Team Penguin

"**Team Penguin**" is the second episode of the fourth season of *The Batman* and the forty-first episode overall.

## Synopsis

After watching a film about criminal masterminds, Penguin forms *Team Penguin* along with Killer Croc, Ragdoll, Firefly and newcomer Killer Moth to finally take Batman down. Meanwhile, Batgirl and Robin must learn how to work together. However, Moth gets infected by a chemical which the team stole and mutates into a giant, monstrous moth.

## Plot

The episode begins with Penguin watching a spy movie. One of the characters mentions that teamwork is the "blueprint" for success. Penguin, agreeing with the statement, begins to assemble his own team to take down Batman once and for all.

The setting transfers to show Bane attacking a Gotham Bank. Batgirl arrives first at the scene, followed by Batman, and then finally Robin. Batman tells Robin to follow a certain tactic, but, to spite Batgirl, he follows his own technique. Bane quickly grabs both the boy wonder and Batgirl, leaving Batman to shoot a taser at Bane's Venom supply and instantly beats him.

Meanwhile, Penguin talks with his assembled team at Gotham Academy: Killer Croc, Ragdoll, and Firefly. They had sent a request to Bane but, due to his capture at the bank, it is obvious he's out. Team Penguin also sent requests to the Joker and Mr. Freeze but they rejected the team, too. Suddenly, a new villain, Killer Moth, walks in and auditions for the team. Although he is an "awesome" villain and disgusting, he is a gigantic fan of the Penguin and a great lackey.

In the Batcave, Robin practices his fighting on a robot while Batman researches Penguin's new gang.

The scene switches to an unknown warehouse where Killer Croc swims through the sewers. As he pops out of the water, he notices two security guards whom he immediately strikes with his tail. Then, Ragdoll hops out of Croc's backpack and into a small vent in one of the buildings. Ragdoll climbs through the vent and finds a security guard watching the cameras. Ragdoll knocks him out with one punch. With the security disabled, Penguin, Firefly, and Killer Moth are able to enter. Firefly cuts through the metal of one of the warehouses and finds a supply of chemicals which Penguin says is what they were there for. Just as he says that, he notices the Batsignal shining in the sky knowing the Bat family will be attacking them.

Batman and Robin quickly arrive at the scene with Penguin and Killer Moth waiting for them. Robin begins to beat down penguin for calling him a "lackey." Batgirl then arrives and mocks Grayson's energy. Suddenly, the rest of Team Penguin arrives and begins to attack Team Batman.

The fight continues with Batgirl and Robin getting in each others' ways. But, Team Penguin becomes victorious as Team Batman becomes trapped under several barrels. Penguin cuts the gasoline valves and allows Firefly to set the gas on fire. Salvation looks bleak for the heroes.

Thankfully, Batman uses a handheld jet to shoot the barrel trapping him off of him. Rushing, he rescues Robin and Batgirl as well. The heroes run off the Batmobile as the warehouse explodes.

In the Penguin's ice cream truck, the villains are celebrating their victory. Ragdoll suggests changing the team name to "Villains United" to which Penguin comically rejects.

In the Batmobile, Robin and Batgirl continue to criticize each other. Batman tells the children that Penguin doesn't realize that he's stolen a highly dangerous chemical and that his team is in danger. The team heads to "the hideout" which Barbara is surprised that Grayson knows about. Batgirl sarcastically says to tell the new sidekick Batman's secret identity, too, but she finds out, Robin knows that as well.

The heroes go to the Batcave and Batman takes off his cowl. Batgirl is surprised to know that her partner is Bruce Wayne! She then deduces that her new rival, Robin, is Dick Grayson. Disappointed that his secret has been given up, Grayson demands to know Batgirl's secret identity. Barbara refuses, but Wayne has no time for games and casually says she's Barbara Gordon. Robin laughs at her as she takes off her mask as well.

Now, Team Penguin has a new mission: break into the building belonging to millionaire Robert Howard. Firefly mentions how he tried to get in once but breaking into *that* building is impossible. Penguin seems sure they can get in, since they have a top-notch team. He tells them his plan: disable the security, use the chemical they stole to burn down the door to the vault, and take the ruby-encrusted penguin! Croc, Firefly, and Ragdoll are disappointed that all their work is for a stupid bird. Penguin says next time they can steal an alligator or something. Now they just have to wait for Killer Moth with the chemicals.

Killer Moth had stopped for some donuts before going on his way to the Penguin. Like Batman had predicted, the chemicals are radiating an odd gas that is affecting the moths that surrounded Killer Moth. The radiated bugs begin to phase into his costume, but Moth doesn't seem to notice.

In the Batcave, Robin and Batgirl practice as they brag about their past achievements to each other. Wayne is trying to figure out what Penguin plans to do with the universal solvent chemical. The Batwave starts ringing. They found the Penguin at Howard's mansion. They're on their way.

