On Friday, June 9th, Kelly Thompson announced the final member of her Birds of Prey team for a new series releasing this September: Harley Quinn.
Does a mission want a wildcard? No.
— KELLY THOMPSON (@79SemiFinalist) June 9, 2023
Does a mission sometimes NEED a wildcard? Yes.
Harley Quinn. The ultimate wildcard.
🎶🦇👊⚔️♦️#BirdsOfPrey #BreakingHeartsAndFaces September 2023.@DCOfficial @Leo__Romero #JordieBellaire #BirdsOfPreyNation pic.twitter.com/yVeIaexqFu
The idea of Harley on the team sparked controversy before it was even announced, as Kelly Thompson acknowledged.
I have read some iteration of “oh god, yes! Please let it be Harley!” about a thousand times in the last 48 hours.
— KELLY THOMPSON (@79SemiFinalist) June 7, 2023
Roughly the same number of times I read some iteration of “oh god, no! Anyone but Harley!” pic.twitter.com/qkbqS4tNKa
This wouldn’t be the first team that DC Comics faced backlash over including Harley Quinn on the Birds of Prey. In 2019, a new Birds of Prey ongoing starring Harley Quinn, Black Canary, and Huntress was announced with Brian Azzarello as the writer. It was meant to capitalize on the then upcoming movie: Birds of Prey: and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn.
The series’ announcement received so much backlash that the book was stealthily cancelled by DC. The already finished issues were later released in an out-of-continuity one-shot in the summer of 2020.
Interestingly enough, the Birds of Prey movie did not feature Harley Quinn joining the titular team. Harley teamed up with the ladies of the film by necessity to escape Black Mask, but ultimate abandoned them. She stole Black Canary’s car, and wrote the Birds of Prey team off as “dorky little do-gooders.” Kelly Thompson’s series marks the first time Harley will actually be an official part of the team.
What do you think of Harley Quinn joining the Birds of Prey? Be sure to follow Batman News for more updates!
UPDATE: Kelly Thompson has revealed that her Birds of Prey team will be reshuffled after the first arc, so there’s a chance Harley and/or other members might only be a part of the team for the first six issues.
Yup. First arc. Then we’ll get some reshuffling.
— KELLY THOMPSON (@79SemiFinalist) June 9, 2023
