Batman Arkham: Penguin

Batman Arkham Collections #11

by Bill Finger

Offered again! Rediscover the history of the Batman and the Penguin’s greatest clashes before they return to the big screen in The Batman. Featuring stories from industry legends from throughout comics history, The Penguin collects Detective Comics #58, #610, #611, #824, Batman #155, #374, #548, #549, Penguin Triumphant #1, and Joker’s Penguin #1.

Genres: Comics, Batman, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Fiction, Superheroes

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2018

About the author

William "Bill" Finger was an American comic strip and comic book writer best known as the uncredited co-creator, with Bob Kane, of the DC Comics character Batman, as well as the co-architect of the series' development. In later years, Kane acknowledged Finger as "a contributing force" in the character's creation. Comics historian Ron Goulart, in Comic Book Encyclopedia, refers to Batman as the "creation of artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger", and a DC Comics press release in 2007 about colleague Jerry Robinson states that in 1939, "Kane, along with writer Bill Finger, had just created Batman for [DC predecessor] National Comics".

Film and television credits include scripting The Green Slime (1969), Track of the Moon Beast (1976), and three episodes of 77 Sunset Strip.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Michael O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, enjoyable read. With a series of comic book stories, starting in 1941 when the Penguin is introduced, it shows how portrayals, depiction, and characterization of the Penguin have varied and changed over the years. They tend to extend from showing Penguin as the curmudgeon and master criminal to being grubby, vindictive, and sleazy --- but all fun --- but, personally, I enjoyed the ones coming closest to the Penguin portrayed by Burgess Meredith in the campy 1960s Batman TV show vs. the Tim Burton version in the 1992 movie. As, I said, this was an entertaining book, especially for those who like seeing one of this most interesting of Batman villains.

[Redwan Orittro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice collection of essential Penguin stories from the silver age up until recently published stories. Looking forward to read the rest of the books from the series.

[Corey Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars- I think?

Batman Arkham: Penguin is a collection of what DC calls the best penguin issues!

I always have a hard time reviewing these types of books. Mainly because the quality of each volume varies in quality. I had this problem with Batman by Ed Brubaker Vol. 1

The same things happens here. And I think part of the problem is the fact that your reading a bunch of penguin story's. And it can get respective at some points. But, It's not all bad. Some highlights were:

Snow and Ice Part One and Two

Penguins Triumphant

He who Laughs Last...

So it's not ALL bad. But if you can get through some ok stuff, then I would recommend this.

[Ashkin Ayub · Rating 3 out of 5]

while most villains in batman are always in the edge and rely solely on monotonous schemes and trickery, the penguin continues to stand out from the other scoundrels of batman as a super villain. this book really shows what makes penguin an exceptional opponent, yes, it has an unfortunate backstory, but most storybooks of Penguin look rather like a crime thriller than a quintessential superhero comic.

[Ronald Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting to see the way the artwork style and characteristics of the Penguin have changed over the decade. Great resource for DC comics fans

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love collections like these--seeing simultaneously how both a single character and how comic books as a medium have evolved over the years. The Penguin is often overlooked as a character, which is ironic since he's also overlooked as a villain within the stories themselves. Even Batman underestimates him, which is something the Penguin knows and despises--and also uses to his advantage. I didn't realize what a great job the show "Gotham" did with him. I thought they just took a "meh" character and turned him into this cunning and manipulative mastermind. But, in reality... he was kind of always that way. He doesn't necessarily crack my "Favorite Batman Baddies" list... but, there's a lot more to him than meets the eye. In short, I enjoyed getting to learn more about Oswald Cobblepot. Another added bonus in this graphic novel is that it featured a Jason Todd Robin story--and not just that, but one before they revamped his character into more than just a Dick Grayson rip-off. Those are difficult stories to come by, so it was a nice peek into comic history. That issue also showed a more paternal side of Bruce Wayne, and I like it when writers focus on that trait. Bruce Wayne is a dark and brooding character, yes, and he can be emotionally closed off and cold. He has LOTS of faults... but he is also a mentor. Is he always a good mentor? No. But I like the comics where he is a good one, and where the writers really examine the bonds he has with his proteges. (In fact, if anyone knows a good story arc that focuses on that, recommendations are appreciated.) But this collection wasn't about Batman (and it definitely wasn't about Robin--though can I take a moment to talk about Tim Drake's hair in that one issue? What were they thinking? It's not quite as bad as SuperFabio, but man, does that "just-electrocuted" look come close!). This collection was about the Penguin. My favorite issue was the one with the aforementioned hair... where the Penguin "went legit" but was ultimately done in by his own need to "play the game." It was a well-fleshed out story that really dove into who the Penguin is, and had a few surprises in there as well. (Also... poor Alfred. Bruce doesn't pay him enough.) The final comic was downright chilling. The Penguin is not a good person... but you also can't help but feel sorry for someone who has been hurt and humiliated so often. Those two elements together--plus the fact that the Penguin is almost as brilliant as the Riddler--make him a villain that isn't to be underestimated... or overlooked.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batman Arkham: Penguin is a compilation of some of the best representative of the Penguin stories over the years centering one of the more iconic foes in the Batman Rouges. This collection features the Penguin in all his many incarnations throughout the years.

