Exploring Magpie, the Batman Villain

Article by August Tales

HBO’s series ‘The Penguin’ strangely lacks the usual Batman or larger DC Comics references. But its fourth episode, dominated by Sofia Falcone’s hair-raising Arkham Asylum flashback, reveals a surprising presence. Hiding in plain sight as Falcone’s cellmate is ‘Magpie,’ portrayed by Marie Botha. A quintessential deep-cut villain, Magpie’s appearances in the DC universe have punctuated her mostly forgettable reputation, painting an intriguing picture. Just who is she? We delve deeper into this enigmatic character’s comic history.

Rocking the ’80s – Magpie’s Debut

DC Comics brought Magpie to life in the 1986 Man of Steel #3. The series, a post-Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot, retold Superman’s backstory and origins. The John Byrne crafted character marked the inaugural meeting between Batman and Superman in this new continuity. A jewel thief named ‘Magpie’ brought the heroes to Gotham City. The two joined forces to arrest this new villain. She stood out with her ’80s New Wave design and unhinged nature.

Born Margeret ‘Maggie’ Pye, her obsession with birds led her to steal jewels named after them. She replaced the stolen gems with deadly replicas. A former museum curator, she lost her sanity, unable to possess the stunning glittering artifacts around her. Interestingly, she was the first villain jailed by Batman and Superman.

Welcome to the Batman Universe

Despite a promising debut, Magpie’s appearances in Batman’s realm were sporadic. Batman #401 introduced her just months before Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One. Nevertheless, she struggled in cementing her status among Batman’s adversaries — attributing partly to her extremely ’80s costume design that quickly dated her. Poison Ivy’s roommate in Arkham Asylum, Magpie, returned, albeit briefly, as a zombie-like Black Lantern in the event series Blackest Night.

A Reimagined Magpie in The New 52

Magpie resurfaced in DC’s 2011 reboot, The New 52. She retained her obsession with shiny objects but with a revised costume design. This iteration tackled the Flash and a series of DC villains. Magpie met a similar fate as her predecessor eventually, though — this time falling in the infamous Suicide Squad line of action.

Magpie Makes Her TV Debut

Batman: The Animated Series or The Batman may have missed her, but she landed a spot in the short-lived Beware the Batman. Her alter ego was Margaret Sorrow — grappling with a split personality — her identity as Magpie emerging with her darker side. Developing a crush on Batman, a common thread with Catwoman, though without the reciprocal feelings. Later, the New 52 inspired version of her character made her entry into the TV series Gotham.

Magpie’s Arc in The Penguin

Taking a more sinister turn in The Penguin, Magpie is introduced as Sofia Falcone’s jailmate. Her peculiar, captivating persona outshines any mention of kleptomania or past crime. Eager to befriend Sofia, she encourages her to consume prescribed drugs. However, an emotionally drained Sofia suspects her of spying and brutally murders her, extinguishing any hopes of Magpie gracing the screen in The Batman – Part II. It seems this D-list character just can’t break into the big time.