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The Penguin (2023)
The Penguin, Vol. 2: All Bad Things
The Penguin is dead, long live the Penguin!
Since his "death" and subsequent return to Gotham City, Oswald Cobblepot's world has been anything but mundane. Now he finds himself in the perfect position to make the ultimate power grab for Gotham's underworld, but it won't come without a price! Are the risks worth the potential rewards? Or will Oswald's gambit prove to be a deadly miscalculation with even deadlier consequences?
Collects The Penguin #7-12.
Since his "death" and subsequent return to Gotham City, Oswald Cobblepot's world has been anything but mundane. Now he finds himself in the perfect position to make the ultimate power grab for Gotham's underworld, but it won't come without a price! Are the risks worth the potential rewards? Or will Oswald's gambit prove to be a deadly miscalculation with even deadlier consequences?
Collects The Penguin #7-12.
128 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2025
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53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 2, 2025
Penguins don't scream psychopath to me.
However, Tom King has managed to change my mind a bit about at least one of them.
This was quite a ride into the inner workings of Cobblepot's mind and the working relationship he has with Batman. And if he's not completely bananas scary, then I'm not sure if we read the same thing. Every time I'd start to think he had a teeny bit of humanity to him, King would jerk that rug right out from under me.
Yikes.
I will say that this didn't end as strongly as I thought it would. For whatever reason, it felt like it went out with a bit more of a whimper than I thought it would.
Maybe because Penguin had no redeeming qualities. So yes, this incarnation is much scarier than anything that came before, but he's also just slightly less interesting than I thought he was going to turn out to be after I read that King's first volume.
I'm not saying I didn't like this, just that I wanted him to care about someone. Other than birds, that is.
But you don't always get what you want.
And this is still such an interesting take on Penguin and on his relationship with Batman that I think it will probably be how he is written for the foreseeable future.
Wak. Wak. Wak.
However, Tom King has managed to change my mind a bit about at least one of them.
This was quite a ride into the inner workings of Cobblepot's mind and the working relationship he has with Batman. And if he's not completely bananas scary, then I'm not sure if we read the same thing. Every time I'd start to think he had a teeny bit of humanity to him, King would jerk that rug right out from under me.
Yikes.
I will say that this didn't end as strongly as I thought it would. For whatever reason, it felt like it went out with a bit more of a whimper than I thought it would.
Maybe because Penguin had no redeeming qualities. So yes, this incarnation is much scarier than anything that came before, but he's also just slightly less interesting than I thought he was going to turn out to be after I read that King's first volume.
I'm not saying I didn't like this, just that I wanted him to care about someone. Other than birds, that is.
But you don't always get what you want.
And this is still such an interesting take on Penguin and on his relationship with Batman that I think it will probably be how he is written for the foreseeable future.
Wak. Wak. Wak.
December 23, 2024
Другий том «Пінгвін: Все погане» від Тома Кінґа продовжує тримати ту саму напружену атмосферу, що й перший. Навіть би сказав, що все стає ще більш жорстокіше й кривавіше. Проте, як це часто буває у Кінґа, емоції та глибина персонажів місцями губляться у надміру тексту й роздумів. Це типовий для нього «баланс» � амбіційні ідеї, що можуть втомити через їх перевантаження.
У цій частині Пінгвін остаточно стає «павуком», що плете свою павутину, захищаючи себе від ворогів, власних дітей і навіть Бетмена. Освальд змушений маневрувати між урядом, який використовує його як маріонетку, і злочинним світом, який тепер до нього вороже налаштований. Ця історія показує, наскільки далеко герой готовий зайти, аби зберегти свою позицію в Ґотемі.
Друга арка може запропонувати цікаві моменти психологічного тиску й цікаві повороти сюжету. Проте, читаючи випуск за випуском, я просто «загруз» у текстових хмаринках і внутрішніх монологах персонажів. Це має додавати глибини, але сильно уповільнює ритм, в руках такого майстра. Дванадцять випусків � це випробування для терпіння, коли важливі моменти починають губитися серед постійного потоку роздумів.
Візуальна складова лишається одним із головних козирів коміксу. Роберто Де Латорре і його стиль продовжують задавати тон історії. Похмурі кольори, деталізовані сцени і вдало підібрані візуально кадри створюють ідеальну атмосферу для історії Освальда Кобблпота. Це той випадок, коли малюнок компенсує всі недоліки тексту.
Уся серія показує Пінгвіна не лише як злочинного генія, але і як маніпулятора, який тонко грає на слабкостях інших. Його складні стосунки з ворогами, союзниками й власною родиною відкривають нові грані персонажа. Цей Пінгвін � холоднокровний стратег, але водночас глибоко людяний (якщо так доречно казати) у своїй мотивації. Що часом, якось може не складатися в голові.
