Heroclix Flash AdRecently DC has arguably gone through the ringer for sexualizing the character of Harley Quinn. Whether it was the new costume in Suicide Squad, where Harleen Quinzel shed her full body suit for a far more revealing and barely tied corset and short shorts, or the recent overly dramatized art contest, Harley has been admittedly given a lot more of a sexualized presence in the comics community. Some might point to her nurse outfit in the video game Batman: Arkham Asylum as being the starting point of this. Other might point fingers at DC Editorial, Marketing, Artists, or even fans who continue to make sure these sexy Harley items, comics, and art sell. Personally I am not a fan of it for the character of Harley specifically, because as a fan I like to view her as a different type of character that might not do such things. But as sex does sell and I would be a hypocrite to argue against such things when I’m still a fan of so many 90′s comics with equally skin exposed heroines, I generally ignore it. In fact, in the past I’ve even somewhat argued for it. Let a person do what they want to do, fictional or not, I say, and be damned if other people don’t like it (though if you catch me ranting in a comic shop, you might hear me say otherwise). But with all that said, I do have to draw attention a recent new Harley Quinn sexualization of sorts.

Today the gaming company known as Wiz Kids released solicitations for their new expansion to the popular miniatures game, Heroclix. The new expansion is entitled Flash, and is based on various DC comics characters including The Flash. As is regular with new Heroclix expansions, the company solicits details and a few images for retailers to help inform and raise sales. In the retailer solicitation for the Flash 10 count booster boxes we get a peek at 4 upcoming figures: The Flash, Midnighter, Weather Wizard, Etrigan The Demon (winner of the 2013 DC fan vote for Heroclix), and Harley Quinn with the Heroclix World Champion. Now of course the sculpt for the World Champion is a generic sculpt, much like the sculpt for Heroclix’s Superman and the Legion of Super Heroes expansion’s Stargirl character. The Stargirl figure had her rescuing a generic male fan in a Wiz Kids shirt as she rode off on her cosmic staff. The Stargirl figure was a fine example of creating a sculpt that included a Heroclix fan. The Harley Quinn figure for Flash seems a little more..unique. Stating that the generic figure in the sculpt is the Heroclix World Champion, we find the generic male sitting back in a chair rather relaxed, wearing a ball cap and shirt that likely says something Heroclix related or perhaps is a Gotham City baseball jersey. The unique part is Harley Quinn, in her sexy Suicide Squad oufit, somewhat provocatively placed atop the ‘Champion’. She has he leg up and rested on the Champion’s thigh, as if she was about to give him a lap dance. Perhaps she is Wiz Kids’ trophy for the World Champion of Heroclix? I’m not sure, but I can certainly say it seems out of Harley’s character. Perhaps if that was the Joker sitting there in that chair we’d never give it a second though. Perhaps if she were in her old red and black one piece suit we wouldn’t say a thing. But the first thing every heroclix player I know noticed was that specific sculpt and how interesting it was. It’s certainly the most provocative Heroclix scupt out there. But is it a case of DC once again using Harley and her sexy new looks to sell fans on something? I’ll leave that for the general population to decide.

 

Heroclix Harley