Harley Quinn Will Never Be a Villain Again, and Her New Day Job Proves It

Warning: Spoilers for Harley Quinn #37!

Summary

• Harley Quinn’s new role as a teacher solidifies her as a hero in the DC Universe.
• Her impact as a teacher is shown when her students defy Brother Eye to protect her.
• Building relationships with her students and Birds of Prey cements her status as a hero.

Harley Quinn’s new day job is proving to be exactly what it takes to keep the former Cupid of Crime on the straight and narrow. Recently — and thanks to her court-mandated community service — Harley embarked on a new career journey as an adjunct professor. Instantly, her role as a teacher proved to be the best character direction she’s had in the DC Universe in years.

More than just being an interesting character development, Harley’s new path as a teacher is already the best means of keeping Dr. Harleen Quinzel a hero, especially in Harley Quinn #37 by Tini Howard, Sweeney Boo, and a series of all-star Harley artists. In this issuie, Harley is pitted against Brother Eye, but her impact as a teacher is brought to the forefront as Harley’s students defy Brother Eye’s orders to kill their professor.

This touching moment illustrates the importance of the new role that she’s taken on in the DC Universe, as established in the recent Birds of Prey title. As a teacher and, surprisingly, the Birds’ voice of reason, Harley Quinn officially becomes the hero she was destined to be.

Harley Quinn’s Teacher Role Solidifies Her as a Hero

Harley Began Her Teaching Journey in Harley Quinn #28 by Howard, Boo, and Steve Wands

Harley Quinn’s role as a teacher goes hand-in-hand with another new role established for herself, previously seen in Birds of Prey #6 by Kelly Thompson, Leonardo Romero, Jordie Bellaire, and Clayton Cowles, where it becomes clear that Harley Quinn is officially the team’s voice of reason. Considering her bad reputation as being “crazy,” this role might be hard to believe for some readers, but those same readers shouldn’t forget that Harley Quinn is a well-educated psychologist more than she is “crazy.” Those same credentials are why Harley Quinn is able to become a teacher to begin with, where she’s put that same voice to good use.

If Harley wasn’t a teacher and hadn’t connected so strongly with her students, she wouldn’t have managed to break the Brother Eyes’ hold on the students.

Being within the education field as a teacher perfectly informs Harley Quinn’s role as a voice of reason, proving she’ll never fall to villainy again. She has formed a connection with her students, as seen in Harley Quinn #30, where one of her students admits that she was inspired by Quinn to pursue her own goals. If Harley wasn’t a teacher and hadn’t connected so strongly with her students, she wouldn’t have managed to break the Brother Eyes’ hold on the students. Harley Quinn’s voice proved valuable to several students under the Brother Eyes’ influence, just as her voice as a psychologist mattered to Summer, the aforementioned student.

Harley Quinn joins the new Birds of Prey on their first mission, which begins in
Birds of Prey
#1 by Thompson, Romero, Bellaire, and Cowles.

Harley Quinn’s Final Evolution as a Hero

Panels from Harley Quinn #30 by Howard, Boo, and Wands

The relationships that Harley has built with the Birds of Prey and with her students justify why Harley Quinn’s heroic voice is so valuable to the DC Universe. She is having an impact where she is needed most — as a teacher and expert — without forcing her to sacrifice the heroic standing that she’s worked so hard for. The hard work she’s put into transitioning to heroism — equipped with the redemption she’s constantly pursued after past misdeeds — hasn’t been easy, but being a teacher is what finally solidifies Harley Quinn as a permanent DC hero.

Harley Quinn #37 is available now from DC Comics.