Why Danny DeVito’s Penguin is Still the Best Origin Story for the Character

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As a long-time fan of comic book adaptations and someone who has seen their fair share of origin stories, I must say that the portrayal of The Penguin in both “The Penguin” series and Tim Burton’s Batman Returns is a testament to the versatility of these characters. While each interpretation offers unique insights into the character, it’s hard not to be drawn to the tragic figure that is Oswald Cobblepot (DeVito).

In October 2024, when HBO’s The Penguin miniseries debuted, it swiftly distinguished itself from past portrayals of the character. It discarded the squawks, monocles, umbrellas, Fabergé eggs, and instead crafted a grimy, intense crime narrative that drew inspiration equally from classic gangster films and comic books. In this adaptation, played by Colin Farrell, Oz Cobb, aka The Penguin, is an unscrupulous underdog who rises from being a mob daughter’s chauffeur to the peak of Gotham’s criminal world through sheer perseverance and a shocking amount of violence.

But while The Penguin undoubtedly managed to craft a fresh spin on an old villain, there’s one depiction of the character that remains the most successful: in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns. Played by Danny DeVito, the criminal formerly known as Oswald Cobblepot has a richer, more compelling backstory, with enough pathos to allow viewers to see him as a tragic figure. Farrell’s Penguin is a complex character, but he can’t compete with DeVito’s combination of pitiable and terrifying.

The Penguin’s Origins in ‘Batman Returns’

Over time, different writers have given The Penguin varying origins, but the version seen in “Batman Returns” can be traced back to a reboot of DC Comics following the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover. Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle’s interpretation presented him as an outcast from a wealthy family who, due to their scorn and rejection, was driven towards darkness. Interestingly, screenwriter Daniel Waters, who had little connection to the comics, still incorporated this aspect of The Penguin’s backstory into his script.

In the opening scene of “Batman Returns”, we learn that Oswald was born into a family with as much wealth and power as Bruce Wayne’s, but they rejected him due to his physical deformities, throwing him into a sewer to be discarded. Miraculously, a band of penguins living in the city’s sewers found and raised Oswald, turning him into a semi-wild creature who enjoyed eating raw fish. It isn’t until later that Oswald uncovers the truth about his birthright and the inheritance wrongfully withheld from him.

In “Batman Returns,” The Penguin is portrayed as a contrasting character to Batman, serving almost as a twisted mirror image of the nature versus nurture concept. Unlike Bruce Wayne, who grew up wealthy with loving parents whose deaths fueled his desire to fight crime, Oswald was deprived of such an upbringing due to his physical appearance, which ultimately led him down the path of villainy. If circumstances had been different, they might have attended the same elite schools. However, after discovering his true lineage, Oswald tries to re-enter society, but his transformation into a more beastly state makes full acceptance impossible.

The portrayal of The Penguin’s background adds richness and emotional resonance to the character, often lacking in Batman’s collection of villains. It’s plausible that Oswald could have grown up to be a decent individual if nurtured by his family. There seems to be no inherent evil within him as he’s merely an abandoned newborn when tossed down the drain. Thus, the Penguin portrayed by DeVito embodies the essence of a tragic character, inspiring sympathy for the injustice of his rejection and apprehension over his potential capabilities.

How Colin Farrell’s Penguin Compares

In a unique twist, The Penguin’s central character isn’t portrayed as an outcast from high society but rather as a person born into humble circumstances with a penchant for crime. The seventh episode, titled “Top Hat,” delves into the early life of Oz Cobb, depicting him as a young boy growing up with two siblings under the care of a single mother who resorts to dubious means to provide for them. Despite their questionable associates, his family, especially his mother (Emily Meade) and older brother Jack (Owen Aztalos), show genuine affection towards him, with Jack attempting to shield him from the criminal influences in their neighborhood.

It appears that young Oz harbors an affinity for criminal activities, admiring a neighborhood gangster named Rex Calabrese. However, unlike many children from tough areas who might idolize criminals, Oz’s inclination towards villainy becomes apparent when he lets his siblings drown during a game of flashlight tag in Gotham’s sewers and fails to confess this act to his mother. This suggests that The Penguin is suggesting that Oz had a sinister nature even within his loving family environment, making a life of crime almost unavoidable for him.

In my opinion, while Oz delivers an intriguing portrayal of the character, it somewhat follows the predictable pattern seen in many gangster tales. The emotional depth derived from his relationship with his mother doesn’t quite match that of Batman Returns. Instead, it presents a question that’s not as thought-provoking for the audience.

The Penguin show is undeniably an engaging and high-quality production, with the flexibility of comic book characters’ backstories being one reason for their long-lasting popularity. However, when Cobblepot becomes Cobb, the series seems to shed some of the emotional depth that made DeVito’s Penguin character so layered.

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2024-11-21 01:31