Magpie (character)
{{Short description|Fictional character of the DC Universe}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Lead too short|date=December 2021}}
{{Notability|fiction|date=August 2024}}
}}
{{Infobox comics character
| character_name = Magpie
| real_name = Margaret Pye
| image = Magpie (Margaret Pye) - circa 2017).png
| caption = Magpie, from the cover of Batgirl (vol. 5) #8 (February 2017)
Art by Christian Wildgoose
| publisher = DC Comics
| debut = The Man of Steel #3 (November 1986)
| creators = John Byrne
| species = Human
| alliances = Black Lantern Corps
Suicide Squad
| aliases =
| powers = Hand-to-hand combat
Fingernail extending
}}
Magpie (Margaret "Mag" Pye) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She was created by John Byrne, and first appeared in The Man of Steel #3 (November 1986).{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |title=The Essential Batman Encyclopedia |date=2008 |publisher=Del Rey |location=New York City|isbn=9780345501066 |pages=244–245}}
The character has been portrayed in live-action by Sarah Schenkkan in the final season of Gotham, Rachel Matthews in the first season of the Arrowverse series Batwoman, and Marié Botha in The Penguin.
Fictional character biography
=1986-2011=
File:Magpie (Margaret Pye) - circa 1986).png.]]
Magpie is a jewel thief who specifically targets jewels named after birds and then replaces them with booby-trapped replicas.{{Cite comic | Writer = Randall, Barbara J. | Artist = Von Eeden, Trevor | Story = A Bird in the Hand... | Title = Batman | Volume = | Issue = #401 | Date = November 1986 | Publisher = DC Comics | Page = 3 | Panel = | ID = }} Taking a job as a museum curator, Pye is slowly driven mad surrounded by the beautiful things that she loves but can never own. She was notable in Post-Crisis continuity as the first villain who was defeated by Superman and Batman working together, Superman having visited Gotham to "apprehend" Batman before Batman's demonstration of his skills while tracking Magpie convinced Superman that Gotham needed someone like Batman to protect it.The Man of Steel #3. DC Comics.
Some time after during the events of Legends, Pye is released on an insanity plea and goes on another rampage, before eventually being stopped by Batman and Jason Todd.Batman #401. DC Comics.
Magpie disappears for a length of time, until it is revealed that she is Poison Ivy's cellmate at Arkham Asylum.Arkham Asylum: Living Hell. DC Comics.
Shortly thereafter, she is murdered by the Tally Man II, along with Orca, the Ventriloquist and Scarface and the KGBeast, villains working for the Penguin. Ultimately, her death was part of a revenge scheme by the criminal known as the Great White Shark.Batman: Face the Face. DC Comics.
During the "Blackest Night" storyline, Magpie is revived as a Black Lantern.Blackest Night: Batman #1 (2009). DC Comics.
=New 52=
In 2011, DC Comics rebooted the DC Universe through "The New 52". During the "Forever Evil" storyline, Magpie appears as a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains which Outsider set up on behalf of the Crime Syndicate of America.Forever Evil #1. DC Comics.
=Rebirth=
In 2016, DC Comics implemented another relaunch of its books called "DC Rebirth", which restored its continuity to a form much as it was prior to the New 52. Magpie is one of the villains taken down by Batman and Catwoman after he takes her along with him on an average night of his job and fought Batgirl in her quest for justice.Batman (vol. 3) #14. DC Comics. She has also had a run-in with the Flash and Iris West after they were undercover as supervillains in the nation of Zandia, which serves as a haven for criminals like her.The Flash (vol. 5) #61-62. DC Comics.
When at Belle Reve, Magpie joined the Suicide Squad. On her only mission, she and the Suicide Squad were sent to fight Revolutionaries before being killed by Thylacine.Suicide Squad (vol. 6) #1. DC Comics.
=Dawn of DC=
{{update section|date=August 2023}}
Powers and abilities
Magpie is an expert at hand-to-hand combat. Later appearances showed her with the ability to extend her fingernails into claws.
=Equipment=
Magpie is an expert at creating gadgetry that resembles the items that she stole. She also makes use of weapons that are explosive, can emit airborne toxins, or shoot razor blades.
Other characters named Magpie
An unrelated Magpie, Merg Gaterra, is an alien thief and enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes.Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 2) #320
Alternative versions
Magpie appears in the Batman: Li'l Gotham comics.
