SPARKLES LABELLE
Real Name: "Sparkles" Labelle (first name
unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Normal human (post World War II era)
Occupation: Jewel thief
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Cracker
McGillis, other gang
members
Enemies: Captain America (Jeff Mace), Bucky (Fred Davis), Mrs. Monitawks (first name unrevealed), Betty Ross
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Betty Ross
Base of Operations: New York, USA
First Appearance: Captain America Comics I#64/1 (October, 1947)
Powers/Abilities: Sparkles Labelle is an
accomplished jewel thief, using duplicity and disguise to get close to
gem owners to steal their jewels. She can fire a handgun with accuracy
at short range. She uses her surname to ingratiate herself with wealthy
people, but uses Sparkles when amongst her small network of criminal
colleagues.
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 125 lbs.
Eyes: Dark brown
Hair: Black
History:
(Captain America Comics I#64/1 (fb) - BTS) - Sparkles
Labelle established a reputation as a jewel thief. She had a
network of thieves who relied on her for work. However, at some point,
she drew too much attention from police and, in order to keep a low
profile, managed to secure a job as a maid for the wealthy Mrs.
Monitawks in the fashionable part of New York.
(Captain America Comics I#64/1) - While taking
Monitawks' grandchild(?) for a pram stroll, Sparkles was approached by
lackey Cracker McGillis, who asked for another jewel heist as he and
his fellow criminal gang members were out of money. She berated him for
approaching her directly and returned to Monitawks' apartment, where
she saw the elderly socialite's prized ruby necklace that Monitawks
would wear to the Lee School costume pageant. However, Sparkles didn't
realize that Steve Rogers (Jeff Mace, secretly Captain America) and
Bucky (Fred Davis, also the masked hero Bucky) attended undercover at
Lee School. Sparkles told Cracker of the opportunity and formulated a
plan to steal the jewel-laden necklace. Later at the pageant, Sparkles
had her lackeys start a backstage fire causing chaos with Monitawks
collapsing. Unable to reach her unconscious body, she followed Rogers'
friend Betty Ross as she took the slowly recovering Monitawks to a
room. Sparkles knocked out Ross to steal her pageant disguise to gain
entry to the room and also smashed Monitawks unconscious and grabbed
her necklace. Sparkles' thugs took Monitawks back to her apartment to
steal more of her jewels, but Captain America, Bucky and Ross suspected
as much, and rushed to her residence. There, they found Sparkles and
her lackeys; Sparkles fired her gun at Cap, who easily blocked the
bullets with his shield while he and Bucky knocked out the thugs.
Sparkles ran for a getaway, but Ross tripped her up and she was
captured.
Comments: Created by uncredited writer, Vince Alascia, Ken Bald.
Thanks to Grand Comics Database for credits info.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Sparkles Labelle has no known connections to:
Cracker McGillis was a lackey of jewel thief Sparkles
Labelle and participated in many of her heists. He pestered her for
another job and Sparkles identified elderly wealthy socialite Mrs.
Monitawks as the next victim with the setting to be the Lee School
costume pageant. Cracker helped start the fire that caused chaos and
led to the kidnapping of Monitawks and near theft of her jewels until
the timely intervention of Captain America (Jeff Mace) and Bucky (Fred
Davis) saw him knocked out and captured for the police.
--Captain America Comics I#64/1
Mrs. Monitawks was a wealthy socialite who lived in
the fashionable area of New York. She unwittingly hired notorious jewel
thief Sparkles Labelle as her maid, who particularly coveted her
special ruby-laden necklace. Later at the Lee School costume pageant,
Sparkles knocked Monitawks out and kidnapped her, taking her back to
the rich woman's apartment to steal more of her jewels. But Captain
America (Jeff Mace) and Bucky (Fred Davis) had figured out Sparkles'
simple plan, knocked out Sparkles and her thugs, and rescued Monitawks.
--Captain America Comics I#64/1
images:
(without ads)
Captain America Comics I#64/1, p12, pan4 (main image)
p3, pan4 (headshot)
p4, pan5 (McGillis full body)
p2, pan5 (McGillis, headshot)
p11, pan4 (Monitawks)
Appearances:
Captain America Comics I#64/1 (October, 1947) - uncredited writer,
Vince Alascia (pencils), Ken Bald (inks), Stan Lee (editor)
First posted: 03/14/2023
Last updated:
03/14/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
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