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Penguin in other media

The supervillain the Penguin, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger,[1] made his first appearance in Detective Comics #58 (December 1941). Since then, he has been adapted into other forms of media, including feature films, television series, and video games.

Adaptations of Penguin in other media
A cosplayer dressed as Danny DeVito's depiction of the Penguin.
Created byBill Finger
Bob Kane
Original sourceComics published by DC Comics
First appearanceDetective Comics #58 (December 1941)
Films and television
Film(s)See below
Television
show(s)		See below

Television

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Live-action

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Burgess Meredith as The Penguin in Batman.
 
Robin Lord Taylor portrays a younger Oswald Cobblepot on the 2014 TV series Gotham.
  • The Penguin appears in Batman (1966) and The Monkees, portrayed by Burgess Meredith. This version possesses a "quacking" laugh, which covered a cough caused by cigarette usage.[2]
  • A young Oswald Cobblepot appears in Gotham, portrayed by Robin Lord Taylor.[3] The series follows his journey to power, starting as a ruthless small-time criminal working for mobster Fish Mooney[4] and his love-hate relationship with fellow criminal Edward Nygma.
  • The Penguin makes a cameo appearance in the absurdist television series Angie Tribeca episode "Germs of Endearment" in 2017, portrayed by an uncredited actor and designed after Burgess Meredith's portayal. In the episode, after a penguin-based virus threatens to liquify everyone in Los Angeles, the LAPD rounds up every penguin in the city to have their blood drained to create an antidote, including the supervillain known as "The Penquin" alongside all the actual penguins.
  • The Batman (2022) incarnation of Oswald Cobb / Penguin appears in a self-titled spin-off series, portrayed again by Colin Farrell.[5][6][7] The character is further expanded upon in the series, shown to suffer from a clubfoot, as well as having a somewhat Oedipal dynamic with his senile mother Francis, his history with the Falcone crime family, and his earlier encounters with Rex Calabrese.

Animation

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Penguin, as he appears in Batman: The Animated Series (left) and The New Batman Adventures (right).

Film

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Live-action

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Danny DeVito as the Penguin in Batman Returns (1992).
 
Colin Farrell as the Penguin, as depicted in The Batman (2022).
  • The Batman (1966) incarnation of the Penguin appears in the series' film adaptation, portrayed again by Burgess Meredith.
  • Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin appears in Batman Returns, portrayed by Danny DeVito. As an infant, this version was left for dead by his family due to birth defects before he is found by penguins from a condemned Gotham City zoo. As a child, he joined the Red Triangle Circus Gang as part of their freak show before eventually taking over. DeVito's portrayal as the Penguin was largely praised, though some considered him inferior to Jack Nicholson's Joker in Batman (1989). Additionally, DeVito was suggested for the role by his friend Nicholson following Batman (1989)'s success.[12] According to DeVito, "It was four-and-a-half hours of makeup and getting into the costume. We got it down to three hours by the end of the shoot".[13] Uncredited script doctor, Wesley Strick, recalled, "When I was hired to write [Batman Returns], the big problem of the script was the Penguin's lack of a 'master plan'."[14] He took inspiration from a Moses parallel that had the Penguin killing the firstborn sons of Gotham. A similar notion was used when the Penguin's parents threw him into a river as a baby.[14] While this Penguin retained many trademarks, such as his top hat, a variety of trick umbrellas and the use of a monocle, he was given a dramatic visual makeover. Where the comic version varies between having a balding head of short cropped hair and varying degrees of thinning, this Penguin is still bald at the top but with his remaining length of hair long and stringy. His hands are flippers with a thumb and index finger, and the remaining three fingers fused together. An unidentified thick, dark green bile-like liquid sometimes trickles from his nose and mouth. Instead of a tuxedo, he wears a more gothic, Victorian-style outfit with a jabot as opposed to a bow tie. In certain scenes, he also wears black boots, a dickey, and a union suit. He also has a penguin-like appetite, as shown in a scene where he devours a raw fish, and uses a vehicle shaped like a giant rubber duck to move around the sewers and the city. Janet Maslin in The New York Times described DeVito as "conveying verve".[15] Peter Travers in Rolling Stone wrote that "DeVito's mutant Penguin — a balloon-bellied Richard III with a kingdom of sewer freaks — is as hilariously warped as Jack Nicholson's Joker and even quicker with the quips."[16] Desson Howe in The Washington Post wrote that the Penguin holds court in a penguin-crowded, Phantom of the Opera-like sewer home. He also described DeVito as "exquisite".[17] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times compared the Penguin negatively with the Joker of the first film, writing that "the Penguin is a curiously meager and depressing creature; I pitied him, but did not fear him or find him funny. The genius of Danny DeVito is all but swallowed up in the paraphernalia of the role."[18] Jonathan Rosenbaum called DeVito "a pale substitute for Jack Nicholson from the first film" and felt that "there's no suspense in Batman Returns whatsoever".[19]
  • Oswald "Oz" Cobb / The Penguin appears in The Batman (2022),[7] portrayed by Colin Farrell, who received DeVito's blessing for the role.[20] This version is the right-hand man of crime lord Carmine Falcone who resents the "Penguin" nickname.[21][22]

