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Comics character
Magpie
Magpie, from the cover of Batgirl (vol. 5) #8 (February 2017) Art by Christian Wildgoose
Magpie, as she originally appeared in The Man of Steel #3 (November 1986). Art by John Byrne.
Magpie is a jewel thief who specifically targets jewels named after birds and then replaces them with booby-trapped replicas.[2] Taking a job as a museum curator, Pye is slowly driven mad surrounded by the beautiful things that she so 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.[3]
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.[4]
Magpie disappears for a length of time, until it is revealed that she is Poison Ivy's cellmate at Arkham Asylum.[5]
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.[9] 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.[10]
When at Belle Reve, Magpie joined the Suicide Squad. On her only mission, she and the Suicide Squad were sent to fight some Revolutionaries. Magpie infiltrated the submarine where the base of the Revolutionaries is located and was killed by Thylacine almost immediately.[11]
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.
A male character named Merg Gaterra uses the name Magpie in Pre-Zero Hour comics. He was an Angtuan enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes and was hired by Monitor to steal items from the Legion's headquarters. [12]
Magpie appears in Beware the Batman, voiced by Grey DeLisle. This version is a split personality of Margaret Sorrow,[13] 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 the ability to extend her nails into 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.[14] This version's design takes inspiration from the Beware the Batman incarnation.[citation needed]
Magpie appears in Batwoman, portrayed by Rachel Matthews.[15] 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). While attempting to steal Martha Wayne's necklace, she runs afoul of Batwoman and is eventually incarcerated at Blackgate Penitentiary. After being transferred to Arkham Asylum, Alice releases Magpie to help her steal Lucius Fox's journal.
Magpie appears in promotional artwork released for Harley Quinn.[16]
