As far as the world is concerned, the majority of fans consider MCU to be the more successful of the two major superhero film universes. DCEU, while it offered plenty of memorable films, still lags behind its Marvel counterpart in most categories. That said, DCEU has still managed to create a pretty impressive superhero universe filled with beloved characters such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, as well as villains like the Suicide Squad and Harley Quinn. Harley first shone in the 2016 film Suicide Squad and this year, in Birds of Prey, which may feel separate from the rest of the DCEU, but actually connect to the universe in many ways.
Suicide Squad Outfit
Harley wears various clothes in the film and she manages to look great no matter what she’s doing at the moment - whether she’s rollerskating, eating, kicking ass, running from her enemies, drinking herself unconscious, or just chilling and watching TV. Generally, she’s even more carefree than she was in the Suicide Squad - probably because she no longer has to worry her head will explode if she won’t do what Amanda Waller ordered her to. That said, Harley still obviously didn’t forget her time in the Suicide Squad since she kept her outfit from then, claiming it has sentimental value.
Hidden Katana
Speaking of Suicide Squad, Harley worked with a lot of villains and some heroes while she was with them. One of them was Katana, the silent but deadly fighter who wielded a powerful sword and used it to cut down her enemies. When Harley and the rest of her gang, Cassandra Cain, Black Canary, Renee Montoya, and the Huntress, go to the Amusement Mile and face Black Mask, the viewers can see that Harley has a katana stashed among her weapons. While it’s not probably the same sword Katana used in the Suicide Squad, it’s still a nice nod to the film.
Dead Parents
Harley’s parents may be still alive, unlike Batman’s, but since she doesn’t get along with her family, she might wish that they were dead. Harley isn’t one to reminisce about the past but she does show the viewers a little of her history at the beginning of the film. In one moment, Harley also mentions that she knows Gotham’s East Side better than anyone. This comment is more important than it seems. Guess where the Crime Alley where Bruce Wayne’s parents died is? You guessed it - in Gotham’s East Side. It’s not clear whether Harley remembers the Wayne murder but it’d be a nice touch if she did.
ACE Chemicals
While the Birds of Prey characters only mention some of the important locations (such as Gotham’s East Side), they visit some of them in person. The most important example is the ACE Chemicals where Harley and Joker had their faithful date - you know, the one during which Joker pushed Harley into a vat full of acid, which transformed her forever.
It seems that Harley doesn’t have lucky memories of the place since she burns it down in one of Birds of Prey’s most epic scenes. To top it all off, Billy Batson, aka Shazam, also used the factory to test his new superhero powers in his solo film.
Janus Corporation
ACE Chemicals isn’t the only important company that appears in Birds of Prey. Another is Janus Corporation which is connected to the film’s main villain, Roman Sionis aka Black Mask, played by Ewan McGregor. In a scene of the film, Black Mask talks about his past and family and mentions that he should have inherited Janus Corporation. That’s not the first time the fans of the DCEU heard about this company. In Justice League, there’s a glimpse of Janus Cosmetics - a division of Janus Corporation - during the battle between Batman and the Parademon. It’s a “blink and you’ll miss it” moment but it still proves that in DCEU, everything is more or less connected.
Fellow Villain On The Run
We all remember how Harley Quinn managed to break out of prison and escape the Suicide Squad thanks to the Joker. That said, Harley isn’t the only Suicide Squad member who apparently managed to break free. When Harley goes to the police station to find Cassandra, a poster hangs on the wall. It shows Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney) from Suicide Squad and it has the word WANTED on it, so it’s clear that Captain Boomerang is also on the run from the law. Harley even mentions that she knows the guy.
Harley’s Past
As said above, Harley usually likes to focus on the present and the future since the world around is filled with so many interesting possibilities, after all (like enjoying a good sandwich). However, at the beginning of Birds of Prey, Harley recalls her past and the events which led her to where she is today.
She mentions working at Arkham, falling in love with the Joker, allowing him to throw her into the vat full of acid, and finally, getting arrested by Batman and becoming a part of Suicide Squad. These all are events the fans saw in Suicide Squad, and it’s very possible that when Harley mentions she got arrested by Batman, she means the whole “Was it a kiss or not?” scene.
Hyena Bruce
Let’s stay with Harley and Batman for a moment longer. Unlike some other DC female villains (such as Catwoman, for example), Harley doesn’t know that Bruce Wayne and Batman are the same person. That never stopped her from being attracted both to Batman and even more to Bruce. In her admiration for the billionaire, Harley even went as far as to name her hyena Bruce - after the “hunky Wayne guy,” as Harley herself said. If that wasn’t enough, Harley also has a necklace with the name Bruce on it. Has somebody got a crush, Harley? Either way, these two don’t met in the films but it’d be interesting to see them interact more in the future DCEU films.
Batman Credits
Those fans who were hoping for a post-credit scene in Birds of Prey, unfortunately, didn’t get their wish. That said, there was still one moment during the credits rolling which made it worthwhile to wait till the absolute end of the film. In her typical fashion, Harley mentions one of her biggest enemies in the credits. The viewers can only hear her voice, and not see her when Harley says: “I hear Batman, f—!” You don’t need a lot of imagination to picture what exactly she was about to say. It’s only a short moment but still a funny one, especially since Harley also mentioned Bruce Wayne earlier in the film.
Joker’s Sense Of Humor
Even when Harley breaks up with Joker and decides to announce it to the world by blowing up ACE Chemicals (couldn’t she have just posted it on Facebook?), it seems that she still can’t get rid of the guy… or at least things and places that remind her of him. In the final part of the film, when Harley and the future Birds of Prey fight Black Mask’s goons, they’re in the top part of a funhouse. If you gaze away from Harley and the rest of the gang for a moment, you’ll notice that the funhouse’s windows are covered with graffiti saying ‘ha ha ha’ - just like the Joker’s tattoo he had in Suicide Squad.