Історія наповнена цікавими ідеями, що страждає від надмірної текстової перевантаженості. Том Кінґ створив атмосферну і багатогранну оповідь, але під час читання часом виникала думка: «Можливо мені не читати роздуми усіх персонажів». Проте, незважаючи на всі недоліки, я все ж рекомендую цю лімітовану серію. Коміксів про Пінгвіна небагато, і цей є вартий уваги хоча б через оригінальний підхід до персонажа.
У цій частині Пінгвін остаточно стає «павуком», що плете свою павутину, захищаючи себе від ворогів, власних дітей і навіть Бетмена. Освальд змушений маневрувати між урядом, який використовує його як маріонетку, і злочинним світом, який тепер до нього вороже налаштований. Ця історія показує, наскільки далеко герой готовий зайти, аби зберегти свою позицію в Ґотемі.
Друга арка може запропонувати цікаві моменти психологічного тиску й цікаві повороти сюжету. Проте, читаючи випуск за випуском, я просто «загруз» у текстових хмаринках і внутрішніх монологах персонажів. Це має додавати глибини, але сильно уповільнює ритм, в руках такого майстра. Дванадцять випусків � це випробування для терпіння, коли важливі моменти починають губитися серед постійного потоку роздумів.
Візуальна складова лишається одним із головних козирів коміксу. Роберто Де Латорре і його стиль продовжують задавати тон історії. Похмурі кольори, деталізовані сцени і вдало підібрані візуально кадри створюють ідеальну атмосферу для історії Освальда Кобблпота. Це той випадок, коли малюнок компенсує всі недоліки тексту.
Уся серія показує Пінгвіна не лише як злочинного генія, але і як маніпулятора, який тонко грає на слабкостях інших. Його складні стосунки з ворогами, союзниками й власною родиною відкривають нові грані персонажа. Цей Пінгвін � холоднокровний стратег, але водночас глибоко людяний (якщо так доречно казати) у своїй мотивації. Що часом, якось може не складатися в голові.
Історія наповнена цікавими ідеями, що страждає від надмірної текстової перевантаженості. Том Кінґ створив атмосферну і багатогранну оповідь, але під час читання часом виникала думка: «Можливо мені не читати роздуми усіх персонажів». Проте, незважаючи на всі недоліки, я все ж рекомендую цю лімітовану серію. Коміксів про Пінгвіна небагато, і цей є вартий уваги хоча б через оригінальний підхід до персонажа.
September 14, 2024
The Penguin is actually a semi-sequel to Tom King's Batman: Killing Time, bringing back a couple of characters from there, including Agent [expletive of choice], and The Help. One of these is more fun than the other, because Agent [swear word]'s gimmick wears thin after about three pages, while The Help is just superb whenever he's around.
But that's not what we're here for. We're here for a Penguin story. Tasked by the US Government to come out of retirement (read: pretending to be dead) and retake Gotham City's organized crime, Oswald Cobblepot has nothing to work with, and that's where he thrives. Over the course of these twelve issues, he accumulates assistance both familiar and new, weaves a web of lies around himself that protects him from his children, the Batman, and retribution in general. It's a masterpiece of plotting on Oswald's part, and it's got the most bittersweet ending I've read in a while too. Yeah, we all get what we want - but what do we have to lose to get it?
The artwork is mostly by Rafael De La Torre, whose neon noir style was kicking up a storm over on Daredevil for a bit. There's also a two issue arc that flashes back to Oswald's first years as the Penguin with art by Riddler: Year One artist Stevan Subic, whose depiction of Oswald is both terrifying and sympathetic all at once.
Another excellent entry into the Tom King line of 12 issue maxi-series that make you think, and make you question everything you thought you knew about the characters you know and loathe.
But that's not what we're here for. We're here for a Penguin story. Tasked by the US Government to come out of retirement (read: pretending to be dead) and retake Gotham City's organized crime, Oswald Cobblepot has nothing to work with, and that's where he thrives. Over the course of these twelve issues, he accumulates assistance both familiar and new, weaves a web of lies around himself that protects him from his children, the Batman, and retribution in general. It's a masterpiece of plotting on Oswald's part, and it's got the most bittersweet ending I've read in a while too. Yeah, we all get what we want - but what do we have to lose to get it?
The artwork is mostly by Rafael De La Torre, whose neon noir style was kicking up a storm over on Daredevil for a bit. There's also a two issue arc that flashes back to Oswald's first years as the Penguin with art by Riddler: Year One artist Stevan Subic, whose depiction of Oswald is both terrifying and sympathetic all at once.
