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Changes: Oswald Cobblepot (Earth-Two)

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{{DC Database:Character Template
  
{{DC Database:Character Template
−
| Image =
+
| Image = Oswald Cobblepot Earth-Two 006.jpg
−
| RealName = Oswald Cobblepot
 +
| RealName = Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot
−
| CurrentAlias = Penguin
 +
| CurrentAlias = [[Penguin|The Penguin]]
−
| Aliases =
+
| Aliases = [[Mr. Boniface]]
 
| Identity = Public
  
| Identity = Public
 
| Alignment = Bad
  
| Alignment = Bad
Line 15: Line 15:
 
| Weight =
 
| Weight =
 
| Eyes =
 
| Eyes =
−
| Hair =
+
| Hair = Black
 
| UnusualFeatures =
 
| UnusualFeatures =
   
−
| Citizenship =
+
| Citizenship = American
 
| MaritalStatus =
 
| MaritalStatus =
 
| Occupation =
 
| Occupation =
Line 25: Line 25:
 
| Origin =
 
| Origin =
 
| PlaceOfBirth =
 
| PlaceOfBirth =
−
| Creators =
+
| Creators = Bill Finger; Bob Kane
 
| First = Detective Comics #58
  
| First = Detective Comics #58
 
| Last = Batman #76
  
| Last = Batman #76
   
−
| Quotation =
+
| Quotation = Why not call me The Penguin! It does fit...
−
| Speaker =
+
| Speaker = [[Oswald Cobblepot (Earth-Two)|Penguin]]
−
| QuoteSource =
+
| QuoteSource = Detective Comics Vol 1 58
   
−
| HistoryText = ====Brutal Beginnings====
 +
| HistoryText =
  +
'''The Penguin''' was a regular foe of the hero [[Bruce Wayne (Earth-Two)|Batman]] and his sidekick [[Richard Grayson (Earth-Two)|Robin]].
−
Not much is known about the Penguin's past. He would be a regular foe of the hero [[Bruce Wayne (Earth-Two)|Batman]] and his sidekick [[Richard Grayson (Earth-Two)|Robin]]. In his first recorded appearance, the Penguin would begin a crime spree across [[Gotham City]] until he attracted the attention of the Caped Crusaders. Growing tired of their constant meddling, the Penguin would frame Batman for the theft of a jewel. Batman would break out of prison, and with the aid of Robin would clear his name and round up the Penguin's minions. The Penguin however, would escape and return to menace Batman and Robin many more times<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #58}}</ref>.
  
   
−
While travelling across the United States on a train, Dick Grayson would spot the Penguin, prompting Batman and Robin to investigate. They would find that the Penguin is turning in criminals for reward money and then busting them out of jail and hiring them into his gang. Batman and Robin would end the operation, rounding up the criminals. During the fight, the Penguin would seemingly drown in the Mississippi River<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #59}}</ref>.
+
As a new criminal in [[Gotham City|Gotham]], the Penguin began a crime spree until he attracted the attention of the Caped Crusaders. Growing tired of their constant meddling, the Penguin framed Batman for the theft of a jewel. Batman freed himself and with the aid of Robin, cleared his name and rounded up the Penguin's minions. The Penguin, however, escaped.<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #58}}</ref>
   
  +
While traveling across the [[United States of America|United States]] on a train, Dick Grayson spotted the Penguin, prompting Batman and Robin to investigate. They found that the Penguin was turning in criminals for reward money and then busting them out of jail and hiring them into his gang. Batman and Robin ended the operation, rounding up the criminals. During the fight, the Penguin seemingly drowned in the Mississippi River.<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #59}}</ref>
⚫
Surviving, the Penguin would relocate to Florida where he would set up a legal gambling operation with [[Jim Crow (Earth-Two)|Jim Crow]], [[Buzzard Benny (Earth-Two)|Buzzard Benny]], and the [[Canary (Earth-Two)|Canary]]. They would allow their patrons win big and then in turn follow them home and rob them of their winnings. This would attract the attention of Batman and Robin who would confront the Penguin again. Aided by the Canary, who would switch sides, the Dynamic Duo would foil the Penguin's scheme, although the Penguin would elude capture once again<Ref>{{c|Batman #11}}</ref>. Later, one of the Penguin's defeats is turned into the subject of a radio program serializing Batman's adventures called "Racket-Smashers", a group of criminals would emulate the crime told in that story<ref>{{c|World's Finest #6}}</ref>.
 
