Valerie Van Haaften (New Earth)

Puzzler
Mainstream Universe‎, 1986‎-2011‎
Gallery
Real Name	Valerie Van Haaften
Main Alias	Puzzler
Affiliation	Intergang
Base Of Operations	Metropolis
Status
Alignment	Bad
Identity	Public Identity
Marital Status	Single
Characteristics
Gender	Female
Eyes	Black
Hair	No Hair
Skin	Grey
Origin
Universe	New Earth
Creators	Geoff Johns · Pascal Ferry
First Appearance	Superman Vol 2 #187 (December, 2002)

Valerie Van Haaften is the Puzzler, an enemy of Superman who can break down her body into puzzle pieces.

History

For years she admired Superman, even trying to become a superheroine by joining a team of superheroes to draw his attention. However, she knew the Justice League would never let her join. She tried contacting other superhero groups, such as the Outsiders, to join their team, but they never responded to her.

Unable to realize her dream, Valerie instead tried to become one of his archvillains. When Manchester Black mind controlled, convinced, or coerced dozens of supervillains to attack Superman, Puzzler was among them, attacking after Terra-Man. She was scattered to pieces quickly by the man of steel.

She was later hired by Intergang to kill Clark Kent and attacked the Daily Planet. Superman arrived to stop her, and she immediately forgot her job to find Kent and went after Superman, eager to prove that she was worthy of being on a super team. She was unable to defeat him and was arrested by SCU, but not before getting word out about Superman's return.

She went on to join a group of other villains to acquire the "Get Out of Hell Free Card" from the Secret Six, with fellow late arrivals Murmur, Komodo, and Sonar. After a fight on a Gotham City bridge and believing the card to be gone, Puzzler and the rest of the villains left.

Since then she had run-ins with Supergirl and was arrested in Colorado with Bloodsport, who had previously been hired by Intergang as well.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

• Unique Physiology: Puzzler consists of numerous indestructible puzzle pieces, which she can control, fling, shoot as fast as bullets, etc.
  • Invulnerability: She cannot be hurt in a conventional sense, she just breaks into pieces.
  • Flight

Related

• 5 Appearances of Valerie Van Haaften (New Earth)
• 3 Images featuring Valerie Van Haaften (New Earth)
• Quotations by or about Valerie Van Haaften (New Earth)
• Character Gallery: Valerie Van Haaften (New Earth)

Footnotes

Superman Villain(s) This character has been primarily an enemy of Superman in any of his various incarnations, or members of the Superman Family. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Superman Villains category."