Thread:GoldenBoot/@comment-30929858-20170102203935/@comment-30929858-20170205065335

I have a very complicated view on Harley and Joker's relationship. I don't look up to it by any means like some people do, but I'm not against it completely since the relationship is necessary to tell a story. Without Joker, there would't be Harley Quinn. Simple as that. I think there have been great stories with both characters and both characters together are iconic. I mean, look at that Alex Ross cover of her first mainstream DCU appearance. I've seen some people say that showing that relationship encourages abusive relationships, but I disagree. I think what the various creators are saying is to NOT get into a relationship like that. I feel like lately it's become illegal or something to have the two together. There's history and it should always be acklowledged. In the New 52 I was totoally for having those characters be seperated. It's just the way they went about is what kinda made me mad. They wanted the character to move on yet in her solo book they bring in Joker just to boost their sales and have Harley decalre her independence AGAIN to Joker while they were ripping off that one Gotham City Sirens storyline from back then. It's just a little annoying since I'm not even a fan of the New 52. Since we're both busy to reply typically, I'll try to cover as much as possible on my view on the character's.

I'm also not a fan of Harley/Ivy. I've stated this and I have been called homophobic for it and various other names. I feel like both of these characters should be friends and not lovers. I feel like they are both partners in crime and that aspect of the character dynamic has been taken away. It also makes Poison Ivy so out of character and reduces her to just being Harley Quinn's girlfriend/sidekick. It's a little disheartning because Ivy is a character who has been around way longer than Harley has and deserves just as much attention that Harley is getting right now. I just feel like Harley shouldn't be defined all the time by a relationship, whether it's with The Joker or Poison Ivy. Harley Quinn should be alone doing her own thing just like she did in her very first solo series back in the year 2000, where she ran her own gang and caused mayhem on her own behalf instead of taking orders from somebody.

Oh and back to the Harley/Ivy thing for a bit. Quite a bit of people have gotten angry at me for this but the Harley and Ivy relationship is abusive as well which is part of the reasons why I don't think the two work well sometimes. A lot of people ignore that part of the history. While not shown in the Animated Series, the comic books based off that including the Harley/Ivy comic has shown Ivy being verbally and physically abusive towards Harley. Lots of people do not like to bring it up or just straight up ignore it because they want to make that relationship look superior to the one with Joker. To each their own, but in my opinion, if you want to support a ficitonal relationship, acknowledge its flaws. That is why I think Harley is better off without Joker or Ivy.

So in conclusion, I prefer Harley Quinn and The Joker over Harley Quinn and Ivy but in no way do I condone the actions of either relationship. I think it's great from a story point of view but in reality it's horrible as it should be. I don't know how many comics you've read but I've proudly read every Harley Quinn comic before the new 52 and I care about the character very much and acknowledge the flaws that happen in both relationships. Harley is a flawed character which is why I beleive a lot of people like her. She falls for the worst type of people which is why I beleive she is a great villain overall who sometimes does heroic things depending on the situation. So when we role-play, my Joker will be abusive at times because I want to be in character. I won't overdo it of course, but I just wanted to lt you know about that. My plan is to have my Joker just be a fun psychotic clown who goes around doing the worst things ever. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I'd love to know your opinions.