   
  ⚫
Surviving, the Penguin relocated to Florida where he set up a legal gambling operation with Jim Crow, Buzzard Benny, and the Canary. They allowed their patrons to win big and then, in turn, follow them home and rob them of their winnings. This attracted the attention of Batman and Robin who confronted the Penguin again. Aided by the Canary, who switched sides, the Dynamic Duo foiled the Penguin's scheme, although the Penguin eluded capture once again.<ref>{{c|Batman #11}}</ref>
⚫
When the Penguin would resurface and commit yet another crime spree, he would utilize different exotic birds to facilitate his crimes, and would once more be stopped by Batman and Robin, yet manage to escape once again<Ref>{{c|Detective Comics #67}}</ref>. In one of his more ruthless schemes, the Penguin would set himself up as an underworld adviser, planning fool proof crimes for other criminals. Upon their successful robberies, the Penguin would then murder the crooks take their stolen loot. Batman would pose as "Bad News" Brewster, a rival criminal organizer. Although the Penguin would see through this disguise, Batman and Robin would finally succeed in capturing the Penguin<ref>{{c|Batman #14}}</ref>.
 
   
  +
When the Penguin resurfaced and committed yet another crime spree, he utilized different exotic birds to facilitate his crimes, and was once more be stopped by Batman and Robin, yet manage to escape once again.<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #67}}</ref>
⚫
====The Bird/Umbrella Obsession====
  
   
  ⚫
In one of his more ruthless schemes, the Penguin set himself up as an underworld adviser, planning fool-proof crimes for other criminals. Upon their successful robberies, the Penguin would then murder the crooks take their stolen loot. Batman posed as "Bad News" Brewster, a rival criminal organizer. Although the Penguin saw through this disguise, Batman and Robin finally succeeded in capturing the Penguin.<ref>{{c|Batman #14}}</ref>
   
  ⚫
===The Bird/Umbrella Obsession===
−
The Penguin would soon become less violent as a criminal and begin committing various crimes featuring his two favorite obsessions: birds and umbrellas. He would develop a massive ego that would easily be shattered making him prone to fits of criminal rage whenever he, or any of his preoccupations were mocked.
 +
The Penguin soon became less violent as a criminal and begin committing various crimes featuring his two favorite obsessions: birds and umbrellas. He would develop a massive ego that would easily be shattered making him prone to fits of criminal rage whenever he, or any of his preoccupations were mocked.
   
−
Breaking free from prison, the Penguin would overhear the warden of the prison mock his motus operandi for his crimes. Furious, the Penguin would begin using a series of gimmicked guns and fishing poles, but would still be defeated by Batman -- ironically enough by means of an umbrella<ref>{{c|Batman #17}}</ref>. Free once more, the Penguin would attempt to rob three eccentric millionaires. Although Batman and Robin would fail to capture him during the first two robberies, he would get caught while attempting the third when it turns out that the man he intends to rob has been dead for a year<ref>{{c|Batman #21}}</ref>.
+
{{Image|Oswald Cobblepot Earth-Two 003.jpg|Penguin Always on the Run|right}}Breaking free from prison, the Penguin overheard that he wasn't among the greatest Batman villains because of his modus operandi for his crimes. Furious, the Penguin began using a series of gimmicked guns and fishing poles, but was still defeated by Batman -- ironically enough by means of an umbrella.<ref>{{c|Batman #17}}</ref> Free once more, the Penguin attempted to rob three eccentric millionaires. Although Batman and Robin failed to capture him during the first two robberies, he got caught while attempting the third when it turned out that the man he intended to rob had been dead for a year.<ref>{{c|Batman #21}}</ref>
   
−
When the Penguin would escape prison again, Batman and Robin would attempt to capture him by opening up an umbrella repair shop. Learning the location of his hideout, they would fail to capture their old foe and after a chase through the city, the Penguin would trip himself up with his own umbrellas and be captured<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #87}}</ref>. While in prison, the Penguin would meet the [[Joker (Earth-Two)|Joker]] and the two would become instant rivals, breaking out of jail and attempting to steal a valuable emerald. When competing with each other would prove to be a failure, they would work together and succeed in their theft. However, their odds with each other would return which Batman and Robin would play off of to capture them<Ref>{{c|Batman #25}}</ref>. Taking the son of one of his fellow crooks under his wing, the Penguin attempts to teach the boy all about crime. Uninterested, the boy would instead write a book detailing the Penguin's crimes. The Penguin would like the idea so much he would attempt to get it published. Unable to find anyone to publish the tome, he would attempt to steal the supplied needed leading to the boy helping Batman and Robin capture the Penguin. Afterwards, the book would be published to show readers that crime doesn't pay<ref>{{c|Batman #27}}</ref>.
+
When the Penguin escaped prison again, Batman and Robin attempted to capture him by opening up an umbrella repair shop. Learning the location of his hideout, they failed to capture their old foe and after a chase through the city, the Penguin tripped himself up with his own umbrellas and was captured.<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #87}}</ref> While in prison, the Penguin met the [[Joker (Earth-Two)|Joker]] and the two became instant rivals, breaking out of jail and attempting to steal a valuable emerald. When competing with each other proved to be a failure, they worked together and succeeded in their theft. However, their differences with each other eventually returned, which Batman and Robin played off to capture them.<ref>{{c|Batman #25}}</ref>
   
