PART FOUR: SAVING GRACE

The Batman Adventures #28 – 12 Days of Madness

Joker’s in Arkham and he’s bored – so what does he do? Calls Harley. Hee! That in itself is cute enough, that he’s hit upon a scheme he needs her participation for, but further in the issue he acknowledges that he owes the success of his scheme all to her.

Since Harley spends the majority of this comic in drag as a German psychiatrist and there’s no real ‘alone’ time that we see between the two, there’s not much more insight except that the J/H relationship continues and is the same strange, mutually gratifying (if in a very odd way) and twisted beast we know and love.

At the end, Harley is trapped in a delusion in which Mistah J is proposing to her. This is, of course, something we all know Harley ultimately longs for. We all know it will most likely never happen, either – they’ll always be living in sin! There’s any number of reasons for this – Joker is unwilling to conform to societal values, Joker is unwilling to make that much of a commitment, Joker finds it amusing to deny Harley something she wants so badly, heck, it’s probably a combination of all three. Anyway, this issue is absolutely precious.


 

The Batman and Robin Adventures #1 – Two-Timer

We see Joker in his cell with two photos of Harley on his wall. That’s a pretty strong statement, if you ask me, and even if you don’t. The roles of both Joker and Harley in this story are tiny, but extremely pivotal to the main storyline.

Since Harley’s on the outside and Joker’s in Arkham, he needs Harley to help him with his mission (interestingly enough, he’s depicted as leaving his cell at will however) and the affectionate, coddling way he addresses her seems at once to be both a ploy and sincere.

Later, when she successfully fulfils the task he sets for her, he remarks to himself that she’s a ‘clever little minx’ and is clearly very pleased with her efforts.


   

The Batman and Robin Adventures #18 – Joker’s Last Laugh

Throughout this issue Harley interacts with Joker in a way no one else would ever, ever get away with. She pushes him around, drags him all over the place, manhandles him and talks back to him. He tolerates it all. If you need any more clear indication than this Harley’s there to stay, you’re probably not ever going to be convinced.

And the kicker? Immediately stepping out of the car to kill the cop who hits Harley, despite him finding no pleasure in it. No one’s allowed to beat up on his girl except him!

 In addition, we see more of the balance that’s been growing between them - Harley tells him to ‘lighten up’ and when he’s being melodramatic about a bump on the head she tells him, with an unsympathetic look, to calm down, ‘you’re fine’. He confides his woes to her and also compliments her death trap (before going ballistic a second later!).

Something to note here also is that Harley is not most upset by Joker yelling at her or physically intimidating her - but by him telling her she’s not funny!




Some of the complexity of the relationship lies in the fact that, outwardly at least, it would seem that Joker is the one in control and Harley is under that control. Harley is more smitten, while Joker is detached. While it is true that Harley is the more effusive and needy of the two, Joker demonstrates his own type of need here. Apart from the fact he clearly can‘t complete some of his schemes without her, his tolerance of some of her behaviour is very suggestive.
 Even the degree of control he has depends on Harley’s participation - which is reflective of Dominant/submissive relationships in general.
This in particular with Harley’s hurt at being told she’s not funny give us a way of understanding the particular parameters of this relationship - what is acceptable and what isn’t, and how they both play within those.
Joker can yell at Harley, even be rough with her and she seems to be okay with that in her role as the submissive partner
 But tell her she’s not funny, and her heart breaks - and she runs off with the keys, disabling Joker from being able to start the death trap.
Joker does have a greater degree of control in that Harley’s emotions are more tied up in him, and she has an immense need for his approval (and just for him in general), but she also exercises a degree of choice at times - when Joker breaks the rules of the game.