Joker's First Words to Harley Quinn Expose Their Romance's Dark Truth.
Classic example of a poisonous relationship is the one between the Joker and Harley Quinn. And it begins with the first words the Joker says to Harley.
Poison Ivy finds Harley Quinn among a mound of trash in the first comic Batman: Harley Quinn. She interrupts a meeting between Penguin and Joker, sporting her first-ever Harley Quinn costume, after Harley describes her attempts to see the Joker.
Though Harley aims to leave a positive first impression, the Joker's response is terrifying. He claims he can identify her voice but cannot match the face. The Joker meets Harley Quinn first here.
Joker failed to even acknowledge Harley Quinn upon first meeting.
Though the Joker hadn't seen Harley Quinn before, he did run across her while she was still Dr. Harleen Quinzel. Harleen was then a psychiatrist employed at Arkham Asylum. Driven to establish herself, she interviewed the Joker and fell head over heels for him.
Hoping to win the Joker's love, Harleen chose to drop her life behind and turn criminal once she escaped Arkham. She soon discovered, regretfully, that the Joker would only treat her violently and did not share her emotions.
The fact that the Joker couldn even identify Harley Quinn serves as a sobering reminder of how much he really loved her. For the Joker, Harley gave her whole life; but, even after their past meetings at Arkham Asylum, he couldn even remember her.
Origin for Harley Quinn is a multilayered tragedy.
The beginning of Harley Quinn is tragic. She totally changed herself for the Joker, only for he to hardly remember her. It reminds us of how the Joker was utterly devoid of concern for anyone except himself.
Though it takes her time, Harley Quinn finally picks up this lesson. She is in a far better state now and has a partner who really worries about her. Still, the memory of the Joker's callous indifference is a terrible reminder of the sinister truth of their relationship.