  +
Taking the son of one of his fellow crooks under his wing, the Penguin attempted to teach the boy all about crime. Uninterested, the boy instead wrote a book detailing the Penguin's crimes. The Penguin liked the idea so much he attempted to get it published. Unable to find anyone to publish the book, he attempted to steal the supplies needed, leading to the boy helping Batman and Robin capture the Penguin. Afterwards, the book was published to show readers that crime doesn't pay.<ref>{{c|Batman #27}}</ref>
⚫
Escaping again, the Penguin would attempt a new scheme: Seemingly freezing wealthy individuals, the Penguin would demand large sums of money to reveal how to thaw his victims out alive. Batman and Robin would foil this scheme by finding the Penguin's hideout and finding his victims were never really frozen at all but replaced with dummies. The Penguin would once more be captured by Batman and Robin<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #99}}</ref>. After another break out from prison, the Penguin would start another crime spree halted by Batman and Robin<ref>{{c|Batman #30}}</ref>. The Penguin is next tricked by three crooks into keeping Batman and Robin busy while they commit their own crimes, the scheme fails and all the crooks are captured and the Penguin is delivered a humiliating defeat when Robin single handedly captures him<ref>{{c|Batman #33}}</ref>.
  
   
  ⚫
Escaping again, the Penguin attempted a new scheme: Seemingly freezing wealthy individuals, the Penguin would demand large sums of money to reveal how to thaw his victims out alive. Batman and Robin foiled this scheme by finding the Penguin's hideout and finding his victims were never really frozen at all but replaced with dummies. The Penguin was once more be captured by Batman and Robin.<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #99}}</ref>
⚫
Getting out of jail again, the Penguin opens a seemingly legit business when he starts a restaurant called the Penguin's Nest. However, when the Penguin attempts to get arrested soon after, Batman deduces that he has been keeping copies of the signatures belonging to his wealthiest patrons so that he can get a forger in prison to write checks in their name. Batman foils this plot when giving him a false Bruce Wayne signature, that lands Penguin in jail for fraud<ref>{{c|Batman #36}}</ref>. After saving a warden from a fire while in prison, the Penguin is released on parole to Batman and Robin. While the Penguin originally intends on going straight, he is infuriated by a cartoon that mocks penguins and begins a crime spree based on the cartoon. He is ultimately thwarted and thrown back in jail by Batman and Robin<ref>{{c|Batman #38}}</ref>. Breaking out of jail once more, the Penguin becomes the assistant to reclusive ornithologist, Professor Boyd, using Boyd's avery as the staging ground of his bird related crimes. Batman and Robin track the Penguin down and once more arrest him<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #120}}</ref>.
  
   
  +
After another break out from prison, the Penguin started another crime spree halted by Batman and Robin.<ref>{{c|Batman #30}}</ref> The Penguin was next tricked by three crooks into keeping Batman and Robin busy while they commit their own crimes; the scheme fails and all the crooks are captured and the Penguin is delivered a humiliating defeat when Robin single-handedly captures him.<ref>{{c|Batman #33}}</ref>
⚫
Released from prison once more, the Penguin sets up his own bird-shop, selling birds to prominent people around Gotham City. In reality, the cages have bombs that are smuggled into the rich homes allowing the Penguin to blast his way in and rob them. Once more, Batman and Robin deduce the Penguin's plot and capture him<ref>{{c|Batman #41}}</ref>. In his next scheme, the Penguin extorts the cities singers by using a gas ejected from microphones to ruin their singing voices if they refuse to pay. Using their detective skills, Batman and Robin would learn the secret to the Penguin's crimes and capture him again<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #126}}</ref>. When the Joker and [[Selina Kyle (Earth-Two)|Catwoman]] begin dominating the headlines, the Penguin would commit another series of spectacular crimes to overshadow them. However, even though his crimes are inspired by rare birds, the clues lead Batman to capturing the Penguin once more<ref>{{c|Batman #43}}</ref>. Starting a new series of crimes, the Penguin would be forced to improvise when his hideout and trick umbrellas are destroyed by a lightning strike. Using unconventional means to commit crimes with umbrella like objects, the Penguin is still easily captured by Batman and Robin<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #134}}</ref>.
 
