9 Easter Eggs and DC References

Notice! This post contains SPOILERS for episode 6 of The PenguinThe penguin episode 6 features several Easter eggs and references to Batmancomic book references and even some key nods to the past for the titular Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell). Having built his new drug empire beneath Gotham City itself, business is booming for the Penguin, who is carving out his own slice of the criminal underworld. As such, some new faces have emerged with connections to the original DC Comics as Oz prepares for war with his main rivals, The Maronis and Gigantes.

In The penguin episode 6, Penguin greatly expanded its Bliss operations, with distribution taking place underground thanks to the city’s abandoned tram system. This allowed her to stay one step ahead of Sofia Gigante (Cristin Milioti) and Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown). However, the battle lines are still being drawn, motivating Penguin to forge some important alliances in the future. To that end, here are 9 of the biggest Easter eggs and references in The penguin episode 6.

9

Victor riding his bike through the tunnels looks very familiar

Bruce Wayne in The Batman 2022

Right at the beginning of The penguin episode 6, Oz’s right-hand man and protégé Victor Aguilar can be seen riding his motorcycle through several access tunnels beneath Gotham as he heads to the central tram hub that has become Penguin’s new base of operations, having expanded greatly from two buckets of mushrooms he had with several teams in his employ at Crown Point. To that end, this looks very familiar to the opening scenes of 2022 Batman. Following his investigation into the Riddler’s murder of Mayor Don Mitchell Jr., Bruce Wayne rides his motorcycle back to his Batcave beneath Wayne Tower.

As Batman heads to the Batcave, Bruce also passes through underground access tunnels, so the comparison is pretty easy to spot. That being said, these are not the same tunnels used by Penguin and his crews. Although the tram system was already publicly accessible, the tunnels connected to the abandoned train station known as Wayne Terminus were all privately owned by the Wayne Family.

8

Huge city of Burnley

Managed by Abel Crown

Penguin confirms that he intends to do business with all of Gotham’s smaller gangs, including Burnley Town Massive. Led by Abel Crown, the Massive are a predominantly African-American gang in DC Comics’ Gotham.. As such, both Crown and his crew are introduced at the end of The penguin episode 6, when Oz brings together all the gang leaders for his “Gold Summit”, proposing an alliance against Sofia and Sal to take back Gotham and stop taking the scraps that the biggest crime families leave behind.

7

LoBoys

Another classic Gotham gang

The LoBoys are another classic Gotham gang from the comics featured in The penguin episode 6. Sometimes written as Lo-Boys or LoBoyz, Fox’s Gotham the television series introduced the gang during its own adaptation of No Man’s Land, where they ironically clashed with Penguin (played by Robin Lord Taylor). While not much is revealed about the LoBoys in Penguin episode 6, two women are shown representing the group at the Penguin summit, and Oz confirms his gang fights with everyone to get due respect.

6

Sullivan Crime Family

One of Gotham’s oldest gangs

Penguin also confirms that although the Sullivan Family is Gotham’s oldest criminal gang, they are certainly not the most powerful. This is also true of the original DC Comics. Also known simply as The Irish Gang, the Sullivan Family is run by brothers Donny and Mickey, and “Donny Boy” is present at the Penguin meeting. In the comics, the Irish worked as assassins for Carmine Falcone before they were all eliminated in one night by the Holiday Killers (as seen in The Long Halloween).

5

Pauli’s dinner

A reference to Batman: Arkham Knight

While having breakfast with Victor and his mother, Oz asks Francis if she remembers when they went to “Pauli’s Diner”. Fans of Arkham video games will probably remember Pauli from the opening scene of Arkham Knight where players initially play from the point of view of a GCPD officer who was attacked with Scarecrow’s fear gas (before playing as Batman). The snack bar can also be found at LEGO DC Supervillain game, and the restaurant itself is named after legendary Batman and DC Comics writer Paul Dini.

4

More mentions of Rex Calabrese

A personal story with the penguin family

Continuing to battle dementia, there comes a time when Francis thinks Oz is his father. Angry at him, Francis claims that if he won’t support her children, she will simply talk to “Rex”. This is yet another reference to one of Gotham’s original gangsters, Rex Calabresewhom Oz admired as a child and briefly worked for. That said, this is the first time there’s been an allusion to a personal connection between Rex and Francis. As such, it wouldn’t be surprising if it was eventually revealed that Oz could unknowingly be Rex’s son.

3

Penguin brothers photo

Jack and Benny Cobb

Breaking into the Penguin’s old apartment, Sal and Sofia look for anything they can use against Oz. As a result, Sal finds a photo of Oz as a child with his brothers, Jack and Benny. The Oz brothers have been referenced before in The penguinalthough the photo is quite remarkable considering it is still unknown how they died.

2

Councilman Hady

A corrupt mayor of Gotham in the comics

Angered by the continued lack of power in Crown Point and wanting to support his mother, Penguin goes to City Hall and threatens Councilor Hady in the parking lot. Squeezing the politician’s nose with a pair of pliers, Oz demands that Hady do his job and stop diverting power from the worst-off parts of the city. Originating from the comics, Hady is one of Gotham’s many corrupt mayors, and appears The Penguin version is no different.

This episode confirms that Councilman Hady was blackmailed by Carmine Falcone after Hady was caught paying his gambling debts with public funds. Now, it looks like Penguin has his own politician under his control, especially considering Hady makes good on her promise and the lights come back on at the end of The penguin episode 6. As such, an ongoing relationship with Hady should be very valuable as Oz continues to gain power in Gotham’s underworld.

1

Umbrella light at Eve’s house

Symbolizing their complicated relationship

When Sofia confronts Eve about Oz’s whereabouts, the two women meet in her apartment. Hanging over the bed with an umbrella-shaped light. Considering this is a show about DC’s Penguin, the umbrella doesn’t seem coincidental at all. Likewise, an umbrella is certainly a good symbol for Oz and Eva’s partnership, as they have agreed to protect each other and look out for each other. However, the deal only goes so far, with Eve choosing to protect her girls, eventually telling Giant Sofia where Oz is hiding after Sofia reveals that Oz wrongfully sent her to Arkham for 10 years as “The Executioner”.

New episodes of The penguin launch on Sunday night at Max.

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