Warning! This article contains spoilers for Joker: Folie à Deux
Joker: Folie a Deuxintroduced the character of Harley Quinn to the popularDC franchise, but not exactly as the character had been seen before. Lady Gaga tackles the role of the iconic Harley Quinn, a sidekick to the Joker who eventually strikes out on her own and becomes one of the most notorious villains in Gotham. However,Harley’s popularity in recent years has seen the character interpreted several times, with variations on the norm in each. From the early days in the comics, when the character was introduced in 1992, to the most recent versions in film and TV, Harley has mostly stayed consistent until now.
Much more than simply changing the style and look of the character, with Gaga’s Harley looking much less comical than her comic book counterpart,the background and characteristics normally associated with the character have shifted. She still has outfits that pay tribute to the original character, and there are clear links that exist between her and the other popular versions, but a lot has been changed in adapting the character for Todd PhillipsJokersequel. From her name, to the core characteristics that make her a villain, Lady Gaga’s version of the character is distinctly different.
7Harley Quinn’s Name Is Slightly Different
She First Introduces Herself As Lee
First of all, one of the most interesting changes has been the name of the character. Just like in Matt Reeves’The Penguinwhere the title character’s name has been adaptedfor the story, Harley inJoker 2has had her name altered slightly.When she first introduces herself to Arthur Fleck, she states that her name is Lee. This is clearly a minor adjustment, as the character shows a preference for her nickname to be a shortened version of Harley.
While the change may seem insignificant, it does set this version of the character apart from other iterations from popular media.
However, as the film progresses, and her full name is stated in newspapers and by other characters,it becomes more clear that her full name is Harley Quinzel. This is a minor change from the comics, where her full name is typically Harleen Quinzel, which is then shortened to Harley Quinn. While the change may seem insignificant, it does set this version of the character apart from other iterations from popular media.
6Lee Is Not a Qualified Psychiatrist
The Harley Quinn of the comics is also a character who originally started out as a qualified psychiatrist. This is the role that initially put her in contact with the object of her obsession, the Joker, but inJoker 2, her backstory has been changed fairly substantially. The movie reveals thatLee Quinzel is not currently employed, but they spent some time studying psychology at grad school. Before completing their studies, however, Lee dropped out.
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While it is still possible for both characters to be highly intelligent, educated figures, it’s clear that the comic book version had more knowledge in the field of psychology and was able to apply that to getting a job. Meanwhile, Lee appears to have found a more direct route toconnect with the Joker. How far along she got in her studies is unclear, but she does not lack motivation or determination when it comes to getting what she wants.
5Lee Is A Patient In Arkham Hospital
A Voluntary Patient Situated In The B Ward
This can be seen in her commitment to connecting with the Joker as she chooses to check herself in to Arkham Hospital to be closer to the notorious murderer, Arthur Fleck.Lee is a voluntary patient, which means she is situated in the B ward, while Fleck is a dangerous criminal, so he is detained in the E ward.
However,the two cross paths when Fleck is moved to the lower security areato speak with lawyers, conduct interviews, and eventually attend a music therapy class. In the comics, Dr. Harleen Quinzel actually begins her career as a psychiatrist in Arkham Asylum. Upon landing the position, she immediately requests to be assigned to the Joker, and introduces herself as Harley Quinn, hinting at the connection to the classic jesters, harlequins.
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Both characters put themselves in the Joker’s path, but their approaches were slightly different. Ultimately, Lee’s path was likely much quicker and easier to accomplish, but Harley’s would have granted her more freedom and flexibility to interact with the Joker.
4Harley’s Parents Are Different To The Comics
Lee’s Home Life Is Much More Settled
Within the comics, there have been brief instances with theparents of Harley Quinnbeing introduced. Harley’s mother and father seem like a poor match, considering her father, Nick, is a hardened criminal and con man who has frequently spent time in a jail cell, and her mother, Sharon, is a simple, kind, and genuinely good person who cares for others and deeply loves her family.
