Warning! Contains spoilers for Harley Quinn: Black + White + Redder #2!Batman might go down in history as the Joker’s greatest adversary, but one Gotham hero has earned the right to call themselves the villain’s true archenemy. An examination of the past reveals which hero makes a much better nemesis for Joker.
The Joker has been around for nearly as long as Batman and since the day he appeared in Gotham, the two have been at each other’s throats. Batman has been vexed by numerous threats, some strong enough to level entire planets. But at the end of the day, it’s always the Harlequin of Hate that truly haunts the Dark Knight. No matter how many times Batman stops one of the Joker’s fiendish plots or throws him in Arkham Asylum, the cackling villain always comes back for another jaunt to torment his beloved antagonist.
Harley Quinn Accepts Her Role as the Joker’s Greatest Enemy
In Harley Quinn: Black + White + Redder #2’s story “Origin Stories for Dummies” by Kelly Thompson and Annie Wu, Harley has kidnapped the magical hero Zatanna so she can purge the Joker from Harley’s origin for good. Despite Zatanna’s reticence, she agrees and gives Harley Quinn a new origin: Batman’s. Unfortunately, Harley Quinn’s new origin doesn’t do much to stop others from mentioning the Joker when discussing her. Zatanna gives Harley a few other origins such as Superman’s, Wonder Woman’s, and Green Lantern’s. But none of them stop people from bringing up the Joker. Though initially upset she can’t purge her ex from her origin story, Harley reframes her thoughts. Harley decides she already has the best origin possible, because she beat the one villain that even Batman can’t stop, saying her existence is proof that even the Joker has limits.
Most comic fans agree that Batman is absolutely the Joker’s nemesis. But that minimizes Harley Quinn and the journey she’s been on in the three decades since her debut. She might have started out as Joker’s girlfriend, but as time went on, Harley recognized how poisonous Joker really was before leaving him for good. Harley lived with the Joker’s abuse for years before seizing her autonomy and walking her own path. The Joker might be intrinsically linked to Harley Quinn’s origin story, but Harley’s shift in perspective confirms she’s the only person to ever triumph over the Joker.
Harley Quinn Has a Better Antagonistic Relationship with Joker Than Batman
Batman might have fought the Joker hundreds of times, but Harley Quinn has spent far more time by the villain’s side. She saw the monster he was up close and still managed to walk away to tell the tale. Did Harley make mistakes along the way? Sure. But after all the torments she suffered, Harley got out and began walking the path of a hero. Unlike Batman, Harley Quinn was able to overcome the worst of what Joker could do to someone and thrive. Fans can see more of Harley realize the strength she has over the Joker in Harley Quinn: Black + White + Redder #2, on sale now.
