When it comes to relationships, Harley Quinn and Joker’s former one is notorious for being abusive and awful. However, not every story featuring the two before their big break-up forces Harley into a subservient role. A short story in the fairytale themed collection, Batman Tales: Once Upon a Crime, Joker lets the Mistress of Mayhem be the head honcho.
As the Clown Prince of Crime, Joker is known for being one of Gotham’s deadliest villains and has been known to try to take over other territory while having a gang of his own. When in a relationship with Harley, he often sent her to do his dirty work, while never truly appreciating her or valuing what she did. Breaking this twisted couple up was one of the best things DC could have ever done. Starring on her own, Harley is a force to be reckoned with and the creators of Batman: Li’l Gotham not only knew it, but they capitalized on it.
Batman Tales: Once Upon a Crime includes the story “Alfred in Wonderland,” which has the creative team of Derek Fridolfs, Dustin Nguyen, and Steve Wands. As the title suggests, it retells the story of Alice in Wonderland, placing Alfred Pennyworth in the role of titular heroine, Alice. Many of Gotham’s residents make appearances as Wonderland versions of themselves. Of all the roles in the story, Harley’s is one of the most prominent and befitting of her abilities: the Queen of Hearts.
While Harley fits the role in terms of her craziness and tendency to act rapidly in a violent manner, it also gives her a chance to pull the strings. This time, Joker isn’t the boss. He’s the King of Hearts, but the monarch is subservient to the queen. Not only does she get to hold the reins on who should be punished, she isn’t truly defeated in the same way Joker is within the story considering he plays dual roles. Later in the story, he transforms into the Jabberwock, eventually meeting his end at the point of the Vorpal Sword, which is wielded by Damian Wayne. Despite seeming like he is the fiercest villain in the story from a glance, the Joker is the only one to meet his doom. In many ways he isn’t even the most powerful enemy Alfred and the Bat Family face in this story.
Although the Clown Prince of Crime may be used to his version of the royal treatment, Batman Tales: Once Upon a Time gave him a royal demotion and took the opportunity to let him work under Harley. Their relationship has never really allowed the Mistress of Mayhem to call the shots, making this a welcome change from the older approach to their evil dynamic. Over the last several years, Harley has become not just a fan-favorite villain sidekick but also a fun lead and even a hero! The former psychiatrist has far more abilities than she is often given credit for so seeing Joker offering to take on the heroes in her place is a very welcome change. Harley Quinn’s independent series has allowed her to live outside of Joker’s shadow and steal the show for herself, and thanks to this fairytale, she is able to see what it was like to sit back and let her former flame be her henchman.