   
  ⚫
{{Image|Oswald Cobblepot Earth-Two 001.jpg|Batman chasing The Penguin}}Getting out of jail again, the Penguin opened a seemingly legit business when he started a restaurant called the Penguin's Nest. However, when the Penguin attempted to get arrested soon after, Batman deduced that he had been keeping copies of the signatures belonging to his wealthiest patrons so that he could get a forger in prison to write checks in their name. Batman foiled this plot by giving him a false signature that landed Penguin in jail for fraud.<ref>{{c|Batman #36}}</ref> After saving a warden from a fire while in prison, the Penguin was released on parole to Batman and Robin. While the Penguin originally intended on going straight, he was infuriated by a cartoon that mocks penguins and begins a crime spree based on the cartoon. He was ultimately thwarted and thrown back in jail by Batman and Robin.<ref>{{c|Batman #38}}</ref> Breaking out of jail once more, the Penguin became the assistant of the reclusive ornithologist, Professor Boyd, using Boyd's aviary as the staging ground of his bird-related crimes. Batman and Robin tracked the Penguin down and once more arrested him.<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #120}}</ref>
−
Once more in jail, the Penguin would begin using code to get information out of jail to break out, and then later commit crimes. Getting a hold of the Penguin's code book, he would learn the Penguin's crime plans and capture him once more<ref>{{c|World's Finest #35}}</ref>. Breaking out of prison again, the Penguin vows to no longer use birds in his crimes. However, his most recent crime spree would be marred when he is ironically tripped up by different birds each time. In one of his most humiliating defeats, the Penguin would capture a bunch of chicks that had swallowed a fortune in diamonds and their own peeps would give him away, allowing Batman and Robin to easily capture him<ref>{{c|Batman #48}}</ref>. Released from prison again, the Penguin appears to go straight with a new side-show attraction featuring "Pee-Wee the Talking Penguin", however this is a fraud and he is using a penguin costume to commit robberies to get money to pay off his previously hired goons. Ultimately, Batman and Robin figure out the hoax and capture the Penguin sending him to jail for fraud for the second time in his criminal career<ref>{{c|Batman #51}}</ref>.
 
   
  ⚫
Released from prison once more, the Penguin set up his own bird-shop, selling birds to prominent people around Gotham City. In reality, the cages had bombs that are smuggled into the rich homes allowing the Penguin to blast his way in and rob them. Once more, Batman and Robin deduced the Penguin's plot and capture him.<ref>{{c|Batman #41}}</ref> In his next scheme, the Penguin extorted the cities singers by using a gas ejected from microphones to ruin their singing voices if they refuse to pay. Using their detective skills, Batman and Robin learned the secret to the Penguin's crimes and captured him again.<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #126}}</ref> When the Joker and [[Selina Kyle (Earth-Two)|Catwoman]] began dominating the headlines, the Penguin committed another series of spectacular crimes to overshadow them. However, even though his crimes are inspired by rare birds, the clues lead Batman to capture the Penguin once more.<ref>{{c|Batman #43}}</ref> Starting a new series of crimes, the Penguin was forced to improvise when his hideout and trick umbrellas were destroyed by a lightning strike. Using unconventional means to commit crimes with umbrella-like objects, the Penguin was still easily captured by Batman and Robin.<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #134}}</ref>
   
−
Getting out of jail early for squealing information about Squeeze Miller, leading to Miller's execution, the Penguin is surprised to find that he is named in the crooks will. In order to win earn a fortune, the Penguin is required to commit a series of specific crimes using specific words. Because the first letter in each birds name spells out the name "Penguin", Batman deduces how to capture the Penguin and sends him back to jail where the crook realize that Miller's "fortune" was really worthless<ref>{{c|Batman #56}}</ref>. Paroled from prison once again, the Penguin would attempt to convince the Birdlovers' Society to elect the Penguin the state bird. When the Society would mock him, he would get revenge by robbing them one by one until stopped by Batman and Robin<ref>{{c|Batman #58}}</ref>. Escaping from prison again using mechanical wings made in the prison shop, the Penguin and his minions would commit a series of crimes using the devices. They would later capture Robin in an attempt to forcing Batman to reveal his true identity. However, Batman would foil the Penguin and rescue Robin<ref>{{c|Batman #61}}</ref>. Escaping prison once more, the Penguin would find getting henchmen hard to come by due to his poor record of captures at the hands of Batman and Robin. Inspired by a newspaper article, he would commit a series of "white feather" inspired crimes, until captured by Batman and Robin again<ref>{{c|World's Finest #49}}</ref>.
+
Once more in jail, the Penguin began using code to get information out of jail to break out, and then later commit crimes. Getting a hold of the Penguin's code book, Batman learned the Penguin's crime plans and captured him once more.<ref>{{c|World's Finest #35}}</ref> Breaking out of prison again, the Penguin vowed to no longer use birds in his crimes. However, his most recent crime spree was be marred when he was ironically tripped up by different birds each time. In one of his most humiliating defeats, the Penguin captured a bunch of chicks that had swallowed a fortune in diamonds and their own peeps gave him away, allowing Batman and Robin to easily capture him.<ref>{{c|Batman #48}}</ref> Released from prison again, the Penguin appeared to go straight with a new side-show attraction featuring "Pee-Wee the Talking Penguin", however this was a fraud and he was using a penguin costume to commit robberies to get money to pay off his previously hired goons. Ultimately, Batman and Robin figured out the hoax and captured the Penguin sending him to jail for fraud for the second time in his criminal career.<ref>{{c|Batman #51}}</ref>
   