In other media
=Television=
- Magpie appears in Beware the Batman, voiced by Grey DeLisle.{{cite web |title=Magpie / Margaret Sorrow Voice - Beware the Batman (TV Show) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Beware-The-Batman/Magpie-Margaret-Sorrow/ |access-date=July 22, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. This version is a split personality of Margaret Sorrow,{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/news.php?action%3Dfullnews%26id%3D1295 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-05-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721105026/http://worldsfinestonline.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=1295 |archive-date=2012-07-21 }} who was the subject of a failed experiment meant to remove her kleptomania in exchange for a reduced sentence at Blackgate Penitentiary that granted her poisonous claws and the inability to feel pain. Later in the series, Magpie develops an obsessive attraction towards Batman and jealousy towards his partner Katana.
- Magpie appears in the Gotham episode "13 Stitches", portrayed by Sarah Schenkkan.{{cite news |last=Whitbrook |first=James |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/punishers-showrunner-wants-daredevil-and-kingpin-if-t-1831909982 |title=Punisher's Showrunner Wants Daredevil and Kingpin...If the Show Gets Another Season |work=io9 |date=January 24, 2019 |access-date=January 24, 2019}} This version's design takes inspiration from the Beware the Batman incarnation.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
- Magpie appears in Batwoman, portrayed by Rachel Matthews.{{Cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2019/10/02/batwoman-photos-gabriel-mann-tommy-elliot-hush-rachel-matthews-magpie|title=Batwoman Baddies First Looks: Revenge Fave Gabriel Mann Is Hush, Rachel Matthews Cast as Magpie|website=TV Line|last=Mitovich|first=Matt Webb|date=2 October 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-02}} This version utilizes 3-D printed bombs to distract from her jewelry robberies, poses as photographer Margot to canvas potential heist locations, and has a sister named Reagan Pye (portrayed by Brianne Howey).
- Magpie appears in promotional artwork released for Harley Quinn.{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title={{'}}Harley Quinn{{'}}: DC Digital Service Orders Animated Series About Comic Book Villainess From {{'}}Powerless{{'}} Trio|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/harley-quinn-dc-digital-service-orders-animated-action-comedy-series-justin-halpern-patrick-schumacker-1202212632|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=February 27, 2018|date=November 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226091444/http://deadline.com/2017/11/harley-quinn-dc-digital-service-orders-animated-action-comedy-series-justin-halpern-patrick-schumacker-1202212632/|archive-date=February 26, 2018|url-status=dead}}
- Magpie, based on her pre-New 52 design, makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Kite Man: Hell Yeah! episode "Portal Potty, Hell Yeah!".{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
- Magpie appears in The Penguin episode "Cent'Anni", portrayed by Marié Botha.
=Film=
Magpie makes a minor non-speaking appearance in The Lego Batman Movie.{{cite web|title=Magpie Item No: sh333|url=https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?id=151928#T=I|publisher=bricklink.com|access-date=14 July 2017}}
=Video games=
Magpie appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 2, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=July 22, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}
=Miscellaneous=
- Magpie appears in the DC Super Hero Girls tie-in comic books.
- Magpie appears in Injustice 2 as a member of the Suicide Squad until she is killed by Jason Todd.Injustice 2 #1. DC Comics.Injustice 2 #2. DC Comics.
- Magpie appears in the Spotify audio series Harley Quinn and The Joker: Sound Mind, voiced by Mary Holland.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/harley-quinn-joker-podcast-christina-ricci-premiere-date-spotify-1235487566|title={{'}}Harley Quinn and The Joker{{'}} Podcast Starring Christina Ricci, Billy Magnussen Sets Premiere Date on Spotify|website=Variety|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=January 12, 2023|language=en|access-date=January 13, 2023}}
- Magpie appears in the DC Comics Novel series adaptation of Mad Love, written by Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan.{{cite book |last1= Dini |first1= Paul |last2= Cadigan |first2= Pat |date= November 2018 |title= Harley Quinn: Mad Love (A Batman Novel) |publisher= Titan Books |page=73 |isbn=978-1785658136}} This version is a patient of Arkham Asylum under Dr. Harleen Quinzel's care.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Batman characters}}
{{Superman characters}}
{{Suicide Squad}}
Category:DC Comics female supervillains
Category:Comics characters introduced in 1986
Category:Fictional female serial killers
Category:Fictional mass murderers
Category:Characters created by John Byrne (comics)