This trade paperback collects Detective Comics #58, #610–611, #824, Batman #155, #364, #548–549, Batman: Penguin Triumphant #1, and Joker's Asylum: Penguin #1.

Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot as the Penguin is a fictional super-villain created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane and first appeared in Detective Comics #58 (December 1941). The character is a Gotham City mobster who fancies himself a "gentleman of crime", often wearing a monocle, top hat, cigarette holder, and a tuxedo. He is short, obese man with a long nose, and he uses high-tech umbrellas as weapons. In recent times, the Cobblepots were one of the first families of Gotham City along with the Waynes and Kanes.

As a whole, Batman Arkham: Penguin is a rather well collected anthology of Penguin stories. Story selection must have been difficult to say the least. The Penguin has a long and varied history and has been featured or cameos in many stories over many titles and it is no easy feat to pick out the best or favorite from the masses.

The thing is those measuring sticks are subjective and will never reach perfect consensus. Actually, we all can agree that in a collection like this, we could all agree on one story: Detective Comics #58 – the first appearance of the Penguin – the rest is debatable. This anthology served its purpose – giving the reader a nice overview of the Penguin.

Regardless, I think the editors picked a somewhat nice selection, would I swapped some stories out for others – sure I have my favorites, but it is difficult if not impossible to please everyone, since everyone is different. Overall, I was happy of which stories were presented.

All in all, I think Batman Arkham: Penguin is a somewhat well selection of stories that gives a nice glimpse into the psyche of one of the most endearing villain in Batman's Rouge Gallery – the Penguin. It is a good anthology for both the avid and subdued fan alike. However, for the newly initiated I would recommend a collection that is more substantial and cohesive.

[Jameson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penguin is one of those comics characters who’s remained surprisingly consistent from decade to decade: consistent in the way he looks, in the way he speaks, even in his psychology. I’m not the world’s biggest Pengy fan, but he’s definitely earned his spot as one of the most enduring lunatics in Batman’s rogue’s gallery. I kind of dreaded sitting down and reading a bunch of Penguin stories in a row but these issues are pretty good choices—the changing styles of art, storytelling, and maturity levels keeps things interesting. The waddling, bard-quoting, umbrella-wielding Oswald Cobblepot, embodied in the 60s by the late, great Burgess Meredith, somehow fits equally well in both camp and noir environs; so as long as there’s a Bat there’ll be a Penguin.

I do think the book would benefit from a short introduction for each issue. Although Penguin hasn’t changed much, the DC universe sure has. Just a sentence or two for each chapter to place these stories in their chronological/timeline context would have been welcomed.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent collection of stories featuring The Penguin.
Not comprehensive, but still enjoyable.

[Yoshiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

POPKULTUROWY KOCIOŁEK: Batman Arkham: Pingwin to wyjątkowa komiksowa antologia, która pozwala zanurzyć się w psychikę Oswalda Cobblepota. Album przedstawia ewolucję jednego z najstarszych i najbardziej błyskotliwych przeciwników Batmana. Tom zawiera dziesięć historii od lat 40. XX wieku po wczesne XXI wiek, pozwalając prześledzić jego drogę. W antologii znalazły się dzieła takich legendarnych twórców jak: Finger, Moench, Grant, Ostrander, Dini i Aaron.

