Merry Pemberton
Encyclopedia
Merry Pemberton, also known as Gimmick Girl and Merry, Girl of 1000 Gimmicks is a fictional character
in the DC Comics
Universe
. She first appeared in Star-Spangled Comics
#81 in June 1948. http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=merry
. She soon adopts a crime-fighting persona and works with her brother and Stripesy
, ultimately supplanting them in their own feature.
Merry eventually marries Henry King, Sr., the supervillain known as the original Brain Wave
. They had one son, Henry, Jr., known as Hank, who became the super-hero Brainwave
, a member of Infinity Inc.
, a team founded by his uncle, Sylvester Pemberton, Jr., the Star-Spangled Kid.
References to Merry before the Crisis on Infinite Earths
note that she died at some point. More recently, however, she has been portrayed as alive. She appears in Young Justice
as a member of Old Justice, a team of former Golden Age sidekicks who feel modern teen heroes are risking themselves and others. During the Sins of Youth event it is revealed she particularly resents Stargirl
, who at that time had taken her brother's name. Merry assists dozens of other superheros, most of whom had changed ages, in battling Klarion the Witch Boy
and other villains. Old Justice finds itself in the parental role of supervising many super-powered adolescents. She makes her peace with Stargirl, who has become an adult woman temporarily. During a multi-character battle in Alaska
, Stargirl even saves Merry from an attacking, younger Amazo
. By the end of the story Merry has made her peace with both Stargirl and younger heroes in general.
After the JSA rescues her son from Black Adam
and Mister Mind, Merry takes him back into her care.
#0, a new character named Gimmix appears. Credited as Jacqueline Pemberton, Merry's estranged daughter, Gimmix uses her Bag of Trix to do light hero work, mostly appearing at conventions talking about how she met up with better-known heroes such as Aquaman
and Booster Gold
. Some of her gimmicks include Zoom Glasses, Anti-Spider lipstick, "What Every Girl Needs" ice spray, and an unnamed gimmick which can turn water into wine (although not very good wine). Jacqueline becomes part of an ill-fated team of six superheroes rounded up by Greg Saunders
and is killed by the Sheeda
, an advanced race which feeds on its own history to survive. In Zatanna
#1, she is shown attending group therapy for Metas.
In 52
, it is revealed that Jacqueline was the head of the Pemberton Estate, and since her death has not been officially recorded, the estate is bought by Lex Luthor for the trademarks of Skyman
and Infinity Inc.
.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. She first appeared in Star-Spangled Comics
Star-Spangled Comics
Star Spangled Comics was the title of a comic book series published by DC Comics which ran for 130 issues from 1941 through 1952. At that point it was retitled Star Spangled War Stories and lasted another 200+ issues until 1977.-Publication history:...
#81 in June 1948. http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=merry
Fictional character biography
Born Merry Creamer, she is adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Pemberton, Sr., the parents of the original Star-Spangled KidSylvester Pemberton
Sylvester Pemberton, alternately known as The Star-Spangled Kid and Skyman, is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics universe. Sylvester first appeared in Action Comics #40 and was created by Jerry Siegel and Hal Sherman....
. She soon adopts a crime-fighting persona and works with her brother and Stripesy
STRIPE
S.T.R.I.P.E. is a superhero in the DC Comics universe. S.T.R.I.P.E. is a powered armor suit invented and worn by Patrick "Pat" Dugan, the former adult sidekick to teenage superhero Sylvester Pemberton, the Star-Spangled Kid...
, ultimately supplanting them in their own feature.
Merry eventually marries Henry King, Sr., the supervillain known as the original Brain Wave
Brainwave (comics)
Brainwave is a name shared by two characters in the DC Comics Universe, who are father and son.-Henry King, Sr.:The Brain Wave was Henry King, a super-villain who used his psionic powers to battle the Justice Society of America in the 1940s, first appearing in All-Star Comics #15...
. They had one son, Henry, Jr., known as Hank, who became the super-hero Brainwave
Brainwave (comics)
Brainwave is a name shared by two characters in the DC Comics Universe, who are father and son.-Henry King, Sr.:The Brain Wave was Henry King, a super-villain who used his psionic powers to battle the Justice Society of America in the 1940s, first appearing in All-Star Comics #15...
, a member of Infinity Inc.
Infinity Inc.
Infinity, Inc. is a team of superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The team is mostly composed of the children and heirs of the Justice Society of America, making them the Society's analogue to the Teen Titans, which is composed of sidekicks of Justice League members...
