10 Most Inappropriate Joker Storylines

One could fill such an article solely with entries involving the Joker's treatment of Harley Quinn.

While the Maid of Mischief has been mentioned a couple of times here already, it's only fair to dedicate a whole entry to how the 'relationship' between Harley and her Puddin' has been incredibly inappropriate over the decades. Granted, recent years have seen Quinn presented as her own strong character who didn't need the Joker, but for years this wasn't the case.

For those unaware, Harleen Quinzel was a successful psychologist at Arkham Asylum prior to meeting the Joker. Soon seduced by the charms of the Clown Prince of Crime, she helped Mr. J escape Arkham and she became his sidekick and love interest. The problem is, this 'love interest' role was often a largely one-sided affair. While Harley forever pined after the Joker and did all that she could to please him, he would show disdain towards his beau, mock her at every turn, and would at times take to physically assaulting her.

The relationship was framed like this for years, with Quinn always simply shrugging off the Clown Prince of Crime's hateful, possessive, controlling, violent and outright abusive ways. Whatever heinous act he did or twisted words he used, Harley Quinn would always go back to the Jester of Genocide.

While this tandem was at times positioned as a jovial, slapstick-esque Bonnie and Clyde at times, the reality is that the Joker had and has no true love for Quinn; she is merely another plaything who's disposable to the Harlequin of Hate. For Quinzel, she is a mentally-ruined victim who has her own issues in addition to having spent years with a Stockholm Syndrome-type tie to her abuser.