Harley Quinn First Appearance: Batman Adventures #12 Value

Harley Quinn first appeared in The Batman Adventures #12 (cover date September 1993), published by DC. The source puts it this way: "The Batman Adventures #12 (September 1993, non-canon)".

PriceCharting values for Batman Adventures #12 (1993) by CGC grade, based on recorded sales and updated September 25, 2026:

• CGC 2.0: $188
• CGC 3.0: $235
• CGC 4.0: $250
• CGC 5.0: $319
• CGC 6.0: $329
• CGC 7.0: $343
• CGC 8.0: $415
• CGC 9.0: $385
• CGC 9.2: $497
• CGC 9.4: $600

The spread from CGC 2.0 ($188) to CGC 9.4 ($600) shows how much condition matters on a key issue. Restored, trimmed or incomplete copies sell far below these figures, and reprints and facsimiles (see below) are worth a small fraction. Grade and restoration are confirmed by a grading service such as CGC or CBCS; prices move with the market and the character's popularity.

• She appears on the cover, not just inside: in comics, this was Batman Adventures #12 from 1993 — based on the animated series and retitled Batgirl Adventures for this issue — and she is even featured on the cover.
• Distinguishing from her first canonical DC-continuity comic appearance: her first appearance in mainstream (canonical) DC comics continuity is a separate, later issue, Batman: Harley Quinn #1 (October 1999).

Several later editions reproduce this issue. They are easy to mistake for the original at a glance:

• DC Facsimile Edition: Re-released by DC decades later as part of its Facsimile Edition line, with its own separate on-sale date distinct from the 1993 original printing.

• Indicia: the small print on the first page or inside cover gives the issue number, date and publisher; reprints usually say so there.
• Cover price and barcode: a price or barcode format that did not exist in the year printed means a later edition.
• Paper and staples: decades-old newsprint is tan at the edges; bright white pages on an old date are a warning sign.
• Restoration: color touch, trimmed edges and married covers are common on expensive keys; a grading service can detect them.

Shoot the front cover flat, straight on, in even light, then the indicia page and the back cover. Include the top edge and staples in one frame. The app reads the title, issue number and cover and matches it against the checks above; the indicia photo settles most reprint questions.

Harley Quinn, created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, has three different firsts (Wikipedia):

• First appearance anywhere: the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor", September 11, 1992, voiced by Arleen Sorkin.
• First comic: The Batman Adventures #12 (September 1993), outside DC's main continuity.
• First in DC continuity: Batman: Harley Quinn #1 (October 1999).

Her first ongoing series, Harley Quinn #1, began in December 2000, written by Karl Kesel and drawn by Terry Dodson.

PriceCharting, September 25, 2026:

• The Batman Adventures #12 (1993): $356.94 ungraded and $1,781.50 in CGC 9.8, well above the CGC 9.4 figure of $600 in the table above.
• Harley Quinn #1 (2000): $34 ungraded, $60 in CGC 9.2 and $175 in CGC 9.8; the highest recorded sale is $299.99 for a CGC 9.9 in March 2022.
• Batman: Harley Quinn #1 (1999): PriceCharting lists separate second and third printings at $52.69 and $29.99 ungraded, so read the printing line in the indicia before you price a copy.

Her first live-action role was in the TV series Birds of Prey (2002-2003), played by Mia Sara; her first live-action film was Suicide Squad (2016), with Margot Robbie (Wikipedia). Dini has described her relationship with the Joker as emotionally abusive. In the comics she is also romantically involved with Poison Ivy: writers Palmiotti and Conner confirmed the two are girlfriends in a non-monogamous relationship, and their first canonical kiss is in Harley Quinn #25 (2017).