The 10 Best Comics You Should Read If You’re Watching The Penguin on HBO

HBO Penguin brings a brand new addition to the world of Matt Reeves Batmanand is already a success among old and new fans of the main character. While the TV show takes some original deviations, its star is one of the longest-running Batman villains, and after more than eighty years in comics, he has helped tell dozens of stories. Some of them clearly defined this new direction starring Colin Farrell.

On HBO Penguingangster found an opportunity to seize control of the Falcone crime syndicate after Batmanstarting a story based on the darkest and most depraved of comic book inspirations (while still maintaining the campy tone the character is synonymous with). With a whole new audience ready to experience Penguin, we’ve prepared the perfect list of comics to read to prepare for the spectacle that Penguin has already proven itself right.

10

Penguin: Pain and Prejudice

Gregg Hurwitz and Szymon Kudranski

Before Oswald Cobblepot became a ruthless, amoral villain hell-bent on seizing political power, he was a sensitive boy and beloved son. Growing up Oswald was constantly subjected to physical and emotional abuse due to his appearance. His peers, his siblings, and his father saw Oz as nothing more than an insect who colored their lives more than brought them any meaning.

This limited series follows Penguin as he tries to find new love and put his mother to rest, while reflecting on the moments in his life that led him to his current situation. While the series does establish new elements of sympathy for the character, it does a better job of exploring the intimate relationship behind Cobblepot’s love for his mother. Already promised to play a key role in the new HBO original series. Oz’s mother was and always will be his greatest strength and greatest weakness.

9

Batman: The Long Halloween

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

One of the most loved and recommended Batman series of all time. Batman: The Long Halloween is a direct tonal inspiration for Matt Reeves. Batman and still serves as a similar example of the pre-established tone Penguin. The series is set sometime during the first few years of Bruce Wayne’s crusade as the Dark Knight. The series follows Batman as he investigates a methodical new serial killer while Harvey Dent slowly transforms into the monstrous Two-Face. Although the mysterious “Holiday Killer” is the main “villain” of the series, the corrupt presence of the Falcone and Maroni crime families – the true antagonists of the series.

While Gotham’s crime syndicates may not be as flamboyant as Batman’s rogues gallery, they are Batman’s true worst enemies and a critical presence in both. Batman And Penguin. As old as the Wayne family, the Falcons and Maronis have contributed to the governance of Gotham since its founding. Understanding Gotham’s criminal politics is paramount to understanding the deeper conflict in Matt Reeves’ stories, and there’s no better show to understand that conflict than Long Halloween.

8

Triumphant Penguin

John Ostrander, Joe Staton and Bob Smith

Although the Penguin is now associated with high-brow white-collar crime and mafia-style horror, his original characteristics were much more goofy and light-hearted. Consolidating the transition from his Golden Age comic image to his New Age gangster image, Triumphant Penguin details the methodical approach Cobblepot used to reinvent his criminal exploits. After teaming up with an old childhood rival, Cobblepot started a new life as a “legitimate” stock market investor.using many legal loopholes to avoid punishment for their crimes.

While Oswald inevitably grew bored with the straight man’s behavior, he continues to hide the bulk of his criminal activities behind a series of legal formalities, blackmail and generous bribes. HBO’s version of Penguin follows suit. Oz Cobb is a ruthless and persistent killer, but an educated man who wants to maintain a veneer of class and intrigue.

7

Batman: No Man’s Land

Bob Gale and Alex Maleev

In the final BatmanThe Riddler flooded Gotham, leaving parts of the city destroyed and in disarray. Likewise, in Batman: No Man’s Land Gotham – a crumbling land of lawlessnessdestroyed by a powerful earthquake. Taking the opportunity to unleash their reign of terror on a large scale, some of Batman’s gang claimed parts of Gotham as theirs.

When Batman returned to the city, he first met the Penguin, relaxing in the Iceberg Lounge, surrounded by wealth. Cobblepot explains that he had no reason to leave the chaos and that he was in fact enjoying the opportunity to use Gotham’s resources. Oswald is dedicated to himself, and his obsession with wealth is only because it makes him feel powerful. Even if only fragments remain of Gotham,As long as there is someone who can be felt more strongly, Penguin will be happy.

6

Batman: Dark Victory

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Opposing Collin Farrell’s Penguin, Sofia Falcone is the series’ main antagonist and the natural heir to the Falcone family’s power. Next The Long Halloween, Batman: Dark Victory sees Batman investigate a new serial killer while Two-Face and Sofia Falcone engage in a turf war for Gotham’s underground. Still a relatively new character at the time, Sofia has proven herself to be a manipulator and strategic like her father, but twisted with unbridled rage and a fiercely aggressive nature.