Scenariusze zawarte w albumie oferują niezwykłą różnorodność, choć różnią się one zauważalnie swoją jakością. Finger i Moench wprowadzają teatralną przebiegłość i spryt, który wyróżnia Pingwina wśród złoczyńców Gotham. Grant i Ostrander pogłębiają mroczny wymiar postaci, tworząc intelektualnego przeciwnika Batmana. Dini i Aaron koncentrują się na psychologii, ukazując Pingwina jako tragiczną i samotną postać.

W pierwszych opowieściach ton jest lekki, co dobrze oddaje złotą erę komiksu. Starsze historie w niektórych momentach tracą jednak swoją dynamikę, co ujawnia pewną przestarzałość narracji. Współczesne opowieści oferują zaś głębszą analizę, gdzie nie wszystko jest czarno-białe. Scenariusze tworzą jednak spójną mozaikę, pokazując ewolucję postaci od groteski do zimnej kalkulacji. Dodatkową zaletą albumu są ostre, pełne ironii, pogardy oraz subtelnej emocjonalnej gry dialogi.

Narracja płynie tu od prostych, pulpowych historii po psychologiczne wiwisekcje współczesnych opowieści. Nie brak tu ukrytych smaczków dla fanów DC. Czasami jednak fragmentaryczność antologii utrudnia pełne zrozumienie chronologii wydarzeń. Ponadto brak spójnego, ciągłego wątku fabularnego jest wyraźnie zauważalny. Mimo tego każda historia wprowadza nowe aspekty charakteru Pingwina i jego relacji z Gotham, co potrafi zaangażować czytelnika.

Album ukazuje Pingwina jako postać wielowymiarową, balansującą między groteską a zimną kalkulacją. Pierwsze zeszyty przedstawiają go bardziej jako sztukmistrza niż groźnego gangstera. Dopiero na późniejszych etapach swojej ewolucji zmienia się on w klasycznego złoczyńcę, jakiego znamy go dziś.

Antologia odsłania dzieciństwo Oswalda, jego traumy i patologiczne relacje z matką. Ciekawy psychologiczny wymiar postaci ukazuje również jego obsesję na punkcie parasola, ptaków i kontroli. Parasol staje się symbolem zarówno bezpieczeństwa, jak i agresji, co pogłębia postać. Plus komiksu to także jego relacje z innymi bohaterami, zwłaszcza Batmanem, które pełne są manipulacji oraz ukrytych znaczeń co wymusza na czytelniku większą uwagę. ....

https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/recen...

[cauldronofevil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually was supposed to read ‘The Batman Adventures’ comic today - Thursday, Penguin day. But I caught a good deal on two Batman omnibuses on eBay, and I don’t want to read anything that might be in them. I’d much rather read them as hardcopy rather than electronically. So I guess to keep the theme I’ll read more Penguin stories. Sigh.

This looks like a Penguin omnibus. The ‘best’ Penguin stories. Dear god. Let’s hope for the best.

Detective Comics #58 5 stars.

Batman #155 2 stars

Batman #374 3 stars

Detective Comics #610 3 stars

Detective Comics #611 3 stars

Penguin Triumphant #1 5 stars

Batman #548 5 stars

Batman #549 4 stars

Detective Comics #824 5 stars

Joker’s Asylum #1 5 stars

"He Who Laugh Last" as also in The Penguin Special. #1

I gave it 5 stars, mostly for the art. The story works, but is a little bit darker than makes sense for the Penguin.

All told I’d give this book 4 stars. It probably IIis /II the best collection of Penguin stories out there. It’s just a bit inconsistent. It would be nice if they’d pick one Penguin!

