The Joker and Harley Quinn Comics That Inspired Joker: Folie À Deux

Batman: Joker Time

2000’s “Batman: Joker Time” #1, a three-issue limited series penned and illustrated by Bob Hall, opens with the Joker perishing on stage as a mediocre stand-up comedian, reminiscent of one of the Joker’s multiple origin stories from the 1988 comic “Batman: The Killing Joke.” This story sees the Joker recounting his breakout from Arkham Asylum following an unsuccessful attempt to cure his madness through television therapy, a move that only serves to push him closer to insanity.

When he appears on Barry Dancer’s popular prime-time TV show, especially the “Joker Time” segment, the Joker attempts to assassinate Dancer live on air. The incident causes a media frenzy, catapulting the Joker into nationwide fame as his psychological drama unfolds for a live studio audience. As they often say in entertainment, make ’em laugh!

The Batman Adventures: Mad Love

Back in ’92, when Arleen Sorkin gave voice to Harley for the first time in “Joker’s Favor” on Batman: The Animated Series, she wasn’t just a character on my screen – she was someone I started following with great interest. It wasn’t until the pages of The Batman Adventures #12 in ’93 that Harley made her official comic book debut.

Batman: Going Sane

Following what appeared to be the murder of Batman in an explosion, the Joker experiences a startling epiphany: “If there’s no one like Batman to drive me insane, then why should I continue being insane?” In the four-part “Going Sane” storyline found in issues #65-#68 of Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight from 1994, written by J.M. DeMatteis with art by Joe Staton and Steve Mitchell, the Joker suppresses his madness and assumes a normal identity as Gotham citizen Joseph Kerr.

Joe Kerr, previously reformed, finds himself drawn to Rebecca Brown, intending to marry her. However, Batman’s return stirs up the malevolent Joker persona within him. In the end, a cackling Joker, confined in a strait jacket, is seen from his cell at Arkham Asylum.

Batman: Harley Quinn #1

After making her initial appearance in “The Batman Adventures”, Harley Quinn formally enters the DC Universe in the 1999 comic book series “Batman: Harley Quinn” #1, written by Dini and illustrated by Yvel Guichet. This standalone issue lays the groundwork for the relationship known as “Harlivy”, where Harley Quinn, dressed as a jester, encounters Poison Ivy following an explosion orchestrated by the Joker. In this story, we learn about Harley’s backstory as a rookie intern at Arkham Asylum who is charmed by the Joker and ends up being committed after helping him escape. Later on, during the “Batman: No Man’s Land” event, Harleen Quinzel manages to break free from Arkham, and for the first time, she adopts the persona of Harley Quinn when she interferes with the Joker’s business ventures involving the Penguin.

In the role of Mister J.’s sidekick, Harley is blissfully unaware that the Joker considers her merely as a distraction for Batman. “I’ve sensed some shifts within me since you arrived in my life,” the Joker confides to Harley. “It brings back memories of being part of a relationship, of cherishing someone who cherishes me,” he admits. “This is the first time in a while I’ve experienced such emotions… and I despise having those feelings!” The Joker manipulates Harley into a deadly trap, causing her to team up with Poison Ivy to seek vengeance against both the Joker and Batman. “I loved you, but you never truly cared,” she declares before enacting her revenge on her beloved ‘puddin’.” The twist: Joker expresses regret, so Harley welcomes him back with open arms.

Joker: Devil’s Advocate

In the 1996 comic book one-shot titled “Joker: Devil’s Advocate” by Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan, the Joker is arrested for allegedly committing mass murder using poisoned stamps, which resemble Joker Venom. His lawyer advises him to plead insanity in court, but Gotham’s assistant District Attorney aims to convict him and sentence him to death. During the televised trial, Batman’s ongoing investigation into the murders leads him to believe that the Joker is innocent in this case.

In court, the Joker claims responsibility for multiple homicides, mutilations, torment, and terror, except for the tainted stamps. The Joker is convicted on nine counts of first-degree murder and given the death penalty by electric chair, but it’s later discovered that Batman, who felt that the Joker shouldn’t be executed for crimes committed by someone else, clears his longtime adversary after apprehending the true culprit. As a result, the Joker’s execution is temporarily halted.

At Arkham, Batman gets the final chuckle as he tells the Joker, “Remember this: every single breath you take is due to me. Can’t think of anything funny to say in response?

Harley Quinn: Harley Loves Joker

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my appreciation for the captivating mini-series, “Harley Quinn: Harley Loves Joker,” penned by Dini and illustrated by Bret Blevins. This tale is an exhilarating journey through the chaotic world of the Joker and his partner-in-crime, Harley Quinn. The narrative unfolds during a thrilling crime spree that marked the early days of Harley as Mister J’s sidekick.

Joker (2008)

2008’s graphic novel titled “Joker” (now available under DC Black Label for mature readers), penned by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Lee Bermejo, presents a gritty street-level crime narrative from the perspective of one of Joker’s henchmen, Jonny Frost. This noir story portrays an enigmatic and unpredictable Joker whose actions are as confusing as they are terrifying, while Harley Quinn is depicted as a jester-themed stripper. The novel unfolds with the scarred criminal, Joker, being released from Arkham Asylum.

This Joker is more like Heath Ledger’s portrayal than the usual comic book character – a man who wouldn’t hesitate to maim someone with a broken beer bottle or explode a nightclub out of spite. With Killer Croc as his enforcer, this Joker aims to reclaim Gotham’s criminal empire, confronting villains such as the Penguin, Two-Face, and the Riddler. What’s the point of all this seriousness?

Harleen

In the three-issue series DC Black Label’s Harleen, written and illustrated by Stjepan Sejic, Harley Quinn experiences her own Joker-like origin story. Suitable for mature readers, this narrative follows Dr. Harleen Quinzel initially feeling compassion for her patient, the Joker (with a resemblance to a circus clown-painted Edward Cullen). As nightmares transform into dreams and eventually delusions, she becomes entangled with “Mr. Jay,” leading to a darker, Gotham-infused rendition of Fifty Shades of Grey’s themes.

Harleen remembers the situation as if it were a cliche romance novel where an unremarkable girl encounters a man who is tall, handsome, and menacing. She describes this man as a beast in need of her compassion and direction. In these stories, the girl transforms the beast back into a human, and the beast falls in love with her. However, Harley clarifies that her story doesn’t follow that pattern. Instead, her tale unfolds as one where she dances with the devil and embarks on a treacherous journey to the underworld. And, as Harley concludes, “People say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but in my case, it seemed more like a big, cruel joke.

Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity

2019’s comic book series titled “Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity” offers a fresh perspective on Harley Quinn as she transforms into a forensic psychiatrist and criminal profiler, still tormented by the unsolved murder of her roommate Edie, five years prior. Spanning eight issues from DC’s Black Label, this series is penned by writer Kami Garcia with artwork by Mico Suayan, Jason Badower, and Mike Mayhew. This gripping tale follows Harley as she relentlessly pursues the infamous serial killer known only as the Joker. With its lifelike illustrations combined with noirish scenes that mirror the morally ambiguous characters, “Criminal Sanity” is reminiscent of a crime thriller akin to “True Detective” — in this version, the Joker’s madness and depravity are laid bare, while Harley emerges as a heroine whose abilities lie in forensic psychiatry, behavior analysis, and psychological profiling. In the end, it underscores the chaotic nature of the world we live in: it’s indeed a world that’s mad, mad, mad, mad.