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[Discotheque]

The animation revamp to Batman TAS was a net loss all around. Batman looked worse. Joker looked worse. Robin looked worse. Penguin looked worse. You get the point.

the show itself got worse honestly. it felt more like all the other superhero shows whereas before it had a nice 50s pulp vibe to it all.

 

[Toxi]

The animation revamp to Batman TAS was a net loss all around. Batman looked worse. Joker looked worse. Robin looked worse. Penguin looked worse. You get the point.

Scarecrow was the only one who benefitted.

 

[FyreWulff]

The Batman TAS redesign is so bad

 

[Hex]

Fuck Danny Devito for pretty much almost ruining the character.
But why wouldn't he be famous? Longevity, ruthlessness , success.

 

[Sojgat]

Missed one.

Kung Fu Penguin is the GOAT.

 

[TheGreatDirector]

Yup. The 60's show did a lot to establish who would remain relevant in Batman's rogues gallery for years to come. Burgess Meredith did a lot to define the character in pop culture.

When it comes down to the Penguin, you have to realize he's a character with an easily identifiable design and gimmick. All you need to do is give the guy a tux, a trick umbrella, monocle, or some combination of the above.. In recent years, more and more writers have fleshed out the Cobblepott and Wayne connection that Batman and the Penguin have from childhood, making him an enemy that hates both Batman and Bruce Wayne separately, unaware that they're the same person.

He's also compelling because he's often written as this sort of underdog character, whether due to his deformities and handicaps or social status. As other have pointed out, he's the perfect bridge between the insane freaks and the ruthless gangsters of Gotham. He often goes to extreme lengths to prove himself as one of the greats and elites of Gotham. Look at Batman Returns and Gotham, or that one episode of BTAS where he fell in love. You often find yourself rooting for the guy to win against all odds despite how evil he can be. Of course he can also be written as the most disgusting and monstrous man alive which somehow makes him even more fascinating.

He's definitely one of my favorites for sure.

 

[DeathoftheEndless]

He was the most popular villain on the Adam West show. He made the most appearances.

 

[Duane Cunningham]

I know it's been said, he was already a top villain before the Tim Burton movies. I remember as a kid thinking he was pretty much the #2 Batman villain behind Joker.

 

[ryanyhc]

The Doom that Came to Gotham has the best Cobblepot imo. Wok wok.

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

I'm gonna say that the TNBA Penguin design was much better than the TAS DeVito one.

 

[outunderthestars]

Ignoring Gotham's version?

I really wish they would put him into one of the films. I love this version of the Penguin.

 

[MisterHero]

dude just wants to enjoy his audubon paintings

 

[Log4Girlz]

I always picture Rupert Murdoch as Penguin

 

[AuthenticM]

This is the Penguin I wish Robin Williams had portrayed in a Nolan movie.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

Ignoring Gotham's version?

As someone who doesn't watch Gotham and hasn't watched Doctor Who in a while, I almost thought this was a new Doctor

 

[NoblesseOblige]

No, not weird at all. Danny DeVito played him and made him memorable.

 

[itwasTuesday]

Colin Firth stole his umbrella.

 

[Alienous]

I don't think he's famous at all.

Is he more famous than The Riddler? I don't think so, and The Riddler isn't very famous.

 

[Santiako]

I don't think he's famous at all.

Is he more famous than The Riddler? I don't think so, and The Riddler isn't very famous.

He is. I'd say he's the second most famous after Joker.

 

[Saucycarpdog]

Read Catwomen Vol. 7: Inheritance

Spoiler

Penguin orchestrates a war between the Mob, Black Mask, and the Yakuza so all three duke it out until one is left standing. He then relies on Catwomen and the police to deal with last faction while he swoops in and buys large portions of Gotham's businesses that used to belong to the criminal factions for almost nothing. He then turns all those businesses into racketeering firms and money cleaning operations.

 

[Jimnymebob]

The Penguin has always been my favourite comic book villain, and I have no idea why. I'm not even a big fan of Batman's rogue galaxy, but I've always loved The Penguin.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

Maybe it's because I'm 30 but I have no idea who Burgess Meredith even was before clicking this thread. IMO it's Batman Returns who made the Penguin iconic.

 

[Alienous]

He is. I'd say he's the second most famous after Joker.

I feel like Two-Face, or the Riddler, would take that spot. Probably The Riddler, who was also part of Batman '66.

 

[Sephzilla]

Penguin was always the #2 Batman villain in my head behind Joker.

 

[7Th]

Other than Lex Luthor, Magneto and some of Spider-Man's villains (Green Goblin, Venom and Doc Ock), Batman's core roster of villains are by far the most well-known comic book rogues in popular culture. And Penguin is definitely top 5.

 

[Alienous]

Penguin was always the #2 Batman villain in my head behind Joker.

This is amazing to me. Someone should tell DC, because they don't seem to be aware with how little The Penguin pops up in the comics.