Another excellent entry into the Tom King line of 12 issue maxi-series that make you think, and make you question everything you thought you knew about the characters you know and loathe.
April 4, 2025
The penguin reclaims Gotham by killing his competition (which is mostly his son and daughter), teaming up with Batman and the federal government and then gets out to enjoy himself.
The penguin is such a little bastard! He has no care for anyone but himself and his best stories always end in betrayal after betrayal. This was a good story although not as engaging as the first few issues.
The penguin is such a little bastard! He has no care for anyone but himself and his best stories always end in betrayal after betrayal. This was a good story although not as engaging as the first few issues.
December 30, 2024
There's one mistake you shouldn't make: never ever underestimate the Penguin.
A fine exercise in plotting and counter-plotting from Cobblepot. Tom King would surely be proud of him! All right, it's an awful carnage, but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, can you?
All joking aside, these 2 volumes are excellent crime fiction disguised as a Batman comic book. It's very, very dark, twisted and with no hope of redemption. Love it!
A fine exercise in plotting and counter-plotting from Cobblepot. Tom King would surely be proud of him! All right, it's an awful carnage, but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, can you?
All joking aside, these 2 volumes are excellent crime fiction disguised as a Batman comic book. It's very, very dark, twisted and with no hope of redemption. Love it!
March 18, 2025
Oswald Cobblepot, formerly the ruthless crime boss known as the Penguin, has left behind his life of crime to live in relative retirement. But pressed into action by one of Amanda Waller's underlings to take control of Gotham's underworld, the Penguin assembles a crew mixed with new faces and old to take down his primary competition - his own children. The first volume served as setup for the eventual war to come, with the Penguin putting together his new organization with the aid of his manservant, the Help, and a former lover, Lisa St. Claire. Revealed in the first volume was the relationship between Batman and the Penguin - one that served both men mutually. The Penguin got to head up organized crime, while Batman got to use the Penguin for information on bigger threats. But who was really using who? That served as the central mystery to be answered in this volume.
And unfortunately, this volume resolves little. It's tough to find much interest in the antagonists of this story as the Penguin's children aren't really very well established characters. And thus, the ensuing gang war has very little emotional heft. And as for the Penguin/Batman partnership - the story doesn't really feel the need to dig much further beyond the initial premise. Sure, we get to see the Penguin be a ruthless figure that pulled a lot of strings, but ultimately it doesn't actually do anything for the character that hasn't been done before. It's clear that the series is taking tonal queues from Matt Reeves' film and television iteration of the character by using a more grounded crime story aesthetic, but the execution is quite bland. Leaving it open ended just shows a desire to return to a status quo that isn't all that interesting. A shame, because the initial hook to the series was quite good.
And unfortunately, this volume resolves little. It's tough to find much interest in the antagonists of this story as the Penguin's children aren't really very well established characters. And thus, the ensuing gang war has very little emotional heft. And as for the Penguin/Batman partnership - the story doesn't really feel the need to dig much further beyond the initial premise. Sure, we get to see the Penguin be a ruthless figure that pulled a lot of strings, but ultimately it doesn't actually do anything for the character that hasn't been done before. It's clear that the series is taking tonal queues from Matt Reeves' film and television iteration of the character by using a more grounded crime story aesthetic, but the execution is quite bland. Leaving it open ended just shows a desire to return to a status quo that isn't all that interesting. A shame, because the initial hook to the series was quite good.
March 23, 2025
2.5 The bleeped expletives get old immediately, the changing perspectives each page make everything needlessly confusing, and I don't know how we were ever supposed to care about the kids. I find it hard to believe in Penguin being a lifelong snitch, but maybe that's just me. And I don't know if I really believe in SilverII. That being said, long live the Help.
March 20, 2025
This was a bit better than the previous volume. Still don’t like the portrayal of the characters
December 18, 2024
...if you're going to use that many swears, let the book release through DC Black Label so people can at least read the damn thing.
September 15, 2024
I love how this one takes the man returns to his city to take it all back and yeah it can get messy and all that but I like how it shows so many things like him meeting with Riddler and Batman confronting him and there's active involvement of Batman in this volume and it may feel like his story and maybe thats why I like it more as Batman has to again work with Penguin to take down the Twins who have become so dangerous.
There's a sequence of how Batman is fighting all the goons of the twins and how he is taking them down and that montage is awesome and then seeing how Addison confronts Batman and well the Penguin is trapped and everyone leaves him as its been revealed he is a snitch and he even threatens the FBI agent that he will turn on her, and then its like everyone is hunting for Oswald and the Force of July have to protect him from Aiden and his co. who are here to kill him and the FBI agents too and then mic drop moment as its revealed what his plan was all along!
