Oswald Cobblepot (Earth-2)

## Oswald Cobblepot / Penguin

**Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot**, better known as **The Penguin**, is a supporting character in the film *The Batman*. A crime boss who serves as one of the top lieutenants for the Falcone Crime Syndicate in Gotham City, the Penguin operates the Iceberg Lounge, a nightclub that doubles as a front for Falcone's criminal operations. During the Riddler's killing spree, Batman investigated the Penguin's connection to the killings, eventually learning that his boss Carmine Falcone had served as an informant in the GCPD's takedown of Salvatore Maroni's drug operation. After Falcone was exposed and subsequently killed by the Riddler, the Penguin was poised to continue his rise to power over Gotham's criminal underworld.

## Appearance

The Penguin is a short, stocky, and somewhat overweight middle-aged man with black hair and a receding hairline. He bears numerous facial disfigurements, most prominently noticeable scarring and a false tooth. He prefers to dress in a tuxedo when operating the Iceberg Lounge.

## History

### Past

Oswald Cobblepot has operated as a criminal in Gotham City for years before Batman began his operations. He rose through the ranks of the Falcone Crime Family, eventually becoming Carmine Falcone's right-hand man and overseeing the operations of the Iceberg Lounge on his behalf. During his criminal career, Cobblepot presumably sustained his facial disfigurements, though it is unclear exactly how he received them. He earned the nickname "Penguin" in reference to his appearance, though he disliked the nickname and preferred to be referred to as "Oz" instead. Despite his high-ranking position in the Falcone Family, the Penguin had greater ambitions and sought to usurp Falcone as Gotham's most powerful crime boss.

### *The Batman*

During their investigation into the murder of Gotham's mayor Don Mitchell Jr. ahead of his reelection bid by the mysterious serial killer known as the Riddler, Batman and Lieutenant James Gordon identified the Penguin in a leaked photo of Mitchell with a woman outside of the Iceberg Lounge. Batman arrived at the club and demanded to see the Penguin, but the bouncers known only as the Twins refused him access and denied knowing anyone by that name. Batman attacked the Twins and fought his way through the Penguin's henchmen, eventually confronting the Penguin himself. The Penguin told Batman to "take it easy" and remarked that he lived up to his reputation. He introduced himself as "Oz" and offered his hand, but Batman did not return the gesture. The Penguin brought Batman to his office, where he was shown the photos in question. Batman asked who the woman was, but the Penguin claimed not to know. Batman grew angry and threw the Penguin against a window, but the Penguin maintained his ignorance and was not threatened. While the Penguin would not talk, Batman noticed that waitress Selina Kyle had seemed to recognize the woman in the picture and decided to tail her instead. The Penguin was later present at Mitchell's public funeral, accompanying Carmine Falcone. He tried to stop Bruce Wayne from approaching Falcone, but Falcone called him off.

Batman and Gordon's investigation into the Riddler killings indicated that the Riddler wanted the informant who made the GCPD's takedown of Salvatore Maroni's drug operation possible. They believed the Penguin to be the culprit, and tracked him to a drug deal at a warehouse that formerly housed Maroni's operation. When the Penguin and his men saw Selina at the scene, they opened fire on her, prompting Gordon to return fire. Selina escaped in the commotion with a bag of cash, while Batman started the Batmobile. The Penguin fled in his car, with the Batmobile giving chase. The Penguin led Batman onto a freeway and drove into oncoming traffic, triggering a crash involving multiple semi trucks that set off a large explosion which seemingly consumed the Batmobile. As the Penguin triumphantly taunted Batman, the Batmobile suddenly launched over the flames and rammed into the Penguin's car, causing it to roll and crash. Batman exited the Batmobile and extracted Cobblepot from the wreckage of his car, bringing him to a location where he and Gordon interrogated him about being the informant. The Penguin denied being a rat, and mocked Batman and Gordon for their baseless accusation. The Penguin inadvertently gave Batman a clue relating to the messages left by the Riddler, which led to him and Gordon deciding to leave the scene in search of the Riddler's next clue. The Penguin, still bound in handcuffs and leg restraints, angrily called after Batman and Gordon as they drove off.

Batman, Gordon, and Selina eventually learned that Falcone was the informant, and together brought him outside of the Iceberg Lounge to be apprehended by police. The Penguin stepped outside of the club as Falcone was being arrested and threatened him for his treachery, indicating that he would be killed that night by the other inmates in Blackgate Prison. When Falcone insulted the Penguin, the latter drew a gun on him only to be immediately disarmed by police. However, the Riddler had shot and killed Falcone with a sniper rifle shot from a nearby apartment overlooking the scene.

Some time later, with Falcone dead and Gotham in a state of chaos after the Riddler caused much of the city to flood, the Penguin prepared to seize the opportunity to expand his influence on Gotham's criminal underworld.

## Personality

The Penguin is a cunning crime boss who successfully operates the Iceberg Lounge nightclub, as well as the 44 Below club underneath of it, on behalf of Carmine Falcone. Unlike most criminals in Gotham, he is not easily intimidated by Batman, who fails to threaten and interrogate him on two occasions. While he is a ruthless hardened criminal and is willing to use lethal force against his enemies, he follows his own code which entails never betraying his fellow criminals to law enforcement. As such, he laughs off accusations from Batman and Gordon that he served as an informant against Salvatore Maroni. He also vehemently denies that he murdered Annika when accused by Batman. As a result, the Penguin threatens Falcone after he is exposed as the informant. While the Penguin typically acts with a very calm, polite, and pleasant demeanor, he does display some emotion at times, such as when he boasts after believing he destroyed the Batmobile, or when he angrily draws a gun on Falcone after the latter insults him. The Penguin is highly ambitious, intending to one day take over the Falcone Crime Family himself. He gets his opportunity to do so after Falcone is killed and Gotham is plunged into chaos by the Riddler's attack, and it is implied that he will soon establish himself as one of Gotham's most powerful criminals.