10 Things Only Comic Book Fans Know About Batman’s Rivalry With The Penguin

10 Things Only Comic Book Fans Know About Batman’s Rivalry With The Penguin

The Penguin and the Bat have battled against (and even alongside) each other on several occasions in the comics.

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Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, aka Penguin, has been one of Batman’s most enduring enemies. Even though he might not have the physical prowess of villains like Bane, he resorts to strategy and his criminal influence to wreak havoc in Gotham City.

Even though he and Batman have been at loggerheads always, the adversaries can also strike unlikely alliances at times as seen from the recent New 52 comics. With Colin Farrell playing the character alongside Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne in the upcoming The Batman, an interest in their tumultuous comic book rivalry is bound to be regenerated.

10 He Wanted To Frame Batman For Insurance Fraud

In his initial Golden Age comic books debut, Penguin started his crime career as a petty thief. He used to steal paintings and hide the rolled-up canvases in his umbrella handle. Eventually, when he rose up the mob ranks, Penguin framed Batman for stealing a prized statue (that he himself owned) in Detective Comics #58.

But for some twisted reason, his aim was to just frame Batman and Robin to commit insurance fraud! The plot was foiled and Batman could prove that the statue was owned by Penguin and not stolen, even as the “be-monocled bird” escaped.

9 Penguin Wanted A Book On Himself To Be Published

In Batman #27, Penguin developed fatherly tendencies towards the son of a fellow criminal. When the boy didn’t show any interest in learning about crime, he began to write a book on Penguin’s exploits instead. The villain ended up liking the book so much that he was willing to publish it through illegal plans.

The duo of Batman and Robin ultimately nab Penguin and the book goes unpublished. Funnily enough, Batman uses the book to preach to the readers that “crime doesn’t pay”.

8 Batman Turned Into A “Bat-Hulk” Because Of Penguin

The Brave And The Bold #68 included an interestingly absurd storyline that found Penguin using an experimental gas that transformed Batman into a gigantic creature dubbed as “Bat-Hulk”. For this metamorphosis, he sought the help of other classic Batman comic villains like the Joker and the Riddler.

In the end, the superhero Metamorpho (dubbed as “The Element Man” in the comic) came to the rescue turning Batman back to his normal state.

7 He Was Bit By A Baby Alligator While Leaving An Egg Trail For Batman

In the Silver Age, a more serious version of Oswald Cobblepot troubled Batman and Robin by committing crimes and leaving a trail of eggs. While readers might think these are penguin eggs, they actually were that of an alligator’s. In fact, one such egg hatched and the alligator ended up biting him in Batman #99.

The injury leads to a temporary sabbatical from crime for Penguin. But when other criminals poked fun at the incident, Penguin returned to trouble Batman with a slew of bird-related crimes (usually relying on penguins to steal and wreak havoc).

6 Penguin Participated In An Auction Selling Off Batman’s Identity

Batman’s alter ego is such a close-kept secret that the villains are desperate enough to go to any length to obtain it. So, when the Batman supervillain Professor Hugo Strange auctions Batman’s secret identity, the Penguin also joins in along with the Joker and Gotham City Councilman Rupert Thorne.

The auction however grows so intense that Thorne just commands his men to beat up 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 imprint of graphic novels that reimagined DC characters, a new Batman origin story is reimagined with Oswald Cobblepott ditching the mantle of Penguin and becoming the mayor of Gotham City.

The Cobblepott family had as much wealth and influence on Gotham as the Wayne family, with the Cobblepotts serving as businessmen or district attorneys in the city. Oswald plans to end the competition with the Wayne family by killing off Thomas and Martha Wayne. However, the couple was murdered in an unrelated mugging on an election night with the event turning Bruce Wayne into Batman. Bruce is later captured by the corrupt mayor but when his identity is compromised, Bruce’s loyal butler Alfred steps into the scene and shoots him down.

4 Penguin Helps Thomas Wayne In The Flashpoint Timeline

Following the changes brought about by the 2010s Flash comic issue Flashpoint, Thomas Wayne becomes Batman in an alternate timeline in Flashpoint: Batman- Knight of Vengeance. He also serves as the owner of Wayne Casinos. His unlikely associate is none another than Oswald Cobblepott who has given up his villainous ways in favor of being Wayne’s security chief.

While Wayne was busy fighting crime as the Caped Crusader, Oswald reported to him about the activities of the casino’s clients as well as criminals of Gotham’s underworld. He also served as the manager of the casino operations.

3 A Vampiric Version Of Batman Killed Penguin

Villains like Penguin would test Batman’s patience but never drive him towards the act of killing. However, in an Elseworlds storyline titled Crimson Mist, Batman adopts one of his craziest alternate versions as a bloodthirsty vampire who wards off the city’s criminals by brutally killing them off and feeding on them. Penguin is no exception.

The latter is depicted as a notorious cop-killer and as he escapes from Arkham, he resumes his murderous rampage. This is a particularly violent Batman comic issue from the 1990s as Penguin uses his umbrella to impale policemen in the head. When Batman arrives at the crime scene, he mercilessly bites out Penguin’s throat and drinks his blood. He goes on to bite Penguin’s gang members but fearing that they too would turn into vampires, Batman tears off each of their heads.

2 Penguin Betrayed Bane And The Secret Six

The Bane-led supervillain team Secret Six got off on the wrong foot with Penguin in Secret Six #35 after they massacred his guards and ambushed him at his mansion. Bane compels Penguin to reveal information regarding Batman’s friends and partners, intending to kill them all.

While initially, Penguin seems to comply, he compromises the team’s location following which teams like Justice League and Teen Titans end up sabotaging Secret Six’s plans. Penguin still harbors enmity towards Batman but still resorted to betraying Bane as he didn’t approve of his brand of reckless villainy.

1 The Two Allied With Each Other To Defeat “Emperor Penguin”

In The New 52 continuity, Penguin’s henchman Ignatius Ogilvy betrayed his boss and rose up the ranks to establish his own criminal empire under the mantle of “Emperor Penguin”. With nothing left to lose, Penguin planned to seek revenge even though Batman foiled his plans as usual.

However, when Emperor Penguin takes the Man-Bat serum along with some Joker venom, he turns into a beast-like creature that must be stopped at all costs. So, Batman and Penguin strike an unlikely alliance to defeat Ogilvy and send him off to Blackgate Penitentiary.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/dc-comics-trivia-batman-penguin-rivalry-facts/

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