−
Paroled, and once again feigning gong straight, the Penguin would purchase a mansion that he would convert into a combination museum/bird sanctuary and begin returning stolen loot to his past victims. Batman and Robin deduce that the Penguin is really planting gas bombs so that he can return and re-victimize the people he has stolen from again at a later time and capture him<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #171}}</ref>. On his birthday, the Penguin would receive presents mocking him from other criminals in the underworld. Furious, the Penguin would begin another series of bird related crimes, and as in all other similar schemes gets captured by Batman and Robin<ref>{{c|World's Finest #55}}</ref>. Once more paroled on good behavior, the Penguin is asked to release his birds as a sign of good faith that he has reformed. Opening his own umbrella company called Penguin Umbrellas Inc, he even fools Batman into thinking he's reformed to the point where Batman endorses his product. However, this is all a complex scheme to rob the people of Gotham City by means of the magnets built into each umbrella. After robbing the city, he would flee to the Oasis Beach Island on the Caribbean, where he would attempt another umbrella related theft when he is captured once again by Batman and Robin<ref>{{Batman #70}}</ref>.
+
Getting out of jail early for squealing information about Squeeze Miller, leading to Miller's execution, the Penguin was surprised to find that he was named in the crook's will. In order to inherit a fortune, the Penguin was required to commit a series of specific crimes using specific birds. Because the first letter in each birds name spelled out the name "Penguin", Batman deduced how to capture the Penguin and sent him back to jail, where the crook realized that Miller's "fortune" was really worthless.<ref>{{c|Batman #56}}</ref> Paroled from prison once again, the Penguin attempted to convince the Birdlovers' Society to elect the Penguin the state bird. After the Society mocked him, he got revenge by robbing them one by one until stopped by Batman and Robin.<ref>{{c|Batman #58}}</ref> Escaping from prison again using mechanical wings made in the prison shop, the Penguin and his minions committed a series of crimes using the devices. They later captured Robin in an attempt to force Batman to reveal his true identity. However, Batman foiled the Penguin and rescued Robin.<ref>{{c|Batman #61}}</ref> Escaping prison once more, the Penguin found getting henchmen hard to come by due to his poor record of captures at the hands of Batman and Robin. Inspired by a newspaper article, he committed a series of "white feather" inspired crimes, until captured by Batman and Robin again.<ref>{{c|World's Finest #49}}</ref>
   
  +
Paroled, and once again feigning gong straight, the Penguin purchased a mansion that he converted into a combination museum/bird sanctuary and began returning stolen loot to his past victims. Batman and Robin deduced that the Penguin is really planting gas bombs so that he can return and re-victimize the people he has stolen from again at a later time and capture him.<ref>{{c|Detective Comics #171}}</ref> On his birthday, the Penguin received presents mocking him from other criminals in the underworld. Furious, the Penguin began another series of bird-related crimes, and as in all other similar schemes got captured by Batman and Robin.<ref>{{c|World's Finest #55}}</ref> Once more paroled on good behavior, the Penguin was asked to release his birds as a sign of good faith that he has reformed. Opening his own umbrella company called Penguin Umbrellas Inc, he even fooled Batman into thinking he's reformed to the point where Batman endorsed his product. However, this was all a complex scheme to rob the people of Gotham City by means of the magnets built into each umbrella. After robbing the city, he fled to the Oasis Beach Island on the Caribbean, where he attempted another umbrella-related theft when he was captured once again by Batman and Robin.<ref>{{c|Batman #70}}</ref>
⚫
In his last recorded appearance, the Penguin would once more pretend to become a legitimate business by using clever mechanical frauds of mythical birds and passing them off as the real deal and charging people admission. He would then attempt to make the people fear Batman by associating him with a terrifying Man-Bat creature of his own design. This, like all of his other schemes would fail and the Penguin would once more be captured<ref>{{Batman #76}}</ref>.
  
