PART SIX: THE HA-HAPPY COUPLE

Gotham Adventures #10, “Mightier Than The Sword”

Generally, Harley is always presented as longing for a ‘normal’ life when she rehabilitates. Given that it is something she tends to fantasise about even when she’s with Mistah J, I think this is just something that lies at Harley’s heart, but which she can never really have because she finds the criminal lifestyle too exhilarating. Oh, and she’s nuts. Anyway, the general refrain here is that Harley has learned her lesson. She says what people want to hear, but in her heart she still loves Joker. And he’s unable to ignore her either.
Joker’s pursuit of her is prompted by Harley apparently going to cash-in on their relationship (before him) but there’s also an aside about how she hasn’t come to see him or written him since she’s been free.  Later, when he’s tracked her down and thrown off Nightwing and Robin, he turns to share a laugh with Harley – it’s a natural, instinctive response that speaks volumes about the level of intimacy the relationship has gained over the years.
He hunts her down, she’s ecstatic to see him, he prepares to kill her, she gets the upper hand and declares that he never really loved her.
And what really infuriates him? That the plot of Harley’s story could be interpreted as a romance between her and Batman! It’s deeply insulting to his pride and reveals a jealous, possessive side we haven’t really seen before.
Harley is terrified of him and his anger, but when she turns on him she retaliates just as fiercely, asserting herself viciously.
When she says she never wants to see him again, Joker is genuinely confused: “Just because I said I was going to kill you? C’mon baby! You used to love that!”
This scenario has happened many times before and both of them are accustomed to the routine. But Harley’s suddenly changed it up a bit – this time it doesn’t end with a cuddly resolution. This surprises Joker. Although of course she reveals at the end, once alone, that she is broken-hearted. And she’s got a photo Joker has signed ‘love you forever’ with the two of them cuddling and looking like a regular happy couple.
In the follow-up story, #14, Joker and Harley are only together at the end where Joker becomes temporarily mind-controlled from Ivy’s loaned-out potion. The most significant part here is when Joker smells the potion and says “that’s not your usual perfume”. The very fact he’s been paying that much attention to detail is highly significant.  He also compliments her book before the mind-control drug takes effect – he’s read it twice and actually enjoyed some parts.

 
The Batman Adventures #3 (vol 2) “My Boyfriend’s Back”

So the set-up here is that Joker has been undergoing so much radical therapy it's sapped him of his murderous instincts, leaving him nothing more than a psychopath (hee). So now that he's nuts, but no longer homicidal, what is the FIRST thing he does?
MAKE LOVE TO HARLEY!
No, I don't mean in 'that' way (I suspect it was happening though…) I mean in the more traditional way - he commences writing her love letters, getting her gifts, showering her with flowers. He also makes a 'harley pudding' - driving several Harley motorbikes into a huge tank of pudding. WAW!
Interesting, isn't it, that when Mistah J's thoughts are turned from violence and viciousness, from the egocentricity that rules his life, that he immediately becomes lovey dovey and adoring of Harley in a very open, effusive and, hrm, considerate way? To the exclusion of pretty much anything else.
It's also interesting that Harley HATES this. This is NOT the man she's in love with. Once again, here's some substantial proof that there's a consensual D/s sadomasochistic relationship at play and that Harley is an active participant in it. She loves her man for who he is – she might yearn for more of his attention and affection, but she doesn’t want him to change, not really.
She takes action to snap him out of it and get him back to his old self. Targeting his survival instinct by hiring a hitman to bump him off, she assures him she’ll exact revenge on his behalf if the hitman should succeed! Yes, this relationship has no equal elements at all! * eyeroll *
Interestingly enough, the only thing that ultimately does snap Joker out of it is Harley planting a big smooch on Batman’s kisser. When even a threat to his life couldn’t rouse his narcisstic, sadistic old self, the thought his girl might prefer his ultimate enemy works a charm. If you still believe Joker has no sense of ownership or possessiveness over Harley (whether you feel that’s grounded in affection or not) I’m not even sure why you’re reading! ;)
Of course, Harley being able to anticipate this reaction and manipulate it to suit her own ends makes a decisive statement in regards her awareness of what’s going on in the relationship and her complicity in it.
And finally, to see this – Harley is ecstatic. Indeed, titillated – “hit him again, Puddin’, he’s still moving!” she squeals with her legs and arms wrapped around her man. Joker responds with a “Daddy’s busy” – he’s gone back to his old self-absorbed, non-attentive self but he still positions himself as affectionate Top.


Wild Cards

This awesome two-parter episode only has one scene where Joker and Harley are in the same room together, but that one scene is very significant.
Furthermore, throughout the rest of the episode, they’re working in symbiosis in a comfortable, affectionate and joyous way. They’re both enjoying themselves a whole lot and working off each other with ease.
Now, they’re put together by Batman tricking Harley into revealing Joker’s location by playing on Harley’s jealousy. Joker’s slightly creepy sensuality has him stroking the character Ace in a way Batman easily spins to arouse Harley’s fury. But she doesn’t cow, break down and cry – oh no. she storms back to the hideout to give her man what-for.
I find it interesting Harley always squarely blames Joker for his transgressions and not the ‘rival female’. Both Ace and ‘Fake-Harley’ escape Harley’s wrath. Joker cops it all. Often women will rationalize their partner’s bad behaviour by blaming the other woman, because subconsciously they want to believe their man is not to blame, not really. No such excuses for Harley. It’s Joker’s fault and she gives it to him good! I love it.
Joker is non-plussed. He cheerily points out Harley will never leave him – because they’re two of a kind. Here he very clearly and emphatically places them within the same sphere. It’s the sort of acknowledgement he would never have given her around the time of Mad Love, Harley & Ivy and such. Has Harley proven herself worthy, passed some sort of test over the years – or has time simply changed the way he views her?
Whatever it is, they embrace lovingly. He shuts his eyes and rests his head against hers. It’s a moment of intimate affection that has not been seen before.
And true to his mercurial nature and the constant up-down cycle of their relationship, he goes ballistic on her approximately .5 seconds later.  Nonetheless, he takes that moment to show her sincere affection and indicate to her she’s the only one for him – because they’re dealt from the same deck.
Also worthy of note is Harley telling Batman they’ve been to couples counseling. The very thought of Joker participating in such a thing is utterly hilarious. It’s difficult to believe, and yet it says so very much about where the relationship has come to that he would consent to it. It speaks volumes about the level of his investment in the relationship now.




Now, more than ever, the stakes in the relationship have been raised. It’s still D/s and it’s still abusive and yet it is happening on a far more even keel than has been seen before. Joker’s actively invested in it and interacting with it on a much deeper level, rather than simply performing for her adoration. How far it’s come from Joker’s Favour to this point almost defies belief.