Marionette Owl

Marionette Owl was a member of Black Chamber who, due to a genetic mutation, was born with night vision on par with that of an owl. As a result, he was skilled in nocturnal combat and was a master of the silent kill, however, because his eyes shimmered in the dark like a cat's, he wore tinted goggles. He always carried a pair of Japanese Bunraku dolls, named Osan (オサン) and Koharu (コハル), which he compulsively took apart and put back together during any free time he had. In truth, the marionettes were crafted from the severed limbs of victims he murdered as a serial killer known to the media as "Spectre" and "The Spectre Killer." He slayed numerous women and was featured on the Most Wanted list until he was cornered by the FBI, at which point Black Arts Viper recruited him into Black Chamber.

After being defeated by Solid Snake, he revealed that at the age of 12, a woman named Laura was murdered by a serial killer, and he found her dismembered remains strewn about a field. The traumatic incident caused him to snap, and he soon became a stalker and serial killer himself, to cope with the pain and madness. He accepted death as a release from his tormented memories and witnessed a vision of Laura, but in his final moments cried out, "No! No! You can't!" Snake replied that it "looks like the gates of Heaven are closed to him."

Behind the Scenes
Marionette Owl (マリオネット・アウル) appears in Metal Gear: Ghost Babel as an antagonist to Solid Snake, and is fought by the player during a boss battle. Depending on whether Snake has the nightvision or thermal goggles equipped, the cutscenes relating to Marionette Owl will appear slightly different. With the thermal goggles, Owl will appear as a red silhouette, whereas the nightvision goggles will reveal his appearance in full.

According to an official Japanese strategy guide, Marionette Owl was designed as a unique, handsome-looking young man that would appeal to the demographic of Game Boy users.

Owl's marionettes may have served as an inspiration for Screaming Mantis.