NOTICE! Spoilers for Batman: The Long Halloween – The Last Halloween #2There are countless criminals lurking in the dark alleys of Gotham City, but one stands out as the least recognized of them all. from Batman bandits. Oswald Cobblepot, also known as the Penguinhas earned a reputation as one of Gotham's least dangerous dangers due to how harmless he appears. Now, DC has revealed that he's officially Gotham's most underrated villain, and even Batman's other villains agree.
In Batman: The Long Halloween - The Last Halloween #2 by Jeph Loeb, Klaus Janson, Dave Stewart and Richard Starkings, Batman continues his investigation into the disappearance of James Gordon Jr. When a clue leads him to the Penguin, he tracks the criminal in hopes of getting answers about Commissioner Gordon's son . Batman confronts the Penguin and shares a shocking truth about his role in Gotham City: "Even among his so-called peers, the Penguin never gained the respect he desired."
With these words, Batman confirms that the Penguin is not respected as a villain - not by him, and certainly not by other villains. This dismissal gives the Penguin the official title of Gotham's most underrated criminal in DC lore.
The Penguin is officially Gotham's least respected villain
All Batman villains despise the penguin
According to Batman, the Penguin failed to earn the respect of Gotham City's most cowardly villains. He mentions that the Joker and Two-Face are unimpressed with the Penguin, and adds: "Even the Riddler considered Oswald inferior to him." Even the most disgusting of Gotham's criminals pay little attention to the Penguin's antics, despite him trying to fit in as one of them. Due to his connection to James Gordon Jr., deduced from the penguin-themed umbrella at the crime scene, Batman wonders if the Penguin is trying to prove his worth and finally gain some favor from his fellow evildoers.
The Penguin has become a crime lord with a penchant for cruelty that would make any villain squirm.
The Penguin's story suggests why he is so desperate to win the praise of his fellow criminals and makes their lack of respect almost tragic. For most of his life, Oswald Cobblepot was bullied by those around him. The Penguin's crude design is the cause of the abuse he has suffered, as his pointy teeth and nose bear an uncanny resemblance to his namesake. Because of the hardships he endured, he resorted to villainy as a way of forcing the city that neglected him to recognize him. However, even as a villain, the Penguin does not get the recognition he so desires.
The Penguin stands out as Batman's most ridiculous rogue
Batman has some goofy villains, but the Penguin is the worst culprit
It's not hard to see why Gotham's criminals might have a hard time taking the Penguin seriously as one of their own. Your name itself is not as threatening as a typical villain would beinstead evoking the image of a waddling penguin. This, of course, isn't too far off from the appearance and mannerisms of Oswald Cobblepot himself. Unlike Colin Farrell's grounded redesign for HBO The penguinthe in-universe version of the character looks like a cartoon. With his diminutive stature and penguin-like qualities, the Penguin can't strike fear as much as Batman's more prolific thugs.
In addition to the Penguin, Batman has many other silly enemies running around Gotham City. For example, Condiment King is known for being one of your most ridiculous enemies, with an entire gimmick based around attacking with condiments. What sets these ridiculous excuses from the Penguin thugs apart and makes him more disrespected, however, is the fact that they know their place. The Condiment King has no delusions of grandeur in Gotham City, while the Penguin fights for power just like the Riddler would, which angers him. No matter how futile your efforts seem, Penguin showed that he has more potential than he appears.
After decades of being treated as a joke, the penguin proves to be a true villain
Gotham's most underrated criminal is now its most dangerous
The Penguin's status in Gotham may be diminished by his unassuming exterior, but his recent stories have revealed a hidden dark side that hints at a frightening nature behind the Penguin's imagery. Gone are the days of arctic-themed decorations and traps, as the Penguin has become a crime lord with a penchant for cruelty that would make any villain squirm.
In fact, Oswald Cobblepot is even more twisted than the Joker following the revelation that he has been torturing the mother of his children by drugging her with tranquilizers, and this is just one of the many crimes he has committed against the people of Gotham City. Although the Penguin currently does not receive the respect it deserves as Batman rogue, it's only a matter of time before Gotham's criminal element sees him for the formidable threat that he is.
Batman: The Long Halloween - The Last Halloween #2 is now available from DC Comics.