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| − | | Universe = Earth-Two; Earth-One; New Earth |
+ | | Universe = Earth-Two; Earth-One; New Earth; Prime Earth; DCeased |
| LeadDesigner = [[Joseph Coyne (New Earth)|Joseph Coyne]] |
| LeadDesigner = [[Joseph Coyne (New Earth)|Joseph Coyne]] |
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| First = World's Finest #30 |
| First = World's Finest #30 |
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| Last = |
| Last = |
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| + | | Quotation = Not '''all''' pennies are little. |
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| + | | Speaker = [[Bruce Wayne (Prime Earth)|Batman]] |
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| + | | QuoteSource = Batman Vol 3 54 |
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| HistoryText = |
| HistoryText = |
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===[[Earth-Two]]=== |
===[[Earth-Two]]=== |
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| − | When a criminal who called himself [[Joseph Coyne (New Earth)|Penny Plunderer]] started operating in [[Gotham City]], Batman deduced that he would strike at the local coin exhibition. The Plunderer was obsessed with Pennies and |
+ | When a criminal who called himself [[Joseph Coyne (New Earth)|Penny Plunderer]] started operating in [[Gotham City]], Batman deduced that he would strike at the local coin exhibition. The Plunderer was obsessed with Pennies and in the exhibition, there was a giant-sized penny, which was the Plunderer's target along with the first one-cent stamp in history. Batman confronted the Plunderer and used the giant penny to defeat the criminal and his henchmen.<ref>{{c|World's Finest #30}}</ref> It is yet unrevealed how exactly Batman acquired the Penny, but after his victory over the Plunderer, Batman took the giant coin to the Trophy Room of the [[Batcave]], where it has become one of the main features of the place. |
Shortly afterwards, a criminal called Wolf Brando broke into the Batcave and confronted Batman and Robin.{{Image|Giant Penny 005.jpg|Crushed Penny|right}} The villain used some of the trophies in the Batcave to his advantage and he tried to crush Robin using the mechanical dinosaur. Batman was forced to act fast and he used the Giant Penny to stop the giant robot from crushing Robin. Because of this, both the dinosaur and the penny were seriously damaged.<ref>{{c|Batman #48}}</ref> However, both trophies were repaired and back on their places in a short time.<ref>{{c|World's Finest #39}}</ref> |
Shortly afterwards, a criminal called Wolf Brando broke into the Batcave and confronted Batman and Robin.{{Image|Giant Penny 005.jpg|Crushed Penny|right}} The villain used some of the trophies in the Batcave to his advantage and he tried to crush Robin using the mechanical dinosaur. Batman was forced to act fast and he used the Giant Penny to stop the giant robot from crushing Robin. Because of this, both the dinosaur and the penny were seriously damaged.<ref>{{c|Batman #48}}</ref> However, both trophies were repaired and back on their places in a short time.<ref>{{c|World's Finest #39}}</ref> |
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| − | The Giant Penny was later used as a jamming signal disruptor during the week in which Batman wasn't allowed to set foot |
+ | The Giant Penny was later used as a jamming signal disruptor during the week in which Batman wasn't allowed to set foot in Gotham City and he started operating from a flying batcave. The Penny was stored in the small trophy room of the flying batcave and it proved useful in their crime fighting from the air.<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #186}}</ref> |
| − | The Giant Penny was removed from the Batcave along with all the other |
+ | The Giant Penny was removed from the Batcave along with all the other trophiess when a criminal threatened to locate the Batcave and use it as his hideout. The Penny and all the other objects were placed on a temporary location which served as a Batman Museum until Batman captured the criminal and he was able to move the Penny and all the objects back.<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #223}}</ref> |
===[[Earth-One]]=== |
===[[Earth-One]]=== |
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During the fight with Bane in the Batcave, the penny was used as a weapon. Bane pushed Batman against the giant penny, causing it to lose balance and fall on top of the hero, causing great damage.<ref>{{c|Batman #497}}</ref> |
During the fight with Bane in the Batcave, the penny was used as a weapon. Bane pushed Batman against the giant penny, causing it to lose balance and fall on top of the hero, causing great damage.<ref>{{c|Batman #497}}</ref> |