Although they behave differently, Sofia and Oswald firmly share these two qualities. Individually, they are true natural disasters, but when they confront each other, they are more like an apocalypse. As you’d expect from their relationship in the series, inside PenguinIn the debut episode, rival criminals waste no time in launching a crusade of rage-fueled brutal violence against each other and their loved ones. To better prepare to watch the show, viewers should take the opportunity to take a closer look at the monster that is Sofia Falcone.

5

Joker’s Asylum: Penguin

Jason Aaron and Jason Pearson

Joker’s Asylum: Penguin is a stand-alone anthology series in which the Joker shares stories of some of Batman’s classic villains. His story about the Penguin shows how depraved and vengeful Cobblepot really is and how business-like he is in his relationships with others. Unlike a character like the Joker, who uses violence just for fun, Penguin often believes that his sadistic cruelty is a tool for achieving justice. against those who wronged him.

Beneath his fine clothes and expensive cigars, Oswald Cobblepot is a crazed psychopath. He views others as nothing more than objects that can be used or thrown away as easily as he spends money simply to flaunt his wealth. The Penguin is more than just a stereotype of a mafioso, he is a real monster.

4

Batman #23.3: Penguin

Frank Tieri and Christian Duce

Penguin only hates those he considers bullies. Oswald was severely bullied and abused as a child, ridiculed for his unique characteristics and interest in birds. In the end, Young Oz’s mind is brokenunable to cope with the constant ridicule that led to the mysterious faking of the deaths of his brothers and father, his worst offenders.

As an adult, Penguin’s mind clings to the feeling of being bullied and underappreciated.often used to justify his excruciating torture against his enemies. In this issue Batman (2011), Penguin thoroughly enjoys the depths to which he is willing to go to methodically destroy the families of his enemies before driving them to suicide. Like this twisted presentation of Oswald Cobblepot, HBO Penguin Almost immediately, Oz Cobb is revealed to be leaning towards this mocking, manipulative puppetry. to whom the comic version became known.

3

Arkham Manor: Endgame

Frank Tieri, Felix Ruiz, Roberto Viacava and Christian Duce

An amazingly in-depth selection of DC and HBO comics. Penguin chose Mickey “Mike” Stone, a reformed criminal and Arkham Asylum guard, as the central character in the show’s plot. Mike Stone has only ever appeared in Arkham Manor: Endgameserving as the story’s narrator, detailing the chaos that Arkham plunged into after the Joker’s final attempt to escape. Like Cobblepot Stone’s loyalty lies in what he believes will benefit him the most in life.

While Mike may not have much of a history in the comics, he could still play a significant role in the feud between The Penguin and Sofia Falcone. As a former criminal and current Arkham guard, Mike would have likely encountered Sophia during her incarceration, and Penguin would have preferred to have that asset in his arsenal. Unfortunately for Mike, neither Oz nor Sofia are known to act well. vindictive enough to ruin the lives of their tools simply because the tool has lost its purpose.

2

Penguin (2023)

Tom King and Rafael de Latorre

Oswald Cobblepot’s final solo series. Penguin shows the titular mobster going through his “departure” from crime and the consequences of his years of control of Gotham’s underground, while reflecting on his early days in the Falcone syndicate. As expected, the series emphasizes the transactional nature of his relationships with others and the complex machinations his exploitation of these relationships plays into. Oswald hates the Falcons, he hates his children, and he hates Batman, but he allies with all of them until they prove they are no longer useful to his cause.

Cobblepot lives his life in an elaborate web of lies. and deception. Everyone knows he can’t be trusted, but they are still drawn to his mocking charm and helpful manipulations. Even Batman, both in this series and in Matt Reeves’ cinematic universe, turns to the Penguin to gather information where the detective could not.

1

Batman: One Bad Day – Penguin

Marie Javins and Giuseppe Camuncoli

Armed with nothing but a pistol and a single bullet, Penguin lost his empire, his reputation and, most importantly, his umbrella. Batman: One Bad Day – Penguin sees Penguin slowly rebuilding his lost criminal empire, using only his wit and powers of persuasion to rebuild a new team of loyal underlings. Cobblepot proves not only to Gotham, but also to Batman personally that this city belongs to him.

Without the Penguin, Gotham’s criminal underground cannot be controlled or contained. Cobblepot makes it clear to Batman that the Dark Knight has only superficial control over crime in the city, but without the Penguin’s influence and skills, Batman would be unable to pretend to be the hero he believes himself to be. Even with nothing to my name, Gotham – Cobblepot’s city; Without Penguin, Gotham will fall.