Originally appearing in Batman: The Animated SeriesHarley Quinn has gone on to become one of the most popular DC characters. The Joker’s former girlfriend started a fan-favorite relationship with Poison Ivy and is now starring in her own ongoing comic book, a TV series, and the DCEU.

RELATED: DC: The 10 Funniest Harley Quinn Quotes From The Comics

While Harley Quinn has left most of her villainous ways behind (along with the Joker), she still has a whole lot of blood in her ledger. Her dark history ranges from the expected to the downright disturbing and sadistic.

7 Harley Once Killed Children With Exploding Video Games

harleen cover

The New 52 era was a dark time for Harley Quinn, with the former psychiatrist joining the Suicide Squad and, as a result, suffering a deterioration in her mental health that would lead to her reverting to her old persona, Harleen. During this time, we saw Harley Quinn at her most sadistic and cruel. One of her most despicable moments during this run was when Harley Quinn gave exploding video games to several children.

6 Helping The Joker Escape Arkham Asylum

Arkham Asylum Gates

One of the biggest problems people raise with Batman and his war on crime is that everyone he puts in prison or Arkham Asylum breaks out and commits more crime. From this perspective, Batman’s war on crime is a Sisyphean task.

While this is true to some degree – largely from a narrative sense – it isn’t helped by those who often aid in a criminal’s escape. Harley Quinn has helped the Joker escape on numerous occasions, allowing him to cause more misery and chaos in Gotham.

5 Helping The Joker In General

Joker feature

The Joker is one of the most well-known and iconic villains in comic book history, with the Clown Prince of Crime enacting schemes that range from playful to downright evil and sadistic.

When Harley Quinn supports and backs up the Joker’s schemes, she is aiding cruel and sadistic acts on the innocent people of Gotham. While it will always be the Joker who commits the worst atrocities, there’s no denying that he wouldn’t have caused as much damage without Harley backing him up.

4 She Was Once Evicted From Hell

Harley Quinn Hell

It doesn’t need to be said that Hell tends to be where evil and cruel people end up, suffering eternal punishment for their sins during life. It would come as a surprise if a resident of Hell were sent away for their poor behavior.

This is exactly what happened with Harley Quinn. She was so annoying and disruptive that she was sent away. To be sent to Hell is bad enough, but to be expelled from Hell for poor behavior really says something.

3 Making Deadshot Wear Joker’s Face

Deadshot-Joker-Face

One of the most memorable elements from the New 52 era was the Joker’s face (or lack thereof). Early in the New 52 run of Detective Comics, the Clown Prince of Crime meets Doll Maker and has his face removed. If this wasn’t disturbing enough, the Joker would go on to wear his own face like a mask after this.

RELATED: Harley Quinn: 5 Changes The HBO Show Made (& 5 Things That Are Straight Out Of The Comics)

However, the Joker wasn’t the only person to wear his face like a mask. In the Suicide Squad series, Harley Quinn finds Joker’s face, ties Deadshot to a chair, and makes him wear it. She then creepily straddles the infamous assassin and refers to him as Mr. J… yikes.

2 Harley Quinn's Terrible Newspaper Column

Harley Quinn Starts Anew

Harley Quinn is one of the most entertaining characters in modern comics, with her gray morality, dark past, and comical outlook giving her stories a unique feel regardless of the medium. While the character is entertaining, it would be a mistake to allow her to have her own newspaper column. This is exactly what Perry White did, however, with Harley using her column to offer strange pieces of advice.

1 Using Child Soldiers To Achieve Her Ends

Harley Quinn Is In Suicide Squad

Harley Quinn already has a poor history with children. Not only did she murder several children with exploding video games, she also helped Joker try and kill several Robins on numerous occasions. In Suicide Squad #14, Harley Quinn uses stolen children from a terrorist organisation to aid in her escape from the organisation, helping to turn them into the child soldiers the organisation wanted.

NEXT: DC: 10 Female Comic Villains That Deserve A Harley Quinn-Style Movie