How would YOU make the Penguin relevant again?

[greeneagle]

...making him like a cultured, intellectual Tony Soprano would be cool...

This I like. Regarding everything that people have said (i.e. playing up the sympathetic angle of the Penguin), TS is a good model for Penguin in that we constantly question why we like TS so much given that he is a horrible sociopath (actually, he doesn't even have qualms about killing those close to him for "business" reasons). TS also is spurred to be a leader (and ultimately wants to be) but also loathes the position because it prevents him from having fun and cracking skulls, etc. the way he'd like to. At the same time, he likes putting up a front and having the air of sophistication, etc. but he's just a brute.

I definitely want my Penguin violent. I think he's angry as fuck.

[John Moores]

I definitely want my Penguin violent. I think he's angry as fuck.

As long as he doesn't do it himself. He needs to be cultured enough to find violence distasteful, but only if he has to see it. Otherwise it's fine. Anything else is like that generic Poochiefied Penguin the kung-fu hippy from gangsta city from that shit Batman cartoon.

[greeneagle]

As long as he doesn't do it himself. He needs to be cultured enough to find violence distasteful, but only if he has to see it. Otherwise it's fine. Anything else is like that generic Poochiefied Penguin the kung-fu hippy from gangsta city from that shit Batman cartoon.

Not sure I totally agree. But per my likings, yes, he would find violence distasteful due to his pseudo-sophistication (a self-deceiving act really, though) and he'd never do it himself (he's the kingpin; he's got to be hands off) but he wishes he could. Every once in a while he's got to snap so that everybody knows why he's King Shit of Fuck Mountain.

[John Moores]

He could just shoot some fuck in the head with his umbrella gun thing. He did that in his first story, that's how he gained control of his first gang.

[greeneagle]

He could just shoot some fuck in the head with his umbrella gun thing. He did that in his first story, that's how he gained control of his first gang.

Naw, it's got to be more than that. People need to know the depths of his depravity; what he is capable of when push comes to shove and what he will do to ensure that people NEVER cross him. I mean, the guy is a total joke (airs, appearance, sexual frustration, etc.) but nobody would dare let him know that his perceived insecurities are indeed the gospel truth. The Penguin is very tightly wound and a control freak; he's got to unravel once in a while and cut loose, only to regret it and have to deal with his mess.

I'm just so tired of recently only ever seeing the Penguin in prison stripes, haughitly being integrated by the Batman from time-to-time.

[urbanmyth]

Put in him Secret Six.  Not sure he'd blend in that well (having to share power with Scandal, Deadshot & Catman) but at least Gail would be writing him and generally, you can't go wrong when Gail is writing anything.

[Marv-El]

Penguin could be Batman's Luthor, i.e. the way Luthor used to/should be, a manipulative genius who doesn't want or need to show his strength directly, accomplishing what he wants while appearing spotless. I'd love to see him become mayor, for instance. With Gordon out of the picture, is Gotham going corrupt again? Penguin couldn't realistically be elected, but hell, it's DiDioworld, what's a few felonies among friends? If anything, Oswald doesn't have to be violent; I'd rather he express his psychosis the way we never see--sexually. It has become fashionable to show him draped with nameless honeys, like a neo-rap star. Let's turn a scandal (like Kobe) or, better, a murder mystery like Fatty Arbuckle on him. A starlet comes to town, approaches and is rejected by Bruce, lands with Oswald, ends up messy-dead, and the show begins.

Don't know if it would make him relevant, exactly, but at least interesting and different, maybe.

[John Moores]

A guest was reading this thread, and it's a good one. So..."bump".

[Ebon]

to make him relevant in the NuDC...she'll be oswalda, a lesbian with a drug habit who does penguin furry porn....DC where current is the 90s

[JSayonara]

It's funny reading this thread, as since it was posted DC have done a lot of the stuff posited.

Personally, I liked the story from the Kelley Jones/Doug Moench run, where the Penguin pulls off an old school, bird related series of crimes, because he's bored of not playing the game.

[Year6Robin]

Anything else is like that generic Poochiefied Penguin the kung-fu hippy from gangsta city from that shit Batman cartoon.

Plus 1 for the POOCHIE reference. 

[Maxjla]

you can't go wrong when Gail is writing anything.

I used to think this then I read Nu52 Batgirl.

[John Moores]

 

I gave up after issue one on that.

[JSayonara]

If you want nasty Penguin, check out the recent Pain and Prejudice mini series.
Wasn't a bad read at all, though I think it was a little over the top in places.

[Gadabout]

I agree with JSay. Pretty good Penguin story. I think it covered a lot of what makes him interesting and the love story was very interesting to watch play out. He was shown as the guy who has it all but has nothing at the same time. Pain and Prejudice was a very good name for the story.

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