As a lifelong Batman fan and someone who has seen their fair share of villains come and go, I must say that the latest incarnation of The Joker leaves me cold compared to the legendary performance by Heath Ledger. While I appreciate the effort put into creating a new story for this iconic character, it just doesn’t compare to the magnetic energy and raw intensity that Heath brought to the role in “The Dark Knight.
In a stunning turn of events, “The Penguin” television series wrapped up its eight-episode stint on HBO on November 10, 2024, to widespread praise and enthusiastic fan reactions. This production stands in stark contrast to the other Batman villain spin-off of 2024, “Joker: Folie à Deux”, which premiered in cinemas during the second and third episodes of “The Penguin”. Sadly, “Joker: Folie à Deux” has fallen short of expectations, earning a dismal 32% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from both audiences and critics. To add insult to injury, it has only managed to earn $58 million domestically, a figure that the 2019 Joker surpassed during its opening weekend. At the start of 2024, who would have thought that a series about The Penguin could outshine Batman’s most iconic adversary, but here we are.
Among Batman’s longest-standing and toughest adversaries are the Joker and the Penguin. The Joker first appeared in “Batman” issue #1, published in April 1940, while the Penguin made his debut the following year, in “Detective Comics” issue #58, dated December 1941. Although the Penguin has consistently been one of Batman’s main enemies, he didn’t enjoy the same degree of prominence during the 2000s that the Joker did. This is evident in his exclusion from Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy and the animated series like “Young Justice”.
In 2024, Colin Farrell’s portrayal of The Penguin from Batman, now starring in his own HBO series, has brought this character into the limelight for the first time in many years. Essentially, The Gentleman of Crime outsmarted the Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime.
The Penguin Does Everything Joker Tried To Do, But Better
Cinematic References
Compared to both Folie à Deux featuring The Joker from 2019 and that specific film itself, The Penguin stands out as superior due to its intricate blend of dark origins for Batman’s arch-nemesis and a rich tapestry of cinematic influences. While The Joker borrows heavily from Martin Scorsese’s works like The King of Comedy and Taxi Driver, The Penguin draws inspiration from Brian De Palma’s Scarface and the acclaimed series The Sopranos. However, while The Joker’s references are more overt, The Penguin’s are subtler, inviting viewers to make those connections while maintaining a strong focus on its unique narrative.
Maternal Relationships
In a striking parallel, both ‘The Penguin’ character from certain narratives and the infamous ‘Joker’ share many common themes. The most conspicuous similarity lies in their portrayal of their respective mother-son relationships, which significantly impact their future roles as Batman’s adversaries. In ‘The Joker’, Arthur Fleck and Oz Cobblepot’s mothers are both afflicted; while Arthur’s mother remains unnamed and suffers from an unknown illness, Francis Cobb, the mother of Oz, struggles with Parkinson’s and dementia. Though ‘Joker’ attempts to critique society’s treatment of characters like Arthur Fleck, a key twist in the narrative suggests that Arthur’s troubles are rooted in his mother’s deceit and abuse. This revelation implies that Arthur can only find freedom by eliminating his mother – a message that some interpret as casting blame on women for the Joker’s creation.
In the course of following The Penguin’s portrayal, I found myself initially sympathizing with Oz Cobb, believing he was a victim of psychological and verbal abuse from his mother, Francis Cobb. However, as the narrative unfolded, a more complex tale emerged. It turns out that I, along with the audience, were deceived, for Oz isn’t the innocent victim but the antagonist in this story. The truth was shocking: he orchestrated the deaths of his brothers by allowing them to drown in Gotham’s sewers, driven by jealousy and a desire to monopolize his mother’s affection. This act not only took the lives of his siblings but also left an emotional scar on his mother that she has yet to heal.
Initially intending to have Oz killed out of revenge when he was young, she eventually softened but continued harboring her hatred. Over time, this deep-seated animosity made Oz yearn for his mother’s approval and pride in him, which she could never give. In a tragic twist, the series concludes with Francis disclosing that she was aware of Oz’s actions and despised him, yet he refused to end her life when she fell into a catatonic state because he couldn’t let go. To make matters worse, his companion, Eve Karlo, disguises herself as his mother and tells him she is proud of him – a moment more emotionally scarring than the portrayal in the movie “Joker”.
Victim vs. Villain
The fundamental distinction between why “The Penguin” was such a success and why “Joker” stumbled lies in the fact that “The Penguin” maintains its lead character, Oz, as an undeniably villainous figure throughout. After killing his brothers, he ascends to power but ultimately eliminates his right-hand man, Vic, because he can’t risk losing the control he has long pursued. By series end, viewers have a clear understanding of the type of person Oz Cobb is—a complex individual they may empathize with, but not necessarily condone.
From my perspective, I find myself grappling with whether Arthur Fleck is a tragic figure or a malefactor in the storyline of Joker: Folie à Deux. This prolonged critique, spanning nearly three hours, seems to place blame on the audience for misinterpreting the original Joker. However, it overlooks the fact that perhaps the filmmakers themselves were uncertain about Arthur Fleck’s character, presenting him as a victim of society one moment and a villain seeking validation the next.