   
  ⚫
The Penguin once more pretended to become a legitimate business by using clever mechanical frauds of mythical birds and passing them off as the real deal and charging people admission. He then attempted to make the people fear Batman by associating him with a terrifying Man-Bat creature of his own design. This, like all of his other schemes, failed and the Penguin was once more captured.<ref>{{c|Batman #76}}</ref>
−
====Fate and Legacy====
  
   
−
Any further exploits of the Earth-Two Penguin remain unrecorded, and his ultimate fate is unknown. It's entirely possible that he, like many of villains that battled the Batman of Earth-Two, likely wound up retiring from crime. He would have a [[Oswald Cobblepot (Earth-One)|counterpart]] in the parallel universe known as [[Earth-One]], although the two would never cross paths.
 
−  
−
Whatever the fate of the Penguin, his existence would have been erased from history along with that of his Earth-One counterpart following the dissolution of the multiverse during [[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]. Following the Crisis, the single universe would have it's own incarnation of the [[Oswald Cobblepot (New Earth)|Penguin]], who's own origins and past would have elements similar to his Earth-One and Earth-Two counterparts.
  
−  
−
Following the creation of a new multiverse, the universe [[Earth-2]] is in many respects similar to the original Earth-Two universe. If a version of the Penguin exists in that reality remains to be revealed.
  
 
| Powers =
 
| Powers =
 
| Abilities =
 
| Abilities =
  +
* {{Animal Training}}: The Penguin is capable of training all sorts of birds to commit crimes.
  +
* {{Gadgetry}}: The Penguin carried several modified umbrellas over time, all which had their specificity, like "the flash-bomb umbrella", "the extension handle umbrella".<ref>{{c|Batman Vol 1 58}}</ref>
  +
 
| Strength =
 
| Strength =
 
| Weaknesses =
 
| Weaknesses =
Line 82: Line 83:
 
| Weapons =
 
| Weapons =
   
−
| Notes =
+
| Notes = {{Precrisis|the Penguin}}
  +
* Penguin's real name was first revealed in a [[Batman (comic strip)|newspaper comic strip]] in 1946.<ref>{{c|Batman #198}}</ref> It was then used in the comic books soon afterward. That same comic strip story revealed that Penguin has an aunt named Miranda Cobblepot. Aunt Miranda never appeared in the comic books in the [[Earth-Two]] era, but she did eventually show up on [[Earth-One]].
 
| Trivia =
 
| Trivia =
 
| Recommended =
 
| Recommended =
−
| Wikipedia =
+
| DC = None
  +
| Wikipedia = Penguin (character)
 
| Links =
 
| Links =
 
}}
  
}}
  +
{{Batman Villain}}
  +
[[Category:Monocles]]

Revision as of 10:19, 19 August 2018

Quote1 Why not call me The Penguin! It does fit... Quote2
— Penguin src


The Penguin was a regular foe of the hero Batman and his sidekick Robin.

As a new criminal in Gotham, the Penguin began a crime spree until he attracted the attention of the Caped Crusaders. Growing tired of their constant meddling, the Penguin framed Batman for the theft of a jewel. Batman freed himself and with the aid of Robin, cleared his name and rounded up the Penguin's minions. The Penguin, however, escaped.[1]

While traveling across the United States on a train, Dick Grayson spotted the Penguin, prompting Batman and Robin to investigate. They found that the Penguin was turning in criminals for reward money and then busting them out of jail and hiring them into his gang. Batman and Robin ended the operation, rounding up the criminals. During the fight, the Penguin seemingly drowned in the Mississippi River.[2]

Surviving, the Penguin relocated to Florida where he set up a legal gambling operation with Jim Crow, Buzzard Benny, and the Canary. They allowed their patrons to win big and then, in turn, follow them home and rob them of their winnings. This attracted the attention of Batman and Robin who confronted the Penguin again. Aided by the Canary, who switched sides, the Dynamic Duo foiled the Penguin's scheme, although the Penguin eluded capture once again.[3]

When the Penguin resurfaced and committed yet another crime spree, he utilized different exotic birds to facilitate his crimes, and was once more be stopped by Batman and Robin, yet manage to escape once again.[4]

In one of his more ruthless schemes, the Penguin set himself up as an underworld adviser, planning fool-proof crimes for other criminals. Upon their successful robberies, the Penguin would then murder the crooks take their stolen loot. Batman posed as "Bad News" Brewster, a rival criminal organizer. Although the Penguin saw through this disguise, Batman and Robin finally succeeded in capturing the Penguin.[5]

The Bird/Umbrella Obsession

The Penguin soon became less violent as a criminal and begin committing various crimes featuring his two favorite obsessions: birds and umbrellas. He would develop a massive ego that would easily be shattered making him prone to fits of criminal rage whenever he, or any of his preoccupations were mocked.

