Cuban missile crisis of 1962 obliterated Florida, Cuba and parts of Texas and Mexico. Atlanta was largely destroyed but somehow survived and became a symbol of hope and perseverance to the nation: New Atlantis.The Joker is in her twenties and, like all youth, questions authority. Yet none do with quite her flair, nor for quite the same reasons. Both her parents were horribly disfigured and irradiated during the Cuban missile crisis. She was their first and only child; three younger sisters died after birth. The names of these sisters are the names of Joker's three identities; her way of keeping them alive. Joker's parents are also dead and she can't look the gleaming, columned skyscrapers of New Atlantis without thinking of the pain and suffering that, in her mind, they are trying to hide and forget. To her, America's most perfect city is a joke. Her true secret identity is unknown.
See also
External links
Molly Mayne- [All-American Comics #89 (First Appearance)]
- [Comic Book Database: Harlequin I]
- [GA Villain Checklist Profile]
- [The Unofficial Harlequin 1 Biography]
- [Comic Book Database: Harlequin II]
- [Comic Book Database: Joker's Daughter]
- [Duela Dent History]
- [Obscure Characters: Card Queen]
- [Titans Tower: Duela Dent]
- [The Unofficial Harlequin 2 Biography]
- [Unpublished Duela Dent story from Vixen #1]
- [Harlequin Profiles]
- [Kingdom Come Annotations 1]
- [Kingdom Come Annotations 4]
- [Secret Originis of Infinity, Inc.]
- [Tangent Comics]
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