The Penguin series, part of DC Elseworlds' franchise, has left many fans in a haze since they seem to propose an origin story for Victor Aguilar that many consider a retelling of the more iconic Batman villain, Victor Zsasz.
The series follows on from the end of The Batman and marks Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot's rise through the underbelly of Gotham.
But, the most speculated character was undoubtedly Victor, which is played by Rhenzy Feliz. In the first episode, viewers see Victor caught attempting to steal from Oz, only to be taken under his wing as a driver and henchman. This has led many to wonder if this Victor will eventually evolve into Zsasz or another well-known villain from Batman’s Rogue Gallery.
The Penguin script’s handling of his character, however, has left many fans frustrated. They’ve taken to Reddit to voice their confusion and disappointment, pointing out inconsistencies and unclear motives.
With theories ranging from Mr. Freeze to Cyborg, it’s clear that The Penguin has stirred up a debate about who Victor Aguilar truly is.
@bigeorgester - "The actors who play Victor and Alberto were awful as well, not sure how they’ll pull off Victor for the rest of the episodes."
This user criticizes The Penguin's casting. They doubt whether the actors can successfully portray Victor's character arc in the upcoming episodes. They feel that the characters were not convincingly portrayed in the premiere.
@EdgeLord1984 - "From Alberto letting his guard down and telling him about his gigantic new powerful drug shipment coming in, to the car break-in and subsequent Victor becoming a lackey, the stars truly aligned for Oz. He should start playing the lotto more."
This comment highlights The Penguin plot’s unrealistic coincidences, suggesting that events unfolded too conveniently for Oz.
The user finds it hard to believe that things would align so perfectly for Oz, from obtaining information on drug shipments to effortlessly recruiting Victor.
@bigeorgester - "I could not understand Victor’s motives at all, either. Early on, before Oz goes on his diatribe for 'guys like us'—why doesn’t Victor try to escape literally at any point?"
Here, the user expresses frustration over Victor’s unclear motives and actions. They question why Victor, who is seemingly trapped, does not make any attempt to escape before Oz's speech. This further complicates understanding his character in The Penguin.
@Federal_Rise_6169 - "I have a prediction: Victor will become Mr. Freeze. Same name and the slushy was possibly a hint."
This The Penguin fan speculates that Victor might be evolving into Mr. Freeze, drawing parallels between his name and the slushy he was drinking, which they believe could be a subtle nod to the iconic villain’s icy theme.
@Heisenburgo - "Plot twist: Victor is the new Cyborg, and mixing those slushies was a reference to mixing the Mother Boxes and humans together."
This comment jokingly suggests an outlandish theory that Victor is becoming a version of Cyborg. They reference the slushies as a playful nod to mixing Mother Boxes, thus indicating how wild and varied fan theories have become due to the character’s ambiguity.
Is The Penguin setting up a new origin for Victor Zsasz?
The entry of Victor Aguilar in The Penguin has left fans wondering whether he is the re-imagined version of Victor Zsasz, or a full-fledged new character. In the comics, there is this sadistic serial killer known as Zsasz, but his approach was the opposite of what could be seen from the naivety and the reluctance of the protagonist, Victor, in the series.
The Penguin fans are left wondering if the show will take on a darker turn since Victor's infatuation with Oz continues; perhaps now, more sinister aspects of Victor's character might pop out. Perhaps the transformation starts in the first episode when Oz takes Victor under his wing and strips away his innocence.
This mirrors the dynamic seen in other Batman narratives, where seemingly good characters are corrupted by Gotham’s underworld. That being said, the psychological unraveling of the episodes is somewhat unclear when it comes to Victor in the show. For that matter, he possesses none of the clear psychological unravelings that characterize Zsasz.
For now, everything remains ambiguous, and The Penguin fans can just continue their debates as to whether this is a modern twist of the traditional character or a red herring for viewers to guess.
Theories about Victor’s true identity in The Penguin
Not based on much evidence so far, fans have attempted all kinds of theories of who Victor could be. Some think he could be an amalgamation of disparate Batman villains, piecing together different aspects of Mr. Freeze and perhaps even elements of Victor Zsasz, and maybe even some of Jason Todd's origin.
The speculation is based on the general nature of this decision by the show to create an original character that doesn't exist within the DC Comics canon. This has led to wild theories, such as Victor eventually becoming a new version of Mr. Freeze due to his association with slushies, or even a bizarre twist where he becomes a new version of Cyborg.
Others believe that Victor's character arc might be like a tragic anti-hero, perhaps kind of like Jason Todd's Red Hood, who begins the story quite good-hearted, but ultimately runs amok. Whatever the outcome, one thing we can say for sure: The Penguin was quite effective in stirring the pot and Victor Aguilar is quite a unique character.
Fans cannot wait for the next The Penguin episode on Max to see if their theories are right or if the show continues to unbox its fair share of surprises.
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