Who Is Magpie, the Batman Villain Who Appears in THE PENGUIN? Her DC Comics History, Explained

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As a seasoned gamer and comic book enthusiast with over two decades of immersion in the world of DC, I must say that HBO’s The Penguin has certainly piqued my curiosity with its introduction of Magpie. This deep-cut villain has managed to pop up in various non-comics media, yet never quite made it past D-list status – a tale as old as time itself for many comic book characters.

To date, HBO’s “The Penguin” isn’t heavily tied to Batman or broader DC Comics storylines. It can be appreciated as a standalone crime drama without prior knowledge of Batman. However, episode four delved into Sofia Falcone’s past in Arkham Asylum, revealing her cellmate was a woman identifying herself as “Magpie,” portrayed by Marié Botha. This character is less commonly known from the comics. Despite being a lesser-known villain, she has managed to surface in various non-comic media. Here’s a look at a character who never climbed higher than the D-list, yet remains somewhat prominent.

Magpie Debuts in the ’80s, Fighting Both Batman and Superman

Originating from the creative mind of John Byrne, the character known as Magpie debuted in issue #3 of ‘Man of Steel’ back in 1986, marking a fresh start for Superman’s tale following the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’. This third installment introduced the first encounter between Superman and Batman within this new narrative. With Superman viewing Batman as a potentially dangerous vigilante, he traveled to Gotham City with the intention of apprehending him. However, their initial meeting led them to join forces to capture a new jewel thief in town, who went by the alias Magpie. In keeping with classic Bat-villain characteristics, Magpie was not mentally stable.

Originally named Margaret “Maggie” Pye, the character known as Magpie boasts a design reminiscent of the ’80s New Wave era. In keeping with the style of Batman, Magpie is a jewel thief who focuses on stealing gemstones with avian names. She’d swap them for replicas laced with dangerous traps, often resulting in the death of anyone unlucky enough to find them. Overwhelmed by her inability to own the stunning artifacts she admired, Maggie lost her sanity while working as a museum curator. Notably, she was the first villain to be captured by both Superman and Batman working in tandem.

Magpie first emerged in Batman issue 401, published just a few months prior to Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One. Throughout the subsequent years, she popped up occasionally but failed to establish herself as a significant adversary for Batman. This could be due to her costume design from the ’80s which, unfortunately, made her seem outdated almost immediately. On several occasions, she was seen serving time as Poison Ivy’s cellmate in Arkham Asylum. Eventually, she met her end but later reappeared as a Black Lantern during the series, Blackest Night.

Magpie Gets Reimagined For DC Comics’ New 52 Reboot

In 2011 during the New 52 reboot by DC, Magpie resurfaced with a fresh costume style. However, she retained the same fundamental fixations as her character from the prior universe. She clashed with the Flash and several other DC antagonists, not just Batman. Regrettably, her end mirrored that of her original counterpart in the previous timeline. In this instance, Magpie perished as a part of the notorious Suicide Squad.

Magpie in Beware the Batman and Gotham

In contrast to her absence in both “Batman: The Animated Series” and “The Batman”, she made an appearance only in the short-lived cartoon, “Beware the Batman”. Here, her true name was Margaret Sorrow, and her alter ego, Magpie, stemmed from a multiple personality. Similar to Catwoman, she developed affection for Batman, but unlike Catwoman, he did not return her feelings. Subsequently, she surfaced in the TV show “Gotham”, which like her New 52 comic book version, served as an inspiration.

Magpie in The Penguin

In “The Penguin,” a character named Magpie, portrayed by Marié Botha with a typical asylum inmate, childlike tone, introduces herself to Sofia Falcone while they’re both in a cell. Her tendencies towards kleptomania or her past criminal activities are not discussed. She attempts to befriend Sofia and persuade her to use the medication they’re given. After enduring months of torment, a mentally shattered Sofia starts to suspect that Magpie is spying on her. In a chilling act, she cold-bloodedly kills Magpie in the Arkham mess hall by violently hitting her head against a table. Unfortunately, it seems that Magpie will not appear in “The Batman – Part II,” which may disappoint fans hoping for her to reappear. Once more, this lesser-known villain appears unable to advance to the main stage.

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2024-10-14 04:02