Animation

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Video games

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Lego Batman

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Main article: Lego Batman

Batman: Arkham

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Main article: Batman: Arkham

Penguin appears in the Batman: Arkham franchise, voiced primarily by Nolan North and by Ian Redford in Batman: Arkham VR.[33][34][9] This version's monocle is part of a broken glass bottle that was shoved into his face and became lodged too deeply to safely remove. He also speaks with an East London dialect, which is heavily implied to be an attempt at making himself more intimidating to his followers.

Merchandise

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  • The Penguin received an 8" figure from the Mego Corporation via their "World's Greatest Super-Heroes" line in 1974.
  • The Penguin received a ⁠3+3/4⁠" figure from the Mego Corporation via their Comic Action Heroes line in the 1970s.
  • The Penguin received a minifigure in the Lego Batman set The Batcave: The Penguin and Mr. Freeze's Invasion.
  • The Penguin received a figure in the Super Powers Collection toy line in the 1980s.
  • The Batman Returns incarnation of the Penguin received a figure in the film's tie-in toy line.
  • The DCAU incarnation of the Penguin, based on his Batman: The Animated Series design, received a figure in the series' tie-in toy line.
  • The Batman (2004) incarnation of the Penguin received a figure in the series' tie-in toy line.
  • Several incarnations of the Penguin received several plush dolls and vinyl figures from Funko.
  • The Batman Returns incarnation of the Penguin served as inspiration for Madame Alexander's DC Fashion Squad line.
  • The Batman Returns incarnation of the Penguin received a 6-inch action figure as part of Mattel's DC Multiverse Signature Collection.

