10 Worst Things The Joker Has Ever Done To Harley Quinn

Mistah J sure has a funny way of showing his love...

By Andrew Young /

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Looking around online, it's easy to get the wrong impression about the Joker and Harley Quinn. With all the fan art, t-shirts and "his and hers" merchandise of the two of them (there are even matching engagement rings for God's sake), you'd be forgiven for thinking that they're one of the most romantic couples in the DC Universe.

No. A thousand times no. The whole point of their relationship that people seem to be missing (thanks a lot Suicide Squad) is that it is a toxic and abusive one. Joker is a cruel and sadistic monster who only keeps Harley around as a punching bag for when his plans against Batman fall apart.

It's a situation that Harley puts up with because her "Puddin" has broken her psychologically to the point that she's completely dependant on him. Even when she's fully aware of what a monster he is, it only takes a single act of kindness for Harley to go running right back to him.

It's a really horrible relationship that has been defined by all the terrible things that Joker has done to Harley over the years. From emotional neglect and psycological abuse to flat-out physical violence, Mistah J's lowlights have occasionally made for some pretty uncomfortable viewing...

10. He Didn't Notice When She Left For A Year

A surprising highlight for DC recently has been their Injustice comic.

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Tying into the video game, the series examines the beginning of Superman's decent into villainy. His start of darkness occurred when Joker used hallucinogenic gas to trick the Man of Steel into killing Lois, his unborn child and most of Metropolis. Finally broken, Superman responded by punching right through Joker's chest.

Obviously, Joker's death hit Harley pretty hard and a lot of the series focused on her trying to move on. It also highlighted just how messed up their relationship was.

In one heartbreaking scene, Harley confessed to a pregnant Black Canary that she had a daughter. Thankfully, even Harley knew what kind of a father Joker would be and so, as soon as she found out she was pregnant, she left him for a year to have the baby in secret. When she came back, Joker hadn't even noticed she'd left.

It's far from the worst thing on this list, but it's the kind of emotional neglect that defines the day-to-day of Joker and Harley's relationship. The Joker only has eyes for one person and that's Batman.

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