, a team founded by his uncle, Sylvester Pemberton, Jr., the Star-Spangled Kid.
References to Merry before the Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
note that she died at some point. More recently, however, she has been portrayed as alive. She appears in Young Justice
Young Justice
Young Justice is a fictional DC Comics superhero team consisting of teenaged heroes. The team first appeared in Young Justice: The Secret , before graduating to their ongoing monthly series...
as a member of Old Justice, a team of former Golden Age sidekicks who feel modern teen heroes are risking themselves and others. During the Sins of Youth event it is revealed she particularly resents Stargirl
Stargirl
Courtney Whitmore is a superheroine known as Stargirl in the DC Comics Universe. Originally known as the second Star-Spangled Kid, she began using the name "Stargirl" after she was presented with the Cosmic Staff by Jack Knight...
, who at that time had taken her brother's name. Merry assists dozens of other superheros, most of whom had changed ages, in battling Klarion the Witch Boy
Klarion the Witch Boy
Klarion the Witch Boy is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe character first seen in the pages of The Demon in 1973.-Kirby's Klarion:...
and other villains. Old Justice finds itself in the parental role of supervising many super-powered adolescents. She makes her peace with Stargirl, who has become an adult woman temporarily. During a multi-character battle in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Stargirl even saves Merry from an attacking, younger Amazo
Amazo
Amazo is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in The Brave and the Bold #30 and was created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson. An android, Amazo's special ability is to replicate the special abilities of various superheroes and...
. By the end of the story Merry has made her peace with both Stargirl and younger heroes in general.
After the JSA rescues her son from Black Adam
Black Adam
Black Adam is a fictional comic book character, created in 1945 by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. Originally created as a one-shot villain for Fawcett Comics' Marvel Family team of superheroes, Black Adam was revived as a recurring supervillain after DC Comics began publishing Captain...
and Mister Mind, Merry takes him back into her care.
Gimmix
In Seven SoldiersSeven Soldiers
Seven Soldiers is a comic book metaseries written by Grant Morrison and published by DC Comics. It was published as seven interrelated mini-series and two bookend issues. The series features a new version of the Seven Soldiers of Victory fighting to save Earth from the Sheeda.-Publication...
#0, a new character named Gimmix appears. Credited as Jacqueline Pemberton, Merry's estranged daughter, Gimmix uses her Bag of Trix to do light hero work, mostly appearing at conventions talking about how she met up with better-known heroes such as Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
and Booster Gold
Booster Gold
Booster Gold is a fictional DC Comics superhero. Created by Dan Jurgens, he first appeared in Booster Gold #1 and has been a member of the Justice League, DC Comics' all-star team of heroes. The character is initially depicted as a glory-seeking showboat from the future, using knowledge of...
. Some of her gimmicks include Zoom Glasses, Anti-Spider lipstick, "What Every Girl Needs" ice spray, and an unnamed gimmick which can turn water into wine (although not very good wine). Jacqueline becomes part of an ill-fated team of six superheroes rounded up by Greg Saunders
Vigilante (comics)
Vigilante is the name used by several fictional characters appearing in DC Comics. The original character was one of the first DC Comics characters adapted for live-action film, beating Superman by one year.-Greg Saunders:...
and is killed by the Sheeda
Sheeda
The Sheeda are a fictional race published by DC Comics. They first appear in Seven Soldiers #0 , and were created by Grant Morrison and J.H. Williams III. Their first DC Universe appearance was in Morrison's introductory run on the JLA: Classified series in 2004.- History :The Sheeda are a...
, an advanced race which feeds on its own history to survive. In Zatanna
Zatanna
Zatanna Zatara is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson, Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman vol. 1 #4...
#1, she is shown attending group therapy for Metas.
In 52
52 (comic book)
52 was a weekly American comic book limited series published by DC Comics that debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis. The series was written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid with layouts by Keith Giffen...
, it is revealed that Jacqueline was the head of the Pemberton Estate, and since her death has not been officially recorded, the estate is bought by Lex Luthor for the trademarks of Skyman
Skyman
Skyman is the name of two fictional superheroes from the DC Comics Universe.-Sylvester Pemberton:DC Comics' Skyman was the original Star-Spangled Kid, Sylvester Pemberton, a Golden Age character. He became the Star-Spangled Kid in order to battle Nazism during World War II. He was unique in that...
and Infinity Inc.
Infinity Inc.
Infinity, Inc. is a team of superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The team is mostly composed of the children and heirs of the Justice Society of America, making them the Society's analogue to the Teen Titans, which is composed of sidekicks of Justice League members...
.