Back with Team Penguin, Killer Moth arrives, driving like a maniac. Penguins opens the back of the truck to find a disgusting cocoon that they assume is Killer Moth. Penguin sarcastically suggests they buy him a wreath. Killer Croc is done with the team, he says,and walks away frustrated. Penguin doesn't mind, after all, more for the rest of them. Ragdoll and Firefly decide to walk away, too. Cobblepot's off his nut!

Just then, the cocoon breaks open to expose a completely mutated Killer Moth. He is now a gigantic *real* moth. Walker doesn't notice the change at first until he looks at his reflection in the window. He demands respect from the other villains but says that Penguin is still their leader. Croc, Firefly, and Ragdoll, terrified of the new Killer Moth, happily rejoin the team. Penguin demands Croc to take the chemicals out of the back of the van. Jones is discouraged to do it, seeing the transformation Moth has gone through. Luckily, Firefly notes that Moth's saliva is just as corrosive as the chemical. They can just use him.

Batman then arrives at the scene with Robin and Batgirl. Their second fight ensues, but Penguin has a different idea for Killer Moth. Moth and Penguin should ditch the other three and get the ruby-encrusted penguin themselves. Killer Moth seems alright with that idea and has Cobblepot jump on his back. The newly transformed Walker burns a hole into the mansion using his spit as the others fight.

In the fight, Batgirl defeats Firefly, Robin defeats Ragdoll, and Batman defeats Killer Croc using the freeze grenades. Now they just have to find the last of Team Penguin.

Just as planned, Penguin finds the treasure in the safe and has Killer Moth rush them out. Unfortunately for him, Batman sees them and and pulls Penguin off of Moth. Batman fights the Penguin and the sidekicks fight Killer Moth. Just as Cobblepot is about to slice Batman with his umbrella blade, the sidekicks come riding an out-of-control Killer Moth who crashes into Penguin and breaks the roof they are on. They were standing on top of the movie theater Penguin was in at the beginning of the episode and the same spy movie is playing. As he is about to pass out, he mumbles a quote just as one of the characters in the movie does.

The GCPD helicopter takes away Killer Moth. Robin and Batgirl begin to compliment each other on their teamwork when they see Batman smile at their change of hearts for each other. Realizing they are getting along, they begin to insult each other again as they swing off into the night.

## Cast/Characters

* Rino Romano as Bruce Wayne/The Batman
* Alastair Duncan as Alfred Pennyworth
* Evan Sabara as Dick Grayson/Robin
* Danielle Judovits as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl
* Tom Kenny as The Penguin
* Ron Perlman as Killer Croc and Bane
* Jeff Bennett as Ragdoll and Drury Walker/Killer Moth
* Jason Marsden as Firefly
* Dan Woren as General
* The Joker (shown in a photo)
* Mr. Freeze (shown in a photo)

## Events

- Character debuts:

* Killer Moth

- Robin meets Batgirl and discovers her identity.

- Batgirl enters the Batcave for the first time and learns the identities of the Dynamic Duo. She also meets Alfred.

- Killer Moth mutates.

## Trivia

* The movie the Penguin is watching at the beginning has a Bruce Timm style animation to it.
* The movie The Penguin is watching at the beginning of the episode is likely a nod to *The Italian Job*.
* When Penguin is watching the movie at the start of the episode, a character says "MacGuffin acquired". This, and the fact that the item being stolen is a briefcase with glowing contents that are never seen is an obvious reference to *Pulp Fiction*.
* When Penguin is about to steal the jeweled penguin figure, he calls it, "The stuff that dreams are made of.", an obvious reference to *The Maltese Falcon* (1941).
* Batgirl saying "Knew it" after discovering Batman's identity is a reference to *A Dark Knight to Remember*,where she had theorised that Batman is Bruce Wayne. Both episodes had Penguin as the villain.
* It is unknown why Bane was attacking a bank, since he does not care for money. It is likely that he was doing so to attract Batman's attention to get another shot at him, just as he did in *Traction.*
* Despite Batgirl getting a new utility belt in *Thunder*, she is seen with her original belt for the remainder of the series. The model sheets for the episode, however, depict her with the new belt.
* Bane is recast.
* Croc's tooth has regrown after what happened in *Swamped*.
* As of this episode, Dick has been Robin for about a week.

## Errors

* After Ragdoll pops out the hat, Firefly's jetpack is gray.
* When Batman is analysing villains, Joker's suit is miscolored.
* When Robin throws Birdarangs at the training robot, they make the Batarangs' sound.
* After the Batwave goes off due to Team Penguin invading the mansion, Batman's eye slits are missing for one frame.
* As the cops transport the villains away, there are two Ragdolls.Jetpack error.Joker error.Eye slits error.Ragdoll error.