Marcie Cooper

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Harlequin

Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Infinity, Inc. #14 (1985)
Created by Roy Thomas
Characteristics
Alter ego Marcie Cooper
Affiliations Injustice Unlimited
Manhunters
Abilities Glasses which cause hypnosis and illusions

Marcie Cooper is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. As a youth she was recruited by the Grandmaster to join the Manhunters. Her grandfather, Dan Richards (aka, Manhunter I), also encouraged her to join the group as he had years ago. The Manhunters gave her a job working at KGLX radio in Gotham City, alongside Molly Maynne Scott, who was a former agent called Harlequin. Marcie began dating Northwind, and later Obsidian, both of Infinity, Inc., and infiltrated the superteam from within.

Harlequins III and IV together in Hell in Underworld Unleashed #1.
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Harlequins III and IV together in Hell in Underworld Unleashed #1.

When the Manhunters began to strike at Earth, Marcie stole Molly's illusion-casting spectacles, taking the identity of Harlequin. She failed to recruit Obsidian to the Manhunters, and tried to kill her grandfather after he betrayed the Manhunters. Dan Richards was later killed by Manhunter III.

Single-minded in her attempt to destroy Infinity, Inc., she joined Injustice Unlimited and masterminded the assassination of Skyman.

Posing as Jade, she used Solomon Grundy as her pawn in killing Skyman. When he realized he had been manipulated he savagely beat her. Harlequin has not been heard from since (though Roy Thomas has stated she was not killed).

Cooper did make a cameo appearance in Alan Scott's dream sequence in Underworld Unleashed: Abyss - Hell's Sentinel #1, and also appeared alongside numerous other villains (including Harlequin IV) gathered together in Hell by Neron in Underworld Unleashed #1.

Some readers have speculated that she may be the mysterious Harlequin IV who appeared in Green Lantern Corps Quarterly and Underworld Unleashed. However, since both women appeared in the group of villains in Underworld Unleashed #1, it is doubtful they are the same person.

[edit] Powers

Harlequin wears special glasses that allows her to hypnotize people and to create realistic illusions in the minds of the people around her. She can even project illusions over television. She also wields a mandolin with an extending handle that can be used as a weapon.

A psychopathic killer, she is not afraid to do whatever it takes to destroy her opponents.