After her break up with the Joker, Harley starts recruiting downtrodden villains to her crew. She recruits Clayface, a struggling actor and Gotham City’s self-proclaimed shapeshifting thespian, King Shark and a kickboxing MMA fighter called Doctor Psycho.
However, the show’s original creator Beau DeMayo claims that the work he set in place for season 2 is being ignored by the new creative team.
Release Dates
After a successful run on DC Universe, the Harley Quinn animated series is heading to Max. The series will see the ragtag group of DC castoffs take on new challenges.
The first season of the show saw Harley, Poison Ivy, and their gang battle Gotham’s greatest villains and take on a new challenge in Metropolis. The first season was a hit and the fan base wants more.
Sy Borgman, a former CIA agent who was fitted with state of the art robotic limbs, is unable to keep up with the rest of the crew. He takes their comatose bodies to an abandoned mall to cremate them, but the plan backfires as they wake up and ravage the place.
It’s unclear how much influence original creator Mark DeMayo still has on the show as he was fired from Marvel before season 1 premiered. This is concerning since X-Men 97 was one of the biggest hits for Marvel’s animation branch and the bar is high for season 2. The new creative team could struggle to combine what DeMayo created with their own vision.
Character Arcs
Harley Quinn has had one of the most interesting character evolutions in DC animation. She first appeared on B:TAS in 1992 as the Joker’s sidekick but her popularity grew, and she was given her own series and an origin story.
Harley is a complex character that is a villain, a hero, and something in-between. She’s not the type to shy away from violence or sexuality, but she’s also been a victim of mental abuse. She uses her psychiatric training and charm to deceive and manipulate others. Her best trick is her ability to act sane in front of people.
According to DeMayo, Marvel and the show’s new creator Matthew Chauncey have revised the scripts he left behind for season 2. The D23 sizzle reel showed Apocalypse recruiting new Horsemen, suggesting he will play a central role in season 2. Another confirmed antagonist is Lady Deathstrike, who will likely use her adamantium claws against Wolverine. X-Men 97 season 2 is sure to have some emotional storylines as key characters face personal struggles.
Teasers
Harley Quinn continues to be a funny, well-written animated series with a unique twist on DC characters and a hooking dynamic between Harley and Ivy that doesn’t fall into some expected tropes. The second season builds upon this foundation with even more action and fun cameos. It also explores different parts of Gotham City as Harley sets out to make a name for herself in the criminal underworld while finding an identity that is not defined by her relationship with the Joker.
X-Men 97 is another hit animated series that has performed well with both fans and critics since its debut on DC Universe. The first season ends on a dramatic cliffhanger with Magneto and Xavier trapped in ancient Egypt. A sizzle reel at D23 showed that the upcoming Season 2 will see the mutant Apocalypse in his original form of En Sabah Nur and the leader of the Four Horsemen.
Original creator Beau DeMayo recently claimed that the new creative team for X-Men 97 has stalled on season 2. While he doesn’t have direct access to the scripts, it could be a sign that Marvel is dropping the ball on one of their biggest recent hits.
Cast Announcements
The Harley Quinn animated series has been a critical and audience success for DC Universe. The adult-oriented action-comedy follows Harley as she breaks off her relationship with the Joker and sets out to become Gotham’s most respected criminal queen. She’s aided by Poison Ivy and a ragtag group of DC castoffs.
The voice cast for the show includes The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco as Harley Quinn and Lake Bell as Poison Ivy. Alan Tudyk is also a regular, playing the Joker and Clayface. Other voices include Jim Rash (Community), Ron Funches (Powerless) and JB Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm).
Stephen Fry has been added to the mix as Brainiac, the series’ main antagonist. He’s best known for his work on the comedy duo Fry & Laurie, but has been involved in everything from Blackadder to Skeleton Crew and more. The final addition to the lineup is Natalie Morales, who’ll voice Lena Luthor. She’s had roles on Bojack Horseman, The Talk and more. She’s also a frequent guest star on CBS’ Elementary. The show is currently streaming on Max.
Fan Reactions
Harley Quinn is a fantastic animated show that delivers on all fronts. It is funny, smart, sarcastic, and exciting, and it does a great job of portraying superheroes and villains as actual people with real flaws. This show has a lot of potential and it would be great to see it continue.
With the end of Season 5, fans have been wondering whether Harley Quinn will return for a sixth season. Showrunner Dean Lorey has reassured fans that the series is not over. He has also confirmed that any future seasons will not be set in the current DC universe and will instead take place in the new Elseworlds universe.
The Harley Quinn animated series is one of the most popular shows on Max and has been praised by critics and fans alike. It has even gotten better reviews than the critically acclaimed Snyder Cut of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The new season will focus on Gotham’s villains, including Harley and Poison Ivy, but it also introduces a few heroes and Lena Luthor, Lex’s younger sister.