The Penguin Might Not Be the Villain in The Batman Part II — and the Comics Explain Why

The Penguin Might Not Be the Villain in The Batman Part II — and the Comics Explain Why

As a seasoned comic book enthusiast and armchair detective, I’ve spent many a night poring over the pages of Gotham City’s most notorious villains, and none have captured my attention quite like the Penguin. His transformation from an orphaned boy to a powerful crime lord is as captivating as it is tragic, much like the city he calls home.


Be advised: The eighth episode of The Penguin, titled “A Great or Little Thing,” concludes with Oz Cobbs (Colin Farrell) at the pinnacle of success. Having outwitted Sofia Gigante (Cristin Milioti) and eliminating the remnants of the combined Falcone-Maroni crime empires by killing Sal Maroni (Clancy Brown), Oz, along with his trusted ally Vic (Rhenzy Feliz), launched a power grab against Gotham’s criminal organizations to rule the underworld. As a suavely dressed Oz solidified his status as a villain and the new overlord of Gotham City, the last scene featuring the Bat-Signal illuminating the sky above his penthouse could possibly signal the end for the Penguin.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Farrell shared that he hasn’t yet had a chance to look over the script for Penguin’s appearance in Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II. While Reeves has positioned the eight-episode series as a precursor to the 2026 Batman sequel starring Robert Pattinson, the role of Penguin will be limited in the upcoming installment of the Batman Epic Crime Saga.

The Penguin Might Not Be the Villain in The Batman Part II — and the Comics Explain Why

RELATED: How The Penguin Sets up The Batman 2

As someone who’s honored to be part of the Batman trilogy, I admittedly didn’t know if I’d appear in the second film when I initially signed up. Yet, what truly intrigues and slightly unnerves me about the sequel is not the actions or challenges my character faces, nor his triumphs, but rather the opportunity to express Oz’s unique voice under Matt Reeves’ exceptional direction as a writer and filmmaker.

In the limited series, Oz’s personality evolved and transformed over eight episodes, eventually solidifying into something new by the end. Farrell explained that after recognizing family as a weakness, Oz severed all ties. In a chilling turn of events, he strangled Vic to death and manipulated his lover Eve Karlo (Carmen Ejogo) into resembling his catatonic mother, Francis (Deirdre O’Connell). By the end, Oz positioned himself as the sole ruler of Gotham.

In the story, Oz manipulated the situation by teaming up with corrupt Councilman Sebastian Hady and falsely accusing the last surviving Gigante of various crimes, including the Crown Point bombing, the Bliss drug operation, and the Falcone-Maroni gang war. This was done to ensure Sofia’s recommitment to Arkham State Hospital. With Mayor-Elect Bella Reál forming an anti-corruption commission, Oz used his illicit activities to gain acceptance among Gotham’s elite. Meanwhile, Sofia received a message from her half-sister, Selina Kyle (Catwoman), hinting at a possible alliance between the two sisters in the upcoming movie, “The Batman Part II”.

In simple terms, Reeves shared with EW that we’re departing Oz (Gotham) in a condition where the city is yet to fully recover from its past events. Moreover, as depicted by Vic and Crown Point, the city is deeply scarred. As we step into the movie, all the turmoil caused by the last film and this ongoing gang war is still simmering. The consequences of these events set the stage for our entry into The Batman Part II.

The Penguin Might Not Be the Villain in The Batman Part II — and the Comics Explain Why

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With Oz now recognized as an informant and acknowledging Councilman Hady for ending the prolonged drug conflict between the Falcones and the Maronis, he’s poised to assume a role similar to Oswald Cobblepot in comic books such as “Penguin: Pain and Prejudice” and Tom King’s “The Penguin” series.

What the Comics Could Reveal About The Penguin’s Role in The Batman 2

In “Penguin: Pain and Prejudice,” the basis for young Oz’s backstory in the Batman universe, we find Oswald Cobblepot, the wealthy and influential owner of the Iceberg Lounge. His robberies serve a dual purpose – they finance his care for his catatonic mother, Esther. This series portrays Oswald as Gotham City’s top fence, under the constant scrutiny of Batman. However, it is only when Penguin plans a terrorist act that Batman can successfully apprehend him.

The Penguin Might Not Be the Villain in The Batman Part II — and the Comics Explain Why

RELATED: Will There Be The Penguin Season 2 on HBO?

In this scenario, Batman struck a deal with Oswald: surrender the Falcones, and he’d permit Oswald to control the club, provided that Oswald revealed the Iceberg Lounge’s criminal patrons. Initially, Oswald betrayed wanted individuals who frequented Gotham and visited the Iceberg Lounge. Over time, Batman convinced Oswald to relinquish Falcone’s shipments of stolen goods and narcotics, using this intelligence to dismantle Falcone’s criminal empire, including a human trafficking ring. During his investigation into Oswald, Batman discovered an orphan struggling to survive who cared for his mother, Fran. To help him, Batman taught Oswald how to extract information from criminals without compromising his identity. This continued for a year until Oswald murdered Fran by pushing her off a roof and seized control of the remnants of Falcone’s empire.

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2024-11-11 23:39