Comments | ship_manifesto: Mad Love: The Joker and Harley Quinn

juliejordan in ship_manifesto

Mad Love: The Joker and Harley Quinn

Jul 18, 2006 02:58

Title: Mad Love: The Joker and Harley Quinn
Author: Julie Jordan
Fandom: Batman: The Animated Series/Batman: Gotham Knights
Pairing: The Joker and Harley Quinn
Disclaimer: Don’t own ‘em, just borrowing for non profit fun.
Warning: Spoilers for several of the 84 episodes.

( It is to laugh, huh Mistah J? )

#anime/animation, batman, dc universe

Comments 14

spikespeigel July 18 2006, 02:32:26 UTC

Nice examination of the relationship. It should be noted though that in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, we do see Harley living a life without the Joker, albeit briefly. Also, I've always thought that Harley was the ultimate joke (other than killing Batman). He completely plays her to the point that even when she knows she's been played (Batman reciting the various stories Joker's used before in Mad Love), she still has the Stockholm Syndrome working for her. I'm confident that the same fate would have befallen Tim in Return of the Joker had Batman not shown up as early as he did. And then there's the last time we see Joker and Harley in the Justice League episode, Wild Cards. Even then, Harley's nothing more than an afterthought to him, instead his attention being devoted to Ace since she's integral to his 'joke'. Harley's never been integral to the joke other than the running joke that is her life as Harley instead of Harleen.

(The comment has been removed)

juliejordan July 18 2006, 10:57:24 UTC

I have that on video *somewhere*. It's been a long time since I watched it, which is likely why I didn't think to mention it. I'll have to upgrade my beat up tape to DVD when I can afford to.

blackjackrocket July 18 2006, 05:37:51 UTC

Actually, they *did* give the Joker's real name in one episode, but I can't remember which one.

Anyway, very nice essay!

spikespeigel July 18 2006, 10:22:47 UTC

I'm pretty sure that was in the movie, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.

juliejordan July 18 2006, 10:58:30 UTC

Really? I'll have to watch that movie again...can't believe I missed it.

blackjackrocket July 18 2006, 20:40:20 UTC

No, I think it was in the episode where Batman got committed...

archica July 18 2006, 06:43:12 UTC

Love the essay. Harley was pretty much the only reason I watched the Batman series, and her relationship with Joker was particularly interesting to me when I was younger. It was probably the first (of what would be many in the years to come) abusive fictional relationship I was drawn to.

charliemc July 18 2006, 17:58:58 UTC

Thanks for sharing this!

I think many of us are drawn to this relationship. There's just something about the twosome -- as strange as it may be -- that's appealing! (smile)

(And it's a big deal when I find a non-slash OTP interesting, mind you!)

(grin)

Nice job.

rebellious_love July 31 2006, 19:42:30 UTC

That was a great essay. I do think it's interesting that such an abusive relationship is so popular within the fandom. It always seems to come down to "they're so twisted they belong together."

Great read.