Exploring 80 Years of DC Comics: The Penguin’s New Origin Explained

The Penguin on HBO reimagines the origins and backstory of the iconic DC villain to suit Matt Reeves’ realistic and gritty Batman universe. Colin Farrell’s character, Oz Cobblepot, was first introduced in The Batman as the menacing owner of the Iceberg Lounge, a dance club deeply intertwined with Gotham’s criminal landscape. While Oz remains a formidable character, The Penguin highlights the presence of larger powers within Gotham City, further illuminating its complex criminal hierarchy.

Both critics and audiences have lauded Matt Reeves’ The Batman along with The Penguin. Nevertheless, significant adaptations from the original comic material are evident in both productions. For instance, Paul Dano’s portrayal of the Riddler presents a darker, more somber interpretation compared to traditional comic depictions; similarly, Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne embodies a deeply introverted persona that complements his identity as the “Batman Vigilante.”In a related vein, The Batman and The Penguin present a more grounded version of Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. the Penguin.

The Origin Story of The Penguin from DC Comics Explained

Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti in The Penguin (2024) — Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti in *The Penguin* (2024) | Source: IMDB

Oswald Cobblepot hails from a family with influential figures such as mayors, colonels, and business leaders. Despite his wealthy upbringing, Oswald faced relentless bullying due to his appearance from both his father and peers, which marked a difficult childhood.

Eventually succumbing to his violent urges and losing control, Oswald Cobblepot developed a penchant for murder and criminal behavior. In line with DC’s Zero Year and Year Two, he begins as a golfer for Carmine Falcone.

Embracing his “Penguin” identity, Oswald pushes aside Falcone as he navigates through Gotham’s underworld, forming alliances with formidable villains like the Joker and the Riddler. This aspect of the Penguin’s backstory is skillfully adapted in The Batman and The Penguin, parallel to Batman’s early development.

Oz Cobblepot’s New Origin Revealed

Colin Farrell in The Penguin (2024) — Colin Farrell in *The Penguin* (2024) | Source: IMDB

This new interpretation reveals that Oz has a closer relationship with his mother, Francis, than previous iterations of the character suggest; notably, this Penguin does not originate from a wealthy lineage when he meets her for the first time.

Oz lacked the resources to build a criminal empire independently and had to align himself with the Falcons to break into the business. While he has a visible deformity in his foot that causes a distinct limp, episode 1 of The Penguin illustrates that Oz’s physical traits are less pivotal to his character compared to his comic book counterpart.

Given his rise as a low-level criminal in Gotham, the Penguin’s achievements with the Iceberg Lounge and his “drop” business stand out even more, considering his limited resources and connections within the Batman universe.

Colin Farrell’s portrayal of Oz Cobblepot is driven by ambition rather than resentment over his physical characteristics or troubled upbringing. Instead of adopting a penguin motif for elimination of enemies or innocents, Oz resorts to manipulation and deceit to amass power and influence.

Has The Penguin in Comics Ever Had Brothers?

In The Penguin episode one, Oz Cobblepot refers to a store named Buddy’s while speaking with Victor Aguilar to ease tensions. He recalls visiting the Slush Puppies drink brand daily during summer with his brothers, reminiscing that, “We would combine the flavors.”

Oz appears to share a warm memory of his brothers, recalling joyful times with them. However, it’s plausible that Oz intentionally left out a tragic incident involving his brothers.

His brothers, Jason, William, and Robert, were equally as cruel to Oswald Cobblepot as their father was in the comics; Oswald ended up killing each of his brothers sequentially after they tormentingly attacked his pet birds.

This violent path further fueled his bloodlust, culminating in the notorious acceptance of the title “Penguin” and his emergence as one of Gotham City’s deadliest criminals—a narrative that diverges from Matt Reeves’ rendition of the Penguin, as evidenced by Oz’s reference to his siblings and relatives.

About The Penguin

The Penguin is an American television miniseries, crafted by Lauren LeFranc for HBO. As a spin-off from the movie The Batman (2022), it delves into the Penguin’s ascent within Gotham City’s criminal underworld. LeFranc serves as showrunner for the series, produced by DC Studios in collaboration with Warner Bros. Television.

Colin Farrell reprises his role as the Penguin, acting alongside a talented cast that includes Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo, Michael Zegen, Berto Colón, James Madio, Joshua Bitton, David H. Holmes, Daniel J. Watts, Ben Cook, Jayme Lawson, Michael Kelly, and Mark Strong. The series was in development as of September 2021, with HBO Max ordering it in March 2022, following the release of The Batman. Director Matt Reeves oversaw the writing and assembled the creative team. Filming commenced in March 2023 in New York, pausing in June due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes, but resumed in late November and concluded in February 2024. The series transitioned from HBO Max’s successor, Max, to HBO in July 2024. Craig Zobel directed the first three episodes.

The Penguin premiered in the United States on HBO on September 19, 2024, and is scheduled to consist of eight episodes, concluding on November 10.

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