References

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  1. ^ Detective Comics #58
  2. ^ "Burgess Meredith interview". Dial B for Blog. Archived from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  3. ^ Murphy, Shaunna (September 4, 2014). "'Gotham': Meet The Show's Breakout Villain In This Exclusive Video". MTV. New York City: Viacom. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved Jun 4, 2015.
  4. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (February 14, 2014). "Fox's Batman Prequel 'Gotham' Casts Penguin, Alfred". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles, California: Eldridge Industries.
  5. ^ White, Peter (September 13, 2021). "'The Batman' Spinoff Series Centered On The Penguin In The Works At HBO Max". Deadline. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  6. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2022-03-09). "HBO Max Orders 'The Penguin' Limited Series As 'The Batman' Clocks $301 Million+ At Global Box Office". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  7. ^ a b Wilding, Josh (September 16, 2024). "The Penguin Producer Addresses Controversial Decision To Change Title Villain's Name To "Oz Cobb"". Comic Book Movie. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Nobleman, Marc Tyler (29 July 2011). "Super '70s and '80s: "Super Friends" – Darrell McNeil, animator". Noblemania. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af "Penguin Voices (Batman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved January 1, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  10. ^ Schreur, Brandon (May 19, 2022). "Batman's Villains Get a Radical Makeover for Batmobile-Starring Batwheels". CBR. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  11. ^ Spry, Jeff (July 19, 2024). "Holy Noirish Comeback, Batman! Bruce Timm and James Tucker Lift the Cowl Over 'Batman: Caped Crusader'". Animation Magazine. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "Six Things You Didn't Know About Jack Nicholson". AMC. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  13. ^ "'Batman Returns' at 25: Stars Reveal Script Cuts, Freezing Sets and Aggressive Penguins". The Hollywood Reporter. 19 June 2017.
  14. ^ a b Hughes, David (2003). "Batman". Comic Book Movies. Virgin Books. pp. 33–46. ISBN 0-7535-0767-6.
  15. ^ Janet Maslin (June 19, 1992). "Movie Review—Batman Returns". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  16. ^ Peter Travers (February 7, 2001). "Batman Returns". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 4, 2007. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  17. ^ Howe, Desson (June 19, 1992). "Batman Returns". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  18. ^ "Batman". Roger Ebert. Archived from the original on August 7, 2008. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  19. ^ Jonathan Rosenbaum (June 19, 1992). "Batman". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  20. ^ "'The Batman': Colin Farrell says Danny DeVito gave him 'the green light' to play Penguin (exclusive)". Yahoo!News. 2022-03-02. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  21. ^ Couch, Aaron (November 22, 2019). "'The Batman' Casts John Turturro as Crime Boss Carmine Falcone". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  22. ^ "Street Tree Aesthetics", Seeing Trees, Yale University Press, pp. 43–66, 2019, doi:10.2307/j.ctv8jp086.6, ISBN 978-0-300-24070-2
  23. ^ Chris McKay [@buddboetticher] (29 May 2017). "@ArthurDenorfia It was one of our editors John Venzon" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ "サイト名". dc-taka.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  25. ^ "'Batman Ninja' Anime: First Details & Poster Revealed". Anime.
  26. ^ "ニンジャバットマン BATMAN NINJA公式サイト【2018年6月15日(金) 劇場公開】". warnerbros.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  27. ^ Ressler, Karen (February 13, 2018). "Batman Ninja Anime's English Trailer Reveals Dub Cast, Home Video Release". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  28. ^ Melissa, Billie (2023-11-14). "Luke Wilson Is Bruce Wayne in Merry Little Batman". Men's Journal | Streaming. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  29. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (November 19, 2023). "Trailer: 'Merry Little Batman' Brings a Lighter Dark Knight Tale to Prime Video". Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  30. ^ Fischer, Tyler (October 13, 2018). "'Injustice 2' Concept Art Reveals Scrapped Characters Including Constantine, Penguin, and More". comicbook.com.
  31. ^ Game Informer features a two-page gallery of the many heroes and villains who appear in the game with a picture for each character and a descriptive paragraph. See "LEGO Batman: Character Gallery", Game Informer 186 (October 2008): 93.
  32. ^ GameSpot Trailers (July 19, 2018). "LEGO DC Super-Villains - Official Character Creator Trailer - SDCC 2018" – via YouTube.
  33. ^ Logan Westbrook. "Arkham City's Penguin Shares a Voice With Nathan Drake". The Escapist. Archived from the original on 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2013-09-14.
  34. ^ "Voice Of Penguin - Batman | Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 25, 2017. Checkmark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  35. ^ "Batman: Arkham City • Portrait of a Penguin". Arkhamcity.co.uk. 2011-05-25. Archived from the original on 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
  36. ^ Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, Armature Studio (2013)
  37. ^ "Batman: Arkham Knight Game Guide & Walkthrough: Penguin Side Mission". Game Pressure. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  38. ^ McNulty, Thomas (March 2, 2023). "Every DC Villain Helping Suicide Squad In Kill The Justice League". ScreenRant. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
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