Who Is Harley Quinn's Brother Barry Quinzel?
One of the most enduring and iconic characters in the "Batman" lineage is Dr. Harleen Quinzel herself, Harley Quinn. Quinn first appeared in an episode of "Batman: The Animated Series" in 1992. She was meant to be the comedic relief for the Joker in only one episode of the show (via The Hollywood Reporter). The creators of the character, Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, loved her so much that they decided to bring her back for more episodes.
Quinn first appeared in comics a year later in issue #12 of "The Batman Adventures" a comic series set in the same timeline as the animated show. A year after that, a comic one-shot entitled "Mad Love" gave Quinn the backstory she is often associated with in which the Joker corrupts his doctor, Harleen Quinzel, and mutates her into the Quinn character. In a full circle moment, the one-shot was later adapted into an episode of the animated series, "The New Batman Adventures" in 1999.
Since then, her character has gone on to become a pop culture mainstay. Quinn first appeared in live action in the short-lived but well-liked 2002 series "Birds of Prey," where she was played by Mia Sara ("Ferris Bueller's Day Off"). The character was then shot into the pop culture stratosphere when she was played by Margot Robbie in 2016's "Suicide Squad." That incarnation of the character returned in the critically acclaimed film "Birds of Prey" in 2020 and "The Suicide Squad" in 2021. An adult-oriented animated series called "Harley Quinn" began in 2019 and is currently running on HBO Max.
The character of Harley Quinn canonically has three brothers. Fans are most curious about her brother, Barry Quinzel.
Harley Quinn's brother Barry is a tragic figure
In the DC comics universe, heavy metal musician Barry Quinzel is Harley Quinn's younger brother. Closest in age to Quinn, Barry is the oldest of her three brothers. He first appeared in "Gotham City Sirens " #7 and was created by Paul Dini and David Lopez. He later appeared in the DC New 52 universe in "Harley Quinn Volume 3."
After struggling to find his place in the world, he reconnected with Quinn when he began putting his life together after being granted visitation rights to his two children. He played in several metal bands donning the look of other bands in the scene with white face paint and piercings. Despite his tough appearance, he was quite affected by the death of their mother (via DC Database).
In the 2019 HBO Max animated series, "Harley Quinn," Barry only appears in pictures and in a flashback in Quinn's mind that's stylized like an old sitcom. It is unknown if he is a metal musician like in the comics. His father in the show is a gambling addict and his mother is an alcoholic. Barry died in his teens under mysterious circumstances and his urn resides in the Quinzel family house.
Fans are chomping at the bit to know more about Barry and his death. They'll have to keep tuning into the HBO Max series as the fate of the show has been potentially revealed.