Batman to the rescue but what happens to him then which connects to the very first issue of them drowning and its such a great moment of closure that it makes for one heck of an ending and you see how the bird is back as the crime boss of Gotham and his new deal with Batman and its an interesting take and really shows how manipulative and smart Oswald is, like did he wanted these forces to make him work for them.. was it something he considered later on to take back Gotham?
Seriously makes you question and maybe thats the hallmark of this volume. My only problem was there was way too many slangs used and that kinda breaks the flow and rhythm of the reading thing.
Aside from that the art was freaking amazing, the neo noir art style really makes the whole volume plus the accompanying text and captions easy to read and pleasant on the eyes and it compliments each other really well.
There's a sequence of how Batman is fighting all the goons of the twins and how he is taking them down and that montage is awesome and then seeing how Addison confronts Batman and well the Penguin is trapped and everyone leaves him as its been revealed he is a snitch and he even threatens the FBI agent that he will turn on her, and then its like everyone is hunting for Oswald and the Force of July have to protect him from Aiden and his co. who are here to kill him and the FBI agents too and then mic drop moment as its revealed what his plan was all along!
Batman to the rescue but what happens to him then which connects to the very first issue of them drowning and its such a great moment of closure that it makes for one heck of an ending and you see how the bird is back as the crime boss of Gotham and his new deal with Batman and its an interesting take and really shows how manipulative and smart Oswald is, like did he wanted these forces to make him work for them.. was it something he considered later on to take back Gotham?
Seriously makes you question and maybe thats the hallmark of this volume. My only problem was there was way too many slangs used and that kinda breaks the flow and rhythm of the reading thing.
Aside from that the art was freaking amazing, the neo noir art style really makes the whole volume plus the accompanying text and captions easy to read and pleasant on the eyes and it compliments each other really well.
February 26, 2025
The concluding volume of this series (issues #8-12) is a bit of a letdown, but does come full circle with the first issue's prologue and leaves open a new path for The Penguin. The tone is similar to the HBO series, more of a crime thriller than superhero tale. It's dark and the characters don't display a whole lot of potential for redemption. The Penguin is wilier than he seems, with people constantly underestimating him to their detriment. Writer Tom King loves giving internal monologues to every character, which gets old. The dialogue is liberally interspersed with @#!@# expletives that make it harder to read; I wish they would have made this a Black Label book and left the actual words in. Rafael de Latorre's art is excellent.
January 11, 2025
The Penguin's return to Gotham continues...
and it's still disturbing.
This volume has ANNOYING internal monologues for EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER. Never fails. Never changes. Gets old very fast.
Ultimately, nobody gets out of this in one piece. 'Even when you win, you lose'. All of the characters can (and do) turn on each other at the drop of a hat.
-=----=-----
Bonus: taking some of the shine from 'The Penguin' HBO series (in the 'The Batman' movie-verse)
and it's still disturbing.
This volume has ANNOYING internal monologues for EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER. Never fails. Never changes. Gets old very fast.
Ultimately, nobody gets out of this in one piece. 'Even when you win, you lose'. All of the characters can (and do) turn on each other at the drop of a hat.
-=----=-----
Bonus: taking some of the shine from 'The Penguin' HBO series (in the 'The Batman' movie-verse)
March 6, 2025
The inner monologue of the Batman specifically in this volume compared to the first 6 issues seemed out of character. The whole Batman and penguin dynamic was weird. Batman is letting penguin off on too much.
I really liked the first 6 issues but the ending issues just did not land any of the set up from the first volume.
I really liked the first 6 issues but the ending issues just did not land any of the set up from the first volume.
February 26, 2025
3.75
The multiple perspectives sometimes got confusing with colors too close together.
Gritty Batman street tale that shows how grimy even he has to get.
The multiple perspectives sometimes got confusing with colors too close together.
Gritty Batman street tale that shows how grimy even he has to get.
March 13, 2025
Holy grawlix, Batman!
March 29, 2025
Enjoyed it
March 29, 2025
Definitely not as memorable as the first volume...
March 24, 2025
I respect the game Tom and I know that this was supposed to be ongoing and not the end but still not my thing
October 20, 2024
Tom King is a stupid person's idea of a smart person.
In all seriousness though this had some good ideas but they're ultimately outweighed by all the bad ideas and the worst of King's tendencies. Ultimately this is just a pretty hollow story dressed up in King's normal pseudo-intellectualism.
In all seriousness though this had some good ideas but they're ultimately outweighed by all the bad ideas and the worst of King's tendencies. Ultimately this is just a pretty hollow story dressed up in King's normal pseudo-intellectualism.
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