10 DC Superheroes With Tortured Pasts
2. Harley Quinn
Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel is, arguably, the most popular character in the DC Universe these days. Beloved by adults and children alike, she is seen these days as the perfect anti-hero and a strong female role-model within comic books. But scratch beneath the surface, and what you find is a character whose past is a one-word nightmare, and that word is the Joker.
Once upon a time, Harley Quinn was not the powerful, ass-kicking, roller-derby Queen that she is today. In fact, what she was was nothing more than a punching bag for the evilest criminal to ever stalk Gotham.
Blinded by love, she threw away a successful career as a psychiatrist to chase after a man who only ever saw her as an easy out whenever he found himself back in Arkham, or a patsy to throw to the Bat whenever he got to close.
She was physically and mentally abused by Mistah J and it took her years to break free from his clutches. And even though she no longer views him as anything more than another ass that needs to be kicked, she still bears the scars of their time together.