Key conclusions
- The Penguin became a popular series that bridged the world-building gap between Batman and its sequel and attracted a large audience.
- The latest episode of The Penguin features a significant cameo from familiar character Summer Gleeson, tying it to Batman.
- The inclusion of familiar characters like Summer Gleeson in The Penguin makes this a masterful callback, adding depth without losing the tone of the show.
Penguin was a resounding success as a pulp-filled Matt Reeves spinoff batman, but the latest episode of the hit show goes back even further to one of the character's most famous cameo appearances.
Penguin there was a lot to accomplish during development, as the strategy chosen by DC Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery, meant Reeves had to scrap plans for several planned spin-offs from his 2022 hit batman, leaving the sole surviving show with all the burden of world-building to bridge the gap between Reeves' first major film and its upcoming sequel Batman – part 2. Despite this huge responsibility, the show was developed with confidence behind the scenes and went from broadcast-only to a full-fledged linear TV show on HBO. It would pay off with a lot of viewers and Penguins the streaming premiere would even win House of the Dragon debut on Max.
Relatives
Batman: Bruce's bad detective skills actually make sense
Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne is both impressive and imperfect. The character's inexperience as a detective adds depth and sets up the arc of the sequel.
While it's still early days for DC Studios, it's pretty clear already Penguin this is by far the best reinterpretation of a Batman villain, and the show gave fans another reason to smile in its final episode. As highlighted in a recent ComicBook story, episode four Penguin features multiple flashbacks showing viewers the events behind Sofia Falcone's incarceration, including the now-released inmate being approached by a reporter about her father's sordid affairs before she subsequently becomes the next victim on Catalnik's list. That reporter, a brief cameo brought to life by Nadine Maloof, is identified as Summer Gleeson, a name familiar to longtime Batman fans as a mainstay in the critically acclaimed film Batman: The Animated Series.
Gleeson was made for Batman: TAS and was a reporter and celebrity in that continuity, replacing Vicki Vale in many ways. Aside from a few comics directly related to the continuity of the animated series or the Elsewold material, she has never been part of Batman canon, making this inclusion quite intentional on the part of the creative team. At this point Penguin probably exceeded all expectations, partly because of how little the series relied on Batman and its title character to further its own narrative. After almost half a season, mentions of the Dark Knight are noticeably absent Penguin, and rightfully so. This, combined with the series aiming to present a reimagined Oz Cobb and Gotham, means that the project could have been successful because of its connection to the larger narrative, but this one small episode and the episode as a whole do quite a bit to connect thematically and literally Penguin to Batman.
Penguin does the shared universe idea right, and paying homage to previous works in subtle ways like this is definitely a great way to go without ruining the show's tone and narrative. This kind of maneuvering with existing characters and concepts is exactly what the Elseworlds label should allow. While plenty of new fans won't look twice at the character and can still follow the story perfectly, those in the know will appreciate the addition that makes him a master of callbacks.
Penguin is available to stream on Max and on linear TV every Sunday on HBO.
Created by Lauren LeFranc and starring Colin Farrell, The Penguin is based on the 2022 Batman. The series Max follows the eponymous villain's attempt to reach the top of crime in Gotham, rising through the underworld in the midst of a power struggle.
- Release date
- September 19, 2024
- In roles
- Colin Farrell, Christine Miliotti, Renzi Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohre Aghdashloo, Deirdre O'Connell, Clancy Brown, James Madio, Scott Cohen, Michael Zegen, Carmen Ejogo, Theo Rossi
- Seasons
- 1
- Prequel
- Batman (2022)
- History of
- Bill Finger, Bob Kane
- Writers
- Lauren Lefran
- Streaming service(s).
- Max
- franchise(s)
- Batman, DC Elseworlds
- Directors
- Craig Zobel
- Showrunner
- Lauren Lefran
more
How Batman: Arkham Shadow can tease the return of the Penguins without Oswald Cobblepot himself
The specific outfit for Batman: Arkham Shadow's Lock-Up boss fight suggests that it may be repeating a popular trend usually associated with Penguin.
Source: ComicBook