 

[djplaeskool]

Burgess Meredith was such an iconic portrayal of the Penguin because he owned the screen every time he was on the set and always seemed like he was having the time of his life. Go back and watch some old Batman episodes. Meredith made The Penguin a memorable villain.

 

[aBarreras]

Maybe it's because I'm 30 but I have no idea who Burgess Meredith even was before clicking this thread. IMO it's Batman Returns who made the Penguin iconic.

im 27 and didnt know the actor's name, but i ceirtanly know the character protrayed by him

 

[More_Badass]

Other than Lex Luthor, Magneto and some of Spider-Man's villains (Green Goblin, Venom and Doc Ock), Batman's core roster of villains are by far the most well-known comic book rogues in popular culture. And Penguin is definitely top 5.

Pretty much. I can name a few villains of Superman, X-Men, Spiderman, but I feel like I know pretty much every major Batman villain and a ton of minor ones.

 

[Sephzilla]

My top 5 Batman villains would probably be

1- Joker
2- Penguin
3- Catwoman
4- Riddler
5- Two-Face

Honorable Mentions: Mr. Freeze, Bane, Ra's Al Ghul

 

[ZombieFred]

Other than Lex Luthor, Magneto and some of Spider-Man's villains (Green Goblin, Venom and Doc Ock), Batman's core roster of villains are by far the most well-known comic book rogues in popular culture. And Penguin is definitely top 5.

Batmans Rogues Gallery is the definitive top if you ask me. It has a long legacy that has evolved and shaped it to make any of his villains to be the most famous out there in the world. I would go Batman, Spiderman, and Xmen as the top three tier list.

 

[Alienous]

My top 5 Batman villains would probably be

1- Joker
2- Penguin
3- Catwoman
4- Riddler
5- Two-Face

Honorable Mentions: Mr. Freeze, Bane, Ra's Al Ghul

If you're counting Catwoman she absolutely is ahead of Penguin in terms of recognition.

 

[Astral Dog]

Danny Devito

 

[Imperial Bishop]

The fact that we never got Cobblepot in the Dark Knight trilogy is sad.

 

[Man God]

Because he was big in the Adam West Batman show and the feature villain in Batman Returns, that's why.

He usually goes through phases in the comics where he barely shows up for years.

 

[Sephzilla]

If you're counting Catwoman she absolutely is ahead of Penguin in terms of recognition.

Yeah the reason I kept her at #3 is because she waffles between hero and villain, and I sort of feel she's more popular when she's doing the heroic shit and not the villain stuff. I should probably scratch (haha) Catwoman from my list because she's basically not a villain anymore.

Other than Lex Luthor, Magneto and some of Spider-Man's villains (Green Goblin, Venom and Doc Ock), Batman's core roster of villains are by far the most well-known comic book rogues in popular culture. And Penguin is definitely top 5.

Batman's B and C tier villains are better than some hero's arch-villains.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

He is. I'd say he's the second most famous after Joker.

Catwoman would be ahead of Penguin.

My top 5 Batman villains would probably be

1- Joker
2- Penguin
3- Catwoman
4- Riddler
5- Two-Face

Honorable Mentions: Mr. Freeze, Bane, Ra's Al Ghul

No Poison Ivy?

Edit: Actually these days Harley would beat out Penguin as well for recognition.

 

[Santiako]

Catwoman would be ahead of Penguin.

Fair enough, I always count her as her own thing.

 

[Sephzilla]

No Poison Ivy?

I didn't even give Harley a shout out yet

 

[old manatee]

I would die happy if they brought Danny Devito back to do The Penguin.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

I didn't even give Harley a shout out yet

Was it your personal top 5 or the top 5 by recognition. Because I think I read it as the latter.

 

[Sephzilla]

Was it your personal top 5 or the top 5 by recognition. Because I think I read it as the latter.

A little bit of both. If I fleshed it out to top 10 Harley would definitely pop up

 

[Maintenance]

Never liked the Penguin, always thought he was terrible.

Here's another good example of the Penguin's ruthlessness
http://imgur.com/a/tNA2Q

But these are good.

 

[Beartruck]

Each of Batman's villains are a foil to him in some way. The Penguin is a foil to Batman's wealth. While Bruce uses money fight crime and help people, the Penguin uses his money to stomp those he perceives have slighted him.

 

[Ithil]

Ignoring Gotham's version?

 

[More_Badass]

Each of Batman's villians are a foil to him in some way. The Penguin is foil to Batman's wealth. While Bruce uses money fight crime and help people, the Penguin uses his money to stomp those he perceives have slighted him.

That's part of why his rogues gallery is so memorable to this day. If you know Batman and what makes him tick, you can remember all his best villains because they reflect some aspect of him

 

[Green Ninja]

Batman Returns version is the best

 

[Green Ninja]

Remember that time he was Vice President of the United States and invaded a soverign country for oil?

 

[Parallax]

Wew. That's dark.

Whats that from? Art looks vaguely JRJR...

art looks like jason pearson

 

[KingDirk]

All you Batman '66 deniers need to educate yourselves. GBOAT