Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy’s Codenames Get a Romantic New Origin Their Fans Can't Miss (2024)

WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley!

Many fans are familiar with the origins of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy's codenames, which were originally linked to their infamous exes—Joker and Dr. Jason Woodrue. However, a sneak peek of an upcoming graphic novel has introduced a new, romantic origin for the "Harley" and "Ivy" codenames. This development severs their connection to the Clown Prince of Crime and Woodrue, and it's possibly the best thing to happen to the Harlivy ship in years.

DC’s Pride 2024 #1 offered a glimpse into Melissa Marr and Jenn St. Onge’s upcoming young adult graphic novel, The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley, slated for release on September 3, 2024. This trade paperback promises to deliver a Harley Quinn-inspired twist on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886).

Despite only six pages being revealed so far, the graphic novel has already introduced a significant alteration to the origins of the "Harley" and "Ivy" codenames. In this new rendition, the two girls choose the names for each other, diverging from the darker origins tied to their exes.

Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy Gift Each Other Their Codenames, Severing the Dark Link to Joker and Dr. Jason Woodrue

In the comics, the young and promising Harleen Quinzel earns her codename after graduating from college and embarking on a career as a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum, where she encounters its most notorious inmate, the Joker. It's the Clown Prince of Crime who dubs Harleen with the moniker "Harley Quinn," creatively rearranging the letters of her name. Similarly, Pamela Isley adopts the alias "Poison Ivy" following Dr. Woodrue's experiments on her, a transformation that imbues her with metahuman abilities. However, The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley subverts these traditional origins, offering a fresh take on the evolution of their codenames.

In the preview of The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley, the two Gotham City Sirens are depicted breaking into a science facility and freeing the animals subjected to experimentation. Following their successful mission, Pamela affectionately addresses Harleen as "Harley," signaling a shift in their dynamic. When Harleen expresses surprise at the nickname, Ivy playfully retorts, "You don't feel like 'Harleen' tonight!" In response, Harley reciprocates by christening Pam with the name "Ivy." The reasoning behind the nickname is that Harley likes it when Ivy wraps her arms around her.

The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley Promises To Be a Fresh Start For Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn

With such a significant origin change occurring in the first six pages of The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley, fans are poised to witness a completely new facet of Harley and Ivy, both individually and as a couple. Despite the Joker being hinted at in the narrative, he's definitively excluded as the creator of "Harley Quinn." This marks a pivotal shift for Harley, granting her a level of autonomy from the Clown Prince of Crime that was absent in her original origin story. Furthermore, it's intriguing to anticipate the evolution of the Harlivy relationship, with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn now at the core of each other's origins.

Strange Case of Harleen and Harley TP is available on September 3, 2024, from DC Comics!

THE STRANGE CASE OF HARLEEN AND HARLEY TP (2024)
	Writer: Melissa Marr Artist: Jenn St. Onge

Poison Ivy

Inducted into Batman's rogues gallery in the 1960s, Poison Ivy is a metahuman who terrorizes Gotham with her poisonous touch and control over plant life. A misanthropic eco-terrorist, Poison Ivy is also depicted as an anti-hero, using her powers in attempts to regrow the environment in the wake of pollution and deforestation. Together with her lover Harley Quinn, the two are always ready to wreak havoc in Gotham.