Suicide Squad was the 2016 rendition of the comic by the same name. Telling the villains' side of the story, Suicide Squad tells the story of Task Force X, a special ops force composed of incarcerated super villains in exchange for parole or a reduced sentence. Many of the team's missions are considered suicide missions, hence the name Suicide Squad. Under the direction of Amanda Waller, the team consists of Enchantress, Croc, Deadshot, Katana, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and the ever-beloved Harley Quinn.
While Suicide Squad had its fair share of criticism from comic-book fans, there are certain aspects of the film that are quite agreeable. One aspect that many people loved was the new rendition of Harley Quinn portrayed by Margot Robbie. Fun, crazy, and full of passionate jokes, Harley Quinn’s appearance in the film led to a craze of Harley Quinn costumes for Halloween of 2016. As a more modernized version of the original with tattoos covering her body, most of which are related to her true love the Joker. These are our favourite Harley Quinn tattoos from the 2016 Suicide Squad.
Heart on Cheek
While teardrop tattoos are associated with organized crime and gang affiliation, most civilians consider a teardrop tattoo the ultimate sign of intimidation. In the same location as where a teardrop would be, Harley Quinn’s heart tattoo gives off that same sense of danger as a teardrop tattoo while maintaining a certain level of charm. The fact that it’s a heart drawn attention to her name Harley Quinn, a play on the word Harlequin which uses the suits of cards as symbols. The use of a heart on her cheek also reminds us who she is and what she stands for. The tattoo could also double as a beauty mark, like those historically used to cover up smallpox scars.
“Daddy’s Lil Monster”
One of Quinn’s most iconic tattoos is her “Daddy’s Lil Monster” tattoo. This tattoo is located over Harley Quinn’s heart and is in reference to the Joker. Harley and the Joker have a toxic borderline abusive relationship in which Harley loves the Joker no matter what, while he just puts up with her. The comic book equivalent of getting your boyfriend’s name tattooed over your heart, if your boyfriend was a crazed sociopath, this tattoo is both endearing and appropriate. Referring to the Joker as “Daddy” and herself as a “Monster”, this is also a slight reference to Quinn’s origin story. Harley Quin was originally Harleen Quinzel who treated the Joker at Arkham Asylum, but using his charm the Joker managed to escape with her help and Harley Quinn was born.
“Property of Joker”
An often forgotten tattoo of Harley Quinn’s and often hidden if her “Property of” tattoo. On her left upper back, we can see a tattoo of a jester’s cap with the words “Property of Joker” inscribed above and below the tattoo. While the art of the jester cap remained, the words changed in The Suicide Squad to “Property of No-one”. This happened as a result of her growth seen in Harley’s solo film Birds of Prey. This is the ultimate character development to see that her character has gone from obsessive about the Joker to fine on her own and happy to be independent.
“Lucky You”
A hidden tattoo, but a sincere favorite is her “Lucky You” tattoo. On her lower abdomen, there is an elegant calligraphy tattoo that reads “Lucky You”. This clever little number lets everyone know how lucky they are to be seeing enough of her body to be able to read the tattoo. The fans also love the sexual innuendo behind the tattoo, going right up to the line without crossing it. The “Lucky You” is the epitome of Harley Quinn in a nutshell: witty, cheeky, and sexual, as Harley often is with everyone around her; men and women, friends and enemies.
PUDDIN’
Yet another of Harley Quinn’s tattoos dedicated to the Joker is her small tattoo that says “PUDDIN” on her left leg. “Puddin” is Harley Quinn’s endearing nickname for the Joker since the character’s inception. While the Joker has shown his distaste for the nickname, Harley continues to call him Puddin anyway, most likely hoping that one day he will enjoy it. Part of what makes this tattoo a favourite is its homemade look. It’s handwritten poorly and looks as if Harley did it herself, which may be the case. While we never get a good look at this “PUDDIN” tattoo, just a glimpse is enough to giggle at the poorly done tattoo.
“ROTTEN”
The only other tattoo on Harley Quinn’s face is her ROTTEN tattoo which is written in all caps across the right side of her cheek on the same side as her heart tattoo. Unlike her “Property of” tattoo which was altered for the new version of Suicide Squad, The Suicide Squad. This came from an agreement between Margot Robbie and director/writer James Gunn who both agreed that the tattoo was just unnecessary for the film. That said, the tattoo had its own endearing effect on the audience, a constant reminder that Harley Quinn was deadly yet adorable, the word “ROTTEN” appearing to be a perfect fit for her.
“I’m Watching”
Located on her waist just above her butt is a beautiful tattoo that says “I’m Watching” with a pair of blue eyes beneath it. This work of art is hidden beneath most of Harley’s clothes, but not only is it a beautiful tattoo, but it reminds us how dangerous Harley could truly be. While she has a charming smile and uses her sex appeal to seem endearing, she is still a crazy super villain with a baseball bat that says “Goodnight” on it. The “I’m Watching” tattoo on her lower back is an eerie reminder to the audience and those around her that she is always at the top of her game, and you never know when she might snap and do something deadly.