Oswald Cobblepot Earth-Two 003

Penguin Always on the Run

Breaking free from prison, the Penguin overheard that he wasn't among the greatest Batman villains because of his modus operandi for his crimes. Furious, the Penguin began using a series of gimmicked guns and fishing poles, but was still defeated by Batman -- ironically enough by means of an umbrella.[6] Free once more, the Penguin attempted to rob three eccentric millionaires. Although Batman and Robin failed to capture him during the first two robberies, he got caught while attempting the third when it turned out that the man he intended to rob had been dead for a year.[7]

When the Penguin escaped prison again, Batman and Robin attempted to capture him by opening up an umbrella repair shop. Learning the location of his hideout, they failed to capture their old foe and after a chase through the city, the Penguin tripped himself up with his own umbrellas and was captured.[8] While in prison, the Penguin met the Joker and the two became instant rivals, breaking out of jail and attempting to steal a valuable emerald. When competing with each other proved to be a failure, they worked together and succeeded in their theft. However, their differences with each other eventually returned, which Batman and Robin played off to capture them.[9]

Taking the son of one of his fellow crooks under his wing, the Penguin attempted to teach the boy all about crime. Uninterested, the boy instead wrote a book detailing the Penguin's crimes. The Penguin liked the idea so much he attempted to get it published. Unable to find anyone to publish the book, he attempted to steal the supplies needed, leading to the boy helping Batman and Robin capture the Penguin. Afterwards, the book was published to show readers that crime doesn't pay.[10]

Escaping again, the Penguin attempted a new scheme: Seemingly freezing wealthy individuals, the Penguin would demand large sums of money to reveal how to thaw his victims out alive. Batman and Robin foiled this scheme by finding the Penguin's hideout and finding his victims were never really frozen at all but replaced with dummies. The Penguin was once more be captured by Batman and Robin.[11]

After another break out from prison, the Penguin started another crime spree halted by Batman and Robin.[12] The Penguin was next tricked by three crooks into keeping Batman and Robin busy while they commit their own crimes; the scheme fails and all the crooks are captured and the Penguin is delivered a humiliating defeat when Robin single-handedly captures him.[13]

Oswald Cobblepot Earth-Two 001

Batman chasing The Penguin

Getting out of jail again, the Penguin opened a seemingly legit business when he started a restaurant called the Penguin's Nest. However, when the Penguin attempted to get arrested soon after, Batman deduced that he had been keeping copies of the signatures belonging to his wealthiest patrons so that he could get a forger in prison to write checks in their name. Batman foiled this plot by giving him a false signature that landed Penguin in jail for fraud.[14] After saving a warden from a fire while in prison, the Penguin was released on parole to Batman and Robin. While the Penguin originally intended on going straight, he was infuriated by a cartoon that mocks penguins and begins a crime spree based on the cartoon. He was ultimately thwarted and thrown back in jail by Batman and Robin.[15] Breaking out of jail once more, the Penguin became the assistant of the reclusive ornithologist, Professor Boyd, using Boyd's aviary as the staging ground of his bird-related crimes. Batman and Robin tracked the Penguin down and once more arrested him.[16]

Released from prison once more, the Penguin set up his own bird-shop, selling birds to prominent people around Gotham City. In reality, the cages had bombs that are smuggled into the rich homes allowing the Penguin to blast his way in and rob them. Once more, Batman and Robin deduced the Penguin's plot and capture him.[17] In his next scheme, the Penguin extorted the cities singers by using a gas ejected from microphones to ruin their singing voices if they refuse to pay. Using their detective skills, Batman and Robin learned the secret to the Penguin's crimes and captured him again.[18] When the Joker and Catwoman began dominating the headlines, the Penguin committed another series of spectacular crimes to overshadow them. However, even though his crimes are inspired by rare birds, the clues lead Batman to capture the Penguin once more.[19] Starting a new series of crimes, the Penguin was forced to improvise when his hideout and trick umbrellas were destroyed by a lightning strike. Using unconventional means to commit crimes with umbrella-like objects, the Penguin was still easily captured by Batman and Robin.[20]

Once more in jail, the Penguin began using code to get information out of jail to break out, and then later commit crimes. Getting a hold of the Penguin's code book, Batman learned the Penguin's crime plans and captured him once more.[21] Breaking out of prison again, the Penguin vowed to no longer use birds in his crimes. However, his most recent crime spree was be marred when he was ironically tripped up by different birds each time. In one of his most humiliating defeats, the Penguin captured a bunch of chicks that had swallowed a fortune in diamonds and their own peeps gave him away, allowing Batman and Robin to easily capture him.[22] Released from prison again, the Penguin appeared to go straight with a new side-show attraction featuring "Pee-Wee the Talking Penguin", however this was a fraud and he was using a penguin costume to commit robberies to get money to pay off his previously hired goons. Ultimately, Batman and Robin figured out the hoax and captured the Penguin sending him to jail for fraud for the second time in his criminal career.[23]

