The Penguinis a full-scale rebranding and reimagining of a beloved DC Comics villain. Most members of Batman’s iconic rogues gallery enjoy non-stop new directions from one medium to the next, but the new Oz Cobb is a massive leap. Not to denigrate the classic Penguin, but Colin Farrell’s take on the character became necessary as soon as someone sought to give him a solo series. The show is relatively light on cameos from the comics, aside from the most central characters. Some, like Magpie, are so subtle that many will miss the connections.
Many have commented on the pattern of each new Batman movie becoming darker than the one that preceded it.SinceBatman & Robindrew so much negative attention, the other outings feel like intentional apologies to a proposed angry fanbase. Nolan’s Gotham had a lot of grounded elements that were far more fanciful in earlier adaptations. Matt Reeves followed that trilogy with an even more gritty take on the material. InThe Penguin, fans get a deeper dive into the most difficult realities underneathThe Batman’s journey.
Magpie inThe PenguinEpisode 4
The PenguinEpisode 4"Cent’Anni" takes place primarily in flashback. It takes place immediately after the bombshell reveal in the previous outing, which sends Sofia Falcone rocketing back to the darkest part of her story. As every fan knows, Sofia is fresh out of Arkham after a 10-year stint for several alleged murders. Sofia carries the name “Hangman” for supposedly strangling several women. “Cent’Anni” follows the events that landed Sofia at Arkham. It’s a haunting whirlwind of an experience that stays firmly locked in Sofia’s perspective, keeping everything in a dreamlike haze. Every aspect of life in Arkham seems to eat away at Sofia, but there is one tiny shining light in the mix. Sofia’s only friend on the inside is her fellow patient, Magpie.
Magpie, portrayed by Marié Botha, is a patient in Arkham Asylum. The show never reveals much about Magpie. Details like the reason she landed in Arkham or her behavior on the inside are shrouded in mystery. Magpie speaks in a childish sing-song voice and flutters around like a cartoon character. She forcefullyintroduces herself to Sofiaand almost immediately declares herself a friend. Sofia is disoriented at all times while she’s in Arkham, so Magpie’s sudden incursion feels like a horror movie jump scare. Sofia quickly discovers that she and Magpie are neighbors, allowing Magpie to continue bothering her through the walls. Magpie is fascinated with Sofia’s perceived fame and obsessed with building connections, but they don’t work out. Sofia gradually becomes paranoid that Magpie is an agent of her father, who is keeping Sofia in Arkham well beyond any reasonable sentence as a form of punishment and silencing. As a result, Sofia attacks and kills Magpie with a lunch tray.
First Appearance Date
November 1986
Margaret Pye is one of the least impressiveBatman villains on the roster. She emerged in the late 1980s as one of many themed thieves who made Gotham slightly less safe. Magpie has an unhealthy obsession with shiny objects that led her to a career as a museum curator. That gig quickly drove her mad, as she had to spend all her time around everything she ever wanted without ever being able to take it all home. Armed with a selection of gadgets, Magpie made a new career out of stealing valuables and creating duplicates to take their place. Her most notable contribution to the comics came in her debut issue, in which she became the first antagonist to face the combined efforts of Batman and Superman. Of course, she’s not nearly enough of a threat to justify both of them, but the issue depicted Superman learning to trust Batman by watching the Caped Crusader work. She was an integral part of their early partnership, though her crimes remained relatively mild. She died in a 2006Batmancomic,returned as a Black Lanternin 2009, and appeared in minor roles throughout the rebooted universe. Recently, she joined the Suicide Squad for a one-off mission that led to her second death.
Magpie In other DC Media
The Penguinis not Magpie’s on-screen debut. She first popped up in animated form in the 2013 seriesBeware the Batman. In an effort to center onlesser-known Batman villains, Magpie is one of that show’s main antagonists. She’s still a jewel thief, but she also has a strange fixation on Batman and a jealous streak against his partners. Magpie appeared in a single episode ofGothamas an unhinged thief who unwisely stole from the Penguin, leading to her sudden death as a result of trapped valuables. The character gets a bit more spotlightin CW’sBatwoman. In that show, she was a photographer by day, and her first name was Margot. Fans of the character will probably get the most out ofBeware the BatmanorBatwoman, as most of her other appearances are very short-lived.
The Penguinhas aninteresting approach to Batman villains. Magpie isn’t even the only minor comic antagonist to appear inThe Penguin’s fourth episode. Including Magpie is a fun nod to the comics, but there are certainly kinder treatments of Batman villains on the small screen.