Joker Is Ashamed of the Comics, The Penguin Actually Engages With Them
In essence, both “Joker” and “The Penguin” appear to be film adaptations that seem to have a certain reluctance towards their comic book origins. Todd Phillips is quoted as saying, “We’re going to slip a genuine movie past under the disguise of [a comic book film].” Meanwhile, the creative team behind “The Penguin” contemplated altering his last name from Cobblepott to Cobb and removing his signature top hat with an umbrella (however, the ending does include a reference to his top hat).
Although there are numerous news headlines, The Penguin is a DC adaptation that heavily borrows from the vast DC Comics universe and presents its own original take on the content. On the other hand, the two Joker films aim to be self-contained stories, yet they still rely on Batman’s material, incorporating well-known characters without offering any significant insights into them.
Although Joker claims to be distinct from conventional comic book films, it incorporates numerous references to Batman comics, such as depicting a young Bruce Wayne and reenacting the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne on screen yet again. This appears to serve little purpose other than attempting to link Joker with Batman’s origin, which is undermined in the sequel when it turns out that Arthur Fleck isn’t actually the Joker.
As a cinephile, it feels strange when a film that doesn’t aim for a comic book vibe uses such overt nods to the audience. The characters of Joker, Harley Quinn, and Two-Face are well-known staples, and their portrayals here seem to only scratch the surface of these complex characters. It’s as if someone claiming to revolutionize my favorite comic book world doesn’t fully grasp its intricacies, much like a traveler attempting to redefine air travel without understanding the nuances of flight, as George Clooney’s character so eloquently put it in his movie “Up in the Air”.
Why You Should Always Do Your Research
In “The Penguin”, Sofia Falcone assumes a significant role, but unlike her comic book counterpart. Instead of simply adapting the character directly, they creatively integrated her into this universe. Although there’s no strong link between Sofia Falcone and The Penguin in the comics, the show cleverly connects these two characters in a way that seems like it was intended from the start.
“The Penguin” comic series delves deeply into the world of comics and introduces novel concepts using less popular characters. It maintains a sense of loyalty to the original comics but manages to stand on its own without merely catering to fans. It dares to blaze its own trail because it’s confident in its research. Conversely, the two “Joker” films exhibit an intriguing contradiction. They are compelled to be comic book adaptations that appear to dislike their source material, yet they exploit this antipathy to generate interest in their movies. At the same time, they lean heavily on the fundamental aspects of Batman lore for their narrative. The Joker’s eagerness to be unique and distinct is palpable, whereas The Penguin remains content in its identity and, as a result, proves more engaging.
The Penguin Actually Has Something to Say About Class
In their respective stories, both The Penguin and Joker delve into themes of class and privilege. This connection can be traced back to their shared link with Batman, a wealthy superhero, which often sparks such conversations. Unlike the traditional portrayal of The Penguin as a member of Gotham’s elite, similar to Bruce Wayne, the series introduces Oz Cobb as an individual who didn’t inherit wealth but hails from Gotham’s lower class. This twist adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, as Cobb resents the upper-class individuals he originally belonged to due to their snobbery towards him and his struggle to achieve success through hard work.
Oz maintains control over his criminal network by presenting himself as a common man and exploiting others’ vulnerabilities. He manipulates other gangs by playing on their insecurities and relying on larger criminal empires for support. Oz’s portrayal of being “working class” is more about furthering himself, not helping others. This character has a questionable hairdo and is skilled at saying what people want to hear, even if it means leading others astray or ultimately betraying them. This tactic seemed reminiscent to many after the 2024 presidential election.
In an attempt to reference contemporary issues, Joker seems to incorporate historical symbols, yet he strips them of their cultural significance without offering any fresh perspectives. The murder of the four Wall Street men by Arthur Fleck mirrors the 1984 Bernhard Goetz subway shooting incident in New York City. This event involved a white man shooting four Black men, resulting in three deaths and one paralysis. Goetz defended his actions as self-defense, igniting widespread discussions about race, gun control, and violence across the nation.
In a different phraseology: The film Joker shifts the racial undertones of the crime towards class-consciousness themes, incorporating visuals reminiscent of Occupy Wall Street protests, which were popular in the 2010s. This integration feels incongruous with the 1980s setting and also appears insensitive in its replacement of racial politics concerning the Geotz shooting. The reason for Joker being set in the 1980s seems unnecessary since Gotham is a fictional city that can be crafted according to the filmmakers’ vision. However, this attempt at historical grounding merely underscores how everything in the movie lacks depth and is primarily used for stylistic reasons rather than substance.
Heath Ledger’s Joker Will Never Be Usurped
It’s quite fascinating to reside in an era where two legendary adversaries of Batman, notably The Joker, have their own standalone movies (making it three if we include the 2004 Catwoman). While The Joker is undoubtedly Batman’s arch-nemesis, the underperformance of “Joker: Folie à Deux” may not tarnish his reputation. After all, Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker continues to be one of the most memorable villains in cinematic history.
As a devoted Batman fan, I couldn’t be more thrilled about the resurgence of one of my all-time favorite villains: The Penguin! For quite some time now, characters like The Joker, Catwoman, Two-Face, Ra’s Al Ghul, and the Court of Owls have overshadowed him in the eyes of fans. But thanks to the exceptional HBO series, The Penguin has regained a newfound respect and status that places him alongside these iconic baddies.
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2024-11-16 23:02