[Andrei · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A good collection of Penguin stories throughout different ages. The earlier ones are campy and hard to read, but as we go into the 90s they become more interesting. Penguin seems extremely intelligent in this selection, and often manages to gives Batman the slip which keeps things interesting. In one story he fakes his death and almost gets away with it, in another he appears to go legit while actually manipulating the stock market, another time he starts stealing things just for fun and for another he goes legit again by opening a casino, but turns out he wasn't the baddest guy on the floor. I like the stock market story because it had fun parts like the Penguin imagining himself as a dashing gentleman thief, but also some glimpses of his pettiness and ugly nature.

But my absolute favorite out of this book was the last issue - the Violet story from Joker's Asylum. This really shows what Penguin could be if he made an effort to be good, but also how mean and cruel he actually is, perhaps beyond redemption. Great issue to end the book on a high note.

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drawing from 70 years of stories, this collection of issues involving the Penguin as Batman's villain du jour really shows the shifting landscape of comic books over the decades. In the early issues, written with a young audience in mind, the Penguin is a skillful thief, but also kind of goofy, camp, and with not really much menace. By the last issue included, we see the hard edge of psychopathy and the gross deformity of this classic villain.

I was pleasantly surprised with this collection. Often these cobbled together comic collections lack coherent storytelling and feel as cheap and lazy as a sitcom clip show, but this volume shows several satisfying story arcs, and -- while there is no overarching arc -- it makes for a satisfying read.

I enjoyed reading this collection and seeing, through it, the evolution of comic books.

[Kaylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am slowly making my way through each of these collections. Here is one of Batman's oldest foes: Oswald Cobblepott, AKA The Penguin. I always wondered if he hated being called that, but in "One of the Most Perfect Frame-Ups of All Time!" (Detective Comics #58), he introduces himself as The Penguin. There are 2 two-part stories in this collection--"Snow and Ice" (Detective Comics #610-611) and "The Penguin Returns" (Batman #548-549)--and both are good. I liked how The Penguin thinks of himself as a handsome gentleman in "Penguin Triumphant" (Batman: Penguin Triumphant #1).
I want a baby penguin now.

[Doctor Doom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting Penguin tales from the 40s to current day. Personally, I would have preferred that no continued stories were included unless the whole story was provided [at the very least a short summation should have been provided].
Much is made in several of these tales of Oswald's horrible upbringing as if that excuses his murders and other crimes. Some have a horrific childhood and become heroes, some become villains and some are ordinary people.

[Nial · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed bag but mostly enjoyable

[Darren-lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Kelley Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

solid collection!

A good collection of Penguin stories! Spans the character’s development and really gives a solid cross-section of his personality. A must read for Penguin fans.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penquins.

Good color artwork. From1941-.:All about the penquin. The man of a thousand umbrellas. Mr bumbershoot. Oswald Cobble pott. The great bird of crime.

[Tue Le · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting stories in here. The quality of art varies, though.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The quality of these stories are a bit all over the place but it ends extremely strongly and it is nice to see the origins of this very goofy batman villain.

[C.Lakin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dive into Oswald Cobblepots life and the most bizarre and brutal crimes he has ever committed

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

An interesting collection of Penguin-centered issues that began with the comic that marked the tuxedoed fiend's first ever appearance in Detective Comics #58 from 1941. A bit of a mixed bag when it came to plot, but I suppose it is to be expected for those "Golden Age" comics to lack a detailed plot. The range of artists really showed the evolution of the comic books in terms of visuals over the years and it was fun to see how each writer and artist added to the character. I question the creative choice of constantly having the man quote lines of Shakespeare but hey, that's just me.

[Andrew Corsini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of stories featuring the classic Batman villain, it's interesting to see the evolution of sex and violence in these comics. The final story, however, is the best -- a sad-tragic tale in what the title character finds himself in love but unable to break old habits. None of these stories can hold a candle to Danny DeVito's portrayal in Batman Returns -- the all-time greatest Penguin.

[Quiver26 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic anthology of comics featuring, "The Penguin." The first comic is from 1941. The rest of the volume takes you through a fast-paced arc through time: All featuring Batman vs. The Penguin.

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penguin stories from various eras.

[Bleachedblackcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid collection of Penguin stories, even if one or two seemed a lot less focused on him then others.

[Lena · Rating 2 out of 5]

pas d'intérêts pour ce personnage mais que voulez vous

[Lauren Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5