10 things only comic book fans know about Batman’s rivalry with the penguin
Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, aka Penguin, has been one of Batman’s most stubborn enemies. While he may not have the physical prowess of villains like Bane, he uses strategy and his criminal influence to wreak havoc in Gotham City.
While he and Batman have always been at loggerheads, opponents can also sometimes make unlikely alliances, as the recent New 52 comics show. With Colin Farrell playing the character alongside Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne in the upcoming upcoming movie. The batman, an interest in their tumultuous comic book rivalry is doomed to be regenerated.
ten He wanted to accuse Batman of insurance fraud
When he started out in the Golden Age comics, Penguin began his career in crime as a petty thief. He would steal paintings and hide the rolled up paintings in the handle of his umbrella. Eventually, when he rose through the ranks of the crowd, Penguin accused Batman of stealing a prized statue (which he himself owned) in Police Comics # 58.
But for some twisted reason, his goal was simply to trick Batman and Robin into committing insurance fraud! The plot was foiled, and Batman was able to prove that the statue belonged to Penguin and had not been stolen, even when the “monocle bird” escaped.
9 Penguin wanted a book about himself published
In Batman # 27, Penguin developed paternal tendencies towards the son of another criminal. When the boy showed no interest in learning more about the crime, he instead started writing a book about Penguin’s exploits. The villain ended up liking the book so much that he was willing to release it under illegal plans.
The Batman and Robin duo end up catching Penguin and the book goes unpublished. Oddly enough, Batman uses the book to preach to readers that “crime doesn’t pay.”
8 Batman turned into “Bat-Hulk” because of the penguin
The brave and the daring # 68 included an interesting and absurd storyline which found Penguin using experimental gas that transformed Batman into a gigantic creature nicknamed “Bat-Hulk”. For this makeover, he enlisted the help of other classic Batman comic villains like The Joker and The Riddler.
Ultimately, the superhero Metamorpho (nicknamed “The Element Man” in the comics) came to the rescue by returning Batman to his normal state.
seven He was bitten by a baby alligator leaving an egg trail for Batman
In the Silver Age, a more serious version of Oswald Cobblepot confused Batman and Robin by committing crimes and leaving an egg trail. While readers might think these were penguin eggs, they were actually alligator eggs. In fact, one of those eggs hatched and the alligator ended up biting it in Batman # 99.
The injury results in a temporary sabbatical for Penguin. But when other criminals laughed at the incident, Penguin returned to trouble Batman with a host of bird-related crimes (usually relying on penguins to steal and wreak havoc).
6 Penguin took part in auction selling Batman’s identity
Batman’s alter ego is such a well-kept secret that the villains are desperate enough to do whatever they can to get it. So when Batman’s supervillain Professor Hugo Strange auctioned off Batman’s secret identity, the penguin also joins the Joker and Gotham city councilor Rupert Thorne.
The auction gets so intense, however, that Thorne simply orders his men to beat Strange. The doctor unexpectedly dies, and his ghost continues to haunt Thorne until he is admitted to Arkham Asylum.
5 Earth One’s penguin planned to kill Batman’s parents
Under the Earth One Imprinted by graphic novels that reimagined DC characters, a new Batman origin story is reimagined with Oswald Cobblepott relinquishing the mantle of Penguin and becoming the mayor of Gotham City.
The Cobblepott family had as much wealth and influence in Gotham as the Wayne family, with the Cobblepots serving as businessmen or prosecutors in the city. Oswald plans to end the competition with the Wayne family by killing Thomas and Martha Wayne. However, the couple were murdered in an unrelated assault on election night, with the event turning Bruce Wayne into Batman. Bruce is then captured by the corrupt mayor, but when his identity is compromised, Bruce’s trusty butler, Alfred, steps in and shoots him down.
4 Penguin helps Thomas Wayne in Flashpoint timeline
Following the changes brought about by the 2010s Sparkle comic question Breaking point, Thomas Wayne becomes Batman in an alternate timeline in Flashpoint: Batman – Knight of Vengeance. He is also the owner of Wayne Casinos. His unlikely partner is none other than Oswald Cobblepott who gave up his villainous ways to become Wayne’s security chief.
While Wayne was busy fighting crime as the Caped Crusader, Oswald told him about the activities of casino patrons as well as Gotham’s underworld criminals. He was also the director of casino operations.
3 A vampiric version of Batman killed the penguin
Villains like Penguin would test Batman’s patience but never make him kill. However, in an Elseworlds screenplay titled Crimson Mist, Batman adopts one of his craziest alternate versions as a bloodthirsty vampire who drives the city’s criminals away by brutally killing them and feeding on them. Penguin is no exception.
The latter is portrayed as a notorious cop killer and as he escapes from Arkham, he resumes his murderous rampage. This is a particularly violent Batman comic book issue from the 1990s as Penguin uses his umbrella to impale cops in the head. When Batman arrives at the crime scene, he mercilessly bites Penguin’s throat and drinks his blood. He continues to bite the members of the Penguin gang, but fearing that they too will turn into vampires, Batman rips their heads off.
2 Penguin Betrayed Bane and the Six Secrets
Bane-led team of villains Secret Six got off on the wrong foot with Penguin in Six secrets # 35 after they slaughter his guards and ambush him in his mansion. Bane forces Penguin to reveal information regarding Batman’s friends and partners, intending to kill them all.
While Penguin initially appears to comply, he compromises the team’s location, after which teams like Justice League and Teen Titans end up sabotaging Secret Six’s plans. Penguin still maintains enmity towards Batman, but always resorted to betrayal from Bane because he did not approve of his brand of reckless villainy.
1 The two have joined forces to defeat “Emperor Penguin”
In The new 52 Continuity, Penguin’s henchman, Ignatius Ogilvy, betrayed his boss and rose through the ranks to establish his own criminal empire under the mantle of the “Penguin Emperor.” With nothing more to lose, Penguin was planning revenge even though Batman foiled his plans as usual.
However, when Emperor Penguin takes the Man-Bat Serum with Joker’s Venom, he transforms into a beast-like creature that must be stopped at all costs. So Batman and Penguin make an unlikely alliance to defeat Ogilvy and send him to Blackgate Penitentiary.
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