17 Years Later, DC Quietly Revives Harley Quinn’s Batman: Arkham Asylum Look

Harley Quinn has 34 years-worth of iconic costumes, with the Gotham City Siren rarely sticking to the same look for long. Now, fans have witnessed the unexpected return of one of her most iconic and risqué outfits, a reminder of one of the greatest eras in Batman history: the Batman: Arkham-verse.

The Batman: Arkham game franchise is celebrated as one of the best Batman adaptations outside of comics and one of the greatest licensed game franchises of all time. It revolutionized superhero combat while delivering some of the boldest, most recognizable designs for classic characters, including Harley Quinn.

Across the series, Harley received radical character designs in each installment, from the original Arkham Asylum to Arkham Knight. Now, 17 years later, fans are seeing her Arkham Asylum costume make a return on a variant cover for Elliot Kalan’s Harley Quinn #59 (2026).

Harley Quinn's Arkham Asylum Design: The Good, the Bad, and the Insane

Comic Kingdom Creative Sorah Suhng Variant for Harley Quinn #59 (2026)

Harley’s Batman: Arkham Asylum costume fused her classic red-and-black jester look with what essentially amounted to a sexy nurse outfit, a lewd nod to her psychiatry background. The design has been praised by many as her most iconic and gritty look to date, injecting a fun yet creepy energy into the game’s overall tone.

While the design was widely loved, it also faced harsh criticism, with many pointing out that it over-sexualized Harley, especially compared to her classic animation and comic appearances. The sexualization of female characters in the game remains one of the franchise’s most discussed criticisms. Still, the costume endures as an iconic look in most fan circles.

Harley Quinn's Arkham Asylum Costume Returns in Variant Cover (With a Twist)

Harley Quinn #59 Releases on February 25, 2026

Now, 17 years after its debut in Batman: Arkham Asylum, fans are seeing the costume return on the Comic Kingdom Creative Sorah Suhng variant for Harley Quinn #59, set to release February 25, 2026. Suhng’s recreation of the Arkham Asylum design was as unexpected as it is welcome.

While Suhng’s art style makes the costume instantly recognizable, the variant adds a fresh twist. Harley and the outfit are immaculately clean and perfectly styled, a sharp departure from the original Arkham Asylum version, which was often grimy and bloodied, reflecting the game’s dark, chaotic setting.

At this time, there is no indication that the Arkham-verse costume will appear in the ongoing Harley Quinn narrative. However, given Harley Quinn’s tendency to break the fourth wall and revisit her past outfits, it is entirely possible fans could see this iconic look make a cameo, though we will not know for sure until next week.

Harley Quinn #58 from DC Comics is available February 25, 2025!