Getting out of jail early for squealing information about Squeeze Miller, leading to Miller's execution, the Penguin was surprised to find that he was named in the crook's will. In order to inherit a fortune, the Penguin was required to commit a series of specific crimes using specific birds. Because the first letter in each birds name spelled out the name "Penguin", Batman deduced how to capture the Penguin and sent him back to jail, where the crook realized that Miller's "fortune" was really worthless.[24] Paroled from prison once again, the Penguin attempted to convince the Birdlovers' Society to elect the Penguin the state bird. After the Society mocked him, he got revenge by robbing them one by one until stopped by Batman and Robin.[25] Escaping from prison again using mechanical wings made in the prison shop, the Penguin and his minions committed a series of crimes using the devices. They later captured Robin in an attempt to force Batman to reveal his true identity. However, Batman foiled the Penguin and rescued Robin.[26] Escaping prison once more, the Penguin found getting henchmen hard to come by due to his poor record of captures at the hands of Batman and Robin. Inspired by a newspaper article, he committed a series of "white feather" inspired crimes, until captured by Batman and Robin again.[27]

Paroled, and once again feigning gong straight, the Penguin purchased a mansion that he converted into a combination museum/bird sanctuary and began returning stolen loot to his past victims. Batman and Robin deduced that the Penguin is really planting gas bombs so that he can return and re-victimize the people he has stolen from again at a later time and capture him.[28] On his birthday, the Penguin received presents mocking him from other criminals in the underworld. Furious, the Penguin began another series of bird-related crimes, and as in all other similar schemes got captured by Batman and Robin.[29] Once more paroled on good behavior, the Penguin was asked to release his birds as a sign of good faith that he has reformed. Opening his own umbrella company called Penguin Umbrellas Inc, he even fooled Batman into thinking he's reformed to the point where Batman endorsed his product. However, this was all a complex scheme to rob the people of Gotham City by means of the magnets built into each umbrella. After robbing the city, he fled to the Oasis Beach Island on the Caribbean, where he attempted another umbrella-related theft when he was captured once again by Batman and Robin.[30]

The Penguin once more pretended to become a legitimate business by using clever mechanical frauds of mythical birds and passing them off as the real deal and charging people admission. He then attempted to make the people fear Batman by associating him with a terrifying Man-Bat creature of his own design. This, like all of his other schemes, failed and the Penguin was once more captured.[31]


Abilities

  • Animal Training: The Penguin is capable of training all sorts of birds to commit crimes.
  • Gadgetry: The Penguin carried several modified umbrellas over time, all which had their specificity, like "the flash-bomb umbrella", "the extension handle umbrella".[32]


  • This version of the Penguin, including all history and corresponding appearances, was erased from existence following the collapse of the original Multiverse in the 1985–86 Crisis on Infinite Earths event and later restored following the rebirth of the infinite Multiverse during the Dark Crisis of 2022-2023. Even though other versions of the character may have appeared, this information does not apply to those versions.
  • Penguin's real name was first revealed in a newspaper comic strip in 1946.[33] It was then used in the comic books soon afterward. That same comic strip story revealed that Penguin has an aunt named Miranda Cobblepot. Aunt Miranda never appeared in the comic books in the Earth-Two era, but she did eventually show up on Earth-One.

Related

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Detective Comics #58
  2. ↑ Detective Comics #59
  3. ↑ Batman #11
  4. ↑ Detective Comics #67
  5. ↑ Batman #14
  6. ↑ Batman #17
  7. ↑ Batman #21
  8. ↑ Detective Comics #87
  9. ↑ Batman #25
  10. ↑ Batman #27
  11. ↑ Detective Comics #99
  12. ↑ Batman #30
  13. ↑ Batman #33
  14. ↑ Batman #36
  15. ↑ Batman #38
  16. ↑ Detective Comics #120
  17. ↑ Batman #41
  18. ↑ Detective Comics #126
  19. ↑ Batman #43
  20. ↑ Detective Comics #134
  21. ↑ World's Finest #35
  22. ↑ Batman #48
  23. ↑ Batman #51
  24. ↑ Batman #56
  25. ↑ Batman #58
  26. ↑ Batman #61
  27. ↑ World's Finest #49
  28. ↑ Detective Comics #171
  29. ↑ World's Finest #55
  30. ↑ Batman #70
  31. ↑ Batman #76
  32. ↑ Batman #58
  33. ↑ Batman #198


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