Batman: The Animated Series Joker, Harley Quinn and Batman Publicity Cel with Key Master Background

2022 April 7 - 10 Comics & Comic Art Signature® Auction #7270 / Lot #91002

Batman: The Animated Series Joker, Harley Quinn and Batman Publicity Cel with Key Master Background (Warner Brothers, 1992). A unique and momentous piece of animation that showcases the first time the world saw Harley Quinn.
Thirty years ago, this hand-painted, original publicity cel, created to promote the then upcoming Batman: The Animated Series, was first seen on the cover of the August 30 New York Times Television Supplement.
In a lawless scene, Harley (with her infamous pop-gun), and the Joker (with his iconic flag-gun), fight off The Dark Knight Detective. This cel predates the Princess of Crime's first appearance in the comic The Batman Adventures #12 by one year, and was published just a few months before her first appearance in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor", making this published piece the first time the world would see Harleen Quinzel.
As another first, this image was used in Comics Scene #31 for an article about Batman: The Animated series, which marked Harley's first appearance in a comic, albeit a preview. And in the black and white image, Harley was not named. This cel art also marked the first appearances of Batman and Joker into the now acclaimed DC Animated Universe.
Originally created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm as a comedic relief henchwoman for the supervillain Joker, Harley has grown from a one episode character into a pop-culture icon starring in her own comic series, a main character in video games, in three starring blockbuster movie roles played by the vexing Margot Robbie, and her own adult animated series on HBO Max voiced by Kaley Cuoco, while continuing to amass legions of fans. This recognizable art has been reproduced for use on merchandise, and it continues to be used as one of the defining moments of Ms. Harley Quinn's illustrious career.
This one of a kind animation cel is presented on its original hand-painted Key Master background, rendered in gouache on black illustration board by the animation team who used Bruce Timm's layout. Matted with Harley's identifiable black and red colors, and matching diamond designs, it has a matted image area of 9.25" x 11.25". The art is in Excellent condition.
A black and white publicity photo of the art, a copy of the big Batman compilation book that features the image, and a copy of the magazine with the image on the cover, published the first week the show aired on TV, are included.