The first Harlequin was Molly Mayne, the enemy and later wife of Green Lantern (Alan Scott).
History
Mayne developed a crush on Scott and, donning a colorful costume (which included harlequin glasses, a birthday hat, and a mandolin), started a life of crime to attract his attention. Her crimes tended to be harmless and mostly for show, although the two clashed on several occasions in the late 1940s.
She briefly joined the Injustice Society until she turned on them by aiding the Justice Society of America. She had a deep running altruistic streak which occasionally led her to join forces with her enemy/would-be love interest. Despite being attracted to Harlequin, Scott never entered into a relationship with her and she eventually gave up in despair. She made a deal with the government in which she went on intelligence missions in return for amnesty for her past crimes and then quietly retired. On one occasion, she assisted Green Lantern, Superman and Lois Lane in capturing another foe of her love, the Sportsmaster.
Years later, after the death of his first wife Rose Canton/Thorn, Alan Scott realized that he had loved Molly all this time and they were married. As the years passed a problem developed for the two; the Starheart (which gave Scott his powers) had reversed his aging processes, so he was physically a young man while Molly had since aged into an old woman. In despair over the rift this had caused between them Molly sold her soul to the demon Neron in return for youth. Her body became that of a young woman (who had the power to create nightmares) but her soul remained in the underworld. Scott fought his way through Hell to obtain it and with the help of the young Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner) returned it to the Harlequin's body, re-aging her but making her whole once again. Some time thereafter, Scott himself was returned to his true physical age, as well.
Mayne and Scott remain happily married to this day.
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
- Deception
- Disguise
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Basic)
- Aviation: Once she piloted a skywriting aircraft.[1]
- Driving
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Harlequin Spectacles: Special glasses that allows her to hypnotize people and to create realistic three-dimensional holograms, later explained as a gift from the Manhunters as one of their agents.
Transportation
- Harlequin-Car: A car with windscreen in the form of Harlequin's glasses.[2]
Weapons
- Mandolin
Notes
- Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-Two era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and no longer apply.
Trivia
- In the original Pre-Crisis continuity, Molly was a genuine criminal with no ties to the FBI. After several encounters with Green Lantern, she decided to reform and give up her life of crime.
- Her surname is occasionally spelled Maynne.
Recommended Reading
Related
- 87 Appearances of Molly Mayne (New Earth)
- 4 Images featuring Molly Mayne (New Earth)
- Quotations by or about Molly Mayne (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Molly Mayne (New Earth)
External Links
Footnotes
  This character is or was primarily an enemy of the Green Lantern of Earth, or the Green Lantern Corps as a whole. This template will categorize articles that include it into the category "Green Lantern Villains." |
  This character, team or organization is or was primarily an enemy of the Justice Society, in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Justice Society Villains" category. |