As Birds of Prey confirms that the DC Extended Universe Harley Quinn is bisexual, fans might ask themselves if this has comic book backing

In its opening scene, Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn) confirms that Harley Quinn is bisexual, stating that she has had her heart broken by both men and women, leading moviegoers to wonder if this keeps in line with comic book canon

Margot Robbie’s portrayal of the off-kilter psychologist has been extremely well-received. Her acting chops were one of the definite highlights in Suicide Squad. Birds of Prey only elevates how well Robbie really captured Harley’s essence. She is smart, assured, and skilled, all while sporting that trademark wicked look in her eye.

Overall, Birds Of Prey displays an arguably queer energy. It references multiple explicitly LGBTQ couples while also coding several characters as queer. The movie’s perspective shifts away from the male gaze, something blatantly obvious when comparing Quinn’s sexualised pole dance in Suicide Squad with her sloppy, characterizing stint in Birds Of Prey. Canonically, Harley Quinn’s roots make her an interesting character. She got her start in 1992 in a television series, DC Animated Universe’s Batman: The Animated Series, so it can be argued that her comic book portrayal isn’t the be-all-end-all canon definer. That said, there is no denying that in the world of comic book superheroes, comic lore does still reign supreme.

Harley Quinn Is Definitely Bisexual In The DC Comics

Like in the 2020 film, comic book Harley develops romantic attachments with people across the gender spectrum. Her romantic ties to men are intertwined with her very inception. Her relationship with on-again-off-again boyfriend the Joker, who himself has queer roots in comic book canon, might be toxic, but it is undeniably iconic. Harley’s comic debut in 1994 graphic novel The Batman Adventures: Mad Love explores her origin falling madly in love with the Clown Prince of Crime. The Joker is not the only man in the comics to catch Harley’s eye. She often flirts with Batman himself, making her attraction to the caped crusader known. Batman: White Knight writer Sean Murphy has gone as far as to tease a possible romantic relationship between Batman and Harley.

Turning to the other end of the spectrum, Harley Quinn has a long-standing relationship with Poison Ivy that in recent years has even come to eclipse her relationship with the Joker. Harley Quinn comic artists Tom Taylor, Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Chad Yardin have all explicitly written about Harley and Poison Ivy as polyamorous girlfriends, confirmed by a DC Comics Tweet in 2015. There has even been a comic, Injustice 2 #70, in which it is made clear that Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy have gotten married.

The first hint of these characters’ romantic involvement came in 1997 through Paul Dini and Rick Burchett’s Batgirl Adventures #1 in which Batgirl notices the closeness between the two characters and asks about it. Since then, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy's relationship has been further developed, culminating in this year’s Harley Quinn/Poison Ivy #6, which ends with the characters kissing. While some fans were disgruntled at the way the issue shied away from a kiss on the lips, opting instead for a forehead kiss, Harleen writer Stjepan Sejic created a more explicit alternative sketch that cast away all possibility of it being platonic.

While the box office numbers for Bird Of Prey might not be what Warner Bros. initially anticipated, it has been positively received by audiences and critics alike. Its portrayal of Harley Quinn as the bi icon she is only looks to continue as director Cathy Yan expressed an interest in exploring the relationship between Harley and Poison Ivy in a possible follow-up film.

Next: Birds Of Prey Gives Harley Quinn A Better Origin Story Than Suicide Squad