(Image Source: DC / Brian Bolland)
It cannot be denied that Batman has one of the best Rogues Galleries in all of superhero comics. However, for every iconic enemy like The Joker or Two-Face, there are also some truly regrettable and forgettable villains. One such villain just got a makeover and a legacy in the pages of Harley Quinn. However, this new take on an old concept may even lamer than the original.
Harley Quinn #60 by Elliott Kalan and Carlos Olivares finds Harleen adopting a new codename and a new personality. This is due to the fallout of the DC K.O. event, which left Harley feeling she needed to get serious about being a hero. The end result is Bat-Quinn; a dark, brooding vigilante who is perfectly adopting the tactics of Batman. Provided your favorite Batman is Frank Miller‘s Dark Knight.
(Image Source: DC / Carlos Olivares)
In short order, Bat-Quinn stumbles upon a bank robbery, literally, as she trips over her own overly long cape. The bank robbery is being executed by a teenager, who introduces herself as Penny Plunderer. She is also quick to explain that she is a anti-capitalist, out to destroy the system that drove her father insane before killing him. She does this ironically, with special guns that use pennies as ammunition.
(Image Source: DC / Carlos Olivares)
Surprisingly, Harley knows who Penny’s father is, despite his being one of the lamest Batman villains of all time. Indeed, the original Penny Plunderer is as obscure as his gimmick was poorly thought out. This is saying something in a grouping that includes Kite-Man and Crazy Quilt.
Batman’s villain The Penny Plunderer explained
First appearing in 1947’s World’s Finest Comics #30, the original Penny Plunderer was an unlucky crook by the name of Joe Coyne. He turned to crime after failing to make it as a newsie, growing tired of the penny tips he was given for nickel newspapers. After being fired for gambling on the job (pitching pennies, naturally) he was sent to jail for armed robbery. Ironically, the register he failed to steal had already been emptied of all the cash but pennies.
(Image Source: DC / Bob Kane)
The revelation that pennies and “coppers” had ruined his life drove Joe Coyne to adopt one of the silliest gimmicks in supervillain history. He became the Penny Plunderer and began committing crimes that made use of pennies. This included using a roll of pennies as a blackjack to knock Batman out and scattering the coins to make Robin slip.
The Penny Plunderer’s first appearance was also his last, but not for the reason most would suspect. As noted by Harley Quinn while fighting his daughter, Joe Coyne was sentenced to death for his crimes. Presumably this included killing murdering someone off-panel. The worst crimes he committed on the page were attempted murder and petty theft.
(Image Source: DC / Bob Kane)
To add insult to injury, the one way in which the Penny Plunderer left a mark on the Batman mythology was later retconned to have nothing to do with him. Originally, Batman was able to stop Penny Plunderer’s henchmen by using a giant penny against them. The giant penny later became one of the definitive trophies in the Batcave. However, it was later retconned to be a big two-headed penny once used by Two-Face.
Harley Quinn #60 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
