Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy Broke up & Fans Are Reeling

LGBTQ+ comic fans are having a hard time after a recent issue of Harley Quinn confirmed the titular character’s split with iconic love interest Poison Ivy.

Harley and Ivy have long been arguably the most visible queer duo in DC, getting together in both the comics and the recent animated series on HBO Max, and regularly inspiring hope that a live-action version of their romance with Margot Robbie’s version of Harley Quinn will eventually hit our screens.

But with both Gotham villains currently headed down different paths of self-discovery in the comics, they quietly called it quits.

“Our story…it’s not over,” Harley tells a teary Ivy in Harley Quinn #10. “But you need to find your own path, too. And I have to let you…because I love you.”

\u201cNot DC hyping Harley and Ivy's big reunion for months only for them to break up again the next month \ud83e\udd21 I hate it here\u201d
— \ud835\udcd1\ud835\udcea\ud835\udcfb | \u05d1\u05bc\u05e8 \ud83c\udff3\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u2721\ufe0f (@\ud835\udcd1\ud835\udcea\ud835\udcfb | \u05d1\u05bc\u05e8 \ud83c\udff3\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u2721\ufe0f) 1640685575

The break-up was controversial with fans for a number of reasons, but perhaps most of all because of how much effort it took to get canonical confirmation that the two were properly dating.

For years, fans relied on subtext and the reassurances of writers that Harley and Ivy were more than just gal pals, despite the ship first gaining traction nearly three decades ago. The first reference of them being girlfriends didn't happen until 2013, and the two shared their first in-continuity kiss in 2017 — and even that was edited.

Other popular DC pairs have enjoyed decades of on-again, off-again relationships, and while the current writing suggests Harley and Ivy may find their way back to each other in the future, fans have still been left nervous and frustrated with the quick break-up.

\u201cThey put her in an outfit that has \u201cYasQuinn\u201d on it and then broke up Harley Ivy for another bullshit reason wow let me pretend to be surprised\u201d
— Erin Grey Taylor\u2122\ufe0f (@Erin Grey Taylor\u2122\ufe0f) 1640824536

\u201cI don't understand DC comics. Nothing is sexier than Harley and Ivy art, and we could have that every month, multiple covers, if they'd stop fucking around and just go there.\u201d
— Chloe by Night (@Chloe by Night) 1641797716

\u201c@fayettevamp @HkAuthor F this, I'm done too.\u201d
— Chloe by Night (@Chloe by Night) 1640674712

Some even harassed the issue’s writer, Stephanie Phillips, who herself is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, over the creative decision, prompting other writers to speak out in her defense.

But other fans kept the faith, suggesting that this is only part of a longer journey for our favorite Gotham duo, and actually a sign of them finally being treated like other iconic hetero couples in the DC ‘verse who break up and get back together a million times over.

\u201cLike, seriously, this isn't the end all be all for Harls & Ivy. They still love each other and will come back to each other. You're losing your minds acting like this is the end when it clearly is not.\n\nP.S.: Accusing a queer writer of queer bating is just mean and dumb.\u201d
— Jamie: Your #1 Name Brand Gay \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Jamie: Your #1 Name Brand Gay \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1641316651

\u201c+and definitely not a hero. Funny how they complain about toxic relationships in fictional stories between VILLAINS but then they harass ppl in real life. Fuck off. They are the ones who don't represent the \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 community and shouldn't be part of it\u201d
— \u2756 \ud835\udc6f\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc93\ud835\udc8d\ud835\udc86\ud835\udc9a \ud835\udc78\ud835\udc96\ud835\udc8a\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc8f \u2756 (@\u2756 \ud835\udc6f\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc93\ud835\udc8d\ud835\udc86\ud835\udc9a \ud835\udc78\ud835\udc96\ud835\udc8a\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc8f \u2756) 1641260858

\u201cHarley & Ivy in the new issue of Harley Quinn, by Laura Braga. Wow. They looked fantastic.\nAlso, to the people spreading the lie that they broke up in this issue : this isn't what happened. Harley is pushing Ivy to take the time to find her own journey. Big difference.\u201d
— Lucas R\u00e9moussin (Open for Commissions) (@Lucas R\u00e9moussin (Open for Commissions)) 1641054859

We’ll have to wait to find out what’s in store for Harley and Ivy in the comics next, but at least we know they’re still together in the animated series, with no plans for a split any time soon.

Now about that live-action version…

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