Penguin (character)

"The Penguin" redirects here. For the television series, see The Penguin (TV series). For other uses, see Penguin (disambiguation).
"Oswald Cobblepot" redirects here. For the Batman Returns film character, see Oswald Cobblepot (Batman Returns). For the Gotham television series character, see Oswald Cobblepot (Gotham).

The Penguin
The Penguin, as he appears on the cover of Secret Origins Special #1 (August 1989).
Art by Brian Bolland.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceDetective Comics #58 (December 1941)
Created byBill Finger (writer)
Bob Kane (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoOswald Chesterfield Cobblepot
Team affiliations
Notable aliases
  • Mr. Boniface
  • Matthew Richardson
  • The Gentleman of Crime
  • Cobblepot
  • Uncle Pengy
  • The King of Gotham
Abilities
  • Criminal mastermind
  • Uses high-tech umbrellas equipped with various weapons

The Penguin (Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman. The character made his first appearance in Detective Comics #58 (December 1941) and was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.[1] The Penguin is one of Batman's most enduring enemies and belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up Batman's rogues gallery.[2] The Penguin has repeatedly been named one of the best Batman villains and one of the greatest villains in comics. Penguin was ranked #51 in IGN's list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time.[3]

The Penguin is a Gotham City mobster who fancies himself the number one "Gentleman of Crime". He is most often seen as a short, fat man with a long nose who wears a monocle, top hat, and morning suit while carrying his signature umbrella. He also has a cigarette holder in his mouth. Penguin uses high-tech umbrellas as different tools. His umbrellas have been used as guns, gas, swords/knives, a mini-helicopter and many other unconventional tools. The Penguin owns and runs a nightclub called the Iceberg Lounge which provides a cover for his criminal activity.

Batman sometimes uses the nightclub as a source of criminal underworld information. Unlike most of Batman's rogues gallery, the Penguin is completely sane and in full control of his actions, giving him a unique relationship with Batman. According to his creator Bob Kane, the character was inspired by the advertising mascot of Kool cigarettes in the 1940s; a penguin with a top hat and cane. However, similarities have been found between Penguin's design and the appearance of the Dick Tracy character Broadway Bates, who was introduced in 1932. Co-creator Bill Finger thought that the image of high-society gentlemen in tuxedos was reminiscent of emperor penguins.[4] His main color is usually purple.

The character has been featured in various media adaptations, including feature films, television series, and video games. His live-action portrayals include Burgess Meredith in the 1960s Batman television series and its spin-off film, Danny DeVito in the film Batman Returns, Robin Lord Taylor in the television series Gotham, and Colin Farrell in the film The Batman, as well as the character's eponymous television series on HBO. Paul Williams, Tom Kenny, Nolan North, Wayne Knight, Stephen Root, Elias Toufexis, and others have provided the character's voice, ranging from animation to video games.

  1. ^ Detective Comics #58
  2. ^ Fleisher, Michael L. (1976). The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume 1: Batman. Macmillan Publishing Co. pp. 295-306. ISBN 0-02-538700-6. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  3. ^ "Top 100 Comic Book Villains, IGN". IGN. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  4. ^ "The Enemies List". Comics 101. January 14, 2004. Archived from the original on April 5, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2010.