Batman Villains: The Penguin

Bio: As a young child, Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, was raised into a high-class society, yet was rejected by many due to his short, obese stature and his beak-like nose. He was given the nickname Penguin at an early age due to his appearance and obsession for birds. This rejection from his peers, causes him to take part in the criminal underworld of Gotham City. With his family's wealth he is able to become a major player and opens up a very popular nightclub known as the Iceberg Lounge. He remains true to his status as a high-class gentlemen, always dressed in formal wear, a tuxedo, a top-hat, and an eye-glass. He also carries around an umbrella of which he has personalized into a deadly weapon.

Powers and Abilities: He is a brilliant business-man and strategist, with a good understanding of the underground criminal world. He uses his sly wit to achieve greater wealth and power within the city. He has many henchmen who usually do his dirty-work, yet he himself is not afraid of hand-to-hand combat. His most deadly weapon is his umbrella that ranges from a blade, a machine gun, a flame-thrower, or even a missile launcher.

Media Portrayal: In the comics, Batman tolerates the Penguin's corruption as long as he serves as an informer. Nonetheless he still serves as an ultimate schemer for profit and power in the city. He is constantly at war with other gangs, and his power in the underworld makes him a threat to civility and thus an arch-nemesis of Batman.

In one of the Batman animated cartoons, it is revealed that he has a grudge against Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred, who abandoned the Cobblepot family to serve the Wayne Manor.

In the 1992 film "Batman Returns", the Penguin was portrayed by Danny Devito. I must admit at the time I enjoyed the film, and admired Devito's grotesque performance as the Penguin. Tim Burton did a good job of bringing a darker side to Gotham City. Yet as I come to think of it now, I feel the Penguin was wrongly portrayed as more of a freak, instead of the classy mobster that he is.

The Appeal: For a city as corrupt as Gotham, it is no surprise that a Mobster Boss such as the Penguin could be such a threat. He is hands down the defining boss of the organized crime of Gotham City. He is full of character; from his appearance, his stature, his beak nose, his eye-glass, his cigarette holder, his tuxedo, his top-hat, the way he moves, the way he talks, and his catch phrase laugh, "Waugh, Waugh, Waugh..." He is the epitome of a penguin, that has rose to power to bring further corruption to Gotham. He is both funny and twisted, and all-in-all makes for a very interesting villain in the Batman Universe.