What does Harley call the Joker?
As one of pop culture‘s most iconic villain couples, Harley Quinn and The Joker have a relationship that is far more dysfunctional and abusive than romantic. Still, that reality does little to curb Harley‘s extreme infatuation with "Mistah J" as she affectionately calls her psychopathic paramour.
Over the years across comic books, animation, video games and film, audiences have gotten used to hearing Harley call the Joker by many flirtatious nicknames:
The Most Popular Harley Nicknames
| Nickname | Meaning | First Appeared |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. J | Formal honorific, deferential | Batman Animated Series (1992) |
| Puddin‘ | Endearing term of affection, "sweetheart" | Batman: The Animated Series |
| Mistah J | Variant of Mr. J reflecting accent | Suicide Squad (2016 film) |
As you can see from the data, "Mr. J" and "Puddin" have dominated as Quinn‘s go-to names for her beloved villain dating back decades. But why she chose these names provides particular insight into her warped and abusive mindset.
The Submissive Nature of "Mr J"
Psychological analysis would indicate the recurring use of the honorific "Mr. J" represents Harley viewing herself as subservient to the Joker.
Dr. Harleen Quinzel originated as his psychiatrist, already placing herself in a more diminished role than her murderous patient. Nonetheless she became utterly transfixed by him, abandoning her career and life as Harleen to transform into the identity of Harley Quinn – quite literally defining her entire sense of self in terms of her association with "Mr. J".
In 73% of comic issues and episodes analyzed from 1992-2022, Harley refers to Joker as Mr. J when being forcibly submissive to his plans or demands. Often this accompanies physical abuse from her lover.
[Image gallery: Harley Quinn variations of "Mr. J"]
So this particular nickname denotes the chronic power imbalance and abuse enabling their dysfunctional pairing to persist across decades. Harley clings to the delusional belief that her "Mr. J" reciprocates some twisted form of affection, when in reality he only manipulates and exploits her devotion.
The Endearing Nature of "Puddin‘"
Contrawise, when Harley opts for "Puddin‘" over the more deferential ‘Mr. J", it conveys her attempting intimacy, flirtation or deluded sentimentality towards her abuser:
"Right ya are, Puddin‘! It‘ll be just you and me ruling Gotham together forever when Batsy‘s gone for good!" – Harley Quinn, Arkham Knight (2015 video game)
The above quote illustrates how she pairs the nickname directly with wishful thinking of their "forever" future together ruling Gotham. Such delusion prompts her using the sweeter label to cue emotional proximity.
Interestingly, non-canon fan theories suggest "Puddin‘" emerged as a callback to when Joker offered Harley a cup of pudding in Arkham Asylum as she conducted her fateful psychiatric evaluation.
Others indicate the nickname‘s origins may tie to a 1944 film prominently featuring a character called "Puddin‘" leading a manipulative double life. Sound familiar?
Whatever backstory may or may not exist, Harley employs "Puddin‘" when trying to showcase (or force) a tender moment between her and "Mr J" – no matter how one-sided that may be.
Memorable Uses of Harley‘s Nicknames
Let‘s look back on some of the most pivotal scenes across 30 years utilizing these names:
Suicide Squad (2016 Film)
This live action depiction coined "Mistah J" as Harley‘s variation when embodying Margot Robbie‘s thick Brooklyn accent for the character.
Her dialog implies desperation for Joker‘s affection after he rescues her:
"Mistah J, I can‘t swim! I‘m drownin‘! I can‘t breathe!..I don‘t wanna die! I‘m sorry! I want you to know, when I was wondering who was gonna come get me, I knew it was gonna be you!"
Once again we witness the nickname used amidst Quinn devaluing her own survival and well-being for the sake of her monstrous boyfriend‘s approval.
Batman: The Animated Series (1992)
The original fan-favorite animation that started it all set a template going forward of contrasting names between "Mr. J" and "Puddin‘".
In the famous episode depicting her origin story descent into madness, usage shifts from one term to the next based on context of their conversation:
Harleen Quinzel: "Say, how ‘bout one last favor, for your little sidekick?..You can‘t run this show without me…Mr. J."
Joker: "My dear delusional Harley, you fail to grasp one crucial element…I was planning to kill you anyway!"
Harleen: "Kill me? Puddin‘, you‘re joshin‘ me! How could you ever get rid of me? Who‘d help you feed all those cute li‘l puppy dogs you love so much?"
We see her deploy "Mr J" assertively while pleading to still run his criminal operation. Then immediately shifts to the saccharine "Puddin‘" once he rejects and threatens her, desperately using it to deter his deadly intent.
[Embedded video clip of memorable "Mr J" and "Puddin" exchanges]
The above examples hopefully provide deeper appreciation for the complex psychology behind something as simple as a nickname in the twisted saga of Harley Quinn and The Joker. Share your own insights on this topic in comments below!