Depending on the version of the character, Harley also tends to have either a brother, or multiple brothers. Meanwhile, in the film, Lee lies that she burned down her parents' home, but the truth isshe still lives at home with both of her parents. It is not clear if she has any siblings, but Arthur’s lawyer mentions that Lee’s father is a successful doctor.
This is a clear shift from the comics, as it appearsher home life is much more settled, and her father appears to have made very different choices to his comic book counterpart. However, in both instances, Harley’s parents appear to be together and remain faithful to one another.
3Harley Quinn In Joker 2 Is Wealthy
The Character’s Life In The Comics Was Much More Difficult
In the comics, Harley’s father had to lie, steal, and cheat to try and make a livingin a corrupt Gotham. This likely meant that cash did not flow freely in the home, and the funds were likely to be strained even further by the fact that the Quinzel’s had multiple children to feed. It’s plain to see that, under these circumstances, the family did not have access to significant wealth, and so Harley grew up without lavish things or other luxuries.
It’s highly likely that Lee was raised under very different circumstances and with greater access to money than Harley in the comics.
When she became a supervillain, she was able to get hold of more expensive things, but even then, they were taken, not earned. InJoker: Folie à Deux, Harley was raised in very different conditions.Her father’s success as a doctor meant that the family could afford to live at a higher standard, and there is no mention of siblings for Lee, which could have led to her being spoiled as an only child.
Since very little of Lee’s homelife is actually revealed in the film, this is still speculation, but it’s highly likely that Lee was raised under very different circumstances and with greater access to money than Harley in the comics.
2Joker 2’s Harley Dances And Sings, While In The Comics She Is A Gymnast
Harley From The Comics Used Her Talent For Gymnastics To Get A Scholarship
One of the most controversial aspects ofJoker: Folie à Deuxis the fact that the film is a jukebox musical withmany songs and dance numbers breaking out throughout the films runtime. Considering Lady Gaga’s popularity as a singer and performer, this provided a stage for the singer turned actress to show off her impressive singing and dancing skills, but this has never really been a part of the character as seen in the comics.
Where Lee sings and dances throughout the film, comic book’s Harley tends to excel in another type of vocation, gymnastics.Harley Quinn is a gymnast, who uses that same flexibility, strength, and versatility in her criminal lifein order to fight and break into buildings with incredible fluidity and technique. But even outside of her criminal career, Harley’s gymnastic skills were exceptional.
Harley was able to use her talent for gymnastics to obtain a scholarship for university, where she began studying psychology. This gift for the extremely physical and demanding sport that is gymnastics was thus an essential part of her journey to meeting the Joker, and becoming a villain in her own right, but these same gymnastic skills are not present in Lee.
1No Enhanced Abilities Or Immunities
Lee Appears To Be A Completely Ordinary Human
As a comic book character,Harley Quinn also possesses exceptional abilitiesthat put her ahead of the average human. While she started life as an ordinary human, her close friendship with another villain, Poison Ivy, led to Harley gaining some notable abilities. Ivy was able to concocta chemical compound that granted Harley enhanced strength, speed, durability, and even resistance to most toxins.
In general, even the storylines where Harley has no enhanced abilities, she still continues to have immunity or resistance to toxins, venoms, and most chemicals due to prolonged exposure. Meanwhile, inJoker: Folie à Deux, Harley appears to be a completely ordinary human with no special enhancements or resistance.
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If this is due to the character still being in the early stages of her development, it is possible that she could build up an immunity over time, but in the film, she is a regular human. This stands out as just one more way that the character is different to her comic book variant, but bothJoker: Folie à Deuxand the comics do a great job at establishing the character of Harley Quinn as a devoted disciple of the Joker, and a highly intelligent manipulator.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Cast
Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Todd Phillips' critically acclaimed comic book thriller Joker. Reprising his Academy Award-winning performance as the failed comedian Arthur Fleck, Joaquin Phoenix revisits the iconic DC character alongside Lady Gaga, who makes her debut as Joker’s lover Harley Quinn in this standalone continuity of the DC Universe.
