After teasing the upcoming episode for a week, Dimensional Ink has revealed the latest key art for DC Universe Online's upcoming content update, Harley Quinn vs. Apokolips.
Revealed during Daybreak Games' San Diego Comic Con panel this summer, the next installment for the long-running DC-based MMO will feature Harley Quinn and is based on the recent comic book arc, which we see highlighted in not just Harley's outfit and shiny new hammer, but also the episode's logo.
"We got permission to use the same logo as the comic book for Harley Quinn," according to DCUO's art director, Scot Boyd. "But I wanted to change it. I want it to feel like she went in and spray-painted "vs. Apokolips." on it. The artist gave us a couple of different iterations of this, and I love the idea that it felt very her, this kind of punk-rock thing, where the Apokolips is that anarchy A with the P. The next part of the logo, it killed me (in a good way), because it took me three days to see it. I'm approving the logo, going 'it looks great', but oh my gosh, I love it so much. Because she's got the anarchy A and the I has a little heart connected to it, which is so cute, I'm looking at the heart, and I'm like, 'Heart...Wait, why is that? What's that next to the -- Oh, the I is the hammer!'. I was just so giddy about that."
As this is based on the comicbook arc of the same name, the team has been teasing easter eggs throughout the week leading up to today's reveal. Apparently, the DCUO key art is meant to include a ton, and hopefully players and comic fans will enjoy finding as many of them as they can, according to Boyd.
"We packed a ton of references to the comics in the key art. Part of the fun is finding them, so I won't give too much away. I will say that the wall that Harley is leaning against is particularly interesting. I can neither confirm nor deny that a few super-subtle character references are hidden on and around it..."
As far as some hints into the actual episode itself, Boyd mentions the tone of the episode is one of "contrast." Quinn is both a bubbly, eccentric personality, while also still a criminal in Gotham's underworld, according to Boyd.
"This whole episode is based on contrast. It's the idea of the contrast where Harley is this kind of fun, bubbly character, but she's still a criminal. She's almost a contrast within herself. She's this fun-loving character. She's a criminal. She's a light character which is a constant, and the entire environment that this episode is set in is darkness. You go into South Gotham and it's gray, it's raining. But it's downright cheerful compared to Apokolips."
While we still don't know the full release details, the SDCC panel does mention a September 2024 release window, so we should know more in the coming weeks. Either way, if you're a Harley Quinn fan, looks like you're in for a treat this month.