10 Things Everyone Always Gets Wrong About Harley Quinn

The Suicide Squad movie seemed like it was shaping up to address Harley and Joker's relationship with the acid vat scene properly, but then changed course and lost the message amongst the explosions. Thankfully the comics, various TV shows and, to a certain extent, the Arkham games, make this clear: Joker and Harley are not in love.

How exactly she feels for him is a little more complicated, to be explored in more depth later. His feelings are a lot more clear cut though; Joker is straight up abusive and, not that it would be much better, doesn’t even love her beneath all the abuse - she’s kept around to be abused.

As well as the aforementioned acid vat incident, Joker frequently slaps or kicks Harley when angry. She can handle herself in a fight, but he is always the aggressor. Once he even pushed her out of a window without remorse, during the seminal Batman story, Mad Love.

As well as the physical side, he’s emotionally abusive too. From name-calling and belittling to twisting her loneliness against her, Joker has done it all, and turned Harleen from and up and coming psychiatrist into the ever present jester by his side.

Sure, their relationship is complex and rich, forming the foundation for many great stories, but it isn’t love.