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| − | After the attack of the [[Black Glove]] on the Batcave, the Penny was somehow inserted |
+ | After the attack of the [[Black Glove]] on the Batcave, the Penny was somehow inserted into one of the glass cases of the cave's trophy room.<ref>[[Batman and the Outsiders Vol 2 11]]</ref> |
| − | When Nightwing returned to Gotham, he started the reconstruction of the cave along with [[Alfred Pennyworth (New Earth)|Alfred]] and [[Timothy Drake (New Earth)|Tim Drake]]. Robin found the penny laying |
+ | When Nightwing returned to Gotham, he started the reconstruction of the cave along with [[Alfred Pennyworth (New Earth)|Alfred]] and [[Timothy Drake (New Earth)|Tim Drake]]. Robin found the penny laying in one of the deepest and darkest areas of the cave. Using a harness, they lifted the penny to the main area and placed it back in its normal place.<ref name=NV2153>{{c|Nightwing Vol 2 153}}</ref> |
=== [[The New 52]] === |
=== [[The New 52]] === |
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| − | The Giant Penny was |
+ | The Giant Penny was an outdoor art piece. During Zero Year, Riddler had trapped Batman in a laser sensor grid proceeding to ask him riddles that would advance him across an ancient game board. If Batman failed to answer all of Nygma's riddles balloons containing poisons would be released across Gotham. To foil Riddler's plans Lucius Fox used the penny as a makeshift signal antenna to get signals out past Nygma's communication blackout as well as jam the transmissions to the balloons. At some point the Penny was moved to the Batcave. |
| − | == DC Animated Universe == |
+ | === DC Animated Universe === |
| − | The giant penny was a staple backdrop piece in the Batcave |
+ | The giant penny was a staple backdrop piece in the Batcave. The penny was once a deathrap tool utilized by [[Harvey Dent (DCAU)|Two-Face]]. On one adventure, Two-Face and the "Two-Ton Gang" captured Batman and tied him down to the giant penny. The penny rested on an over-sized coin-flipping machine. Two-Face boasted that if the coin landed on its bad side, then the Batman would be crushed, but even if it landed on its clean side, the impact would break every bone in Batman's body. Two-Face activated the flipping device and the penny sailed through the air. Fortunately, Batman had managed to pilfer Two-Face's [[Two-Face's Coin|lucky coin]] and used the jagged edges to cut through his ropes. The heavy penny instead landed on two of the villain's fleeing henchmen. When [[Pamela Isley (DCAU)|Ivy]] asked "''what became of the giant penny''", Two-Face merely added "''[[Gotham City Police Department|They]] actually let him keep it''" <ref>"[[Batman (1992 TV Series) Episode: Almost Got 'Im]]"</ref> The Penny remains a staple of the Batcave for the duration of the series; albeit it's size varies from episode to episode. From only slightly higher than Batman to so large, [[Alfred Pennyworth (DCAU)|Alfred]] needs a ladder in order to clean it. |
| + | === The Batman === |
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| + | In the animated series [[Batman (2004 TV Series)|The Batman]] the giant penny first appears in the Second season episode [[Batman (2004 TV Series) Episode: Fistful of Felt|Fistful of Felt]] where Batman uses the giant penny on display to save himself from being killed by minting equipment, the penny subsequently became a Trophy in the cave since. |
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| CurrentOwner = [[Bruce Wayne (New Earth)|Batman]] |
| CurrentOwner = [[Bruce Wayne (New Earth)|Batman]] |
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| Notes = |
| Notes = |
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| − | * The Giant Penny along with the Mechanical T-Rex and the giant Joker playing card |
+ | * The Giant Penny, along with the Mechanical T-Rex and the giant Joker playing card, is among the most iconic and recognized trophies in the Batcave. All these elements were created during the Golden Age of Comics, and their presence in the Batcave is a constant reminder of Batman's great and extensive history as well as an homage to those who started it all. |
| − | * After the [[Crisis on Infinite Earths]], DC changed the origin story of the Giant Penny on several occasions. In {{c|Batman #410}}, the Penny was said to be |
