Who Is Magpie? The Penguin’s New Villain, Explained

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As a lifelong Batman fan, I find it fascinating to see how characters from the comic books are adapted and reimagined for different media. In this case, Magpie, a lesser-known villain in the Batman universe, is proving to be a versatile character that fits perfectly into various Batman series without Batman himself.

In a recent development, The Penguin has unveiled yet another formidable adversary for Matt Reeves’ Gotham City, adding to the already impressive roster of Batman villains. While we’re all on tenterhooks about who will be the main antagonist in the sequel to The Batman, The Penguin has surprised us with a new supervillain from the DC Comics universe. Could it be Mr. Freeze, Man-Bat, or Mad Hatter? Nope! It turns out that the character is none other than Magpie!

If you’re not familiar with the name Magpie, it’s likely because she isn’t one of Batman’s most well-known villains compared to characters like Scarecrow or Two-Face. She doesn’t fall into the category of Batman’s primary female villains either, such as Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn who form the Gotham City Sirens. However, in the series “The Penguin,” portrayed by Marié Botha, Magpie is a suitable addition to the Epic Crime Saga, and interestingly enough, she’s another example of a character from Batman’s universe that doesn’t have Batman as the main character.

Magpie’s Comic Book Origin

Magpie, a character developed by John Byrne, didn’t make her initial appearance in a Batman comic but rather in a Superman publication. Her debut was in the third issue of The Man of Steel, which came out in November 1986, during John Byrne’s reboot of the Superman character after the events of DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths. This significant introduction positioned Magpie as a key figure in the Post-Crisis DC timeline, marking her as the first villain to be defeated by the combined efforts of Superman and Batman. Despite Superman initially traveling to Gotham to stop Batman, he soon realized that Batman’s abilities for tracking the criminal Magpie demonstrated that Batman was not the threat portrayed in the media but instead a hero. One might expect a villain faced by both Superman and Batman to be formidable. However, surprisingly, Magpie is an ordinary human criminal.

The secret name “Magpie” is derived from English folklore, where the Magpie bird is known for gathering shiny items and valuables, much like a sneaky thief. It’s quite fitting for our jewel thief character. Her true identity is Margaret Pye, a skilled jewel thief who specializes in stealing jewels named after birds, leaving behind replicas laced with traps. To begin with, she had no extraordinary powers; she was simply an expert in hand-to-hand combat and the use of thieves’ tools. Later on, however, she developed the ability to elongate her fingernails into sharp talons.

Eventually, Magpie ends up confined within Arkham Asylum alongside fellow nemesis of Batman, Poison Ivy. Unfortunately, her life is cut short in a vengeful plot orchestrated by the villain Great White Shark. However, it’s crucial to note that Magpie was not the intended target; she had been allied with The Penguin who was at odds with Great White Shark. Her demise was essentially a form of retribution against someone else, rather than an act of revenge specifically aimed at her. In the Post-Crisis DC universe, her last recorded appearance was during Blackest Night, where she resurfaced as a Black Lantern.

In the comic book universe, Magpie appeared to resurface after the New 52 event, yet it wasn’t until almost five years later during the DC Rebirth era that she gained prominence. During a time when Batman and Catwoman were romantically involved, they managed to subdue Magpie. Afterward, Magpie joined the Suicide Squad. Similar to her pre-New 52 version, Magpie met her end in her debut mission with the Suicide Squad. Despite being a character often marked for death in the comics, her connection to Batman’s rogues gallery but not being one of the top-tier villains made her an ideal choice for adaptations seeking to expand their roster of villains without relying on heavyweights like Catwoman, Joker, and others.

Magpie in Adaptation

Beware the Batman

In her debut performance, Magpie made a significant breakthrough in the limelight, portraying one of the antagonists on the brief-running DC animated show titled Beware the Batman. This character is actually a dual personality of a woman named Margaret Sorrow. The storyline unveiled that Magpie originated from an unsuccessful attempt to treat Margaret’s compulsive stealing disorder, known as kleptomania. As the narrative unfolded, it focused on Magpie’s thief characteristics, leading her to be equipped with toxic claws and becoming insensitive to pain.

