The Penguin Is Already Improving The Worst Batman Storyline
When Matt Reeves brought The Batman to theaters, it was a rough adaptation of “Zero Year,” “The Long Halloween,” and “Dark Victory,” and true to form, The Penguin is also not directly adapting an existing story. And yet, by the end of the first episode, it’s clear that Oswald Cobb’s plan to take over the Gotham underworld has a basis in at least one story arc. “War Games,” a derided, nonsensical storyline from 20 years ago, has a lot in common with where the episode ends up.
War Games
“War Games” begins with the heads of the various Gotham crime families lured to a meeting at the behest of Matches Malone (one of Batman’s cover identities), and when Matches fails to show, they turn on each other, killing multiple family heads and leaving a huge power vacuum in the criminal underworld. The Penguin takes place after Batman, with the death of Carmine Falcone creating a vacuum that needs to be filled, but Oswald’s going about it echoes the start of “War Games.” He’s tricking the two major families into open war, and thankfully, he’s doing it in a much better way than setting up a random gunfight.
Maroni Vs. Falcone
Using Sal Maroni’s stolen ring, Penguin pits the Falcone crime family against Maroni’s lieutenants, counting on the imprisoned crime lord to be seen showing off the ring in Blackgate Prison. Alberto’s body, found in the trunk of the busted car, was missing only a pinkie, which happened to be the finger he wore Maroni’s ring on. No mind games from Batman are required, and there you go, a gang war in Gotham.
No Stephanie This Time
Penguin’s plan is far superior to the one used in the Batman story arc by Stephanie Brown, who was operating as Bruce’s current Robin at the time. Using a stolen plan by Batman to bring an end to crime in Gotham, Stephanie arranged the meeting and counted on Matches Malone to take over and save the day. She didn’t know that Matches was Bruce, but readers did, which started the arc off on a sour note for most fans who could do nothing but facepalm at the stupid decision.
Only One Crime Boss Left Standing
At the end of the “War Games” event, Black Mask is in charge of the newly unified Gotham underworld. The Penguin makes it clear that by the end of the series, Oswald Cobb will be ruling over Gotham. This will then, in turn, set up The Batman 2, with Colin Farrell already confirmed to be appearing in the Robert Pattinson sequel. So, with the limited series roughly adapting one of the worst Batman stories ever, what’s coming to the big screen in the sequel?
The Penguin Is Setting Up The Batman 2
The Penguin never goes one-on-one with Batman if it can be helped, and even in The Batman, their confrontation was a chase and not hand-to-hand combat. So, if he’s heavily involved in The Batman 2, it’s more likely that the movie will involve a hired goon (or two) to face the Caped Crusader. Could Matt Reeves bring in KGBeast or Deathstroke under the employ of Penguin?
It’s still early to base any fan theories on the outcome of The Penguin, but if DC’s Elseworlds side series can redeem one of the most boring and most hated Batman stories, they’ve earned the fan’s trust when it comes to The Batman 2.
