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| Maggie Sawyer | |
|---|---|
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Superman (vol. 2) #4 (April 1987) |
| Created by | John Byrne |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Margaret Ellen Sawyer |
| Species | Human |
| Place of origin | Earth |
| Team affiliations | Gotham City Police Department Metropolis (Special Crimes Unit) |
Maggie Sawyer is a fictional character appearing in media published byDC Comics, primarily in association withSuperman. She is a member of the Metropolis police and handles crimes when Superman is unavailable.
The character appeared in the live-action seriesSmallville, played byJill Teed, and in thesecond andthird seasons of theArrowverse seriesSupergirl, played byFloriana Lima. Furthermore,Joanna Cassidy voices Sawyer in theDC Animated Universe (DCAU).
Maggie Sawyer first appeared inSuperman (vol. 2) #4 and was created byJohn Byrne.[1]
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Maggie Sawyer was introduced in the second volume ofSuperman in April 1987 as the captain of theMetropolis Special Crimes Unit.[2] She largely replacedInspector Henderson from the previous comics as Superman's police contact.
Sawyer tries to prove the police force is more efficient than a vigilante in fighting crime, and so becomes a constant thorn in Superman's side during the early days of his career, even trying to apprehend him occasionally. Eventually, after being injured and saved by Superman during a terrorist plot, her attitude towards him warms up.
Later stories revealed that she originally came fromStar City. She married fellow police officer James Sawyer, although she was uncertain about her own sexual identity, and they had a daughter named Jamie.[3]Maggie later came out aslesbian.[3] James divorced her and won sole custody of Jamie and he refused to let Maggie have contact with their daughter. Maggie moved to Metropolis when the SCU position became available and resumed relations with her family in later stories.Maggie has been in a long-term relationship with Toby Raynes, a reporter for theMetropolis Star.[3]
InAction Comics #600,Lex Luthor, then a corporate executive, met with Maggie to get her to stop investigating his activities and tries to blackmail her with documentation regarding her sexuality, which would discredit her and taint her career. When Luthor injures himself and flees the room due tokryptonite poisoning, Maggie is tempted with taking the evidence left behind on his desk, but decides against it.
Maggie has a close working relationship withDan Turpin, her second-in-command at the SCU. However, she originally had a strained professional relationship with Inspector Henderson. It was later revealed that Henderson simply disapproved that higher-ranking officers, such as Turpin, reported to her, a Captain. He resolves the situation by promoting her toInspector when he becomes Commissioner duringThe Death of Superman storyline. In the aftermath, Sawyer becomes involved in a covert 'war' between Superman's allies andProject Cadmus, which stole Superman's body for their own ends.[4]
Sawyer's close friendship with injured ex-police officer Eddie Walker is examined in flashback as Walker becomes the heroLoose Cannon.[5]
Maggie Sawyer is the main character in the four-issuelimited series comic titleMetropolis SCU written by Cindy Goff, penciled byPeter Krause and inked byJosé Marzan Jr., which was published from November 1994 to February 1995. The series featuresLois Lane joining the S.C.U. to gain a deeper understanding of their operations. Meanwhile, a rogue scientist attempts to destroy the Earth via lasers from space.
For this miniseries appearance, Sawyer received the 7th Outstanding Comic StripGLAAD Media Awards in March 1996.[6][7]
In mid-2000s comics, Maggie transfers toGotham City'spolice force as the head of the Major Crimes Unit, and is a significant character in the comicGotham Central. The move has placed some strain on her relationship, since Toby did not follow her to Gotham.
Following the events ofInfinite Crisis,Harvey Bullock discovers corruption in the GCPD apparently all the way up to Commissioner Michael Akins. In the end,James Gordon returns to his former position as commissioner. Maggie Sawyer, however, does not appear to be involved and is still a Captain.
Maggie appeared in the series52.
In Week Three, she arrives to a scene to find the body ofAlex Luthor. She calls inSteel to ID the body, whenLex Luthor comes in with the press and announces that Alex was the one responsible for all of Luthor's wrongdoings.[8]
In Week Twelve, Maggie yells at Montoya for busting up a cover forIntergang, closing all leads to the criminal group in Gotham City.[9]
Maggie appeared inDetective Comics #856 at a charity ball attended byKate Kane. While the two are dancing, Maggie mentions that she and Toby are no longer together and asks Kate for her phone number.
Sawyer appears as a supporting character in the new Batwoman series launched in 2011 as part ofThe New 52 initiative. In that series she has begun dating Kate Kane, whose secret activities as Batwoman complicate their relationship. The prequel eventZero Year establishes she and Kate had first crossed paths when Maggie, as a Metropolis police officer, arrived in Gotham as backup support for an approaching hurricane; the two share a brief glance in precinct headquarters after Kate gets treatment for minor injuries she received while foiling a burglary during the storm.[10] Kane reveals her identity as Batwoman by proposing to her in costume inBatwoman #17.
After Commissioner Jason Bard resigns, Maggie is appointed in his place.[11] However, she ended up stepping down to return to the MCU, and has Gordon restored as Commissioner.[12]
During theDC Rebirth event, Maggie transfers back to the Metropolis Police.[13]
An alternate universe variant of Maggie Sawyer appears inDC Comics Bombshells.
Maggie Sawyer appears inThe Death of Superman, voiced by Amanda Troop.[14]
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