Posted in: Comics, DC Comics | Tagged: harley quinn, poison ivy, straightwashing

The Straightwashing Of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy Continues In Statue Form?

This is weird. The closest I have come to see this play out in real-time previously was when Ike Perlmutter cancelled the Fantastic Four comics and deprioritised the X-Men – and got rid of all FF and X licensing and promotion, as part of a fight between Marvel and Fox Studios. Week after week, they were removed from posters, trading cards, statue lines, game extensions, toy lines, all the time Marvel folk officially denied any of this was happening (though privately they were fuming).

We've looked at the portrayal of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy as a couple, as DC were pushing the Birds Of Prey And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn movie. Portrayed as a non-monogamous romantic couple for years, the relationship was removed from the Harley Quinn series around 6 months ago without note. Then the Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy mini-series portrayed them more as a Thelma And Louise couple, and concluded with a page-splash peck-on-the-forehead that screams out that it was redrawn at the last moment.

And on Valentine's Day, DC posted Valentine's Day-themed posts that singled Harley Quinn out as being single.

And now? Well, this is how DC media partner Nerdist exclusively announced on February 7th, a new Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy statue by Emanuela Lupacchino and sculpted by Jack Mathews, in a post that will have been approved by DC PR.

Or if you are the comic book fan in need of a Valentine's treat this year, this gorgeous piece—the first official statue featuring a same-sex couple—couldn't be a better way to treat yourself.

But this is how DC Comics described the statue a week later on Valentine's Day

We all know Valentine's Day is usually about celebrating love, and these two characters know what it means to be there completely for someone else. They're the epitome of what it means to be a loyal best friend above all else and always a shoulder to cry on in times of need. Whether it's Harley's horrible break-ups with the Joker or her wanting to prove herself as an independent woman, Ivy is always there for Harley to be her number one support. Likewise, as she's demonstrated in their recent Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy miniseries, there's little Harley won't do for Ivy, including taking on the likes of the Floronic Man, Mad Hatter and Batwoman.

That is why this statue is the perfect Valentine's Day reminder that to love someone can mean many things. But above all else, it's to always be there for the people you care deeply about, in good times and bad.

Love can mean many things… loyal best friend… this has to be deliberate at this point, right?

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!