The transition from Catwoman to Magpie seemed like a potential replacement in the Batman series, and this similarity even extends to her apparent romantic interest in Batman. Although Batman: The Animated Series ran for just one season, it introduced Magpie to a new generation of viewers, positioning her as a member of Batman’s rogues gallery and paving the way for future adaptations.

Gotham

In the TV series “Gotham,” which serves as a prequel to Batman’s story, Magpie – portrayed by Sarah Schenkkan – makes an appearance. Her character design draws inspiration from the animated series “Beware the Batman.” In the episode titled “13 Stitches,” during the final season, Magpie shows up, staying true to her comics roots as a thief. As per her avian motif in the comics, she attempts to pilfer from Oswald Cobblepott, also known as The Penguin. Intriguingly, Catwoman, another thief, is on the hunt for Magpie, leading Penguin to confront her, resulting in his vengeance and ultimately taking her life.

Batwoman

In another iteration of the Batman universe, Magpie could show up in the CW’s Batwoman series, this time without Batman. The role of Magpie is taken by Rachel Matthews, known for Happy Death Day and Upgraded. Her character, named Margot, masquerades as a photographer to scout her upcoming theft spots. Interestingly, she also has a sister named Reagan Pye, portrayed by Brianne Howey. In this storyline, Kate Kane, who is in a romantic relationship with Reagan, must use her Batwoman identity to thwart the criminal activities of her sister Magpie.

The show explores Margot’s past, revealing she came from humble beginnings and developed an unusual fascination with sparkling items. Adopting the moniker Magpie, she turned to theft and cultivated a ‘survival of the fittest’ mentality. She made her debut in Season 1 of Batwoman across three episodes, but was absent thereafter except for fleeting references in Seasons 2 and 3.

The Penguin

Currently, Marié Botha portrays Magpie in the show “The Penguin“. This is her third live-action role and the third time she has appeared in a Batman TV series not centered around Batman. In essence, this highlights the significance of her character as she belongs to his rogues gallery but hasn’t gained enough popularity yet to merit a cinematic debut.

Despite requiring villains, the TV show can’t use more prominent ones associated with Batman. Therefore, Magpie serves as an excellent alternative. She has ties to Batman in the comics but is unlikely to appear alongside him, making her a suitable choice for shows like Gotham, Batwoman, and The Penguin. If Gotham Knights had continued beyond one season, she might have been included there as well.

Why Magpie Is the Perfect Fit for The Penguin

In a slightly different wording, Magpie could be an excellent choice for The Penguin character. This is because Magpie allows writers to draw from the extensive DC Comics universe, introducing a familiar name to the storyline without resorting to the most prominent villains. By doing so, The Penguin can enrich the criminal landscape within Batman’s world. This isn’t a realm of supervillains but instead one populated by mobsters, drug dealers, and thieves. Thus, Magpie fits perfectly into this universe as she helps develop Gotham City’s history while maintaining the gritty realism that the series is known for.

Magpie is more of an ordinary criminal rather than a typical supervillain, but she’s given an interesting twist in Matt Reeves’ vision for Gotham. Essentially, she’s a thief with a flair for style, which aligns better with the grounded atmosphere he’s creating for the city. Interestingly, her status as a common jewel thief makes her more relatable and fitting for this version of Gotham compared to fantastical villains like Killer Croc or Poison Ivy, or even more eccentric ones such as Two-Face or Black Mask.

In the second installment of “The Batman,” we probably won’t see Magpie appearing or playing a bigger role than being connected to The Penguin. However, her appearance serves as an enjoyable nod to the expansive DC Comics universe. It also implies a thrilling possibility for the future, as this particular segment of the series might delve into lesser-known Batman villains like Hugo Strange, Calendar Man, and Clock King, giving them chilling updates and providing them with their well-deserved time in the limelight. Magpie suggests that Gotham’s criminal underworld is full of intriguing characters ready to make a splash. Watch on Max.

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2024-10-14 05:02