The first look of The CW's Gotham Knights was recently released, and the very first issue of the new comics series Young Justice: Targets launched mere days ago, making it an exciting time to be a DC Comics fan. Both of those series are set to feature notable DC villains.
Good villains are one of the most crucial elements of any story, and the Batman comics consistently create many infamous and iconic villains. The Penguin is one of those famous Batman villains, and while he is generally praised as a complex and interesting character, some Redditors have some extremely unpopular opinions about him.
As one of the oldest Batman villains, Penguin has an incredibly rich history. Oswald Cobblepot first appears in Detective Comics #58 in 1941, attempting to steal an emerald penguin. After being foiled by Batman and Robin, Penguin continues to appear in the Batman comics to tussle with the two heroes.
Some DC fans think that Penguin is incredibly underrated. One Redditor says, "Penguin is an underrated Batman villain...He is a great game villain and in Gotham such a great character how they approach his mental health is great. But no one ever talks about him when they aren't talking about games." While it may be true that Penguin sometimes doesn't stand out, the opinion that he is underrated is a rare one. In fact, Penguin is a very popular villain, adapted into movies and shows multiple times, most recently appearing in Robert Pattinson's The Batman.
Mysterious, psychopathic, and clinically insane, the Joker is one of the greatest villains of all time. He is simply a classic villain; it's hard to have a discussion about Batman without bringing up the Joker, who is, quite certainly, the best Batman villain. Some Redditors disagree though, claiming that Penguin is better and much scarier than the Joker.
Redditor runnerofshadows writes, "Joker might kill you or hurt you for [lolz,] but Penguin has to be the most vicious and vindictive bastard in Gotham." Penguin may be scary in his own way, but almost nobody is a match for the Joker, whose mere name inflicts fear in every heart in Gotham. Even though Penguin has done horrific things, the Joker is still a much more disturbing and terrifying villain.
Most of the famous Batman villains have serious mental problems, so much so that there is a special place that he sends his enemies to when it is appropriate, the famous Arkham Asylum. Many of Batman's adversaries have served time in Arkham, and Penguin is no exception. However, one Redditor argues that Penguin is actually the only one of Batman's foes that isn't insane.
Redditor TheRiff says, "To me, The Penguin is the one villain of Batman's that's truly just a criminal and not suffering from some extreme insanity. Without that, he doesn't stand out as much as he deserves." While it's true that Penguin something doesn't stand out among Batman villains, he certainly isn't mentally stable, as there are plenty of moments when he goes on violent rampages and emotionally and psychologically manipulates those less powerful than him.
The Batman comics are famous for creating supervillains like the Joker, the Riddler, and the classic Catwoman. Though Penguin is certainly a very well-known character himself, he sometimes doesn't stand out in the group of iconic villains. That being said, some Redditors argue that he is actually the greatest Batman villain of all time.
User OldHob writes, "The Penguin is the greatest Batman villain for the simple reason that he's the meanest. He's not crazy, he's not super-strong, he's not endowed with any real overriding mania or fixation." Though people \ appreciate Penguin, most agree that the Joker is the greatest Batman villain of all time, with his near-incapability to feel empathy and horrifying backstory.
As one of the greatest detectives of all time, Batman gets compared to a lot of other detectives, including the genius Sherlock Holmes. When discussing the similarities between Batman and Sherlock, the inevitable question of who is Batman's Moriarty arises. Most DC fans would say the Joker is his Moriarty, but some disagree.
Redditor CIN726 writes, "People often throw the 'Moriarty' comparison at The Joker and Ra's al Ghul, but I actually think it's most applicable to The Penguin. He's the spider that controls the web of Gotham's criminal underworld - pulling all the strings...He's not only a threat to Batman, but he's a threat to Bruce Wayne as well - so in that sense he's an all-encompassing villain." This argument is valid, but still, it is an unpopular one, since the villain that comes to mind when the term "Batman's greatest foe" is the Joker, not Penguin.
As one of the oldest and best Batman villains, Penguin has a very complex, interesting, and tragic history and backstory. He is unpredictable, dangerous, and manipulative, making him a slippery character as well as a darkly entertaining and interesting one. However, some Redditors disagree, claiming that he is a boring character.
User Arkham_Angst7 writes, "Most of Batman's villains have at least one unique quality to them that really makes them stand out. I'm not sure if the same can be said of the Penguin. He seems like a pretty generic rich bad guy with thugs to me, at least." Even though this one Redditor thinks Penguin is boring, most praise him as a complex and multi-layered character with a rich backstory, motivated by childhood trauma and an unquenchable desire for ultimate control.
Penguin is certainly one of Batman's most popular villains. He has made several appearances in live-action movies, television shows, and cartoons, like The Batman, Gotham, Batman Returns, and Batman: The Animated Series; he has even starred in his own comic series, titled Penguin: Pain and Prejudice. Despite this, some Redditors think that Penguin is a very underutilized character.
Redditor Chazz141414 writes, "Penguin is one of the greatest but most underutilized (used incorrectly) Batman villains. It's pretty easy with all the heavy hitters (Joker, Bane, Ra's) to push Penguin to the side however Penguin is not only one of the most versatile villains he is also one of the greatest." Though this Redditor clearly thinks that Penguin is underutilized, the fact that he has appeared in so many Batman comics and live-action and cartoon projects over the decades definitely proves that this opinion is unpopular.
Penguin has always been portrayed as a high-class criminal in the Batman comics. He owns a nightclub and his criminal activities are oftentimes ignored by Batman, as they are quieter and more underground. A rich man who has extravagant taste, Penguin dabbles in an eccentric and lavish lifestyle. Some fans argue that his character provides a subtle commentary on the privilege of those who are high up in the social hierarchy.
User FadeToBlackSun argues, "Penguin is a grim reflection of high society. He uses capitalism, money, corruption and status, things that the elite pride themselves on, to make Gotham a worse place for all, but a better place for him. He is a very literal, exaggerated version of what the high class do to the low; manipulate, exploit, and abuse them." While this is a solid argument, it's still not one that most fans relate to, notice, or agree with. Penguin seems to be a man of high taste and money who will do anything to remain in power.
Most of Batman's most famous nemeses have spent time in the famous Arkham Asylum at one point or another, including Penguin. He serves a sentence in the show Gotham and in the video game Batman: Arkham Knight. Some Redditors argue that he never should have gone to Arkham at all.
Redditor rgregan writes, "I've always thought it was a little weird when he gets locked up in the asylum instead of a prison. They've certainly shown Penguin completely off his rocker but usually he's for it together enough to be more prison material, at least in the wacky world of comics." That being said, most fans agree that Arkham isn't exclusively for villains who are clinically insane, it's also a place where the most dangerous criminals are sent, and Penguin falls under that category due to his slippery and deceiving nature.
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