Margaret Pye (New Earth)

Growing up, Margaret Pye loved shiny things and wanted them all for herself. She was ridiculed for her obssession, and nicknamed Magpie. This obsession just got stronger as she grew up, and she took a job as curator of the Gotham City Museum of Antiquities to be surrounded by the valuables she loved. This love became compulsive jealousy when she realized she would never possess the antiques around her. Her mind snapped, and she started a crime-wave as Magpie. She made booby-trapped duplicates of famous museum pieces, and put them in place of the genuine articles. She felt she was taking what was rightfully hers, not stealing. She also recruited a small gang of thugs to ensure that she was never caught. She was a harsh employer, killing any goon that failed her expectations. She was unfortunate enough to be the first criminal captured by the team of Batman and Superman working together. She had an emotional breakdown after she realized that they were going to take away her shiny things.

Although recently seen working with Intergang, as of One Year Later she was found dead, murdered by the Tally Man under the orders of Great White Shark, who was chipping away at the Penguin's empire.

Blackest Night

Main article: Blackest Night

Magpie is one of the many villains raised from the dead in Gotham City to join the new Black Lantern Corps as zombies during Blackest Night. Along with Abbatoir, Deacon Blackfire, Blockbuster, King Snake, KGBeast, the Trigger Twins, and the Ventriloquist, she has received a Black Lantern Ring.^[1] She has been seen terrorizing the city, and tearing out the hearts of innocents to feed on their emotions and life force when they're feeling the most fear.^[2]

Powers and Abilities

Abilities

Capable of creating deadly versions of the artifacts she steals, in the form of explosives or emitting airborne toxins or firing razor blades.

Strength level

That of a woman her size and age who engages in minimal activity.

Paraphernalia

Equipment

Deadly copies of the artifacts she steals, plus a quick-acting paralysis chemical injected by pinpricks.

Weapons

Black Lantern Ring, Handgun of Choice.

Notes

In Post-Crisis continuity, she is the first villain fought by Batman and Superman working as a team.

Trivia

Her outrageous hairstyle is actually a wig. She has red hair underneath.

Links and References

Magpie at Wikipedia

Footnotes

Batman Villain(s)
This character, team or organization, is or was primarily an enemy of the Batman, or members of the Batman Family. This template will categorize articles that include it into the category "Batman Villains."

[0] Blackest Night: Batman #1

[1] Blackest Night: Batman #2

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