One of the big questions around The Penguin spinoff of The Batman has been whether Robert Pattinson’s Batman would make an appearance. After all, The Batman left Gotham reeling from the Riddler’s terror, and Bruce Wayne realized that Batman could be more than a terror for criminals, he could be a symbol of hope.
With The Penguin picking up right after that film, many fans expected some Batman action in the series. In The Batman, we saw Bruce Wayne dealing with the shockwaves of Riddler’s violent attack on the city. In this new role as Gotham’s protector, he learns that Batman isn’t just a figure who strikes fear into criminals, but also someone who can inspire hope.
Even though Pattinson’s Batman doesn’t appear, the showrunner gives fans a hint of the Dark Knight’s influence. In the series finale, the Bat-Signal shines over Gotham’s skyline, serving as a subtle reminder that Batman still watches, even if he’s not directly confronting the mobsters at this moment. This little nod reminds audiences that Batman’s legacy looms large over the city.
What The Penguin series covers
The Penguin takes place right after the events of The Batman, but it dives into areas that Bruce doesn’t frequent. Unlike the main storylines Batman tackles, The Penguin focuses on the criminal underground, specifically Oswald Oz Cobblepot’s rise to power in Gotham.
For viewers looking for insight into how Oz steps up to fill the void left by Carmine Falcone, The Penguin is a deep dive into his journey. Oz Cobblepot, also known as the Penguin, steps up to fill a vacuum in the Gotham underworld. He’s ready to go from being a sidekick to taking on a much bigger role.
Throughout the series, viewers see Oz’s ambition and cunning nature, making him a key player. By the time The Batman 2 arrives, it’s clear that he’ll be calling the shots in Gotham, something which Batman may have underestimated in the past.
There are several reasons The Penguin avoids a direct Batman cameo. Firstly, having Robert Pattinson return as Batman might not have been logistically possible for a series, as he’s heavily invested in the films. Secondly, The Penguin aims to explore parts of Gotham that Batman rarely visits. The show emphasizes that Batman, for all his vigilance, doesn’t patrol everywhere.
While The Penguin is technically separate from The Batman, it builds on the film’s storyline, showing how Oz’s influence grows. This continuity means that when we see him again in The Batman 2, viewers will have a better understanding of how he achieved his power. Watching The Penguin gives insight into how Gotham’s crime dynamics have changed, setting the stage for a more chaotic underworld in the sequel.
Why the Bat-Signal still matters
The Bat-Signal, even when Batman’s not around, creates a psychological effect similar to the fear people feel during a thunderstorm. Like someone avoiding getting struck by lightning, criminals tend to back down when they see the Bat-Signal, even if they know the chances of running into Batman are slim.
The Penguin shows a turning point in Gotham’s criminal ecosystem. Instead of the old mobsters like Carmine Falcone, Gotham’s crime world now leans toward more psychotic villains. With Oz rising as a new crime lord, it paves the way for characters like Joker and Two-Face, who bring in darker and more twisted types of crimes.
The Bat-Signal creates a kind of criminal self-fulfilling prophecy. When half the criminals back down out of fear, the odds double for those who remain, making it logical for even more criminals to leave. Over time, this turns Gotham’s night into a battlefield, with only the most confident or reckless criminals willing to take the risk.
With characters like Penguin on the rise, Gotham’s crime scene shifts from mob bosses to masked villains. Batman’s future enemies will be more dangerous, with super-criminals entering the picture. This setup hints at Joker, Two-Face, and others stepping into Gotham’s shadows.
To face these new threats, Batman may need to change his tactics. Instead of only targeting street criminals, he’ll have to tackle Gotham’s criminal masterminds, leading to a new era in his crime-fighting approach. The Batman 2 might explore this evolution, where Bruce learns to take on larger, organized threats.
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In the end, The Penguin offers a detailed backstory of Gotham’s crime world without Batman’s direct interference. It sets up new conflicts and villains that Bruce will face, showing how Gotham has changed in his absence. By the time Batman returns, he’ll be up against a more sinister underworld.
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