Origin
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Jewelee was the childhood sweetheart of the man who would become Punch. She grew up to become a puppeteer and petty thief who was present when, while walking on the beach, Punch discovered a trunk full of strange items. Using a series of gems that allowed her to perform various feats, including mesmerism, she became the super-villain Jewelee. Following Punch’s apparent disappearance, Jewelee became catatonic, and was incarcerated in Arkham Asylum.
Creation
Jewelee was created by Steve Ditko. She made her first appearance in Captain Atom #85.
Character Evolution
Silver Age
The Silver Age introduced much of Jewelee’s original and presumed current origin.
Bronze Age
Jewelee was folded into the mainstream DC Universe following the Crisis on Infinite Earths. Major details about her origin remained unchanged, though it was implied that in her first outing as a villain she had originally battled King Faraday, and not Captain Atom.
Major Story Arcs
Captain Atom
Punch and Jewelee create a convoluted plan to steal the knowledge of several prominent scientists and sell it on the black market. She uses her gems to kidnap Alec Rois, which draws the attention of Captain Atom and Nightshade. She helps subdue Atom, but is overwhelmed when Nightshade infiltrates their Coney Island headquarters. She manages to escape capture after the heroes defeat her and Punch.
Suicide Squad
While in prison, Jewelee is approached by Amanda Waller to become a member of the Suicide Squad alongside Punch. She agrees, and accompanies the team on several missions. During the events of the Janus Directive she is among those sent to attack the Force of July, and later joins in the assault on the Kobra satellite. She is among the Squad members who are left behind by Duchess during the assault on Apokolips, and accompanies the second wave under Bronze Tiger. She retires from the Squad, and claims to be retiring from villainy, after learning that she is pregnant.
Later, Jewelee takes a night off for herself, to visit a females only party being thrown by Harley Quinn. After a few drinks, she admits to a long-ago love affair, that ended with great trauma and the other man dead at her hands.
Retirement
Despite claiming to be retired and making efforts to keep Punch on the straight and narrow, Jewelee joins Punch in carrying out various crimes, primarily attempting to steal items that will either protect or provide for their son. They are eventually imprisoned in Belle Reve.
Underworld Unleashed
Apparently out of retirement, she and Punch escape from Belle Reve during the massive breakout orchestrated by Neron. They are sent a mysterious candle which transports them to Hell, but they do not appear to accept Neron’s offer to give them their heart’s desire in exchange for their souls.
Checkmate
Jewelee and Punch are recruited by Mirror Master to take part in a villain-led Suicide Squad revival to discredit Amanda Waller by capturing a sentient power source from Myanmar. During the mission Punch is killed protecting Jewelee from soldiers, rendering Jewlee inconsolable. She shatters the Tattooed Man, who betrayed the team and indirectly caused Punch’s death, in retribution.
Salvation Run
Jewelee is among the villains who are transported to the planet Salvation. She joins Team Joker, and immediately attaches herself to the Joker personally. She escapes the planet through Lex Luthor’s teleporter along with the other surviving villains.
I Am Suicide
Jewelee is roused from her catatonic state by the return of Punch. Together, they are recruited to join Batman’s version of the Suicide Squad. She accompanies Punch when he attempts to turn himself in to Bane, and is apparently killed when Catwoman betrays the team. When her body is dragged away she incapacitates the guards and, together with Punch, creates the life raft necessary for the team to escape. She is re-incarcerated at Arkham.
Alternate Versions
DC Super Friends
A version of Jewelee appears in an issue of this comic based on the toy line.
Trinity
Jewelee briefly acts, alongside Punch, as the Fool of the Dark Arcana. They are later abandoned in favour of the Joker.
Personal Information
- Status: Villain
- Real Name: Unknown
- Occupation: puppeteer, Criminal
- Base: American Midwest
- Height: 5ft 9in
- Weight: 139lbs
- Hair: Blonde
- Eyes: Blue
- Marital Status: Married
Powers and Abilities
Jewelee has no known superhuman powers or abilities. She is a gifted puppeteer, but has rarely applied these skills to crime. She is a competent hand-to-hand fighter and acrobat, but relies primarily on weapons of opportunity in battle.
Weapons and Equipment
Jewelee carries one or more mysterious gems which have displayed abilities including hypnosis, energy blast generation, and illusion-casting.
Other Media
Television
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Jewelee appears alongside Punch in the episode “Menace of the Conqueror Caveman!” They are defeated by Batman, but later approached by Booster Gold to consider becoming his villains. She is voiced by Jane Singer.
Film
Suicide Squad: Hell To Pay
Jewelee is part of one of the Task Force X teams in the beggining of the mobie. She is voiced by Julie Nathanson.