When she tearfully insists the Joker really loves her, Batman convinces her to call him so he will know she will accomplish her goal (as the piranhas would leave no convincing evidence). Batman distracts her by telling her the Joker has been using her from the start, with the Joker's stories to her of having an unhappy childhood being lies he has told to others, some with different details each time. Harley decides the only way she can make the Joker finally love her back is to kill Batman, which she attempts to do by capturing him so she can feed him to a school of piranhas, one of the Joker's unused plans. Harleen helped the Joker escape and became his sidekick in hopes that she could win his love. After more interviews, Harleen determined Batman was the primary source of the Joker's anger and was to blame for his actions, but that she also had fallen in love with him. Convinced by the Joker himself to do it, Harleen interviewed him and learned he was abused as a child by his alcoholic father.

Harleen Quinzel and spending an internship at Arkham Asylum. As Harley bemoans the state of her life, she recalls how she first met the Joker, back when she was psychologist Dr. It was later adapted (with minor alterations for pacing) as an episode of the animated series The New Batman Adventures.Īfter his latest scheme of killing Commissioner Gordon is foiled by Batman, the Joker retreats to his hideout to plan his next move, but is annoyed by his lovestruck sidekick Harley Quinn, and kicks her out. Set in the continuity of Batman: The Animated Series, it won an Eisner Award for 'Best Single Story' in 1994. The Batman Adventures: Mad Love is a one-shot comic book written by Paul Dini (writer on Batman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond) and Bruce Timm (executive producer on The New Batman/Superman Adventures and the co-creator of Batman: The Animated Series).

Batman by paul dini