Harley Quinn Season 5 Kicked Off With Fun Superman References And A ‘Martha’ Joke I Can’t Stop Giggling At

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Caution: Plot twists from the initial episode of the fifth season of Harley Quinn may be revealed if you’ve not watched it yet, particularly for those who don’t have a Max subscription. Tread carefully!

In 2025, TV viewers are treated to the highly anticipated return of the outrageously extreme series, “Harley Quinn” in its fifth season, with Kaley Cuoco’s character, Harley, continuing to break norms as she never has before. It’s unlikely anyone predicted a tame and family-friendly debut for this semi-heroine. This time around, Harley and Poison Ivy abandon the remnants of Gotham City and head towards Metropolis, where they attend the grand opening of a new Superman museum in the heart of the city’s glitz and glamour.

For those expecting significant references to James Gunn’s version of Superman, they may have been left wanting more. However, there were still numerous nods to the Man of Steel, along with an exceptional “Martha” joke that echoed the finale of The Penguin. Here are some highlights I enjoyed.

A Variety Of Super-Suits

It is clear that the museum scene was where the initial episode of Harley Quinn’s fifth season showcased a wealth of references to Superman’s extensive history, spanning comic books, films, and television (both live-action and animated). In addition to exhibits of different types of Kryptonite, there were two rows of various superhero suits. These ranged from the black Recovery Suit introduced in Action Comics #689, to a black suit associated with Superman’s alternate evil self in the Season 2 episode “Brave New Metropolis” of Superman: The Animated Series, and finally, designs for Electric Blue and Red Superman costumes.

In this setting, I was anticipating a glimpse of David Corenswet’s latest suit for the forthcoming DC film, but instead, we see the Kingdom Come design. Surprisingly, no cause for dismay as it remains stunning amidst the world of Harley Quinn.

Alan Moore’s Black Mercy

Harley Quinn’s villainous flora roster includes Frank the Plant, but a museum dedicated to Superman showcased another infamous comic creature. As you can see, there was an exhibit featuring what appears to be a replica of Black Mercy, the mind-bending alien being that Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created for their 1985 limited series “For the Man Who Has Everything” within the Watchmen universe.

Not only is ‘For the Man Who Has Everything’ an award-nominated piece on its own, but it spawned numerous Black Mercy storylines across shows like Supergirl, Krypton, Justice League Unlimited, and My Adventures with Superman. I’d be thrilled to witness how this tale might influence Harley and Ivy, ideally in a spooktacular Halloween special.

That A+ Martha Joke

Perhaps it’s just my personal preference for Batman over Superman, but the joke that had me laughing the most (and still does) is when Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy encounter Bruce Wayne and his love interest Lena Luthor, portrayed by Aisha Tyler in the latest Harley Quinn series. (I might unintentionally or intentionally reference her Archer character Lana.)

Regardless, Lena’s initial remarks to Harley and Ivy are a witty comment that neatly encapsulates Bruce’s longstanding maternal concerns.

  • LENA: Giving Brucie proper comeuppance? Careful, don’t boss him around too much, or else he’ll fall for you. He likes to call me Martha.
  • BRUCE: She’s joking. Ah, definitely joking.

Martha Wayne and her pearls are so deeply ingrained in the Batman legend that they created an iconic connection between Batman and Superman, even in Zack Snyder’s portrayals. However, in Harley Quinn’s universe, Bruce’s recollections of his mother seem to have a darker tint. Yet, it might not be as unsettling as The Penguin’s dance with a woman resembling his mother on the show, given that it’s a fine line indeed.

The Nod To Richard Donner’s Superman (1978)

Skipping over its ‘Batman and Superman’ connection, the episode makes another notable reference to Superman before introducing Stephen Fry’s Brainiac. When Harley queries the Kryptonian about his latest holiday, Superman alludes to a memorable real-life moment, one that might be his most renowned in live-action, as showcased in Richard Donner’s initial film featuring Christopher Reeve. In other words, he referenced an iconic scene from that movie.

A while back, I traveled to space where I manipulated the Earth’s spin and reversed time to rectify Lois’ demise.

In this film, we don’t typically see Superman dabbling with such concepts, but the Speed Force seems to have made time travel less perilous than zipping through congested skies at breakneck speeds. However, this incarnation of Superman appears too young to have tackled such a task in his earlier years.

I’m eagerly anticipating the upcoming episodes, filled with even greater Easter egg surprises, as Harley persists in making Superman express gratitude for her rescue. Don’t forget to tune in on Thursdays, when fresh episodes drop on Max!

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2025-01-16 21:39