+ | * After the [[Crisis on Infinite Earths]], DC changed the origin story of the Giant Penny on several occasions. In {{c|Batman #410}}, the Penny was said to be memorabilia from a fight against [[Two-Face]], but later, {{c|Batman Chronicles #19}} introduced The Penny Plunderer to the [[New Earth]] continuity and retconned the Penny's origin to his appearance. Years later, the origin was once again changed in {{c|Two-Face: Year One #2}} and this time, it became a souvenir from a confrontation between Batman, Two-Face and the Penny Plunderer, incorporating all elements from previous origins. |
| Trivia = |
| Trivia = |
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}} |
}} |
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[[Category:1947 Item Debuts]] |
[[Category:1947 Item Debuts]] |
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| + | [[Category:Batman]] |
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Revision as of 15:27, 21 October 2019
History
The Giant Penny is one of the most iconic pieces of memorabilia found in the Batcave along with the Giant Joker Card and the Mechanical T-Rex. In almost every iteration, the Penny is a memento from Batman's encounter with the Penny Plunderer.
Earth-Two
When a criminal who called himself Penny Plunderer started operating in Gotham City, Batman deduced that he would strike at the local coin exhibition. The Plunderer was obsessed with Pennies and in the exhibition, there was a giant-sized penny, which was the Plunderer's target along with the first one-cent stamp in history. Batman confronted the Plunderer and used the giant penny to defeat the criminal and his henchmen.[1] It is yet unrevealed how exactly Batman acquired the Penny, but after his victory over the Plunderer, Batman took the giant coin to the Trophy Room of the Batcave, where it has become one of the main features of the place.
Shortly afterwards, a criminal called Wolf Brando broke into the Batcave and confronted Batman and Robin.
Crushed Penny
The villain used some of the trophies in the Batcave to his advantage and he tried to crush Robin using the mechanical dinosaur. Batman was forced to act fast and he used the Giant Penny to stop the giant robot from crushing Robin. Because of this, both the dinosaur and the penny were seriously damaged.[2] However, both trophies were repaired and back on their places in a short time.[3]
The Giant Penny was later used as a jamming signal disruptor during the week in which Batman wasn't allowed to set foot in Gotham City and he started operating from a flying batcave. The Penny was stored in the small trophy room of the flying batcave and it proved useful in their crime fighting from the air.[4]
The Giant Penny was removed from the Batcave along with all the other trophiess when a criminal threatened to locate the Batcave and use it as his hideout. The Penny and all the other objects were placed on a temporary location which served as a Batman Museum until Batman captured the criminal and he was able to move the Penny and all the objects back.[5]
Earth-One
Dangerous Trophies
The giant penny was eventually moved along with other trophies to the second Batcave, which was located underneath the Wayne Foundation building.[6] In this location, the Penny was used against Batman during a confrontation in the Batcave with the Pi-Meson Man.[7]
When Bruce Wayne decided to move back to Wayne Manor, he took all the trophies from the second Batcave and moved them back to the original place, including of course, the Giant Penny.[8] When a common thief started using the Catman costume, he stumbled upon the Batcave while looking for his hidden loot. The crook then confronted Batman and used the Giant Penny against him. Batman was able to avoid the attack using the T-Rex and the penny became stuck in one of the cave's walls.[9]
New Earth
During the fight with Bane in the Batcave, the penny was used as a weapon. Bane pushed Batman against the giant penny, causing it to lose balance and fall on top of the hero, causing great damage.[10]
After the attack of the Black Glove on the Batcave, the Penny was somehow inserted into one of the glass cases of the cave's trophy room.[11]
When Nightwing returned to Gotham, he started the reconstruction of the cave along with Alfred and Tim Drake. Robin found the penny laying in one of the deepest and darkest areas of the cave. Using a harness, they lifted the penny to the main area and placed it back in its normal place.[12]
The New 52
The Giant Penny was an outdoor art piece. During Zero Year, Riddler had trapped Batman in a laser sensor grid proceeding to ask him riddles that would advance him across an ancient game board. If Batman failed to answer all of Nygma's riddles balloons containing poisons would be released across Gotham. To foil Riddler's plans Lucius Fox used the penny as a makeshift signal antenna to get signals out past Nygma's communication blackout as well as jam the transmissions to the balloons. At some point the Penny was moved to the Batcave.
