Oswald Cobblepot was the corrupt Mayor of Gotham City. Controlling Gotham City through several lieutenants imbedding in Gotham's officials, he ruled the city under the alias the Penguin. Cobblepot was also partially responsible for the death of Bruce Wayne's parents.
History[]
Before he took office, Oswald Cobblepot was a seasoned criminal in Gotham City. He ran several unions and had at least half the city's judges on his payroll. Cobblepot ran for mayor against Dr. Thomas Wayne, one of the last surviving members of his family's rivals. Though Dr. Wayne wanted to change Gotham for the better, Cobblepot refused to let him win, seeing it as a disgrace his family's legacy. He was suspected to have organized death threats sent to the Waynes to pressure his rival out of the race.
Days before the election, Cobblepot decide to eliminate his rival whilst he and his family attended a showing at the Monarch Theatre. Employing corrupt GCPD officer Jacob Weaver to cut the power during it, Cobblepot planned an ambush outside the cinema. However, the Waynes left through a back exit, instead being gunned down by an unknown vagrant. Though not directly responsible, Cobblepot was still pleased with the result, even mentioning that it worked out better for someone without an alibi to eliminate his rival. After taking office, he employed Weaver as part of his security detail.
In his years in office, the Penguin ruled Gotham through contacts in the city's infrastructure, including the GCPD, housing commission board, public works and city council. Criminals also continued to control the streets, with many bein able to intimidate clean officers like Dt. James Gordon into inaction. Cobblepot had also employed the help of a mentally deranged serial killer called the Birthday Boy, provided he gave him kidnapped girls to meet his fixation. Cobblepot was also under investigation by twins Harvey and Jessica Dent
Encounters with Batman[]
Cobblepot first encountered Bruce Wayne during a lavish party he threw to celebrate Gotham's 300th anniversary. Politely greeting him, he encouraged him to entertain himself and mingle with the other guests. Cobblepot was shocked when the Batman crashed the party after a rooftop encounter with Weaver and members of the GCPD. After the encounter, Oswald confronted Weaver on why the vigilante had confronted him specifically. Fearing he may find his way to discovering the truth through Weaver, he ordered his men to have the Birthday Boy murder him, paying him off with one of Judge Patterson's eldest daughter.
After defeating the Birthday Boy, Batman learned that Cobblepot hired him to kill Weaver and stormed his home to confront him. Though beaten by the vigilante, Penguin was able to stab his with a hidden blade and unmasked him. Shocked but amused that he was Bruce Wayne, Penguin confessed his assassination attempt, though revealed their murder had been someone else. Before he could finish him off, Wayne's bodyguard Alfred burst into the room and shot Cobblepot with a shotgun. The blast sent his body into the street below, killing him.
Legacy[]
After his death, Cobblepot's connections were revealed to the public and Jessica Dent took his position as Mayor. She and her brother would set about to capturing his remaining men to clean the streets. Rumors that Batman had killed him would quickly circulate Gotham, even six month after the incident. To disprove them, the vigilante to a set of codes against killing enemies. Penguin's remaining lieutenants were targeted by the Riddler, though he and the survivors were eventually arrested by Batman and the GCPD.
Equipment[]
Notes[]
This version of the Penguin shares several similarities with Lew Moxon, a crime lord who organized Thomas Wayne's death over a vendetta. He is also only version of the character to successfully run for Gotham's Mayor, even if it was achieved illegally. Cobblepot is also not referred to as "the Penguin" in Volume One, though the alias is alluded to and mentioned in subsequent volumes.