Oswald Cobblepot (Arrowverse)

**Oswald Cobblepot** is a former powerful crime lord in Gotham City, a former associate/ally of the False Face Society, a former close friend/business rival of Roman Sionis, and a former friend of Bruce Wayne.

## General Information

### Occupation

Owner of the Iceberg Lounge (formerly)Crime Lord (formerly)

Mayor of Gotham City (formerly)

### Affiliation

Iceberg Lounge (formerly)False Face Society (formerly)

Royal Flush (formerly)

Gotham Political Office (formerly)

### Family

Tucker Cobblepot (father; deceased)Esther Cobblepot (mother; deceased)

Elijah Van Dahl (stepfather; deceased)

Grace Van Dahl (stepmother; deceased)

Sasha Van Dahl (stepsister; deceased)

Charles Van Dahl (stepbrother; deceased)

### Alter Ego

Penguin

Oswald was born with birdlike deformities to the rich Cobblepot family in their estate, however his parents discarded him due to disgust out of his ghastly appearance and murderous urges. Intending to kill him, they threw his crib into the river where he floated down to a waterfall. Amazingly, the baby Oswald survived and was found by a couple, Elijah Van Dahl, and Grace Van Dahl, who took him into their rich estate and raised him as their own. However, Oswald was abused by his two stepsiblings, Charles, and Sasha.

Oswald was also heavily bullied in school due to being overweight and having birdlike looks. This caused him to be instructed to carry an umbrella around with him by the overprotective Grace. Growing up, Oswald graduated high school and inherited his stepfamily’s fortune as well as his original family’s fortune, becoming an intelligent and successful businessman. He eventually opened the Iceberg Lounge, a popular club in Gotham City. However, underneath his gentlemanly façade, he had become angry and ruthless for never having felt accepted.

This led him to use the club as a façade in order to find a place in the mob. Eventually, he found a small-time criminal boss who ordered him to steal a painting in order to be accepted into the mob. Succeeding, he was mocked by the mob’s leader, whom he killed with a rifle built into his umbrella. Oswald took over the small mob and eventually began to expand his gang, becoming one of two of the most dangerous crime lords in Gotham City. To strike fear into the hearts of people who dare oppose him, Oswald used one of his childhood nicknames, becoming known as the **Penguin**, a brutal and sadistic crime lord.

He was eventually investigated by Edward Nygma, Harleen Quinzel and James Gordon as a suspect for hiring Joe Chill to murder the Waynes. However, he was eventually ruled out of the picture due to not being involved in the murder of Thomas and Martha. When Bruce Wayne grew up and became the vigilante known as Batman, Penguin became one of his regular enemies, however one of the hardest to defeat, due to his powerful place in the criminal underworld.

Oswald eventually rose into the political place in Gotham City, eventually becoming the mayor. This led him to become associated with numerous powerful businessmen, including Bruce Wayne. However, after his criminal acts were exposed by Batman and Jim Gordon, Oswald was incarcerated in Black Gate Penitentiary. He would remain there for 15 years, having lost all hope and his gangs turning on him. Oswald was aware of Batman’s disappearance and vowed one day to get revenge once Batman returned.

Following the Anti-Monitor Crisis, Oswald’s history was altered, where he became the mayor of Gotham City and was mayor for the 15 years that Batman was active, having his mayoral status as a cover for his criminal dealings. The Penguin was eventually incarcerated in Arkham Asylum after Batman disappeared in 2015, and he has remained there for years.