DC Animated Universe
The giant penny was a staple backdrop piece in the Batcave. The penny was once a deathrap tool utilized by Two-Face. On one adventure, Two-Face and the "Two-Ton Gang" captured Batman and tied him down to the giant penny. The penny rested on an over-sized coin-flipping machine. Two-Face boasted that if the coin landed on its bad side, then the Batman would be crushed, but even if it landed on its clean side, the impact would break every bone in Batman's body. Two-Face activated the flipping device and the penny sailed through the air. Fortunately, Batman had managed to pilfer Two-Face's lucky coin and used the jagged edges to cut through his ropes. The heavy penny instead landed on two of the villain's fleeing henchmen. When Ivy asked "what became of the giant penny", Two-Face merely added "They actually let him keep it" [13] The Penny remains a staple of the Batcave for the duration of the series; albeit it's size varies from episode to episode. From only slightly higher than Batman to so large, Alfred needs a ladder in order to clean it.
The Batman
In the animated series The Batman the giant penny first appears in the Second season episode Fistful of Felt where Batman uses the giant penny on display to save himself from being killed by minting equipment, the penny subsequently became a Trophy in the cave since.
Notes
- The Giant Penny, along with the Mechanical T-Rex and the giant Joker playing card, is among the most iconic and recognized trophies in the Batcave. All these elements were created during the Golden Age of Comics, and their presence in the Batcave is a constant reminder of Batman's great and extensive history as well as an homage to those who started it all.
- After the Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC changed the origin story of the Giant Penny on several occasions. In Batman #410, the Penny was said to be memorabilia from a fight against Two-Face, but later, Batman Chronicles #19 introduced The Penny Plunderer to the New Earth continuity and retconned the Penny's origin to his appearance. Years later, the origin was once again changed in Two-Face: Year One #2 and this time, it became a souvenir from a confrontation between Batman, Two-Face and the Penny Plunderer, incorporating all elements from previous origins.
Trivia
- The Giant Penny has to be kept polished to prevent corrosion. Batman and Robin were usually in charge of this chore,[15] but in later years, it has become Alfred's duty.[12]
- The Giant Penny is such a recognised part of the decor of the Batcave that variants on the theme can be found in similar bases: a Giant British Fivepence in the Knight's base, a Giant Wooden Penny in the Bat's Cave, and a giant false coin bearing the motto "In Stagg We Trust" in Batcave West.
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ World's Finest #30
- ↑ Batman #48
- ↑ World's Finest #39
- ↑ Detective Comics #186
- ↑ Detective Comics #223
- ↑ Detective Comics #470
- ↑ World's Finest #262
- ↑ Batman #348
- ↑ Detective Comics #538
- ↑ Batman #497
- ↑ Batman and the Outsiders Vol 2 11
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Nightwing (Volume 2) #153
- ↑ "Batman (1992 TV Series) Episode: Almost Got 'Im"
- ↑ Batman: Gotham Knights #18
- ↑ Detective Comics #158