Suicide Squad Isekai is proof that Harley Quinn was born to be in an anime

On paper, Suicide Squad Isekai makes perfect sense. If there are any characters from the DC Comics universe that fit perfectly into anime, it’s the members of Task Force X, the motley crew of incarcerated supervillains turned government agents in the employ of the ruthless ARGUS leader Amanda Waller.

The series’ first three episodes, which premiered on Max and Hulu on June 27, do a great job of playing into the intrinsically chaotic fun of the show’s premise: taking a group of unruly, uncivilized antiheroes and then dropping them into a fantastical world of orcs, knights, swords, and sorcery. Of all the stars in Suicide Squad IsekaiBut no one shines as bright and wild as Harley Quinn — and that’s because her manic, elfin-nightmare energy is perfectly suited to the limitless possibilities of anime.

The anarchic, jester-inspired super-criminal has undergone quite the transformation over the past decade, both within the DC Universe and in popular culture at large. From her initial introduction as the Joker’s devoted girlfriend in Batman: The Animated Series to her more assertive incarnations in films such as Birds of prey and her own animated spin-off series, Harley Quinn has become an iconic DC character thanks to her effervescent personality, colorful costumes and a boundless appetite for destruction and mischief.

Of all the members of the Suicide Squad, none adapt as quickly and enthusiastically to the reality of being transported to another world entirely separate from their own. When an army of orcs gathers around the crash site of the group’s downed helicopter in Episode 1, Harley jumps into the fray without hesitation: “I have no idea where this is or who you freaks are, but you ain’t on my side.”

The fight is well executed, highlighting the unique skills and strengths of each member of the Squad. Harley in particular stands out, using a pipe from the helicopter as a makeshift bo staff to deliver a devastating kick to her opponents, before throwing the pipe like a javelin and leaping into the air to unleash a series of devastating blows in a very balletic manner.

Image: White Studio/Warner Bros. Animation

But even without her fighting style and costume design (which are largely thanks to Margot Robbie’s live-action portrayal and her appearance in the animated series, Harley Quinn), Harley is the perfect DC character to adapt into an anime, if only because of her tirelessly mischievous personality. In Suicide Squad IsekaiHarley feels like the epitome of a wild anime girl like Delicious in Dungeon‘s Izutsumi, Chainsaw Man‘s power, or Black lagoonRevy is a hyper-violent, outspoken woman with an open disdain for authority and a tendency to strike exaggerated poses after beating up anyone who has the misfortune of angering her.

It is too early to say whether Suicide Squad Isekai will deliver on the promise of its premise and make the landing, but it’s at least an excellent star vehicle for one of DC’s most malleable and intriguing characters. Let’s hope Harley Quinn can make the leap into even more anime genres. Personally, I’d love to see her in a high school rom-com.

Suicide Squad Isekai is available to stream on Max and Hulu. New episodes premiere every Wednesday.